Worship Service March 25, 2025
PRELUDE
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP
Somebody’s knocking at your door—not just a stranger, but Christ himself.
We are ready to welcome the Lord.
He comes hungry and thirsty, he comes needing kindness.
We come to serve with willing hands.
Listen! Somebody’s knocking—can you hear him?
Yes, Lord—we hear.
We open the door, and welcome you in.
*OPENING HYMN #728 (red) Somebody’s Knocking at Your Door
Somebody's knockin' at your door;
somebody's knockin' at your door;
O sinner, why don't you answer?
Somebody's knockin' at your door.
1 Knocks like Jesus,
Somebody's knockin' at your door.
Knocks like Jesus,
Somebody's knockin' at your door.
O sinner, why don't you answer?
Somebody's knockin' at your door.
2 Can't you hear him?
Somebody's knockin' at your door.
Can't you hear him?
Somebody's knockin' at your door.
O sinner, why don't you answer?
Somebody's knockin' at your door.
3 Answer Jesus,
Somebody's knockin' at your door.
Answer Jesus,
Somebody's knockin' at your door.
O sinner, why don't you answer?
Somebody's knockin' at your door.
*CALL TO CONFESSION and *PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Lord Jesus, You knock at the door of our hearts, but too often we do not open. You come to us in the face of the hungry, but we pass by. You appear as the thirsty, the stranger, the poor, but we turn away, busy with our own concerns, unsure, uncomfortable, afraid. Forgive us, Lord, for the times we have failed to see you and failed to serve you. Open our eyes to your presence in every person. Open our hearts to respond with compassion. Teach us to love as you love. Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON and *GLORIA PATRI (on screen)
CHILDREN’S SERMON
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION and SCRIPTURE READING
Matthew 22: 34-39
(The Greatest Commandment)
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
SERMON Jesus at the Stoplight
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (taken from the Brief Statement of Faith)
We trust in Jesus Christ, who proclaimed good news to the poor, released the captives, and comforted the brokenhearted. He ate with outcasts, healed the sick, and welcomed the stranger. We trust in the Holy Spirit, who sets us free to love God and neighbor, and empowers us to serve Christ in our daily lives. In gratitude to God, we strive to live holy and joyful lives, showing our faith through acts of compassion and justice. Amen.
*HYMN OF RESPONSE #717 (red) For the Life That You Have Given
For the life that you have given,
For the love in Christ made known,
With these fruits of time and labor,
With these gifts that are your own:
Here we offer, Lord, our praises;
Heart and mind and strength we bring.
Give us grace to love and serve you,
Living what we pray and sing
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
OFFERING OF OURSELVES AND OUR RESOURCES
*DOXOLOGY
*CLOSING HYMN #730 (red) I Sing a Song of the Saints of God
1 I sing a song of the saints of God,
patient and brave and true,
who toiled and fought and lived and died
for the Lord they loved and knew.
And one was a doctor, and one was a queen,
and one was a shepherdess on the green:
they were all of them saints of God, and I mean,
God helping, to be one too.
2 They loved their Lord so dear, so dear,
and God’s love made them strong;
and they followed the right, for Jesus’ sake,
the whole of their good lives long.
And one was a soldier, and one was a priest,
and one was slain by a fierce wild beast:
and there’s not any reason, no, not the least,
why I shouldn’t be one too.
3 They lived not only in ages past;
there are hundreds of thousands still;
the world is bright with the joyous saints
who love to do Jesus’ will.
You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea,
in church, or in trains, or in shops, or at tea;
for the saints of God are just folk like me,
and I mean to be one too.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
SPECIAL SERVICE PROJECT follows the worship service.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Concerns: Jan J, Judy Se., Joann G., Owen and Lydia (Arlyce T’s great grandchildren)
Our homebound or in care members: Bob F (Pat caregiver), Jan J, Darwin L (Jeanne caregiver), Marlys M, Bob O (Nancy caregiver), Rose P, Joyce R, Steve VB, Dee W (reach out and call)
This Week’s Prayer Families:
Nancy O, Dave and Lee P.
PRELUDE
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
- TUESDAY MORNING COFFEE GROUP: 9:30ish AM, Mission Coffee House
- THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY: 9:30 AM, center meeting room
- PENTECOST SPECIAL OFFERING – Children at Risk, Youth, Young Adults – begins April 21 through June 8.
- THANK YOU to Janet TeBeest, retiring as chairperson of the Memorial Committee- thank you for your many years of service! Welcome to the new chairperson (Marvis J.) and treasurer (Ginny C.).
- The FLOWERS in front are in memory of Warren and Dorothy Williamson from their children Jean and Tom and their families.
n family in memory of Warren and Dorothy
CALL TO WORSHIP
Somebody’s knocking at your door—not just a stranger, but Christ himself.
We are ready to welcome the Lord.
He comes hungry and thirsty, he comes needing kindness.
We come to serve with willing hands.
Listen! Somebody’s knocking—can you hear him?
Yes, Lord—we hear.
We open the door, and welcome you in.
*OPENING HYMN #728 (red) Somebody’s Knocking at Your Door
Somebody's knockin' at your door;
somebody's knockin' at your door;
O sinner, why don't you answer?
Somebody's knockin' at your door.
1 Knocks like Jesus,
Somebody's knockin' at your door.
Knocks like Jesus,
Somebody's knockin' at your door.
O sinner, why don't you answer?
Somebody's knockin' at your door.
2 Can't you hear him?
Somebody's knockin' at your door.
Can't you hear him?
Somebody's knockin' at your door.
O sinner, why don't you answer?
Somebody's knockin' at your door.
3 Answer Jesus,
Somebody's knockin' at your door.
Answer Jesus,
Somebody's knockin' at your door.
O sinner, why don't you answer?
Somebody's knockin' at your door.
*CALL TO CONFESSION and *PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Lord Jesus, You knock at the door of our hearts, but too often we do not open. You come to us in the face of the hungry, but we pass by. You appear as the thirsty, the stranger, the poor, but we turn away, busy with our own concerns, unsure, uncomfortable, afraid. Forgive us, Lord, for the times we have failed to see you and failed to serve you. Open our eyes to your presence in every person. Open our hearts to respond with compassion. Teach us to love as you love. Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON and *GLORIA PATRI (on screen)
CHILDREN’S SERMON
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION and SCRIPTURE READING
Matthew 22: 34-39
(The Greatest Commandment)
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
SERMON Jesus at the Stoplight
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (taken from the Brief Statement of Faith)
We trust in Jesus Christ, who proclaimed good news to the poor, released the captives, and comforted the brokenhearted. He ate with outcasts, healed the sick, and welcomed the stranger. We trust in the Holy Spirit, who sets us free to love God and neighbor, and empowers us to serve Christ in our daily lives. In gratitude to God, we strive to live holy and joyful lives, showing our faith through acts of compassion and justice. Amen.
*HYMN OF RESPONSE #717 (red) For the Life That You Have Given
For the life that you have given,
For the love in Christ made known,
With these fruits of time and labor,
With these gifts that are your own:
Here we offer, Lord, our praises;
Heart and mind and strength we bring.
Give us grace to love and serve you,
Living what we pray and sing
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
OFFERING OF OURSELVES AND OUR RESOURCES
*DOXOLOGY
*CLOSING HYMN #730 (red) I Sing a Song of the Saints of God
1 I sing a song of the saints of God,
patient and brave and true,
who toiled and fought and lived and died
for the Lord they loved and knew.
And one was a doctor, and one was a queen,
and one was a shepherdess on the green:
they were all of them saints of God, and I mean,
God helping, to be one too.
2 They loved their Lord so dear, so dear,
and God’s love made them strong;
and they followed the right, for Jesus’ sake,
the whole of their good lives long.
And one was a soldier, and one was a priest,
and one was slain by a fierce wild beast:
and there’s not any reason, no, not the least,
why I shouldn’t be one too.
3 They lived not only in ages past;
there are hundreds of thousands still;
the world is bright with the joyous saints
who love to do Jesus’ will.
You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea,
in church, or in trains, or in shops, or at tea;
for the saints of God are just folk like me,
and I mean to be one too.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
SPECIAL SERVICE PROJECT follows the worship service.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Concerns: Jan J, Judy Se., Joann G., Owen and Lydia (Arlyce T’s great grandchildren)
Our homebound or in care members: Bob F (Pat caregiver), Jan J, Darwin L (Jeanne caregiver), Marlys M, Bob O (Nancy caregiver), Rose P, Joyce R, Steve VB, Dee W (reach out and call)
This Week’s Prayer Families:
Nancy O, Dave and Lee P.
