March 28, 2004

I will arise and go to Jesus

When we define ourselves
by the standards of the world,
God calls us to arise and go to Jesus,
who through his suffering love
shows us the promise of new life.

March 28, 2004
Lent week 5

Gathering in Christ's name

Leader: The Lord is doing a new thing! Do not dwell on the past.
People: We come, opening our eyes to see new possibilities.
Leader:The Lord gives water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
People: We come to quench our thirst at life-giving springs.
Leader: The Lord makes a path through mighty waters.
People: We come, declaring praise to the Lord
who has made a new way.
All: Praise the Lord! Let us worship the God of our salvation!

Prayer of Invocation
Hymns Come we that love the Lord HWB 14
Holy, holy, holy HWB 120

Scripture Reading based on Isaiah 43:16-21 & Psalm 126
Children's story
Hymn Jesus stand among us HWB 25

Confession/reconciling prayer of confession

All: God of new life,
we confess that our faith is not always fresh and strong.
Some of us are tired and have heavy hearts;
some are burdened with the weight of the past;
and some are preoccupied with things that one day will perish.
Though we long to know the power of resurrection,
we lose hope in the midst of suffering and loss.
Jesus, Lamb of God, have mercy on us. (Silence)

Assurance of God's grace

Leader: God makes a way in the wilderness of our lives.
Forgetting what lies behind
and pressing forward to what lies ahead,
we are promised the gift of everlasting life in Christ Jesus.
All: We will arise and go to Jesus.

Proclaiming God's Word

Scripture John 12:1-8; Philippians 3:4b-14
Sermon "To know the heart of Jesus walking toward the cross"
Hymn Lord, I am fondly, earnestly HWB 514

Responding to God's call

Joys and concerns
Pastoral Prayer and the Lord's Prayer
Offering
Announcements
Hymn You shall go out with joy HWB 427

Benediction
We go now in the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Letting go of the past and looking forward to what is to come, we hold fast to faith in God's promises. The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoice!

Today

Worship Leader - Roy Hange
Music - Dottie Scott, Lee Bidgood
Sermon - Maren Tyedmers Hange
Nursery - Massie family

Announcements

Is there a song you would especially like to sing? Write it down and put it in the song suggestion box in the foyer.

Men's breakfast meets on Friday mornings from 7-8 am at the church. For more information please contact Mel Janzen.

Free tickets for the "Charlottesville Passion Play" presented by First Baptist Church are available starting March 15. Eight Performances will be held March 27&28, April 3&4 at 3:00 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. Call the First Baptist Church office for reservations 296-6195.

Prayers and Praises

VMBM: This semester Jesse Bergey is teaching agriculture classes to
the older vocational students at Maranatha School for the Deaf. Many people in Jamaica are farmers, especially in St. Elizabeth, so the students are familiar with farms. Jesse helps the students to understand how important agriculture is to their country, as people rely on the farming for food, money, and materials.

Mennonite Mission Network: Pray for all those involved in the ongoing translation and production of Jubilee Sunday school materials in Portuguese so that deadlines can be met to produce these quality materials for primary children in the Mennonite churches in Brazil.

Pray for the local services for people in need: Love Inc., Shelter for Help in Emergency, Food Bank and the Salvation Army.