ORDER FOR WORSHIP
* Congregation stands
BOLD – Congregation responds
Please be mindful of your volume during the Prelude as we prepare for worship together.
PRELUDE Improvisation on Leoni Sean Cotty
SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
*Gloria Patri (pew card)
*CALL TO WORSHIP Patrick Symes
(Based on Psalm 91)
You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
will say to the LORD:
“My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.”
You will not fear the terror of the night,
Or the arrow that flies by day,
Or the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
Or the destruction that wastes at noonday.
Because we have made the LORD our refuge,
the Most High our dwelling place.
Visit us with your presence
That our lives might acknowledge and worship you!
*HYMN No. 336 God Is My Great Desire
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Almighty God, in Jesus Christ you love us,
but we have not loved you.
You have opened your heart to us,
and in our pride we have spurned your care.
You have given us all things, and we have squandered your gifts.
We have grieved you and caused hurt to others.
Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we are sorry.
Cleanse us from our sin and receive us again into your household, that we might nevermore stray from your love
but always remain within the sound of your voice.
(Prayers of Silent Confession)
Kyrie
ASSURANCE OF PARDON/WISDOM FOR LIFE
(Based on Romans 5:1-8)
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand.
For while we were still weak, Christ died for us.
Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person,
but God proves his love for us.
For while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Receive the good news of the gospel:
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
CHILDREN’S BLESSING
(Following the Children’s Blessing, kids are dismissed to Children at Worship. They can be picked up there following the worship service in Room 2D.)
LENTEN MISSION MOMENT
ANTHEM Lacrymosa (From the Requiem) Mozart
(Sung in Latin)
That day of tears and mourning,
when from the ashes shall arise,
all humanity to be judged.
Spare us by your mercy,
Lord, gentle Lord Jesus,
grant them eternal rest. Amen.
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
O Christ, come and help our weak faith.
O Christ, create a pure heart in us;
renew and strengthen our spirit.
O Christ, your Word is near;
may it live within us and protect us always. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Exodus 17:1-7 p.56
Matthew 4:1-11 p.785
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
SERMON Testing God Rev. Blaine Crawford
CONFESSION OF FAITH
* Apostles’ Creed (pew card)
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
OffertorY Into the Woods My Master Went Peter Lutkin
Into the woods my Master went, clean for-spent.
Into the woods my Master came,
for-spent with love and shame.
But the olives, they were not blind to Him
the little gray leaves were kind to Him;
The thorn tree had a mind to Him
when into the woods He came.
Out of the woods my Master went,
and He was well content;
Out of the woods my Master came,
content with death and shame.
When death and shame would woo Him last,
from under the trees they drew Him last,
'Twas on a tree the slew Him last
When out of the woods He came.
*Doxology (pew card)
*Prayer of Dedication
SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
Invitation
Communion Prayer
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Sanctus
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Mystery of the Faith:
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Words of Institution
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Lord’s Prayer (pew card)
Response All Things Come of Thee, O Lord
All things come of thee, O Lord,
and of thine own have we given thee.
*HYMN No. 612 How Firm a Foundation
*BENEDICTION
Response Jesus, Remember Me
Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom.
POSTLUDE Improvisation on Foundation Sean Cotty
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Announcements
Music Note
Throughout the season of Lent, the choir will be singing a movement from Mozart's Requiem every Sunday. This moving work sets the tone for this penitent and somber season.
Children at Worship
Children at Worship is a spiritual formation program for children ages 4-9. Children are dismissed following the Junior Sermon and may be picked up from Classroom 2D after the service.
Guest Preachers
Rev. Doug Estella will be providing pulpit supply on March 15.
Rev. Terry DeYoung, Coordinator for Disability Concerns for the RCA will preach on March 22.
Bible Study
Bible study meets in the library on Tuesday afternoons from 3:30 p.m. until 4:45 p.m. The current study, led by Rev. Crawford, explores and ponders the parables of Jesus.
RCA Lenten Devotions
Our denomination, the Reformed Church in America, offers a daily Lenten devotional emailed directly to your inbox. You can sign up at https://www.rca.org/resources/lent-devotions. This year’s devotions are written by disability advocates from the RCA and the Christian Reformed Church.
Women’s Shelter Volunteers
Every Friday, we house up to ten women in Gessner Hall. We need volunteers to greet, to provide food and hospitality, and to stay overnight. We are especially in need of overnight chaperones. Sign up on our website or speak with our Women’s Shelter coordinator, Maureen Saepia-Chen, following the service
Food for Kids
School’s back in session which means that our Food for Kids ministry is back in full swing. Each week, bags of food are delivered to a local school to give to children who might be at risk of hunger over the weekend.
We are seeking donations of the following items on a regular basis:
· 1lb. white rice
· 1 can beans (red or black)
· 2 cans vegetables
· 1 can fruit
· 1lb. box of pasta
· 1 can pasta sauce
· 1 box mac & cheese
· 1 box cereal
· *1 jar peanut butter
· *1 jar jelly
*The jars of peanut butter and jelly must be plastic containers.
Music in a Sacred Space
Please join us on Saturday, March 28th, at 7:30 pm for a performance by Beatus Musica. In this group, our former rehearsal pianist, Tamara Kim, is joined by some of her talented opera singing colleagues. They will present a program of arias, duets, and Broadway. There will be a collection taken to benefit NYDC (New York Deaf Church) which is located in Whitestone. The performance is free and open to the public, and there will be a reception to follow in Gessner Hall.
Community Yoga
Join us in Gessner Hall for free yoga on Wednesday evenings at 7:30p.m. If you would like to join the yoga email list, please contact the church office at office@churchonthehill.org. The class is open to all ability levels and mats are available for use.
Bargain Boutique
The Boutique is open on Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m to 1 p.m. Please bring your donations to the basement during these hours.
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Prayer Requests
MIRAM ALLEN
JOHN BABINSKY
DIANE BLAGBURN
LILLIAN CALFA
DAVID CERQUEIRA
GRACINDA CERQUEIRA
JOSE CERQUEIRA
MARILYN COONEY
EDWARD COTTY
ROSINA CUTICONE
FROCIONE FAMILY
BROOKE GRAFFEO
JAYNE HALLEY
HOTCHKISS FAMILY
JANE LYNCH
JORGE & TIFFANY MARTINEZ
JEAN MENDLER
RUBEN & EVA MUNOZ
DIANE THORP
JOE THORSEN
CHRISTIE TWEED
ALISON VENABLE
SANDY WESTON
*If you would like to add a loved one to the Prayer List, please contact the church office.