March 28, 2021 Worship Announcements, Song Words, and Scripture

Welcome Visitors! During this challenging time, we’re glad you’re here to draw support from God and this new church. Actually, we’re a new church that is connected to an old church, as First United Methodist Church includes the downtown campus (founded 1871) and the Prairie Campus (launched 2019). We are an open-minded, inclusive, Christ-centered people, excited to be sharing God’s love out on the eastern plains. Pastor Patty would love to chat with you by phone or zoom (or for a walk if you are up for that) to get to know you better, so email her at [email protected] or fill out the contact form at https://www.fumcprairie.org/contact-us. Or you can drop your contact info (write on any scrap of paper in your car!) in the donation box upon exiting the parking lot after worship. More info about the Prairie Campus at www.fumcprairie.org or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FUMCPrairie/.

Today we Celebrate Palm/Passion Sunday This Sunday, we’ll begin the service by celebrating Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem; when he rode on a donkey, to the shouts of praise and “Hosanna!” and the waving of palms. To re-enact Jesus entry, folks will be given palm strips and will be invited to stand outside their cars (with masks), waving their palms, as a real, live donkey processes through the parking lot, accompanied by children. But by the end of the service, we’ll be singing “Were you There When They Crucified my Lord” and stripping the altar. Stripping the altar is an ancient custom of the church, where everything on the altar is taken away. As the table is stripped, we’ll remember how Christ’s life was stripped from him. As the table is left bare, we’ll remember the bareness of the cross. The communion bread and cup – symbols of Christ’s presence with us – will be taken away, helping us reflect on Christ’s death. This Sunday is Palm/Passion Sunday, that odd, mixed emotion day when we travel from celebration to suffering and death, from joy to grief. It’s a bumpy ride, but hold on, for we can only get to Easter, by way of the cross.

A real, live Donkey is here for Palm Sunday! The donkey will be a part of our palm processional and then during kids’ outdoor Sunday School, children will be able to take individual donkey rides to re-enact Jesus’ journey.

A Maundy Thursday Zoom Service: A Lord’s Supper Home Meal, April 1, 6:30 pm The first Lord’s Supper was in the midst of an actual meal in a home. This Maundy Thursday you’re invited to a 30- minute zoom service that will incorporate communion in the midst of an ordinary dinner (whatever you are having for supper). Find a seat at your table and gather for yourself some bread or crackers and something to drink along with your meal. During our shared supper time, we’ll join in reading scripture, a song, some simple liturgy, and folks will be invited to share a favorite story about Jesus or something they love about Jesus (this sharing is completely optional). In this way, we will fulfill Jesus’ wish that we “remember” him during communion. Children are most welcome at this service. Items to have on hand: A lit candle, your dinner, some bread or cracker, a beverage. Zoom info: Meeting ID: 930 8306 7198, Passcode: Maundy

Downtown Campus FUMC Holy Week Services You are invited to attend in-person Holy Week services at the downtown FUMC campus (420 N. Nevada Ave.). Registration required through the FUMC website at: https://www.fumc-cs.org/worship Maundy Thursday - Thursday, April 1st at 7 pm Good Friday - Friday, April 2nd at 7 pm

HELP US MAKE a Resurrection CROSS ON EASTER! Bring some flowers and place them on our “resurrection” cross on Easter! Christ’s resurrection brings new life! Even the terrible cross, the instrument of Jesus’ death, can become an emblem of new life in Christ when we cover it with flowers. Help us create this beautiful symbol; transforming our Lenten cross covered in chicken wire to a beautiful flowering cross. Simply bring flowers—as many as you like—to place on the cross before worship begins.

Invite your friends to Easter Worship and Egg Hunt! April 4 - Drive-in Worship at 10 am, Egg hunt following worship Easter at the Prairie Campus is going to be egg-citing! Invite your friends for an uplifting, drive-in worship service (with kids outdoor Sunday School) and then after worship, all will enjoy our community egg hunt, a petting zoo, photo with the Easter bunny, and Easter cookies. Egg Hunt details: The outdoor hunt (held on the BLPA football field) will include staggered starts in separate areas, with a few families at a time for Covid safety. Masks required for ages 4 and up. Bring an Easter basket or bag. In case of bad weather, check the website for contingency plan. The egg hunt is free, but you must register at https://www.fumcprairie.org/easter-egg-hunt.

Egg Hunt Volunteers Needed If you are willing to help out at the Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday, please write your contact info with “egg hunt volunteer” on a piece of paper and drop it in the donation box following worship or contact Stacy at [email protected] for more details and to sign up.

Lawn chair seating at Drive-in Worship Feel free to “pull up a chair” in front of your car or on the lawn during drive-in worship any Sunday it is warm enough for you to feel comfortable. Please wear your mask and bring your own lawn chair from home.

A Lenten Candle Liturgy - During our Lenten worship, we will remember Jesus’ journey to the cross through a Lenten candle liturgy. For the first Sunday of Lent, we began with six candles lit, one for each of the six Sundays of Lent. And then each week of Lent we extinguish an additional candle (draping it in a black cloth) until the last Sunday in Lent, when every single candle will be extinguished. This extinguishing of candles reminds us of the coming darkness of the crucifixion. And yet as Christians, we know that darkness will not be the last word. Thank you to our 6th Sunday Lent Liturgists – JT, Stacy, John, and Sam McLeod.

Just Mercy: Movie Night and Discussion Group Watch "Just Mercy" at home (but all at the same time) at 7pm April 13th and then join the discussion on Tuesday, April 20th at 7pm via ZOOM. If you can't watch it at the same time as the group (4/13 at 7), just watch it any time and join the discussion! If you CAN watch it at the same time, we'll use a group text to share our thoughts "live". Note: depending on your viewing options, it may cost you $14.99 to watch the movie, but if you need assistance, just let us know. Scholarships available. To register, contact Cam Scott at [email protected], and provide your cell phone number for the group text. Also, join the Prairie Campus Anti-racism group on the 2nd Sunday night of each month , 7:30-9pm. Angela Stevens, president of the local chapter of the NAACP will be our guest speaker in April, which is Sunday, April 11, 7:30-9 pm Contact [email protected] or [email protected] to get the ZOOM.

Fresh Start Food Pantry Collection on April 11 - Fresh Start really appreciates the difference we have made for our neighbors. They particularly need peanut butter, soups, cereals, flour, sugar, baking mixes, pasta sauces, and canned veggies/fruits. Thank you for always being so generous, especially now. Bring your items on April 11 (which is not our typical 1st Sunday collection as Easter falls on the 1st Sunday this year.)

We are Turning Two! Prairie Campus Birthday Celebration Service and Party– April 18 Join us on this special Sunday at drive-in worship as we celebrate our launch two years ago and God’s faithfulness throughout the roller coaster of the journey of the last two years. What grace! Then stay after the service for cake and celebration.

Two Year Birthday Diaper Drive – April 18 - We are two years old, but we aren’t potty trained yet…so we need diapers! Please bring diapers to donate to the Prairie Campus at our 2-year birthday party on April 18. We’ll be collecting diapers of any size and baby wipes. Okay, they aren’t really for us, but for One Nation Walking Together. One Nation Walking Together strives to make a positive impact in the lives of Native Americans. By addressing the specific needs of each community they serve, One Nation delivers the basic necessities of life while uplifting the lives of the most impoverished people in our country. By loading 53-foot semi-trucks that deliver up to $2 million worth of donated goods to reservations annually, ONWT provides hope and services to between 30,000 to 40,000 Native Americans in Colorado and seven other states.

Communion is served weekly. You are invited to bring communion items from home such as juice and crackers, but even doughnuts and coffee will work! If you need elements, Pastor Patty will have some available to distribute during the time of communion. All are welcome at Christ’s table.

Fellowship Time after drive-in worship – Social Distancing Style! If interested, after worship, drive to the north parking lot (on other side of the school). Please bring a mask.

Cold weather plans for Worship - If we determine it’s too cold for drive-in, we’ll gather for 10 am zoom worship. You will be notified by the preceding Friday by your e-newsletter, Facebook, and the website.

Outdoor Sunday School during drive-in worship. Kids start in their cars and then after the announcements they follow Ms. Stacy to the side of the school. After the service, please retrieve your child by the side of the school. Parents are welcome to attend with their kids if interested. Offered for Preschool thru 5th grade. Please note, masks are required for all kids. Note - If weather is really cold during worship, we’ll cancel.

Ways to Give – to Support the Ministry of FUMC Prairie Campus By text 719-298-3177, type GIVE, select CAMPUS + FUND(S) or Online - www.fumcprairie.org and find GIVE. You might want to consider an automatic withdrawal for your donations. This provides a steady stream of income for the church. To do this, please go to our giving page on our website, find “give now”, follow the prompts and check the box "Make this gift recurring." By check – make out to “FUMC,” on memo line put “Prairie Campus.” Drop your check in the donation box, exiting the parking lot. If using cash, please put it in an envelope with your name on it for tax purposes.

Come Thou Fount

Come thou fount of every blessing Tune my heart to sing thy grace Streams of mercy, never ceasing Call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet Sung by flaming tongues above Praise the mount, I’m fixed upon it Mount of thy redeeming love

Here I raise mine Ebenezer Hither by thy help I’m come And I hope by thy good pleasure Safely to arrive at home

Jesus sought me when a stranger Wandering from the fold of God He, to rescue me from danger, Interposed his precious blood

O to grace how great a debtor Daily I’m constrained to be Let thy goodness, like a fetter Bind my wandering heart to thee

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it Prone to leave the God I love Here’s my heart O take and seal it Seal it for thy courts above

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing Public Domain United Methodist Publishing House: Used by Permission

A Lenten Candle Liturgy

One: We have come together this morning to worship during the season of Lent, a time when we journey with Jesus toward the cross. The Lenten candles have been lit, but over the weeks of Lent the light will slowly fade into darkness. For we are retelling the story of Jesus’ betrayal and suffering and death. We do this not to be morbid, but because in the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we find life. Each week in Lent we extinguish another candle as we journey with Jesus to the cross. As the lights go out, we are heading toward the darkness of the tomb. And yet as Christians, we know that darkness will not be the last word. We wait in hope. (A candle is extinguished.)

All: Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. Have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Jesus, Remember Me Jesus, remember me When you come into your kingdom Jesus, remember me When you come into your kingdom

All Glory Laud and Honor Chorus All glory, laud, and honor To thee, Redeemer, King To whom the lips of children Made sweet hosannas ring

Verse 1 Thou are the King of Israel Thou David’s royal son Who in the Lord’s name comest The King and Blessed One

Verse 2 The company of angels Are praising Thee on high And mortal men and all things Created make reply

Verse 3 To thee before thy passion They sand their hymns of praise To thee now high exalted Our melody we raise

All Glory, Laud, and Honor Public Domain United Methodist Publishing House: Used by Permission

Scripture Reading - John 12: 12-16

The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord— the King of Israel!”

Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written: “Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him.

John 19:16-19, 25-30 – The Crucifixion

Then Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

One: This is the word of God, for the people of God. All: Thanks be to God, Amen!

The Old Rugged Cross Verse 1 On a hill far away Stood an old rugged cross The emblem of suffering and shame And I love that old cross Where the dearest and best For a world of lost sinners was slain

Chorus So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross Till my trophies at last I lay down I will cling to the old rugged cross And exchange it some day for a crown

Verse 2 To the old rugged cross I will ever be true It’s shame and reproach gladly bear Then he’ll call me some day To my home far away Where his glory forever I’ll share

The Old Rugged Cross Public Domain United Methodist Publishing House: Used by Permission

Were You There Verse 1 Were you there when they Crucified my Lord? Were you there when they Crucified my Lord? Sometimes it causes me to tremble Were you there when they Crucified my Lord?

Verse 2 Were you there when they Nailed him to a tree? Were you there when they Nailed him to a tree? Sometimes I feel like shouting, “Glory” Were you there when they Nailed him to a tree?

Verse 3 Were you there when they Laid him in a tomb? Were you there when they Laid him in a tomb? Sometimes it causes me to tremble Were you there when they Laid him in a tomb?

Verse 4 Were you there when he Rose up from the dead? Were you there when he Rose up from the dead? Sometimes I feel like shouting, “Glory” Were you there when he Rose up from the dead?

Were You There Words: Afro-American Spiritual Music: Afro-American Spiritual; adapt. and arr. by William Farley Smith, 1986 Adapt. & Arr. © 1989 United Methodist Publishing House CCLI License # 1197875: Used by Permission