Hope Church Fifth Sunday of Lent 21
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HOPE CHURCH FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT 21 MARCH 2021 In response to COVID-19, the Hope Church building will remain closed to in-person until further notice. This policy will be consistently reviewed according to developments in treatment and remediation of the COVID-19 virus. Hope Church, RCA Statement of Mission OUR FAITH Hope Church is called by God and equipped by the Holy Spirit to be a witness to the unity, reconciliation and justice given in the saving grace of Jesus Christ. These touchstones drawn from the Belhar Confession give voice to the historic Christian faith in our time and place. "If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation! God has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation." II Corinthians 5:17-18 OUR MISSION Hope Church affirms these values to be at the core of our calling: TO GROW IN FAITH: We seek to grow not only in numbers but, most importantly, in depth of Christian commitment. We seek to identify and engage each person's particular gifts and to direct all our gifts in faithfulness to God's Word. TO PIONEER: Founded as a pioneering congregation, Hope Church is willing to experiment courageously and to press ahead in new directions. We continue to seek creativity and excellence in worship, nurture, governance, and outreach. TO BE OPEN: We celebrate and proclaim God’s welcome of all people. Hope Church is blessed and strengthened by the rich diversity of background, race, gender, sexual orientation, culture, gifts, and interests present among and around us. TO LEAD IN CHRISTIAN ACTION: Hope Church is committed to service, both locally and worldwide, and we support the work of justice and compassion by all people of good will. We serve both as a congregation and individually through our daily living. "There are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit, varieties of service but the same Lord, varieties of working but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." I Corinthians 12:4-7 Blessings as you worship with us today. Reformed Church in America 77 W 11th St Holland, Michigan 49423 (616) 392-7947 www.hopechurchrca.org + https://www.facebook.com/hopechurchholland A proud member of Room for All: the open and affirming movement of the RCA 2 HOPE CHURCH FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER March 21, 2021 ~ 11:00 AM THE APPROACH TO GOD PRELUDE We Are Climbing Jacob's Ladder Timothy Albrecht Meditation on "Peace like a River" Brenda Portman WELCOME CALL TO WORSHIP Open My Heart Open my heart, open my heart. VOTUM AND SENTENCES Our help is in the name of the LORD who made heaven and earth. Psalm 124:8 Amen. God makes a new covenant with us, not written on stone tablets easily broken, but inscribed on our hearts, filled with joy and hope. Jeremiah 31 God desires truth and gives to us wisdom. Create in us a clean heart, O God. Restore to us the joy of your salvation, and sustain in us a willing spirit. * PROCESSIONAL HYMN Purple #694 Great God of Every Blessing __________________________________________________________ *Congregation to rise in body or spirit Bold type indicates congregational response 3 4 *SALUTATION PRAYER OF CONFESSION I Want Jesus to Walk With Me Have mercy on us, O God, according to your steadfast love. We are in need of facing our waywardness and finding life in your forgiveness. We are in need of lives cleansed from what diminishes us and others. prayer continues in stillness Have mercy on us, O God, according to your steadfast love. Teach us your wisdom and truth, O Lord. Open our hearts to hear your voice, that we may know your presence and live as your people. prayer continues in stillness Have mercy on us, O God, according to your steadfast love. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew my spirit with all that is good. Fill us with the joy of true life and sustain us with courage and hope. Amen. WORDS OF ASSURANCE AND CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP 5 RESPONSE Purple #423 Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God 6 *THE PEACE The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. THE WORD OF GOD IN PROCLAMATION AND SACRAMENT WORD WITH THE CHILDREN PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION THE OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Jeremiah 31:31-34 31The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD. 33But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the LORD,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. THE EPISTLE LESSON Hebrews 5:5-10 5So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; 6as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” 7In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; 9and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 7 THE GOSPEL LESSON John 12:20-33 20Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor. 27“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. 31Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. SERMON PRAYER FOR BLESSING ~ silent meditation *CONFESSION OF FAITH The Apostles’ Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. LIFE OF HOPE 8 OFFERING Offertory For Your Glory Tasha Cobbs Leonard Lord if I Find favor in Your sight Lord please Hear my hearts cry I wanna be where You are I gotta be where You are I'm desperately waiting I wanna be where You are To be where You are I gotta be where You are I'll cross the hottest desert I'll travel near or far I wanna be where You are Peace is where You are For Your glory I will do anything Joy is where You are Just to see You And Love is who You are To behold You as my King *Doxology Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow NEW DOXOLOGY *Prayer of Dedication 9 THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER Meaning of the Sacrament Communion Prayer The Lord be with you.