Apology No. 2 – I Was Wrong

March 5, 2023
Pastor Jacob Lee
Worship

Save

Service of Worship

Lenten Prayer
Edward Broughton
© 1985 Lorenz Publishing Co
Used by Permission. ONE LICENSE # A-401420

Leader: Welcome pilgrims on the way to the cross.
People: We are learning to follow Jesus.
Leader: When God says, “Go!” without telling us the destination,
People: Show us, Christ, how to go forward in faith.
Leader: When re-birth is the impossible way forward,
People: Christ, be our midwife as we accept God’s call to be reborn.
Leader: When we find ourselves in the in-between of where we’ve been and where we’re going,
People: Christ, meet us on the way and bless us in the going.
Leader: Pilgrims on the way, come let us worship God!
People: We come to worship God as we learn to live inside out! Amen.

(Dr. Lisa Hancock, Director of Worship Arts)

Prayer of Confession
In the season of Lent we are invited to consider how we live as followers of Christ – to look at our decisions and our actions straight on, to hold them up to the example of Christ, and to make amends. In this time of silence, and in our prayer together, let us look at our lives. We pray, first in silence.

Silent Prayer

Unison Prayer of Confession
Holy God, Creator of all that is, Donor of Grace, and Giver of Life: Hear our prayer.
There are chasms in our lives, deep valleys that separate us from one another and from You. We confess that we have allowed those rifts to grow, for fear of admitting our part in the separation, for fear of being rejected when we reach out. You call us to a reconciled life, to healed relationships, to a wholeness with each other and with You. Mend us, we pray, and make us new creations through the power and love of Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

(Beth Merrill Neel, From Discipleship Ministries)

Opening Hymn — #393 “Spirit of the Living God” (sing 2 times)

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.

Spirit Of The Living God
Daniel Iverson
© 1935. Renewed 1963 Birdwing Music
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051

Holy Communion, The United Methodist Hymnal, page 15

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.

…The pastor concludes:
And so,
with your people on earth
and all the company of heaven
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

…The pastor concludes:
And so,
in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a holy and living sacrifice,
in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died;
Christ is risen;
Christ will come again.

All honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and for ever.
now and for ever.

Amen.

Pastor’s Time With the Children – Rev. Jacob Lee

Joys and Concerns, Pastoral Prayer, Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and glory forever. Amen.

For those who are called and able, gifts and tithes can still be made through online giving, by mailing them in, and by dropping them off to the office through the secure mail slot to the left of the double door entry to the church hallway.

Offertory – Hani

Near the Cross
Arr. Chris Addison
near_cross

Doxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow (Old 100th)
Louis Bourgeois | Thomas Ken
Public Domain

Offertory Prayer

God of unwavering love, you have held nothing back in your love for us, not even your Son. How we marvel at that kind of love, and how we long to reflect a portion of that devotion back to you. As we dedicate our offerings to you, lead us away from our tendency to hold back and worry that there will not be enough. Help us to live as the people of love and abundance you have called us to be. In Christ we pray. Amen.

(John 3:1-17)

Scripture Reading — Luke 15:11-21 (NRSV)

11 Then Jesusa said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.” ’ 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

Response
The Word of the Lord:
Thanks be to God.

Anthem — Chancel Choir

Sermon — Rev. Jacob Lee
“Apology No. 2 – I Was Wrong”
(Based on The Five Languages of Apology)

Closing Hymn — #454 “Open My Eyes That I May See”

1. Open my eyes, that I may see
glimpses of truth thou hast for me;
place in my hands the wonderful key
that shall unclasp and set me free.

Refrain
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

2. Open my ears, that I may hear
voices of truth thou sendest clear;
and while the wavenotes fall on my ear,
everything false will disappear.

Refrain
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my ears, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

3. Open my mouth, and let me bear
gladly the warm truth everywhere;
open my heart and let me prepare
love with thy children thus to share.

Refrain
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my heart, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

Open My Eyes That I May See (Open My Eyes)
Clara H. Fiske Scott
Public Domain

Benediction

Postlude – Hani

Rondeau
Henry Purcel
Public Domain