Apology No. 5 – Will You Please Forgive Me?

March 26, 2023
Pastor Jacob Lee
Worship

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Service of Worship

Adagio in A minor Q. 19
Johann J. Quantz
Public Domain

Hallelujah! We Are God’s People

(Based on Psalm 51:1-12 and Jeremiah 31:31-34)

Leader: We are alive to see this new day. Shout hallelujah my brothers and sisters.
People: Hallelujah! We are God’s people.
Leader: Behold, the Lord has made a new covenant with us. Our hearts and minds will be renewed and restored. Rejoice and be glad for now we will know and see God’s awesome power more clearly.
People: Hallelujah! We are God’s people.

(Cynthia Bond Hopson, The Africana Worship Book for Year B, Discipleship Resources)

Prayer of Confession
Leader: God, you created us in your own image and loved us regardless of our race and tribe. You said in 1 John 44:20, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.’”
People: We seek your forgiveness, dear God, because we have lied to our brothers and sisters, saying that we love them when, in fact, we have segregated. Dear Jesus, help us love one another regardless of race or tribe. Teach us to love unconditionally. Teach us to know that through Jesus Christ we are one tribe, one race, and one in Christ. We thank you, Lord, that you loved us first. May your grace enable us to love one another. In Jesus Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.

(Juliet Nabukalu, “We Are One Tribe, One Race,” from Racial Justice Prayers of Repentance)

Opening Hymn — #158 “Come, Christians, Join to Sing”

1. Come, Christians, join to sing:
Alleluia! Amen!
loud praise to Christ our King:
Alleluia! Amen!
Let all, with heart and voice,
before his throne rejoice;
praise is his gracious choice.
Alleluia! Amen!

2. Come, lift your hearts on high:
Alleluia! Amen!
Let praises fill the sky:
Alleluia! Amen!
He is our guide and friend;
to us he’ll condescend;
his love shall never end:
Alleluia! Amen!

3. Praise yet the Lord again:
Alleluia! Amen!
Life shall not end the strain:
Alleluia! Amen!
On heaven’s blissful shore
his goodness we’ll adore,
singing forevermore:
Alleluia! Amen!

Come, Christians, Join to Sing
Christian Henry Bateman | Stan Pethel
Public Domain

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 – P.A.L.A. Singers

King Of My Life I Crown Thee Now (Duncannon)
Jennie Evelyn Hussey | William James Kirkpatrick
Public Domain

At Calvary
Daniel Brink Towner | William Reed Newell
Public Domain

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

Almighty and restoring God, we have been living through some difficult days, as churches and as individuals. We experience days when we rise, wondering if we will make it through one more day, whether the church will survive for another generation; and we feel like those dry bones in the valley. As we offer our tithes and offerings, help us to hear the word of hope the prophet shares, not just with our ears but with our hearts. May it call us back to life and service, out of the graves of despair in which we have buried ourselves. In Christ’s holy name. Amen.

(John 11:1-45)

Scripture Reading — Genesis 50:15-21 (NRSV)

15 Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, “What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?” 16 So they approacheda Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this instruction before he died, 17 ‘Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.’ Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers also wept,a fell down before him, and said, “We are here as your slaves.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? 20 Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. 21 So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.” In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.

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

Anthem — Chancel Choir

Lamb of God
Twila Paris
© 1985 Jubilee Communications Inc. | Mountain Spring Music
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051

Sermon — Rev. Jacob Lee
“Apology No. 5 – Will You Please Forgive Me?”
(Based on The Five Languages of Apology)

Closing Hymn — #700 “Abide with Me” (v. 1-4)

1. Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
the darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

2. Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
change and decay in all around I see;
O thou who changest not, abide with me.

3. I need thy presence every passing hour.
What but thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

4. I fear no foe, with thee at hand to bless;
ills have no weight, and tears not bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if thou abide with me.

Abide With Me (Eventide)
Henry Francis Lyte | William Henry Monk
Public Domain

Benediction

Postlude – Hani

Final – Allegro marziale from XII Miniatures
Henry M. Higgs
Public Domian