Prelude
Our Joyful Noize Choir sang with other children choirs on March 7, 2020 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Loveland. Our worship today begins with a selection from that service.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Our call to worship is from Psalm 31:1-5, 16. Read it aloud or listen to Suzanne Edwards read it aloud.
I take refuge in you, Lord.
Please never let me be put to shame.
Rescue me by your righteousness!
Listen closely to me!
Deliver me quickly;
be a rock that protects me;
be a strong fortress that saves me!
You are definitely my rock and my fortress.
Guide me and lead me for the sake of your good name!
Get me out of this net that’s been set for me
because you are my protective fortress.
I entrust my spirit into your hands;
you, Lord, God of faithfulness—you have redeemed me.
My future is in your hands.
Shine your face on your servant;
save me by your faithful love!
opening hymn
Prayer of Confession
Offer this prayer aloud.
Help us and guide us, O Lord.
Show us the way. Otherwise, we are lost.
Help us seek truth. Otherwise, we only hear what we want to believe.
Give us life and help us protect life.
After a moment of silence, offer this sung confession:
Lord have mercy on us. Christ have mercy on us. Lord have mercy on us.
We pray in the name of the One who is the way, the truth, and the life. It is in Jesus Christ that we can boldly say, “We are forgiven.” Amen.
THE WORD
You are invited to close your eyes and listen to the scripture passage. You may also read the passages aloud yourself.
John 14:1-10
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.”
Solo
Brian Shepard sings “In My Father's House Are Many Mansions.”
Affirmation of Faith
Our affirmation of faith today comes from the Brief Statement of Faith. Feel free to recite the affirmation with the congregation using the recording.
In life and in death we belong to God.
We trust in Jesus Christ,
fully human, fully God
Jesus proclaimed the reign of God:
preaching good news to the poor
and release to the captives,
teaching by word and deed and blessing the children,
healing the sick and binding up the brokenhearted,
eating with outcasts, forgiving sinners,
and calling all to repent and believe the gospel.
In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit,
we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks
and live holy and joyful lives.
With believers in every time and place,
we rejoice that nothing in life or in death
can separate us from the love of God
in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Welcome & Prayers of the People
SENDING
Lisa and Michael sends us from this service with a special gift and charge especially for graduates.
We give thanks to God for Keith Fuge, McKenzi Renae Saunders (from Madison High School), Taylor Brooke Saunders (from Monroe High School), Jack Edward Newlin (from Monroe High School), and Emily Bursk (from Anderson High School.)
Benediction
And now as members of Christ’s church: Be of good courage. Hold fast to that which is good. Render no one evil for evil. Strengthen the fainthearted. Support the weak. Heal the afflicted. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit. Amen.
Postlude & Offering
Contributions to the ministry of First Presbyterian Church may be made online by clicking the button below or mailed to First Presbyterian Church, 2910 Central Ave., Middletown, OH 45044.
CCLI License #768739