Third Sunday in Lent

Gathering Music, Jerry Rubino

“The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.” —1 Corinthians 10:16-17

Call to Worship
One:	Seek God while God may be found.
Many:	Call upon the God who is near.
One:	Let the wicked forsake their way,
Many:	and the unrighteous their thoughts;
One:	let them return to the creator.
Many:	God will have mercy on us, and will abundantly pardon. Amen.

Hymn of Praise, Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing, page 400

Prayer of Confession
One:	In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Many:	If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Most merciful God, we confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. 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. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us, forgive us, renew us and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
One:	Almighty God, in his mercy, has given his Son to die for us and for his sake forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all our sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Centering Prayer
O Lord, open our eyes, our ears, our hearts and spirits this morning, that we may be healed of our faithlessness, freed from our fears and anxieties, and placed on the pathways that lead to peace and service to you. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen

Children’s Time
Following children’s time, preschool through 6th grade children are dismissed for classes.

Praise Him All Ye Little Children
Crosby, Fanny J. / Warner, Anna / Bradbury, William B.
Praise Him, praise Him all ye little children.
God is love, God is love.
Praise Him, praise Him All ye little children.
God is love, God is love.

© Public Domain CCLI License No. 1027861

Gift of Music, Go Light Your World, Chris Rice, Susan Hofflander

Prayers of the People
Concerns:	Leader: And the people of God say: People: Hear our prayer.
Joys:	Leader: And the people of God say: People: Thanks be to God.

Silent Prayer

Morning Prayers

Scripture
GIsaiah 55:1-9, , page 795
I Corinthians 10:1-13, page 12661
Luke 13:1-9, page 1120

Message, Rev. Ed DuBose

Choir Anthem, In God’s Presence, arr. Jerry Rubino, Choir

Sharing in Holy Communion and Offering

The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving, Page 17

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, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

 

Closing Song, Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us, number 381

Benediction and Blessing
One:	Forgiven and Beloved Ones of God, go now in peace.
Many:	We go to share with others the Good News of God’s love.
One:	Forgiven and Beloved Ones of God, go now in peace.

Closing Music, Jerry Rubino

Time of Fellowship

Prayer Requests

Joys and concerns were shared last week. You are invited to share prayer requests by calling 763 545 0239 or by email.

• We are thankful for our students for their successes in school.
• We pray for the Chilean people as they respond to the earthquake.
• We pray for continuing needs in Haiti.
• We pray for Spirit of Hope as we seek to be inclusive and reconciling.
• We pray for Calvary Church in Shakopee, as they go through transitions.
• We pray for those who have lost their jobs.
• We pray for those who are dealing with mental health issues.

Upcoming Events

Wednesdays during Lent — Soup Supper at 6 p.m., Service at 7 p.m
Sunday, March 14, Daylight Saving Time Begins
Holy Week Services
	March 28 – Palm Sunday
	April 1 – Maundy Thursday Service Musical– “Living Last Supper” 7 p.m.
	April 2 – Good Friday Service 7:00 p.m.
	April 4 – Easter Sunday 8:30 and 10:00 a.m. Worship, Breakfast Breads

Calendar for the week of March 7, 2010

Friday, March 5

Saturday, March 6
8:30 am Women’s Breakfast at the Old Country Buffet)
10:00 am Creative Spirits in the Lobby

Sunday, March 7— Third Sunday in Lent
9:00 am Chapel Service
9:00 am FORUM in the Fireside Room
9:00 am Choir Rehearsal in the Sanctuary
10:00 am Worship and Sunday School
After Worship—
    Fellowship and coffee in the lobby
    Footitt Conference Room reserved

Monday, March 8
5:00 pm Violin in the Fireside Room
6:30 am Simpson
6:45 pm SMILERS in the Fireside Room
7:00 pm Boy Scouts in Fellowship Hall

Tuesday, March 9
8:30 am Covenant Discipleship Group in the Footitt Conference Room
9:30 am Bible Study in the Lobby
10:30 am Bible Study at Covenant Village
7:00 pm Bible Study in the Lobby

Wednesday, March 10
10:00 am Staff Meeting in the Footitt Conference Room
5:45 pm Confirmation in the Footitt Conference Room
6:00 pm Soup Supper in Fellowship Hall
6:30 pm Bell Choir in the Sanctuary
6:30 pm SPR in the Chapel
7 pm Worship in the Fireside Room
7:30 pm Choir rehearsal in the Sanctuary

Thursday, March 11

Friday, March 12
5:30 pm TOFYG at Bob and June Pickering’s

Saturday, March 13
8:30 am Men’s Breakfast in Fellowship Hall

Sunday, March 14— Fourth Sunday in Lent.
9:00 am Chapel Service
9:00 am FORUM in the Fireside Room
9:00 am Choir Rehearsal in the Sanctuary
10:00 am Worship and Sunday School
After Worship—
    Fellowship and coffee in the lobby
    Footitt Conference Room reserved

Stewardship Thought|
There's nothing better than free. Maybe you've gone to a restaurant and the manger provided a complimentary meal for you. Maybe you've gone to a block party in your neighborhood and all the food was free. Or perhaps you've walked by a booth at an exhibit and picked up a free pen or pencil, a calculator, or a letter opener. Free stuff is cool.

Of course nothing is really free. Everything costs someone something. Sometimes things are given away for a business reason, perhaps as an inducement to get you to try a product or to get you inside the door of a business. However there are times when something is given away, such as food or fireworks at a public event, just because it is the hospitable thing to do. Someone else pays the price so everyone can have a good time.

In Isaiah 55:1-2 the prophet calls out to the people like someone with a booth in the marketplace. Typically the loudest and most insistent person made the sale. Except in this case no sale is involved! Why spend money on food and drink when it's free? Come, all you who have no money. Eat and drink! It's an inducement to get the people to repent and return to God. But it's also a gift, the hospitality that comes from God. It is grace. The price has been paid. Come.

Church seems free sometimes. The doors are open. Come on in. And you know what? It is free. We want the poor, the struggling, and the hurting to come here to be fed, literally and spiritually. We want nothing. God gives everything. Of course nothing is free. But we delight in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. Our offerings fill us with joy because others who thirst for truth, who hunger for righteousness, can find food and drink.

You stand in the gap. You are the presence of Jesus Christ. Yours are the arms that are opened wide in hospitality and service.

Visitor Info | Map | News | The Voice newsletter | Home |