Life begins with letting go

The Celebration of the Gospel

April 6, 2014 — Fifth Sunday in Lent

raising_of_lazarus

The Raising of Lazarus, John Reilly
“Lazarus, come out!”

 John 11.43

 _______________________ We Gather as The Body of Christ

 GREETING

PRELUDE Elevation Dom Paul Benoit

 * CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: Spirit of life, light of life, breath of life,

All: breathe new life into us.

Christ of love, Christ of sorrow, Christ of hope,

breathe new life into us.

Wind of God, breath of God, spirit of God,

breathe new life into us.

We worship you, open to your grace.

Raise us to new life in your spirit. Amen.

 SONG Bless the Lord, My Soul Black hymnal #2013

 CHILDREN’S TIME

_______________________________________ We Attend to the Word

 THE WORD IN SONG Out of the Deep, from Requiem John Rutter

 PRAYER OF THE DAY

God of grace, into the dry bones of our hearts breathe your Word. Into the deep place of our sorrow speak your hope. Into our trembling, fearful hands place your new life, pulsing with grace. Speak, Lord, for we are listening. Amen.

 OLD TESTAMENT Ezekiel 34. 1-14

[Today’s texts explore not only God’s gift of new life, but especially the death that must precede it. In Ezekiel 37.1-14 the prophet is sent in a vision to speak hope to dry bones, symbolic of his people—and then to speak hope to the wind (breath) that will give the bones life.]

 NEW TESTAMENT Romans 8.6-11

[Paul speaks of the difference between life in the “flesh,” meaning life that is directed by the control of our own will, and life in the spirit, which is life directed by God’s grace. The Spirit that raised Christ from death is in us and will raise us to new life, too.]

 GOSPEL / SERMON John 11.1-45

Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead.]

 SONG Into the Darkness Steve G-H

 THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE … THE PRAYER OF JESUS

PASSING THE PEACE

 ——————We Share at Christ’s Table

 OFFERING OUR GIFTS I Need Thee Every Hour Robert Lowry, arr: Mark Hayes

COMMUNION SONG

We praise you, Christ, who bore the cross.

We praise you, God, who felt the loss.

We praise you, Spirit, heart of love,

thou rising breath, descending dove.

We bring our gifts, lay down our lives.

We trust your grace alone revives.

Now in this feast your Spirit give,

for, raised with Christ, we truly live.

 THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

SHARING THE HOLY MEAL
[Everyone is welcome at the table of Christ’s self-giving love.
The bread is wheat-, soy- and dairy free. We dip the bread in the juice.
]

PRAYER OF BLESSING

Gracious God, we thank you for this mystery in which you have given yourself to us. You have entered our death, and fed us with the food of eternal life. Send us into the world as new people, alive in your Spirit, in the name of Christ. Amen.

SILENT PRAYER

_______________ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World

THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD

SONG How Firm a Foundation Blue hymnal #529

THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH

RESPONSE We stand and sing to your neighbors:

May the grace and peace of Christ be with you my friends.

Go and share the love of God, love that never ends.

POSTLUDE Toccata in E Minor Johann Pachelbel

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