The Celebration of the Gospel
March 22, 2020 – The Fourth Sunday in Lent
“Stay here and keep watch with me.”
—Matthew 26.38
______We Are Received as God’s Beloved______
PRELUDE
GREETING
CALL TO WORSHIP – Garden
Inside the world’s noise,
beneath its tangled silence,
a solitude unfolds. Be still.
Unreachable by the fearful future,
hidden in the city of this moment,
come to the garden.
Here in this place of no one else
kneel on the soft ground
with the one who is with you,
who though haunted, though hunted,
was here before you and will abide
and hold your place forever.
Here, though troubles await,
there is one who listens.
There is peace. Listen:
the Beloved, breathing in you.
—Steve Garnaas-Holmes
PRAYER
____________ We Are Transformed by The Love of Christ______________
SONG – Open My Eyes
CHILDREN’S TIME
THE WORD IN SONG – How Great Thou Art
THE HEBREW BIBLE – Isaiah 43.1-5
Thus says the Holy One, who created you, O Beloved,
who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Holy One your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior
and you are precious in my sight, and honored,
and I love you.
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PSALTER – Psalm 23
God, you are my shepherd;
I shall not want.
You make me lie down in green pastures;
you lead me beside still waters;
you restore my soul.
You lead me in right paths for your name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil; for you are with me;
your rod and your staff— they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Holy One
my whole life long.
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GOSPEL – Matthew 26.36-49
SERMON – Presence
_______We Are Sent in the Power of the Holy Spirit______
THE PRAYERS
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thu kingdom come, they 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.
THE PEACE OF CHRIST
THE WORD IN SONG – Lead Me, Lord
THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH