Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. The Blessed Life

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1 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. The Blessed Life Fourth Sunday of Lent March 10, 2013

2 Lent 2013 The Blessed Life Jesus tells us what the blessed life looks like. The beatitudes are a declaration that in Jesus the kingdom of heaven has arrived, and the blessings of the kingdom of heaven have come to us. At the same time, the beatitudes serve as a deeply challenging call to follow Jesus. He embodies the message and calls us to follow him. In Lenten worship this year we pair the beatitudes with events from the final week of Jesus life where the beatitudes are exemplified. This is Jesus character the righteous child of God and a citizen of the kingdom of heaven. Yet the beatitudes are also about us, for his Lenten journey is aimed at our transformation into children of God. He brings the blessing and shows the way. Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy. Up to this point, the beatitudes have spoken of inward dispositions. Now, in the fifth beatitude, we reach a turning point. This is the heart of Christ in action. And the first word of action for kingdom people who have received so much mercy is to be merciful. The footwashing is a model for us. Cleansed and served by the very Lord himself, only then are we able to be agents of useful service in his world. We may be merciful.

3 GATHERING TO WORSHIP Prelude: I Want Jesus to Walk with Me (arr. Smith) When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (arr. Page) Silent Meditation and Procession of the Cross Call to Worship *Hymn of Praise: What Wondrous Love PH 379 *God s Greeting and Mutual Greetings CONFESSION AND RENEWAL Call to Confession Kneeling in Confession Please kneel or lean forward in your pews. Silent Prayers of Confession concluding with: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded PH 383:2 My Lord, what you did suffer was all for sinner s gain; mine, mine was the transgression, but yours the deadly pain. So here I kneel, my Savior, for I deserve your place; look on me with your favor and save me by your grace. *Rising for the Gospel Our Assurance of Pardon from Romans 8: L: Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? C: No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, L: neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, C: will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. *The Will of God for Our Lives: The Beatitudes (p. 7)

4 *Response of Gratitude: 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) + Ensemble on verses and first two refrains; all on other refrains. Refrain: The sun comes up, it s a new day dawning. It s time to sing Your song again. Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me, let me be singing when the evening comes. Refrain You re rich in love and You re slow to anger. Your name is great and Your heart is kind. For all Your goodness, I will keep on singing, ten thousand reasons for my heart to find. Refrain two times (all) And on that day when my strength is failing, the end draws near and my time has come, still my soul will sing Your praise unending, ten thousand years and then forevermore. Refrain two times (all)

5 Profession of Faith of Steve Hofman *Song of Faith: Shout to the Lord Sing! 223 chosen by Steve Hofman *Apostles' Creed (inside front cover of Hymnal) Children's Prayer and Blessing Leader: What is our prayer for these children? Congregation: The Lord be with you. Children: And also with you. (Preschoolers may go to Church School. Children in K-1 may go to Children and Worship) Pastoral Prayer and Prayer for Illumination Song: Blest Are the Contrite Hearts PH 206:1-3 Solo on verse 1; all on verses 2, 3 PROCLAMATION OF GOD S WORD Dramatized Scripture Reading: John 13:1-17 Text: Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God. Message: The Blessed Life: Blessed Are the Merciful RESPONSE OF GRATITUDE *Song of Response: Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love PH 601 Presentation of Offerings for: General Fund (Members envelopes for Christian Education, General Fund and Faith Promise) You may write a short prayer of confession on the vellum slips in the pews. Musical Offering: What Wondrous Love (arr. Cotter)

6 *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. *Offertory Prayer DEPARTING TO SERVE *Hymn of Praise: Bring Forth the Kingdom Sing! 123 *God's Blessing *Postlude: Bring Forth the Kingdom (Haugen) As you leave the sanctuary you are invited to place your prayers of confession on the cross. *Those who are able, please stand. PH Psalter Hymnal (Grey Hymnbook) Sing! - Sing! A New Creation (Green Hymnbook) +Text: Jon Myrin, Music: Matt Redman Said And Done Music/Thankyou Music/worshiptogether.com songs/shout! Music Publishing/sixsteps Music. CCLI Pastor Ruth Boven, liturgist Pastor Leonard Kuyvenhoven, preaching Dawn Hendriksen, organist and pianist Meg Schmidt, bulletin cover design Randy Hoekstra, sound system TNG students serving as greeters, service planners and participants, and cookie servers today: Graham Apol-Hoezee, Bastian Bouman, Burton De Young, Max De Young, Malik Green, Drew Hendriksen, Sarah Hendriksen, Maiya Hoffman, Steve Hofman, Istvan Horvath, Tyson Houston, Chance Johnson, Markayla Johnson, Allison Kuyvenhoven, Paris Meadow, Tressa Meyer, Maaike Mudde, Jon Mudde, Willem Mudde, Iko Murata, Mike Myers, Jonathan Paauwe, Andrew Quist, Anna Selles, Chloe Selles, Isabelle Selles, Jackson Smith, Maddie Smith, Brittney Taylor, Aaron Van Eck, Arielle Veenstra, Paul Ver Strate, Rachel Visser, Jada Wade, Melanie Zondag TNG leaders: Beki Clark, Adam De Bruyn, Quanisha Elliott, Tim Hendriksen, Katy Hoffman, Melvin Ogles, Kristy Quist, Andrew Van Winkle, Rich Visser Hearing Loop System available. Switch hearing aid to T-coil.

7 The Beatitudes The words of Jesus from Matthew 5: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

8 Welcome to Neland. A warm welcome to all who worship with us today! If you are visiting with us or are interested in joining the fellowship of Neland Church, please fill out one of the cards in the pew in front of you and place it in the offering plate. All children ages 3 through first grade are welcome to come forward for the children s prayer and blessing during the morning service. The beginners may then move to Church School for story, singing, and craft; they may be picked up at Room 22 following the service. Children in K-1 will worship in the Worship Center, Room 21. The Parlor (located on the lower level) is available, during the service, for nursing mothers. Following the service, Sunday School is open to all ages from second grade to adult. Coffee, juice and cookies are available downstairs after the morning service. All visitors are invited to a potluck on the lower level at 12:15. Visit the Ministry Center on the lower level after the service to see what s happening at Neland. Learn more about ministries, schedule a tour, or sign up to use your gifts in ministry! If you desire pastoral care, please call a member of our Pastoral Care Team: Pastor Ruth Boven, , ext rboven@neland.org Pastor Leonard Kuyvenhoven, , ext lkuyvenhoven@neland.org - drop-in hours: Thursday 1:30 5:00 There s a place for you... to serve! For information on programs and volunteer opportunities please call Ministry Coordinator Pearl Banks, , ext pbanks@neland.org Neland Avenue Christian Reformed Church 940 Neland Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI office@neland.org Web site: There s a place for you at Neland