WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Service for the Lord s Day Fourth Sunday in Lent March 31, 2019 GATHERING (Silence during the Prelude is requested in preparation for worship.) PRELUDE *CALL TO WORSHIP Let us worship God. Forty Days and Forty Nights Reflections from Iona Herbst/arr. Matthew Prins Karen K. Thompson (Those who are able may stand.) Come as you are, broken and burdened, and find healing in God s goodness. Come as you are, gifted and beloved, and find purpose in God s calling. Come as you are, weary and wary, and find comfort in God s embrace. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and worship God with gladness.
*PRAYER OF THE DAY The Lord be with you. And also with you. Almighty God, through the waters of baptism Christ has made us children of light. May we always walk in his light and show forth your glory in the world; through Jesus our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. *HYMN 774 There Is Now a New Creation STUTTGART 2
CALL TO CONFESSION We cannot earn God s grace or favor. It comes to us, not as something owed, but as a gift freely given. Confident in God s love for us, even when we are ungodly, together we confess our sins in faith. PRAYER OF CONFESSION The Lord be with you. And also with you. O God, in you we live and move and have our being. Forgive us when we ignore your presence: when we place our trust in things that fade away. By your grace, move us to be more faithful disciples. By your forgiveness, empower us to share forgiveness with others. (Silent confession) Kyrie (Sung responsively by the choir and congregation) James MacMillan 3
ASSURANCE OF PARDON *The Peace (The liturgist pours water, which reminds us of our baptism.) Believe the Good News: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven! Since God in Christ has forgiven us, let us also forgive one another. The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. (Please exchange the peace with the words, The peace of Christ be with you. ) CONCERNS OF THE CHURCH PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION SCRIPTURE (Everyone is asked to sign the Friendship Register, which is located on the center aisle end of each pew.) THE WORD Hear the Word of God! Our ears are open. 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 (New Testament, page 181 in your pew Bible) (Sung responsively after each scripture reading.) Create in me a clean heart, O God. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 32 (Hymn 446, all sing) MEIRIONYDD Luke 15:11-32 (New Testament, pages 78-79 in your pew Bible) SERMON The Fear of Missing Out Donovan Drake (A moment for meditation) 4
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*HYMN 771 (verse 4 omitted) What Is the World Like NEW WORLD 6
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH To be reconciled to God is to be sent into the world as God s reconciling community. This community, the church universal, is entrusted with God s message of reconciliation and shares God s labor of healing the enmities which separate people from God and from each other. Christ has called the church to this mission and given it the gift of the Holy Spirit. The church maintains continuity with the apostles and with Israel by faithful obedience to his call. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. OFFERING (from Confessions of 1967, Inclusive Language Text) THANKSGIVING Anthem (8:30 a.m.) God is our Refuge and Strength God is our refuge and strength; a present help in time of trouble. Though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea, though the waters roar and foam, we will not fear. Come and behold the work of the Lord, the awesome acts of God. He is in the midst of his people, in all the earth. He is the Word, we are his hands, he will lead us. He is the air, we are his song. We will celebrate his presence all the day long. God is our refuge and strength... Come and behold the work of the Lord, the awesome acts of God. He is in the midst of his people, in all the earth. He is the rain, we are the stones, he will cleanse us. He is the air, we are his song. We will celebrate his presence all the day long. God is our refuge and strength... Allen Pote 7
Anthem (11:00 a.m.) The Road Home Stephen Paulus *DOXOLOGY Tell me where is the road I can call my own, that I left, that I lost, so long ago? All these years I have wandered; Oh, when will I know there s a way, there s a road that will lead me home? After wind, after rain, when the dark is done, as I wake from a dream in the gold of day, through the air there s a calling from far away. There s a voice I can hear that will lead me home. Rise up, follow me, come away is the call, with love in your heart as the only song; there is no such beauty as where you belong. Rise up, follow me, I will lead you home. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Christ, all creatures here below; Praise Holy Spirit evermore; Praise Triune God, whom we adore. Amen. *PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. Almighty and merciful God, from whom comes all that is good, we praise you for your mercies, for your goodness that has created us, your grace that has sustained us, your discipline that has corrected us, your patience that has borne with us, and your love that has redeemed us. Help us to love you, and to be thankful for all your gifts by serving you and delighting to do your will, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. OLD HUNDREDTH 8
*THE LORD S PRAYER (Singing together) (Please refer to the inside back cover of your hymnal for the words and music for this hymn.) SENDING *HYMN 321 The Church s One Foundation AURELIA [see page 10 for music] *BENEDICTION *BENEDICTION RESPONSE Create in me a clean heart, O God. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Renew a right spirit within me. POSTLUDE Christopher Tambling Toccata on Forty Days and Forty Nights Heinlein *(Those who are able may stand.) SERVICE NOTES WORSHIP LEADERS: Liturgist: Whitney Booth Lockard, Associate Director of Youth; (8:30 a.m.) Lay liturgist: John Douglass; (11:00 a.m.) Lay liturgist: Ann Harris. MUSICIANS: Harvard Handbell Choir (8:30 a.m.) Laudate Youth Choir; (11:00 a.m.) Westminster Choir; John W. Semingson, Director of Music Ministries; Polly Brecht, Organist. USHERS: (8:30 a.m.) Lee Ballew, Lindsay Ballew, Maston Ballew, Minor Ballew; (11:00 a.m.) Jim Jenkins, Ed Branding, Amy Dennison, Anne Jenkins, Anne Claire Jenkins, Kathryn Jenkins. Contact an usher should you need assistance at any time during the service. 9
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LENT: The word Lent is derived from the Old English word lecten, meaning spring, which in turn derives from the Old High German lenzin, referring to the lengthening of days. The season we know as spring was originally called Lent. Lent gradually adhered strictly to church practice, and spring came to designate the season following winter. Lent lasts for forty weekdays plus Sundays, a number richly grounded in Biblical tradition. In the Bible there are one hundred-twenty references to the number forty, among them: the days of Noah s deluge; the days that Moses spent on the mountain; the years Israel wandered in the wilderness; the days of Elijah s journey to the cave of the still, small voice; and Jesus forty-day wilderness sojourn in which he was tempted by Satan. Lent has traditionally been a time in which Christians have engaged in self-reflection, fasting, prayer, confession and repentance in anticipation of the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ. At Westminster, in order to emphasize the meaning of Lent, we adopt a more penitential posture in worship. There are no flowers; no festive choir processional; no Act of Praise, following the Confession and Pardon; and at several points in the service we incorporate the ancient and plaintive supplication from Psalm 51: Create in me a clean heart, O God. ANNOUNCEMENTS WELCOME: Westminster Presbyterian Church welcomes you to share our common journey to become more faithful disciples of Christ. Our love and acceptance of each other affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person, regardless of our differences, and bear witness to the love of God for all people and our commitment to Christ. If you are interested in learning about membership, please speak with a Greeter, who will be located in the Parlor following each worship service. The Greeters for today are (8:30 a.m.) Jim Hartman, and (11:00 a.m.) Aline Patte. ASSISTIVE HEARING DEVICES AND LARGE-PRINT BULLETINS are available from Ushers. Please tune hearing devices to channel 4. If you would like to take a hearing device home with you, please contact Paul Webb in the church office at 615.292.5526. LENTEN MIDDAY PRAYER: Westminster s staff will be leading Lenten Midday Prayer in the Harwell Chapel every Wednesday from 11:45 a.m. 12:15 p.m. through April 17th. The services will be simple and meditative, befitting the season. Please contact Guy Griffith (ggriffith@nashvillewpc.org or 615.292.5526) if you have any questions or need additional information. EASTER LILIES- TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO ORDER! Lilies will grace our Sanctuary on Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019. If you would like to purchase a lily ($10) in memory or in honor of a friend or family member, please place your order online at www.nashvillewpc.org or by email to Terri Eckert at teckert@nashvillewpc.org. The deadline for submitting names to be included in the Easter bulletin is TODAY, March 31, 2019. 11
HUNGER OFFERING: We need your help to solve hunger issues that endure throughout Middle Tennessee. Please donate to the hunger offering that is being taken today, and every fifth Sunday during the year. We divide this offering, giving a portion locally to Second Harvest Food Bank and a portion nationally and internationally through The Presbyterian Hunger Program. Hunger Offering envelopes are available in the pew literature racks. CENTERING PRAYER brings strength and power to many. Be still and know that I am God, says the Psalmist. Come and be still, 9:00 9:30 a.m., Wednesday or Thursday mornings in Room M-209. We gather in sacred space by candlelight and cross, in the presence of God and one another. The half hour begins with a brief passage of scripture or uplifting word from ancient and contemporary spiritual guides, followed by twenty minutes in silence, and concluding with a version of the Lord s Prayer. COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: The music used in the service this morning is copyrighted under Christian Copyright Licensing International, Inc., No. 11221525. HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE APRIL 14 PASSION/PALM SUNDAY PROCESSION OF PALMS ALLELUIA, GLORIA, AND JUBILATE CHILDREN S CHOIRS APRIL 18 - MAUNDY THURSDAY 7:00 P.M. SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION IN THE SANCTUARY STRIPPING OF THE CHANCEL LAUDATE CHOIR APRIL 19 - GOOD FRIDAY 7:00 P.M. CHORAL SERVICE OF DARKNESS IN THE SANCTUARY WESTMINSTER CHOIR APRIL 21 - THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD SERVICES: 7:30 A.M., 9:15 A.M., AND 11:00 A.M. WITH CHOIRS AND BRASS ENSEMBLE (HOLY COMMUNION AT THE 7:30 A.M. SERVICE ONLY) WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 3900 West End Avenue Nashville, Tennessee 37205-1899 615.292.5526 www.nashvillewpc.org 12