ORDER OF WORSHIP March 22, 2015 Fifth Sunday in Lent *Congregation Stands (If you prefer, It is acceptable to remain seated.) Welcome to Knox Presbyterian Church! Please sign and pass the Friendship Book located at the end of your pew. If you re a first-time visitor, our prayer is that you will experience the presence of the eternal, as we worship our God together. We invite you to take the time during the prelude to focus your heart and mind in worship. WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS Tom Tiffany PRELUDE Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy Organ Gordon Young Tom Tiffany The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim the year of the Lord s favor. CALL TO WORSHIP INVOCATION Luke 4:18-19 (NRSV) Tom Tiffany God of all glory, on this first day you began creation, bringing light out of darkness. On this first day you began your new creation, raising Jesus Christ out of the darkness of death. On this Lord s day grant that we, the people you create by water and the Spirit, may be joined with all your works in praising you for your great glory. Through Jesus Christ, in union with the Holy Spirit, we praise you now and forever. Amen. *SONGS OF WORSHIP: Reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources
ALL WHO ARE THIRSTY (VERSE) All who are thirsty All who are weak Come to the fountain Dip your heart in the stream of life Let the pain and the sorrow Be washed away In the waves of his mercy As deep cries out to deep, we sing (CHORUS 1) (REPEAT VERSE) (CHORUS 2) (BRIDGE) As deep cries out to deep As deep cries out to deep As deep cries out to deep (REPEAT CHORUS 1 & 2) CCLI Song #2489542 1998 Vineyard Songs (UK/Eire) Brenton Brown Glenn Robertson For use solely with the SongSelect Terms of Use. All rights Reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License #296507 Tommy Colvin Call to Confession Let us call on the name of the One who invites us to speak the truth about ourselves and our relationships and promises to show us mercy. TIME OF PRAYER Kyrie eleison Christe eleison Lord, have mercy Christ, have mercy
Kyrie eleison Lord, have mercy Prayer of Confession Holy and Merciful God, we do not know how to pray as we ought, and we know too well our constant failures to do as you have commanded and to hold fast to your word. Forgive us for the divisions we nurture, guide us to your way, keep us in your care, and lead us into faith. We trust your word that the Spirit of truth will show us all things and grant us courage and peace. Amen. CELEBRATION OF BAPTISM Elder Misty Rowley Owen James, Cameo Thompson, and Ruth Yaeger RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS Elder Misty Rowley Angel Harper, Renee Leavell, Cameo Thompson, Ron Wallender, and Ruth Yaeger *SONGS OF WORSHIP: BAPTIZED IN WATER (Hymn #758) (VERSE 1) Baptized in water, sealed by the Spirit, cleansed by the blood of Christ, our King; heirs of salvation, trusting his promise, faithfully now God s praises we sing. (VERSE 2) Baptized in water, sealed by the Spirit, dead in the tomb with Christ, our King; one with his rising, freed and forgiven, thankfully now God s praises we sing.
(VERSE 3) Baptized in water, sealed by the Spirit, marked with the sign of Christ our King; born of one Father, we are his children, joyfully now God s praise we sing. OFFERING OF OURSELVES & OUR GIFTS: *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 God of glory, receive these gifts and the offering of our lives. As Jesus was lifted up from earth, draw us to your heart in the midst of this world, that all creation may be brought from bondage to freedom, from darkness to light, and from death to life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. Tommy Colvin Reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources Bringing our gifts forward and/or lighting a candle Also at this time the children are excused to the back of the sanctuary to attend Junior Chapel. Offertory O Sacred Head Organ S. Kirnberger PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE SCRIPTURE READINGS John 3:1 16 (NIV) Pat Tucker
1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him. 3 Jesus replied, Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. 4 How can someone be born when they are old? Nicodemus asked. Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother s womb to be born! 5 Jesus answered, Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, You must be born again. 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. 9 How can this be? Nicodemus asked. 10 You are Israel s teacher, said Jesus, and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heavenexcept the one who came from heaven the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Romans 8:26 30 (NIV) Destiny Czyson 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God s people in accordance with the will of God.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. MESSAGE Spirit Alive Deacon John Billington and Pastor. Don Meekhof *CLOSING SONG: TO GOD BE THE GLORY (Hymn #72) (VERSE 1) To God be the glory, great things he hath done, so loved he the world that he gave us his Son, who yielded his life an atonement for sin, and opened the life gate that all may go in. (REFRAIN) Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear his voice! Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice! O come to the Father through Jesus the Son, and give him the glory, great things he hath done. (VERSE 2) O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood, to every believer the promise of God; the vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives. (REPEAT REFRAIN) (VERSE 3) Great things he hath taught us, great things he hath done, and great our rejoicing in Jesus the Son;
but purer, and higher and greater will be our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see. (REPEAT REFRAIN) BENEDICTION POSTLUDE Setting from Sacred Harp (1884) Organ Wilbur Held