Ardmore United Methodist Church. 4th Sunday of Lent

Ardmore United Methodist Church 4th Sunday of Lent

4th Sunday of Lent March 6, 2016 Co-Celebrants: Rev. Millie Feske and Diana Esposito Entrance Prelude My Jesus I Love Thee Gordon-Bish Introit Breathe on Me, Breath of God *Hymn When Morning Gilds the Skies No. 185 Words of Welcome *Call to Worship Emma Calhoun L: Come, let us celebrate the forgiving, reconciling love of God. P: For once we were lost and felt so far away; now we have been found and are welcomed home. L: Know that God s love is lavished upon you forever. P: We rejoice at the news of forgiveness and hope! L: Come, let us celebrate and praise the God of Love. P: Amen! *The Gloria Patri Glory Be to the Father No. 70 Opening Prayer Emma Calhoun How incredible is your love, O God! We have been made new in your love and reconciled to you and to each other in peace and joy. Be with us this day as we hear your words of comfort and hope. Guide our lives that we may serve you more fully all of our days. Amen. Proclamation & Response Children s Time (Young children ages 4-8 may exit for Sunday School) Joys, Concerns and Morning Prayer Stacy Bartels Solo Pie Jesu (Requiem) Fauré Translation: Blessed Jesus, grant to them eternal rest. Alize Rozsnyai, Soprano Scripture: Psalm 103: 1-13 OT Pages 531 & 532 *Gospel: Luke 15: 1-32 NT Pages 74 & 75 This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! Reader: JJ Estenor Communion Meditation Fruit of the Spirit: Part 4-Kindness Diana Esposito

Ritual of Friendship (Please sign, pass and return to pew rack) Offering of Ourselves and Our Gifts Offertory Come, Follow Me Kupferschmid *Presentation of Gifts The Doxology No. 95 *Hymn Take Time to be Holy No. 395 Sacrament of Holy Communion Invitation to Holy Communion Confession and Pardon *Passing the Peace The Great Thanksgiving (with spoken response) The Lord s Prayer Page 07, Hymnal Page 08, Hymnal Page 08, Hymnal See Insert Sharing the Bread and Cup - Holy Communion This morning we will share communion while remaining in the pews. The elements will be brought to you singly - first the bread (including gluten free), then the cup. Please wait in each case until all are served so we can commune as one. Following communion, the empty cups may be placed in the pew rack. On the chancel rail there will be plates for our communion offering: Easter Mission project: Baskets of Love for Children of a church in West Philadelphia and for the Life Center of Eastern Delaware County. Sending Forth *Closing Hymn Sent Forth by God s Blessing No. 664 *Benediction (Psalm 32, Luke 15) Go forth in renewed strength, knowing who you are: the sons and daughters of God celebrated, rejoiced in, welcomed, dearly loved. Wear your robe and ring with joy! Be glad in God and rejoice, O you righteous! Amen. Postlude Air in F Major Handel ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Congregation standing Head Usher: Katherine Beskid Acolyte: Charlotte Morales Crucifer: Zahir Saunders Altar flowers are in memory of: A. Lawrence Baner, brother of Phebe Novakovic. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today we thank Diana Esposito, our Director of Christian Education for preaching and helping organize our worship service. We also appreciate the assistance of various youth and adult participants, including Rev. Dr. Millie Feske, the Ordained Elder who is co-officiating with Holy Communion.

Pastor Tim is on vacation in Florida (watching the Phillies in Spring Training games!) and will return on Tuesday. (he will be in worship next Sunday). If there are any pastoral care needs or emergencies, please call his cell at 610.306.3709, or contact the church office at 610.649.4382 or aumeth@verizon.net. Today is the forth Sunday of Lent. We are focused on the theme of "Fruit of the Spirit", the famous expression of St. Paul in the Book of Galatians. Through this Lenten Season, we will examine a different Fruit each Sunday. Today, we focus on the forth fruit: Kindness A special word of thanks to Ken Taylor, who has used his creative abilities to make a "Garden of Fruit". This week s fruit is the Apple. Everyone is invited to join us in the Parlor for a simple coffee hour. We continue to look for ways to build our community and strengthen the bond we have with each other. Monday, March 16th - Strategic Planning Committee Mtg- 7:30pm, Parlor Monday, March 7th - Property Committee Mtg - 7:30pm, Wesley Room Lenten Offering - As a spiritual discipline for Lent, from now until mid- March, we are inviting you to give a 2 nd mile gift to the church. Lenten Offering envelopes can be found in the pews. The Lenten offering this year will go toward the extra utility costs of this winter season. Looking Ahead - As we prepare for Easter, the Christian Ed Committee is teaming up with the Mission & Outreach Committee. We will be stuffing eggs on Sunday March 20th for the children s egg hunt at AUMC after the 11am service on Easter. We are also assisting a neighboring church in Philadelphia, as well as the Life Center of Eastern Delaware County with eggs & baskets for children. We need donations (no later than March 13th), of wrapped candy and Easter grass to fill 36 baskets that we will be stuffing on Sunday, March 13th. We (the children) will be delivering these donated baskets on March 18th/19th. Please drop off any donations to the narthex, church office or Diana's office. Don t forget, food is always welcomed for each food pantry. The basket is for St. Marks UMC (miscellaneous). The orange bucket is for Hope UMC. Upper Rooms - For March & April are available for pickup in the Narthex. Ardmore United Methodist Church Timothy Thomson-Hohl, Pastor Elizabeth Boggs, Music Director Diana Esposito, Director of Christian Education Michelle Mensack, Office Manager 200 Argyle Road, Ardmore, PA 19003 Phone: 610.649.4382 ~ Fax: 610.649.7418 Email: aumeth@verizon.net ~ Web: www.ardmorechurch.com

A GREAT THANKSGIVING: Consecrated by Elder and Deacon Elder: The Risen Christ with you; and also with you. Lift up your hearts! We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the God of mercy and grace. It is right to give our thanks and praise. Deacon: Our souls burst forth in praise to you, God of Israel, architect of galaxies, earth sculptor, life breather. In you is the dawning of our hope. In you is the life of the world. In you are witnesses and servants of the Word. In you are the songs of old men and young women. In you is table and home for sinners and outcasts. In you is the mercy promised to our ancestors. In you is the unseating of the arrogant and the raising up of the poor. Elder: And so, with Mary and Martha, with Levi and Zacchaeus; with the forgiven woman with her tears and her perfume, with all earth s returning prodigals and with all whose feet want to dance but cannot. We join all creation in heaven s unending song: People: Holy, holy, holy God of love and justice, Heaven and earth are full of your glory, Glory be to you, O God! Blessed is the One who comes in the name of God! Hosanna in the highest! Deacon: Holy and blessed is the mighty savior you raised up for us, Jesus, Mary s child, who opens the way of salvation, leading us home to your loving arms. Healing the sick, feeding the hungry and eating with sinners. He crossed boundaries proclaiming your reign among us. By the mystery of his incarnation, death and resurrection He has continued with the Church in the apostle s teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and the prayers. At Pentecost your Spirit unleashed a song-singing, story-telling, table-sharing people from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.

Elder: On the night he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread and said: This is my body given for you. And he took a cup, gave thanks to you and said: This cup that is the new covenant in my blood, poured out for you. Deacon: In this meal of hope liberate us by your Spirit s anointing, to embody good news to the poor, to declare release to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the disheartened and the abused, as we proclaim the mystery of faith until Christ rules in love s final victory. People: Christ s death, O God, we proclaim. Christ s resurrection we declare. Christ s coming we await. Glory be to you, O God! Elder: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Let them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ in service, justice, and compassion. Elder and Deacon: Blessings and glory is yours, Mighty God, here and everywhere, now and forever! Deacon, Elder, People: Amen! Amen! Amen! The Lord s Prayer Breaking the Bread and Sharing the Cup Distributing the Elements

Easter Flowers Order Form The beauty of our church is enriched each year by the presence of glorious Easter Flowers. This year we will offer white Lilies wrapped in foil and assorted colored (pink & blue) Hydrangea. If you wish to participate by placing a plant in memory or in honor of a loved one, please complete this form and return it to the church office no later than March 22nd. Each Lily plant is $8.00 Hydrangea plants are $18.00 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ordered By: In Memory of: In Honor of: Order includes: Lily Plant/s Hydrangea Plant/s Payment should accompany the order form. Please make checks payable to Ardmore UMC. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am planning to take my Plant/s home after service. **Please return form to church office or drop in the collection plate.**

Ardmore United Methodist Church 2016 Lenten Theme Galatians 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. March 6 th Be Kind Today s Fruit Apple March 13 th Being Good March 20 th Having Faith