ORDER OF WORSHIP March 4, 2018 3 rd Sunday of Lent Please sign and pass the Friendship Book ( pew pad ) where you can also record any prayer requests. Our prayer is that you will experience the presence of the Living God as we worship together. We invite you to focus your heart and mind in worship. * indicates please stand as you are able. WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS Dave Colvin PRELUDE Intermezzo Organ (from Organ Sonata in A minor) Joseph Rheinberger Dave Colvin The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, and sweeter than honey. In keeping them is great reward. Reprinted by permission of Westminster John Knox Press from Feasting on the Word worship Companion. 2014 CALL TO WORSHIP *SONGS OF WORSHIP: HERE I AM TO WORSHIP (VERSE 1) Light of the world You stepped down into darkness Opened my eyes let me see Beauty that made This heart adore you
Hope of a life spent with you (CHORUS) So here I am to worship Here I am to bow down Here I am to say that you re my God And you re altogether lovely Altogether worthy Altogether wonderful to me (VERSE 2) King of all days Oh so highly exalted Glorious in heaven above Humbly you came To the earth you created All for love's sake became poor (REPEAT CHORUS) (BRIDGE) And I'll never know how much it cost To see my sin upon that cross And I'll never know how much it cost To see my sin upon that cross (REPEAT CHORUS) CCLI Song No. 3266032 2000 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Tim Hughes For use solely in accordance with the SongSelect Advanced Terms of Agreement. All rights Reserved. www.songtouch.com CCLI License No. 296507 JESUS CALLS US O ER THE TUMULT (Hymn #580) (VERSE 1) Jesus calls us o er the tumult of our life s wild, restless sea; day by day his sweet voice soundeth, saying, Christian, follow me. Jesus calls us from the worship of the vain world s golden store, from each idol that would keep us, saying, Christian, follow me. (VERSE 2) In our joys and in our sorrows, days of toil and hours of ease, still he calls, in cares and pleasures,
Christian, love me more than these. Jesus calls us by thy mercies, Savior, may we hear thy call, give our heats to thine obedience, serve and love thee best of all. Karen Colvin Reprinted by permission of Westminster John Knox Press from Feasting on the Word worship Companion. 2014 Call to Confession Despite all that God has taught us, we still act foolishly; we are still weak. In the cross of Christ, we find forgiveness and grace. We confess our sins, trusting in God s wisdom and strength rather than our own. TIME OF PRAYER Prayer of Confession Merciful God, how fickle we are; we sin against you without even knowing it. Clear us, we pray, of any unknown sin, and save us from willfully ignoring your way. Let your commandments rule and guide us. Forgive us for worshiping anyone or anything except you; keep us faithful. Forgive us for failing to honor all our relationships with those closest to us and those who are distant neighbors. Help us to speak words of blessing and kindness, rather than words that belittle or destroy. Turn us away from violence, falsehood, and selfishness. Forgive us for thinking everything depends on our efforts and power, for you are the God who made us, led us out slavery, and has brought us into the community of faith.
Help us to depend on you alone and to rest in your peace. In Christ s name we pray. Amen. [Silent Prayer] Declaration of Forgiveness Brothers and sisters, in Jesus Christ, crucified, risen, and coming again, we are forgiven and set free to live in faithfulness with God and with one another! Thanks be to God!. Reprinted by permission of Westminster John Knox Press from Feasting on the Word worship Companion. 2014 SONG OF WORSHIP: PLEASE REMAIN SEATED IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL (Hymn #519) (VERSE 1) When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll, whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul. (REFRAIN) It is well with my soul, it is well, it is well with my soul. (VERSE 2) Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, let this blest assurance control: that Christ has regarded my helpless estate: and has shed his own blood for my soul. (REPEAT REFRAIN) (VERSE 3) My sin O, the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more: Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! (REPEAT REFRAIN) (VERSE 4) And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll, the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend: Even so it is well with my soul. (REPEAT REFRAIN) PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Elder Judy Potter Karen Colvin Reprinted by permission of Westminster John Knox Press from Feasting on the Word worship Companion. 2014 OFFERING OF OURSELVES & OUR GIFTS Invitation to the Offering The house of God is not a marketplace for buying and selling. It is a house of prayer, a place of healing and restoration, a place where we bring before God our provisions to be used for present needs. Let us bring our tithes and offerings to God. *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. Prayer of Thanksgiving/Dedication O Lord our God, we want to follow all your commandments to love only you, not worshiping the things of this world; to love our neighbor freely, not desiring for ourselves something they possess. Accept these offerings, we pray, and teach us to be generous, giving fully of ourselves that we may truly be the body of Christ in this world. Amen. Reprinted by permission of Westminster John Knox Press from Feasting on the Word worship Companion. 2014 Please be seated as the ushers pass the offering plates. The children are excused at this time to attend Junior Chapel. Offertory Sweet Hour of Prayer Piano/Organ Arr. Frank W. Asper
READING OF THE SCRIPTURES Diana Blank Exodus 20:1 17 (The Message (MSG) 1-2 God spoke all these words: I am God, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of a life of slavery. 3 No other gods, only me. 4-6 No carved gods of any size, shape, or form of anything whatever, whether of things that fly or walk or swim. Don t bow down to them and don t serve them because I am God, your God, and I m a most jealous God, punishing the children for any sins their parents pass on to them to the third, and yes, even to the fourth generation of those who hate me. But I m unswervingly loyal to the thousands who love me and keep my commandments. 7 No using the name of God, your God, in curses or silly banter; God won t put up with the irreverent use of his name. 8-11 Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Work six days and do everything you need to do. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to God, your God. Don t do any work not you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your servant, nor your maid, nor your animals, not even the foreign guest visiting in your town. For in six days God made Heaven, Earth, and sea, and everything in them; he rested on the seventh day. Therefore God blessed the Sabbath day; he set it apart as a holy day. 12 Honor your father and mother so that you ll live a long time in the land that God, your God, is giving you. 13 No murder. 14 No adultery. 15 No stealing. 16 No lies about your neighbor. 17 No lusting after your neighbor s house or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don t set your heart on anything that is your neighbor s.
John 2:13 22 (The Message (MSG)) 13-14 When the Passover Feast, celebrated each spring by the Jews, was about to take place, Jesus traveled up to Jerusalem. He found the Temple teeming with people selling cattle and sheep and doves. The loan sharks were also there in full strength. 15-17 Jesus put together a whip out of strips of leather and chased them out of the Temple, stampeding the sheep and cattle, upending the tables of the loan sharks, spilling coins left and right. He told the dove merchants, Get your things out of here! Stop turning my Father s house into a shopping mall! That s when his disciples remembered the Scripture, Zeal for your house consumes me. 18-19 But the Jews were upset. They asked, What credentials can you present to justify this? Jesus answered, Tear down this Temple and in three days I ll put it back together. 20-22 They were indignant: It took forty-six years to build this Temple, and you re going to rebuild it in three days? But Jesus was talking about his body as the Temple. Later, after he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this. They then put two and two together and believed both what was written in Scripture and what Jesus had said. PRAYER FOR UNDERSTANDING (IN SONG) OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART (VERSE) Open the eyes of my heart Lord Open the eyes of my heart I want to see you I want to see you (CHORUS) To see you high and lifted up Shining in the light of your glory Pour out your power and love As we sing holy holy holy (REPEAT VERSE & CHORUS) (BRIDGE) PLEASE REMAIN SEATED
Holy holy holy Holy holy holy Holy holy holy I want to see you CCLI Song No. 2298355 1997 Integrity's Hosanna! Music Paul Baloche. For use solely in accordance with the SongSelect Advanced Terms of Agreement. All rights Reserved. www.songtouch.com CCLI License No. 296507 MESSAGE Why? Why Not? Rev. Peter Blank *SONG OF WORSHIP: THROUGH THE LOVE OF GOD OUR SAVIOR (Hymn #610) (VERSE 1) Through the love of God our Savior, all will be well; free and changeless is his favor, all, all is well; precious is the blood that healed us, perfect is the grace that sealed us, Strong the hand stretched out to shield us, all must be well. (VERSE 2) Though we pass through tribulation, all will be well; ours is such a full salvation, all, all is well; happy, still in God confiding, fruitful, if in Christ abiding, holy through the Spirit s guiding, all must be well. (VERSE 3) We expect a bright tomorrow, all will be well; faith can sing through days of sorrow, all, all is well; on our Father s love relying, Jesus every need supplying, or in living or in dying, all must be well.
SHARING AROUND CHRIST S TABLE COMMUNION Rev. Peter Blank Christ becomes a part of our flesh through Holy Communion. The Lord s Supper is not an end in itself. It always points beyond itself to celebrate God s grace and covenant faithfulness. This does not mean the physical aspects of the celebration are incidental or unimportant. The Lord s Supper should be a celebration fitting to the abundant grace of God offered in Christ. Invitation to the Lord s Supper Breaking of the Bread & Pouring of the Cup Sharing the Body and Blood of Christ *CLOSING SONG It is the custom at Knox, in celebration of Holy Communion, to hold hands and form a circle around the sanctuary to sing our closing song BLEST BE THE TIE THAT BINDS (Hymn #708) Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. BENEDICTION Rev. Peter Blank POSTLUDE Postlude in G Minor Organ Gordon Young * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * In the pulpit today: Rev. Peter Blank is a new arrival to Spokane since August. He and Diana have come to take care of Diana s aging father. Peter has served congregations in central California, rural Nevada and NW Oregon. After arriving, he has been busy training and becoming licensed as a Home Inspector in the Spokane area. Peter has a passion for learning and discipleship training. He is graduate of Pacific Lutheran University and Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary. With Diana, they have 5 grown children in their blended family scattered along the west coast; as pet lovers, they have two dogs and a cat. They love the Spokane area for outdoor hikes and lakeside fun.
Today s Lectionary Readings Exodus 20:1 17 I Corinthians 1:18 25 Psalm 19 John 2:13 22 Question for Reflection The third Sunday of Lent focuses on the gift of God s law (Exodus 20:1-17) John Calvin (1509-1564) described three uses for the Ten Commandments: First, they show us how to live before God and neighbor, and expose our sins in failing to live as God intends. Second, they instruct our civic or common life, showing us how to live responsibly in the freedom God gives. Third, rather than show us what we must do in order to receive God s grace and love, the commandments show us how we should live because we are a people who have already received God s grace and love in Jesus Christ. Does God s law restrict or enhance our freedom as human beings? Household Prayer: Morning God of heaven and earth, I listen this morning for the sound of your glory: in the songs of birds, in quiet conversations that begin the day, in easy laughter among friends, in sunlight s warmth, pattering rain, or silent snowfall. Give me ears to hear your glory in its many forms. Give me eyes to see your glory in its many guises. Throughout this day, I, too, will proclaim your glory, your grace, and your love so that I may be a part of the chorus of praise that stretches to the ends of the earth.
In Christ s name I pray. Amen. Household Prayer: Evening God of freedom, I thank you for claiming me as your own and for setting me in the midst of the community of faith. Today the news was filled with stories of people who do not live according to your commandments, with grievous results. Lives are shattered as your ancient tablets of stone are broken again and again. And I struggle, too, in my own ways, to live before you and my neighbors in faithfulness, generosity, and love. As the day comes to an end, I pray for forgiveness for myself and for this weary world, confident of your grace and mercy. Send your gift of Sabbath rest, and let me sleep in peace as, over and around me, night declares to night your power and glory. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. The Morning & Evening Household Prayers and Questions for Reflection are reprinted by permission of Westminster John Knox Press from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion. 2014