PRELUDE/ENTRANCE/LIFE OF THE CHURCH
*OPENING SONG
"Lord, I Lift Your Name on High" TFWS 2088
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Liturgist: Children of God, in Lent we remember that our salvation is an unearned gift, that new life is a matter of faith, not of works. People: We gather to lay down the burden of trying to earn our salvation.
Liturgist: Like Nicodemus, who met Jesus in the dark of night, we struggle to accept that new life is not just possible but given as a free gift of grace. People: We gather to bring our struggles into the light and embrace God’s grace with open arms.
Liturgist: Like Paul writing to the Romans, we remember God’s promise of new life has always rested on grace. People: We gather to receive the promise of salvation by grace through faith.
Liturgist: Like the many who have followed, questioned, and grown in the faith, we submit ourselves to be formed by grace as we work out our salvation day by day. ALL: We gather as people guided by the promise of new life, a promise fulfilled by Christ, whose path we follow.
Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, July 2025.
*Opening Prayer
Infinite Love, heart of all life, you loved this word into being with such love as to birth yourself among us, Love begotten as the Beloved. Your presence does not separate but unites; love does not push away, but embraces; you do not condemn, but save. Trusting this, we know we are loved, never rejected. Thanks be to God! Amen.
Adapted from Steve Garnaas-Holmes and posted on Unfolding Light, https://www.unfoldinglight.net/.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
SHARING GOD’S PEACE
JOYS AND CONCERNS
PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE
A TIME FOR CHILDREN
SPECIAL MUSIC
EPISTLE LESSON Genesis 12:1-4
*GOSPEL LESSON John 3:1-17
MESSAGE
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
SONG OF RESPONSE
“Blessed Assurance" UMH 369
*OFFERING OF OURSELVES
*DOXOLOGY UMH 95
*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
HOLY COMMUNION
GREAT THANKSGIVING UMH 15
THE LORD’S PRAYER
SHARING THE BREAD AND CUP
SENDING FORTH
*SONG OF DISMISSAL
“What Wondrous Love Is This” UMH 292
*BENEDICTION
*PEACE
“God Be with You till We Meet Again” UMH 672
Verse 1