ORDER OF WORSHIP FOR
THE FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH
215 MIDDLE ROAD, HAZLET, NJ 07730
(* indicates to stand if you are able)
Sunday, March 21; Fifth Sunday in Lent
VOTUM AND SALUTATION
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 51)
Leader: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
People: Blot out my transgressions, according to your abundant mercy.
Leader: For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
People: Indeed, I was born guilty; I was a sinner when my mother conceived me.
Leader: Purge me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
People: Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Leader: Let me hear joy and gladness; let my aching bones rejoice.
People: Hide your face from my sin, and blot out all my iniquities.
Leader: Create in me a clean heart, O God;
People: And put a new and right spirit within me.
Leader: Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me,
All: But restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit!
PRAYER OF PRESENCE
All: Holy God of goodness and mercy, we pray for your blessing this morning. You created us out of the clay of the earth. Without you we would still be but mud and dust. Yet you molded us in your image. You breathed life into our bodies. You make us worthy to praise and honor you. Accept our worship this morning and grant us favor as we give glory to your holy name. We ask this blessing in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who is our Lord and savior. Amen.
HYMN OF PRAISE “O Splendor of God's Glory Bright”
(hummed – not sung)
O Splendor of God's glory bright, from light eternal bringing light,
Thou Light of light, light's living Spring, True Day, all days illumining.
Come, very Sun of heaven's love, in lasting radiance from above,
and pour the Holy Spirit's ray on all we think or do today.
Confirm our will to do the right, and keep our hearts from envy's blight;
Let faith her eager fires renew, and hate the false, and love the true.
All praise to God the Father be, all praise, eternal Son, to thee,
Whom with the Spirit we adore forever and forever more.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
(Please remain in place, and greet your nearest neighbors with a wave and a blessing of peace)
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
All: God of love and God of grace, we pray to you. We pray a simple confession that you are our one true God. Without you we are weak. We falter and fail. We give in to temptation and do what is easy. But with you we are given strength. We are forgiven our shortcomings. And you show us the paths of righteousness and goodness. Holy God, continue to bless us with your mercy. Forgive us for our sinful ways. And continue to guide us to do what is good and right in your eyes. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
(Responsive Hymn #817 – to be hummed, not sung) - Hear our prayer O Lord. Hear our prayer O Lord. Incline thine ear to us, and grant us Thy peace. Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE (Isaiah 18:1)
All: “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow. Though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
*Gloria Patri: Glory be to The Father (hummed – not sung)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
World without end, Amen, Amen.
SUMMARY OF THE LAW (Micah 6:8)
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly. And to love mercy. And to walk humbly with your God.
HYMN FOR ILLUMINATION (seated) “Spirit of the Living God” Verse 1 (hummed – not sung) Hymn #297
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me;
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SERMON HYMN “How Firm a Foundation” (verses 1, 2, & 5)
(Hummed- not sung)
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can he say than to you he hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
“Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
for I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.”
“The soul that on Jesus still leans for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no, never, no, never forsake!”
SCRIPTURE READINGS – Jeremiah 31:31-34
John 12:20-33
THE MORNING MESSAGE – Great Words, Great Works
*OFFERTORY PRAYER AND 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.
*APOSTLES CREED
I believe in God the Father, almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord;
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried.
The third day he rose from the dead
He ascended into heaven
And sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, The holy catholic church,
The communion of saints, The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting. Amen.
JOYS & CONCERNS – MORNING PRAYER – THE LORD'S PRAYER
(Lord’s Prayer – “…sins / …those who sin against us…”)
*CLOSING HYMN “How Blest Are the People” (verses 1, 2, & 4)
(hummed – not sung)
How blest are the people possessing true peace,
In humble repentance sad hearts find release;
Christ's death has accomplished forgiveness within,
His goodness a garment to cover their sin.
How blest are the people receiving God's grace,
They know that the Lord is a safe hiding place;
His strength their protection when troubles are long,
His power in deliverance the theme of their song.
How blest are the people believing God's word,
Who live by the Spirit of their risen Lord;
His in-dwelling presence their heaven begun,
And joyful their praises to God, Three-in-One!
*CLOSING PRAYER & BENEDICTION
*CHORAL POSTLUDE: "Lord, Dismiss Us with your Blessing"
(hummed – not sung)
Lord, dismiss us with your blessing; fill our hearts with joy and peace;
Let us each, your love possessing, triumph in redeeming grace;
O direct us and protect us, traveling through this wilderness.
THE FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH
215 MIDDLE ROAD, HAZLET, NJ 07730
(* indicates to stand if you are able)
Sunday, March 21; Fifth Sunday in Lent
VOTUM AND SALUTATION
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 51)
Leader: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
People: Blot out my transgressions, according to your abundant mercy.
Leader: For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
People: Indeed, I was born guilty; I was a sinner when my mother conceived me.
Leader: Purge me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
People: Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Leader: Let me hear joy and gladness; let my aching bones rejoice.
People: Hide your face from my sin, and blot out all my iniquities.
Leader: Create in me a clean heart, O God;
People: And put a new and right spirit within me.
Leader: Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me,
All: But restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit!
PRAYER OF PRESENCE
All: Holy God of goodness and mercy, we pray for your blessing this morning. You created us out of the clay of the earth. Without you we would still be but mud and dust. Yet you molded us in your image. You breathed life into our bodies. You make us worthy to praise and honor you. Accept our worship this morning and grant us favor as we give glory to your holy name. We ask this blessing in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who is our Lord and savior. Amen.
HYMN OF PRAISE “O Splendor of God's Glory Bright”
(hummed – not sung)
O Splendor of God's glory bright, from light eternal bringing light,
Thou Light of light, light's living Spring, True Day, all days illumining.
Come, very Sun of heaven's love, in lasting radiance from above,
and pour the Holy Spirit's ray on all we think or do today.
Confirm our will to do the right, and keep our hearts from envy's blight;
Let faith her eager fires renew, and hate the false, and love the true.
All praise to God the Father be, all praise, eternal Son, to thee,
Whom with the Spirit we adore forever and forever more.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
(Please remain in place, and greet your nearest neighbors with a wave and a blessing of peace)
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
All: God of love and God of grace, we pray to you. We pray a simple confession that you are our one true God. Without you we are weak. We falter and fail. We give in to temptation and do what is easy. But with you we are given strength. We are forgiven our shortcomings. And you show us the paths of righteousness and goodness. Holy God, continue to bless us with your mercy. Forgive us for our sinful ways. And continue to guide us to do what is good and right in your eyes. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
(Responsive Hymn #817 – to be hummed, not sung) - Hear our prayer O Lord. Hear our prayer O Lord. Incline thine ear to us, and grant us Thy peace. Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE (Isaiah 18:1)
All: “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow. Though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
*Gloria Patri: Glory be to The Father (hummed – not sung)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
World without end, Amen, Amen.
SUMMARY OF THE LAW (Micah 6:8)
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly. And to love mercy. And to walk humbly with your God.
HYMN FOR ILLUMINATION (seated) “Spirit of the Living God” Verse 1 (hummed – not sung) Hymn #297
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me;
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SERMON HYMN “How Firm a Foundation” (verses 1, 2, & 5)
(Hummed- not sung)
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can he say than to you he hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
“Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
for I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.”
“The soul that on Jesus still leans for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no, never, no, never forsake!”
SCRIPTURE READINGS – Jeremiah 31:31-34
John 12:20-33
THE MORNING MESSAGE – Great Words, Great Works
*OFFERTORY PRAYER AND 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.
*APOSTLES CREED
I believe in God the Father, almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord;
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried.
The third day he rose from the dead
He ascended into heaven
And sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, The holy catholic church,
The communion of saints, The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting. Amen.
JOYS & CONCERNS – MORNING PRAYER – THE LORD'S PRAYER
(Lord’s Prayer – “…sins / …those who sin against us…”)
*CLOSING HYMN “How Blest Are the People” (verses 1, 2, & 4)
(hummed – not sung)
How blest are the people possessing true peace,
In humble repentance sad hearts find release;
Christ's death has accomplished forgiveness within,
His goodness a garment to cover their sin.
How blest are the people receiving God's grace,
They know that the Lord is a safe hiding place;
His strength their protection when troubles are long,
His power in deliverance the theme of their song.
How blest are the people believing God's word,
Who live by the Spirit of their risen Lord;
His in-dwelling presence their heaven begun,
And joyful their praises to God, Three-in-One!
*CLOSING PRAYER & BENEDICTION
*CHORAL POSTLUDE: "Lord, Dismiss Us with your Blessing"
(hummed – not sung)
Lord, dismiss us with your blessing; fill our hearts with joy and peace;
Let us each, your love possessing, triumph in redeeming grace;
O direct us and protect us, traveling through this wilderness.