SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
5th Sunday in Lent
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA)
March 21, 2021 Ten Thirty in the morning
Minister: The Reverend Aaron Ochart
Liturgist: Jeremy Moore
Bold face indicates congregational participation.
GATHERING
WORDS OF WELCOME
MINUTE FOR MISSION
PRELUDE Bells “Our Great Savior” arr. Patricia Cota
ADORATION
CALL TO WORSHIP (responsive)
We are closer to the events in Jerusalem every day.
We are pilgrims on a journey. We are travelers on the road.
When your people were slaves, you led the faithful through the waters and set them free. But we struggle with the freedom you give us.
We are pilgrims on a journey. We are travelers on the road.
Always you reach out to us. Yet so often we have ignored your open arms and fled from your grace and freedom—and our responsibility.
We are pilgrims on a journey. We are travelers on the road.
One: Let us pray.
All: Loving God, you have loved us beyond all measure, but we continue to look for life outside of your embrace. On this journey, remind us that true freedom comes in obedience to you and following where you lead. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
1 My song is love unknown,
My Savior’s love to me,
Love to the loveless shown
That they might lovely be.
O who am I
That for my sake
My Lord should take
Frail flesh, and die?
2 Christ came from heaven’s throne
Salvation to bestow,
But people scorned and none
The longed-for Christ would know.
But O my Friend,
My Friend indeed,
Who at my need
His life did spend!
CONFESSION
SILENT CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison)
God of mercy, you sent Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost. We confess that we have strayed from you and turned aside from your way. We are misled by pride, for we see ourselves pure when we are stained, and great when we are small. We have failed in love, neglected justice, and ignored your truth. Have mercy, O God, and forgive our sin. Return us to paths of righteousness through Jesus Christ, our Savior.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
GLORIA PATRI 579
PROCLAMATION
FIRST LESSON Hebrews 12:1-12
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as children—“My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, or lose heart when you are punished by him; for the Lord disciplines those whom he loves, and chastises every child whom he accepts.” Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children; for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline? If you do not have that discipline in which all children share, then you are illegitimate and not his children. Moreover, we had human parents to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not be even more willing to be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness. Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees.
MESSAGE FOR THE CHILDREN “Zacchaeus”
ANTHEM “Lord I Want To Be A Christian” African spiritual
Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart, in my heart;
Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart.
Lord, I want to be more loving in my heart, in my heart;
Lord, I want to be more loving in my heart.
Lord, I want to be more holy in my heart, in my heart;
Lord, I want to be more holy in my heart.
Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart, in my heart;
Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart.
SECOND LESSON Luke 18:31-19:10
Then he took the twelve aside and said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be handed over to the Gentiles; and he will be mocked and insulted and spat upon. After they have flogged him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again.” But they understood nothing about all these things; in fact, what he said was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said. As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” Then he shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who were in front sternly ordered him to be quiet; but he shouted even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still and ordered the man to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, praised God. He entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”
SERMON “Uppity” Rev. Aaron Ochart
RESPONSE
REAFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM
One: Just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
Many: For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body- Jews and Greek, slaves and free– and we were all made to drink of the one Spirit. …
One: Trusting in the gracious mercy of God, do you turn from the ways of sin and renounce evil and its power in the world?
Many: I do.
One: Who is your Lord and Savior?
Many: Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.
One: Will you be Christ’s faithful disciple, obeying his word and showing his love?
Many: I will, with God’s help.
THE AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Belhar 10.1-10.3, 10.9
We believe in the triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who gathers, protects and cares for the church through Word and Spirit. This, God has done since the beginning of the world and will do to the end.
We believe in one holy, universal Christian church, the communion of saints called from the entire human family.
We believe • that Christ’s work of reconciliation is made manifest in the church as the community of believers who have been reconciled with God and with one another;
We believe that, in obedience to Jesus Christ, it’s only head, the church is called to confess and to do all these things, even though the authorities and human laws might forbid them and punishment and suffering be the consequence. Jesus is Lord. To the one and only God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be the honor and the glory for ever and ever.
THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM
One: The Lord be with you
Many: And also with you
One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
Many: It is right to give our thanks and praise. …
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen
1 Just as I am, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
2 Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
PARTING PRAYER Augustine of Hippo (354–430)
O God, full of compassion, I commit and commend myself to you, in whom I am, and live, and know. Be the goal of my pilgrimage, and my rest by the way. Let my soul take refuge from the crowding turmoil of worldly thought beneath the shadow of your wings. Let my heart, this sea of restless waves, find peace in you, O God. Amen.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE “I Call to Thee, Lord Jesus Christ” -J.S. Bach