The Presbyterian Church at Woodbury
Fifth Sunday in Lent
April 3, 2022
Worship Notes
WELCOME
OPENING PRAYER
Loving Shepherd, you know our names; you care for us. When we face darkness and death, walk beside us. When we hunger for your love, fill us with your presence. When we are fearful, feed us at your table. May we dwell in the house of goodness and mercy all the days of our lives. Amen.
PRELUDE “Meditation” Gilbert Martin
CALL TO WORSHIP
In the name of God,
who created us, who holds us and the whole world in his hands
In the name of the Son
who came into the world, who reconciles us with God.
In the name of the Holy Spirit
who fills us with eternal life, who links us with all Christians and incites us to peace, we come together to offer our thanks and praise.
*HYMN No. 166 “Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days”
1 Lord, who throughout these forty days
for us did fast and pray,
teach us with you to mourn our sins
and close by you to stay.
2 As you with Satan did contend
and did the victory win,
O give us strength to persevere,
in you to conquer sin.
3 And through these days of penitence,
and through this Passiontide,
yes, evermore, in life and death,
O Lord, with us abide.
4 Abide with us, till when this life
of suffering shall be past,
an Easter of unending joy
we may attain at last.
*RESPONSIVE CONFESSION OF SIN
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
But, O Lord, we are consumed with wanting more.
He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.
But, O Lord, other pastures seem greener. The waters aren’t always still. Our souls still thirst.
He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
O Lord, we long to be led by you, though we may complain along the path.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff– they comfort me.
And yet, O God, we do sometimes fear. May we feel your presence, your comfort and your forgiveness anew.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
O God, sometimes we refuse to sit down at your table. Forgive us and help us to see your overflowing mercy.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
Forgive us, God, and lead us into your house.
*SILENT PRAYER
*DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil.
For God is with us. His rod and his staff, they comfort us.
Rejoice! In Jesus Christ we are forgiven!
*RESPONSE No. 565 “Holy Holy Holy”
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power, God of might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest,
hosanna in the highest.
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another. The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
ANTHEM “Come to Me” Michael Larkin
THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
PRESENTATION
On behalf of the session,
I present _________________________,
the children of __________ and __________,
to receive the sacrament of Baptism.
MEANING OF BAPTISM
__________ and __________, you stand here now, a mother and a father into whose keeping God has dared to entrust a human soul, who is precious to you, but infinitely more precious to Him.
When your little child was born __________ came not into a cold and unregarding world, but into your home, where warmth and love awaited __________, and where many things had been thought out and prepared in advance of __________ coming. This sacrament means that in a far deeper sense preparation even more wonderful than yours have been made for your very child by the very hand of God.
It means that God’s love, in addition to yours, has waited down the centuries for this particular child, and will gladly spend itself in __________behalf.
You come now, having previously declared your own faith in Christ as Lord and Savior, to receive your child from God’s very hand, and to hear Him say to you: “This is your child, yes! But in a deeper sense, this child is mine, entrust for a time to your keeping.”
And the answer you make to God now is that, though you have great dreams for this little __________ and are prepared to deny yourselves for year in order that __________ may have __________ chance, yet what you really choose above all else for the little child is that all __________ days __________ may know Jesus Christ, and may love and serve Him.
In presenting your child for baptism, do you confess your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior; and do you promise, in dependence on the grace of God, to bring up your child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? WE DO.
ELDER LITANY
Do you, the members of this congregation, in the name of the whole Church of Christ, undertake with these parents, the Christian nurture of this child, so that in due time __________ may confess faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior? WE DO.
Will you endeavor by your examples and fellowship to strengthen their family ties with the household of God? WE WILL.
PRAYER OVER THE WATER
Most merciful and loving Father, we thank you for the church of your dear Son, the ministry of you Word, and the sacraments of grace. We praise you that you have given us such gracious promises concerning our children, and that in mercy you call them to you, marking them with this sacrament as a singular token and pledge of your love. Set apart this water from a common to a sacred use, and grant that what we now do on earth may be confirmed in heaven.
As in humble faith, we present this child to you, we ask you to receive __________, to endue __________ with your Holy Spirit, and to keep __________ ever as your own; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
BAPTISM
__________, child of the covenant, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
WALK DOWN THE AISLE
CLOSING PRAYER
Our Father, when we give you our children, we give ourselves, since they are bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. When we give them to you, we keep them forever. When we offer them your bondage, it is perfect freedom. When we bid them love you best, they also love us the more.
Bless this father, we pray. May he continue to make his life the window through which his child shall better see and understand you as heavenly Father.
Bless this mother, O God, may she without pageantry mold this clay quietly into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Not just for __________ and __________, but for all parents in our midst.
And, O God, bless this little __________. Give __________ what __________ shall need most tomorrow; enough tears to keep __________ tender; enough hurts to keep __________ human; enough failure to keep __________ hands clenched to yours; and enough success to make __________ sure __________ walks with you. May __________ never be ashamed of you. May __________ never depart from you. And after a life of love and service to __________ Master, take __________ to be with yourself in your heavenly kingdom. Not just for __________, but for all the children in our midst, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
O Lord, you have written this Word by your Holy Spirit, and you have given it to us today for our benefit. Now speak clearly through this Word, and through your servant who proclaims it, and cause our ears to be open that we may hear what you have to say to us, and cause our hearts to be responsive that we may obey you. Amen.
SCRIPTURE Psalm 23
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
SERMON: OIL
“You anoint my head with oil …”: those words from the beloved 23rd Psalm are evocative for me. I immediately think of all the heads I have anointed with the sign of the cross: the scores of baptisms and the multitude of those I’ve been able to commend to God as they lay dying. There have been hundreds of times at a funeral when the head of the deceased person and the heads of those loved ones gathered to celebrate their life have been virtually anointed through the reading of this Psalm.
The Roman Catholics have a sacrament that used to be called “Extreme Unction” (“unction” having to do with oil). Then it was called “Last Rites” and now “Anointing of the Sick.” We Presbyterians have a similar liturgy called “The Commendation of the Dying.” It may not be a sacrament for us but it is no less holy as we commend our loved ones to God while giving them permission to leave us. Yet, always the oil is delivered in the sign of the cross, remembering the words at baptism: “You have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross forever.” The oil “seals the deal.”
The book we are using this Lent, Lent in Plain Sight: A Devotion through Ten Objects, points out that oil is present in many ways throughout the Bible, with various shades of usage. In “The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids,” Jesus tells a story about five wise bridesmaids who remember to bring extra oil to the festivities and five foolish bridesmaids who don’t. In this parable, oil is considered by some to have an allegorical meaning, perhaps denoting having enough faith. But interpretations like this one are iffy at best. And in the Old Testament, there is the story about the prophet Elijah who promises that the oil of the widow he depends upon will never run out during the famine. Here, the oil is a sign of God’s gracious provision.
But it’s the use of oil for anointing that gets the biggest play in Scripture, though not without shades of meaning. Kings in the Old Testament were anointed, either before their coronation or during, in a vivid act of being set apart as God’s representative. But it wasn’t just kings that were set aside; others such as priests were consecrated for God’s purposes as well. Frankly, the thought of having oil running down my head and onto my clothes sounds like a nasty prank and makes me squirm. Yet, I understand that in the very dry Middle East, this would have felt good to people, much like cool water on our heads during a hot day.
Anointing can happen without oil. We will in a few short weeks, ordain and install trustees, deacons and elders. During that service, we will “lay on hands” and anoint these new officers into positions of service.
Perhaps this helps explain another major use of oil in the Bible: for healing of sickness. In Jesus’ parable, the “Good Samaritan” not only cleans and binds the victim’s wounds, he applies oil to them. And oil for healing was a practice adopted by the early church as the author of James directs the elders of the church to go, pray over the sick and apply oil. We can now understand the attraction of essential oils. But, there is also emotional, spiritual, and psychological healing provided by the anointing of oil done in healing services. And we love to sing hymns, such as, “There is a Balm in Gilead.”
Many of these themes come together in Jesus Christ, who was consecrated by the woman who anoints his head with costly oil, setting him aside for God’s work as God’s representative, preparing for death and burial. Thinking about oil not only prods us to think about how Jesus was set aside for this work, but also how we’ve been anointed and consecrated in our daily vocations to serve God and neighbor. So, remember, brothers and sisters in Christ, that you, too, have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ. Amen
Commentary and Liturgy provided by Ross Byrd, Mindi Welton-Mitchell, Joel Weible, Jill Duffield, and Sara Koenig
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH A portion of the Brief Statement of Faith
We trust in Jesus Christ, fully human, fully God. Jesus proclaimed the reign of God: preaching good news to the poor and release to the captives, teaching by word and deed and blessing the children, healing the sick and binding up the brokenhearted, eating with outcasts, forgiving sinners, and calling all to repent and believe the gospel. Unjustly condemned for blasphemy and sedition, Jesus was crucified, suffering the depths of human pain and giving his life for the sins of the world. God raised this Jesus from the dead, vindicating his sinless life, breaking the power of sin and evil, delivering us from death to life eternal. Amen.
*HYMN No. 518 “Your Only Son”
1 Your only Son, no sin to hide,
but you have sent him from your side
to walk upon this guilty sod,
and to become the Lamb of God.
Refrain:
O Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God,
I love the holy Lamb of God!
O wash me in his precious blood,
my Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
2 Your gift of love, we crucified;
we laughed and scorned him as he died;
the humble King we named a fraud
and sacrificed the Lamb of God. (Refrain)
3 I was so lost, I should have died,
but you have brought me to your side
to be led by your staff and rod,
and to be called a lamb of God. (Refrain)
THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION w/ THE LORD’S PRAYER
Invitation to the Lord’s Table
Come to the Lord’s Table, all you who love him. Come to the Lord’s Table, confess your sin. Come to the Lord’s Table, be at peace.
Prayer of Great Thanksgiving & The Lord’s Prayer
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to you, Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to praise you, Lord.
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, Always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Holy Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. From the rising of the sun to its setting your name is praised among all peoples. Therefore, we praise you, joining our voices with your people on earth and all the company of heaven who forever sing this hymn to the glory of your name:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God of power and might Heaven and earth are full…Full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is the One who comes In the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest!
You are holy, Almighty One! Blessed are you, Jesus Christ! In the power of the Spirit you created all things, blessed them, and called them good. You called to yourself a people To make your mercy and truth known in all the world. We betrayed your calling;
You were faithful.
We wandered from the way;
You called us to return, and led us home.
And still we turned from your ways, abused your creatures, and made ourselves slaves to sin and death. At the right time you came and dwelt among us, as one of us, bringing good news to the poor, healing the sick, raising the dead, sharing table with the unrighteous, and teaching the way that leads to life. By your incarnation, life, suffering, execution and resurrection You gave birth to your church, delivered us from slavery and made a new covenant with us by water and the Spirit. Blessed Trinity, in remembrance of all you have done to save us, we offer ourselves to you in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
Christ has come among us. Christ has died.
Christ has risen. Christ abides with us.
Christ will come again.
Pour out your Spirit on us
Pour out your Spirit on us
Pour out your Spirit on these gifts
Pour out your Spirit on these gifts
Make these gifts the body and blood of Christ
Make us, through them, Christ’s body alive in the world.
Abba, Father!
Let your kingdom come!
Glory to you!
Come, Lord Jesus!
Be our daily bread.
Glory to you!
Holy Spirit!
Send us to the world.
Glory to you!
As we offer glory to Triune God, we lift our prayers in the name of the one who taught us to pray, saying…
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.
Breaking of the Bread
On the night of your betrayal, Lord Jesus, you took bread, blessed it, broke it, gave it to your disciples and said, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Pouring of the Cup
You did the same with the cup after the supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out is the new covenant in my blood.”
Communion
Prayer after Communion
Lord, you now have set your servants free to go in peace as you have promised. For these eyes of ours have seen the Savior whom you have prepared for all the world to see! Blessing and honor and glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
TITHES & OFFERINGS
The Shepherd cares for us, providing all that we need in abundance. The Shepherd calls us to love one another in truth and action. May our gifts reflect our trust in the Shepherd’s care. May our offerings show our willingness to love one another.
OFFERTORY
*RESPONSE
Praise God, from whom all blessing flow, Praise God, all creatures here below. Alleluia, Alleluia Praise God in Jesus fully known; Creator, Word and Spirit one. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
God of love, you abide with us; you provide for all our needs and guide us in your ways. Out of gratitude for your care, we bring our gifts before you. Use them for your work of caring, that all may feast at the table of abundance, walk without fear, and drink deeply from the cup of compassion. Amen.
*HYMN No. 487 “These Treasured Children”
1 These treasured children present now
are bound to us by sacred vow:
with love, we make a heartfelt claim
to welcome them in Jesus’ name.
2 Our ancient story we shall tell,
till these our children know it well
within their souls and minds and hearts,
for this is where their journey starts.
3 We long to trust as children do
and so entrust our days to you;
in their young lives we clearly see
a lesson in humility.
4 Come, Holy Spirit, help us be
a nurturing community;
empower us to realize
God’s kingdom through our children’s eyes.
5 Then, tender God, each child embrace;
God give them blessings, grant them grace.
Surprise them, God, with wonders still,
and gently guide them to your will.
*BENEDICTION
Go now with your trust in the good shepherd, and let us love, not just in words, but in truth and action. Believe in the name of Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he has commanded us. And may God be at your side, even in valleys of death. May Christ Jesus be the cornerstone of your life. And may the Holy Spirit abide in you and tend you with love and mercy all the days of your life.
Today, we will celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism for the children of Dan Shriver and Michaela Counsellor. Through water and the Spirit, we welcome Anderson James and Joanna Lynn into the body of Christ.
The Presbyterian Church at Woodbury
67 S. Broad Street
Woodbury, NJ 08096
856-845-1244
www.pcwoodbury.com
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