The Presbyterian Church at Woodbury
Third Sunday in Lent
March 20, 2022
Worship Notes
WELCOME
OPENING PRAYER
Holy God, we come together to worship, a people who would like to think that we love you with all our hearts and souls, with all our might, but there are so many other things in our lives that clamor for our attention that we often relegate you to Sundays and Wednesdays, and times when we want you to rescue us. Most of us really do want you to be the one in whom we live and move and have our being. We really do want to hear your voice above all of the other voices in our lives. But we get bogged down in the daily routine. We forget who we are. We forget who you are. We forget what the church is supposed to be. So here we are, standing before you today, with our human foibles and our short attention spans, asking that you would make yourself known to us, that you would help us to recognize the presence of the Holy, that you would continue to challenge us, inspire us, and make us into the people you want us to be. Amen.
PRELUDE “Lenten Meditation” Dennis Janzer
CALL TO WORSHIP
We are called to love the Lord our God
We are called to love with all our heart and soul
We are called to love the Lord our God
We are called to love with all our mind and strength
We are called to love the Lord our God
And we are called to love our neighbor as ourselves.
*HYMN No. 215 “What Wondrous Love Is This”
1 What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,
what wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul!
2 When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
when I was sinking down, sinking down,
when I was sinking down
beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside his crown for my soul!
3 To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing,
to God and to the Lamb, I will sing;
to God and to the Lamb who is the great I am,
while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing;
while millions join the theme, I will sing!
4 And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on;
and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be,
and through eternity, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
and through eternity I’ll sing on.
*CALL TO CONFESSION
Are you in love with God? Do you show it in your words, your thoughts, your actions? Are you in love with your neighbor? Do they know this by your presence, your grace, your friendship? Or are you so obsessed with yourself, that you have no time, no room, nor pity for others, or for God? Let us confess the limits we place on our love, so we might be filled with God’s limitless mercy.
*CONFESSION OF SIN
They may not be beaten down or lying by the road, but there are people we pass by, Watching God. Some are family and friends we take so much for granted we cannot see how we have stripped them of our love and compassion. Others are neighbors: who have been left half-dead by crushing work; who have fallen into the hands of despair; who have been abandoned by all those who walked on by them. Many are strangers, people we don’t know, but quickly judge: they are weak or poor, or the enemy or because they remind us of whom we once were, or could become. Rescue us from the power of our sins, Righteous One of all generations. Pour out your justice on us, rather than your judgment, that we would be moved with pity, and spurred to action; that we would hear of the hope that is ours, and share it with our sisters and brothers; that we would shower mercy on all we meet, even as we have received forgiveness for our sins through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
*SILENT PRAYER
*DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
Children of the Most High: you are forgiven and brought into the kingdom. Be filled with spiritual wisdom, lead lives worthy of your inheritance, bear fruit in all you say and do and think.
God has rescued us and redeemed us from our sins, setting aside judgment to shower us with mercy. We will go and do likewise. Thanks be to God. Amen.
*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 “O Lamb of God” Mark Paterson
CHILDREN’S SERMON
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Heavenly Father, we know that You have made us for Yourself, to love You and to love our neighbors. Yet still we cannot help but live for ourselves, and every day we justify ourselves by our own standards, not Yours. But Lord, you have found us in the ditch, and You have rescued us. Now soften our hearts to Your will, and make us to love others as You have loved us; especially those who are most in need, whom we pass by every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
SCRIPTURE Luke 10: 25-27
25 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus.[a] “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”
SERMON “Who is My Neighbor?” Bill Antinore
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. 214 “You Are My Refuge, Faithful God”
1 You are my refuge, faithful God;
you shelter me from shame.
I put my spirit in your hands
and call upon your name.
2 Deliver me from hidden snares,
from sorrow, pain, and strife.
When troubles seems to smother me,
take heed, and save my life!
3 Be gracious, God, in my distress,
and dry my bitter tears.
My life is spent in misery;
I sigh away my years.
4 I am a wretched sight to see:
a broken, empty thing,
with only terror all around,
and deathly whispering.
5 And yet I trust in you, O God;
your covenant still stands.
Redeem me, in your faithful love:
my life is in your hands.
THE PASTORAL PRAYER & THE LORD’S PRAYER
Eternal God, through Jesus Christ you promise to hear us when we pray to you in his name. Confident in your love and mercy we offer our prayers on behalf of your world, your people, and all those entrusted to our care. Hear the cries, Holy God, of our planet struggling to survive. Give us, who consume most of the earth’s resources, the will to reorder our lives, that the environment might be protected, and natural resources renewed. May all your people have their rightful share of food, medical care, shelter. May all your creatures and all creation know our care and respect.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Renew our nation, Sovereign God, in the ways of justice and peace. Guide those who make and administer our laws to build a society based on trust and respect. Erase prejudices that oppress; free us from crime and violence; guard our youth from the
perils of selfish individualism and material hoarding. Motivate all citizens to end our debilitating division, promote productive and respectful debate, and work towards the good of all your people.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Strengthen this congregation, Spirit of God, in its work and worship. Fill our hearts with your self-giving love, that our voices may sing your praise, and our lives conform to the image of your Son. Nourish us with your Word and sacraments that we may faithfully minister in your name, and witness to your love and grace for all the world.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Sustain those among us, Living God, who need your healing. Make the sick whole. Give hope to the dying. Comfort those who mourn. Uphold all who suffer in body or mind. In this global moment ravaged by war, bless those who work for peace, heal those traumatized by violence, secure those whose lives and livelihoods are in jeopardy.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O God, in your loving purpose answer our prayers and fulfill our hopes. In all things for which we pray, give us the will to seek to bring them about, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.
And hear us now as we join with Christians everywhere praying the prayer Christ taught us to pray by saying, “Our Father…”
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.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
TITHES & OFFERINGS
Giving is not a casual act—it relates God’s work to our work. Peter writes: “as each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace, that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” Let us give as people whose work is inextricably linked to God’s great works of creation, redemption and empowerment.
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
Almighty God, giver of every good and perfect gift, teach us to give to you all that we have and all that we are, that we may praise you not with our words only, but with our whole lives. Amen.
*HYMN No. 11 “Source and Sovereign, Rock and Cloud”
1 Source and Sovereign, Rock and Cloud,
Fortress, Fountain, Shelter, Light,
Judge, Defender, Mercy, Might,
Life whose life all life endowed:
Refrain: May the church at prayer recall
that no single holy name
but the truth behind them all
is the God whom we proclaim.
2 Word and Wisdom, Root and Vine,
Shepherd, Savior, Servant, Lamb,
Well and Water, Bread and Wine,
Way who leads us to I am: (R)
3 Storm and Stillness, Breath and Dove,
Thunder, Tempest, Whirlwind, Fire,
Comfort, Counselor, Presence, Love,
Energies that never tire: (R)
*BENEDICTION
The Presbyterian Church at Woodbury
67 S. Broad Street
Woodbury, NJ 08096
856-845-1244
www.pcwoodbury.com
Bill Antinore from Seeds of Hope Ministry
Bill is the Executive Director at Seeds of Hope Ministries. He oversees all branches of the ministry. Bill is a certified instructor in in-prison ministry, the mentoring of ex-offenders and a certified facilitator of fatherhood groups through the National Fatherhood Initiative. Bill currently facilitates weekly Celebrate Recovery Inside groups in local state prisons as well as Inside Out Dad fatherhood groups in state & federal prisons and halfway houses. Bill is a graduate of Long Island University and Temple University School of Law. Bill and his wife Brenda live in Camden in the same building that houses our ministry headquarters and attend Sovereign Grace Church in Marlton, NJ.