First United Methodist Church of Schenectady
Worship for the Fourth Sunday in Lent

March 27, 2022

Photo by Sue Learner

Getting Centered

It may help to center yourself into worship by lighting a candle, as a symbol of God’s presence with you during the time of worship. You may also want to pay attention to lighting, the position of your body, and the availability of distractions.

Breath Prayer

“Source of Love, heal us now.”
Breath prayers involve breathing in the first phrase, and breathing out the second.
You may wish to simply pray for a moment before starting, or you may wish to pray while listening to the prelude.

Prelude

“Awesome in this Place” Arranged by Bill Wolaver

Call to Worship

One: The Bible tells of a people who wandered for forty years.
Many: That sounds about right.
One: The Bible tells of a people who had wandered for forty years,
and then settled into the Promised Land.
Many: Hmmmmm.
One: The Bible says that after their wandering,
they were clean and new.
Many: May our wanderings be so good.

Hymn #97: “For the Fruits of this Creation”

Connecting in Prayer

Shared Prayer

God who rolls away our disgrace,
For forty years, the people depended on you,
and when the time came that they could depend on the land you told them they were healed.
That the disgrace had been rolled away.
That their former identity was no more.
That they could start anew.
That in taking away the gift of manna, you also gave them the gift of a new life.
Holy One,
we want it too.
We want the disgrace rolled away,
we want the space for life anew.
Help us be patient enough for your means of grace.
Amen

Silent Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father (Creator) 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 trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Word and Reflection

Scripture Reading: Joshua 5:9-12 and Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Mission Moment: UMCOR Sunday

Children’s Time: “Siblings”

Hymn #115: “How Like a Gentle Spirit”

Passing of the Peace

If you are worshiping with others, please pass the Peace of Christ.
Whether you are alone or with others, please take a moment to find God’s peace within, and then to share it with the world. You may want to reach out to speak peace to another during this week.

Sermon: “A Lost Family” – Rev. Sara Baron

Responding

Offertory: “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” Arranged by Lavawan Riley

Offering

Photo by Larry McArthur
If you wish, you are welcome to use this time to make a donation to the church online, or to put a check in the mail.
The time of offering is not only about our financial gifts to the church, it is about offering our lives to God and the building of the kindom. This is a time for reflection: What is being asked of us? What is being given to us? What are we able to offer? What do we need?

A Relational Prayer

God who rolls away our disgrace,
thank you for the gift of a Bible that knows about real families, and talks about the difficulties of relationships.
Thank you for the stories about generational trauma, and the long road to healing.
Thank you for a text that takes the challenges of humanity seriously, and finds holiness in what is (and not just what could be).
Thank you for the times when we, a church, can be part of rolling away disgrace, and living in grace.
Thank you for receiving our gifts, and letting us be part of kindom building.
Thank you God, for the way you love us.
Amen

Hymn #120: “Your Love, O God”

Benediction

Dear ones, when we are lost, God is still with us.
When we make bad choices, God is still with us.
When we are overcome with resentment, God is still with us.
When we mess up relationships, God is still with us.
God is still with us. We are blessed. Amen

Postlude

“My Lord, What A Morning”
African-American Spiritual
Setting by Roger C. Wilson