{"id":1321,"date":"2020-03-14T22:00:27","date_gmt":"2020-03-14T22:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/?p=1321"},"modified":"2020-03-15T18:25:30","modified_gmt":"2020-03-15T18:25:30","slug":"worship-for-the-third-sunday-of-lent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/2020\/03\/14\/worship-for-the-third-sunday-of-lent\/","title":{"rendered":"Worship For the Third Sunday of Lent"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>First United Methodist Church of Schenectady<br \/>\nWorship for the Third Sunday of Lent<\/h1>\n<h1><\/h1>\n<h2>March 15, 2020<\/h2>\n<h2>Getting Centered<\/h2>\n<p>It may help to center yourself into worship by lighting a candle, as a symbol of God&#8217;s presence with you during the time of worship.<\/p>\n<h3>Breath prayer<\/h3>\n<p>Holy God, bless all your people.<\/p>\n<p>Breath prayers involve breathing in the first phrase, and breathing out the second.<\/p>\n<p>You may wish to simply pray for a moment before starting,<\/p>\n<p>or you may wish to pray while listening to the prelude.<\/p>\n<h3>Prelude <em>O Sacred Head, Now Wounded<\/em><\/h3>\n<p>&#8211; Michael Burkhardt\/Arr. Martha Lynn Thompson<\/p>\n<p>Listen Here to <em>O Sacred Head, Now Wounded<\/em><br \/>\n<embed src=\"https:\/\/www.morningstarmusic.com\/audioplayer.php?n=30-303.mp3\" autostart=\"false\" loop=\"false\"><\/p>\n<h3>Call to Worship<\/h3>\n<p>If you are with another person, you may wish to read this out-loud. Otherwise, you can read it as a reminder that this is communal worship done in a large geographical area.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>One: Welcome, thirsty people.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Many: We gather together, acknowledging our needs.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>One: Welcome, frightened people.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Many: We gather together, bringing our emotions with us.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>One: Welcome, advocating people.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Many: We gather together, remembering the need of the world.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>One: Welcome, loving people.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Many: We gather together, to worship the God of Love.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3>Hymn<\/h3>\n<p><em>Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Listen here to <em>Guide Me Oh Thou Great Jehovah<\/em><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Guide Me Oh Thou Great Jehovah\" width=\"1140\" height=\"855\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/J4gej0K_LRo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\nSheet Music: <a href=\"https:\/\/hymnary.org\/hymn\/UMH\/127\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Guide Me Oh Thou Great Jehovah<\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>If you wish to sing along, the words and music are attached.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>A Time for Prayer<\/h2>\n<h3>Morning Prayer<\/h3>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Great Jehovah,<br \/>\nGuide us,<br \/>\nshow us the way.<br \/>\nFeed us,<br \/>\nhelp us grow strong.<br \/>\nOpen our hearts,<br \/>\nto let more of your beloveds in.<br \/>\nHelp us be<br \/>\nliving expressions of your love.<br \/>\nAmen<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><em>We will share joys and concerns during the Second Hour Zoom conversation.<br \/>\nIf you have joys or concerns to add, please send them to the office.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Silent Prayer<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/90192796_2591526471165534_4360994133184086016_o.jpg\"><br \/>\nPhoto credit to Sue Learner<\/p>\n<h3>Pastoral Prayer<\/h3>\n<p><em>You are welcome to read this out-loud or silently.<br \/>\nNormally the pastoral prayer is in response to the prayers of the body,<br \/>\nthis one is written hoping to respond to the prayers of the body<br \/>\nwithout hearing them first.<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Great Jehovah,<br \/>\nWhat a time we live in.<br \/>\nSo much is happening, and we don&#8217;t know how we should be responding.<br \/>\nSome of us are terrified, and some of us are frustrated with what feels like excessive responses.<br \/>\nWe want to ensure the safety of your people,<br \/>\nand we want to enjoy our lives without fear.<br \/>\nWe have particular concerns about those who are extra vulnerable in our society, and in the response to this outbreak:<br \/>\nthose who are ill<br \/>\nthose who are grieving<br \/>\nthose who are anxious<br \/>\nthose who live in poverty<br \/>\nthose who work in health care<br \/>\nthose whose immune systems are compromised<br \/>\nimmigrants still being targeted, and discouraged from getting medical care<br \/>\nthose who will be forced to work<br \/>\nfor those for whom staying home means having no income<br \/>\nthose who are terribly lonely<br \/>\nthose who are young, and those caring for the young<br \/>\nthose already going stir crazy at home<br \/>\nthose without a home to go to<br \/>\nthose experiencing outbreaks of racism against them,<br \/>\nand those who are expressing racism rather than compassion.<br \/>\nMay we find the ways to love all your people, in tangible and practical ways.<br \/>\nMay we find ways to expand your love in the world,<br \/>\neven as we seek to do so in safe and responsible ways.<br \/>\nHelp us, Holy One.<br \/>\nThese balances aren&#8217;t easy for us,<br \/>\nand we never know for sure what we should be doing.<br \/>\nAmen<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3>The Lord&#8217;s Prayer<\/h3>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Our Father who art in heaven,<br \/>\nHallowed be thy name.<br \/>\nThy kingdom come.<br \/>\nThy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.<br \/>\nGive us this day our daily bread.<br \/>\nAnd forgive us our trespasses,<br \/>\nas we forgive those who trespass against us.<br \/>\nAnd lead us not into temptation,<br \/>\nbut deliver us from evil:<br \/>\nFor thine is the kingdom, and the power,<br \/>\nand the glory, for ever. Amen.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2>Word and Reflection<\/h2>\n<h3>Choir Anthem<\/h3>\n<p><em>This Gift Is Free<\/em> &#8211; Fred Gramann<br \/>\nListen here to <em>This Gift is Free<\/em><br \/>\n<embed src=\"https:\/\/ecspublishing.com\/audioplayer.php?n=7501.mp3\" autostart=\"false\" loop=\"false\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>Scripture<\/strong> <strong>Exodus 17:1-7<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Scripture is meant to be read out-loud.<br \/>\nBelow is the version from the New Revised Standard Version.<br \/>\nYou are more than welcome to read it in other versions if you wish.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>If you are worshiping with children, please take some time to \u201cwonder\u201d about this passage and what it means. (The pastor happily takes questions.) Adults may also enjoy this.<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>17:1 From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.<br \/>\n17:2 The people quarreled with Moses, and said, &#8220;Give us water to drink.&#8221; Moses said to them, &#8220;Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?&#8221;<br \/>\n17:3 But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, &#8220;Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?&#8221;<br \/>\n17:4 So Moses cried out to the LORD, &#8220;What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.&#8221;<br \/>\n17:5 The LORD said to Moses, &#8220;Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.<br \/>\n17:6 I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.&#8221; Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.<br \/>\n17:7 He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the LORD, saying, &#8220;Is the LORD among us or not?&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3>Mission Moment UMCOR Jan Huston<\/h3>\n<p>Next Sunday is UMCOR Sunday. We are trying to let you know about United Methodist \u201cSpecial Sundays\u201d a week in advance so that you will be prepared to use the special offering envelopes that are in the bulletins. If we are still not worshiping together next week, I\u2019m sure you can give another way. Or maybe we\u2019ll save the envelopes for another time.<\/p>\n<p>Most of you have heard that many of us think that UMCOR \u2013 the United Methodist Committee on Relief \u2013 is one of the best parts of the United Methodist Church. We are aware of the wonderful work they do all over the world to provide relief after disasters. At this church we have participated in making hygiene kits and cleaning buckets which are used by UMCOR. I have a friend who was helping to develop hospices in Africa for people with AIDS. UMCOR donated funds to help provide relief for those patients.<\/p>\n<p>Last week I was in Tucson, Arizona, with a United Methodist Primetimers group. I learned about another activity supported by UMCOR! The week was called \u201cImmigration immersion.\u201d The week was packed with information, experiences, and opportunities to meet many volunteers in humanitarian groups. One of the groups is Arizona Justice For Our Neighbors (JFON). JFON is an organization with a national network with offices in many states. It started in a United Methodist church in Tucson. We were told that it was started by UMCOR! The national board has many United Methodists. One of the Tucson board members organized our activities for the week.<\/p>\n<p>Arizona JFON (AZJFON) offers a hospitality ministry that welcomes immigrants by (1) providing affordable, high-quality immigration legal services to low-income immigrants, (2) engaging in advocacy for immigrant rights, and (3) offering education to communities of faith and to the public. Volunteers set appointments, welcome clients, conduct interviews with new clients, and much more. There is a bilingual staff attorney who then works with clients. She is a very capable young woman who gave us an excellent presentation.<\/p>\n<p>I was pleased to learn that UMCOR helps to fund this organization!! Our FUMC budget includes a small amount for UMCOR. But we want to highlight this special time for giving to this organization that provides relief and justice to so many at times of crisis. You can either send in a check with UMCOR in the notation or you can wait until we are together again and have the special envelopes available. Whichever way we do it, contributing to UMCOR is a wonderful opportunity to make a difference in the lives of people in crisis!!<\/p>\n<h3>Passing the Peace<\/h3>\n<p><em>If you are worshiping with others, please pass the Peace of Christ.<br \/>\nWhether you are alone or with others,<br \/>\nplease take a moment to find God&#8217;s peace within, and then to share it with the world.<br \/>\nThis may take several breaths or moments.<br \/>\nSometimes sharing works best this way: to think of a dearly beloved with whom to share the peace, then to think of other beloveds, then of friends, then acquaintances, then those who frustrate you, then those you don&#8217;t really know, then those you don&#8217;t known at all.<br \/>\nGod&#8217;s peace is spread to all.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Hymn<\/h3>\n<p><em>Shall We Gather at the River<\/em><br \/>\n&#8211; First Plymouth Congregational, Nebraska<br \/>\nListen and Watch <em>Shall We Gather at the River<\/em> here<br \/>\n<em>If you wish to sing along, the words and music are attached.<\/em><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Shall We Gather at the River\" width=\"1140\" height=\"855\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nDleaQUWsGc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\nSheet Music: <a href=\"https:\/\/hymnary.org\/hymn\/UMH\/723\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Shall We Gather at the River<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Scripture Reading: Psalm 95<\/h3>\n<p><em>Scripture is meant to be read out-loud.<br \/>\nBelow is the version from the New Revised Standard Version.<br \/>\nYou are more than welcome to read it in other versions if you wish.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>If you are worshiping with children, please take some time to \u201cwonder\u201d about this passage and what it means. (The pastor happily takes questions.) Adults may also enjoy this.<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>95:1 O come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!<br \/>\n95:2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!<br \/>\n95:3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.<br \/>\n95:4 In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.<br \/>\n95:5 The sea is his, for he made it, and the dry land, which his hands have formed.<br \/>\n95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!<br \/>\n95:7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. O that today you would listen to his voice!<br \/>\n95:8 Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,<br \/>\n95:9 when your ancestors tested me, and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.<br \/>\n95:10 For forty years I loathed that generation and said, &#8220;They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they do not regard my ways.&#8221;<br \/>\n95:11 Therefore in my anger I swore, &#8220;They shall not enter my rest.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Sermon &#8220;A Time to Praise and A Time to Complain&#8221;<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>At the advice of a well-trusted colleague, today&#8217;s sermon is shorter than usual, and more deeply based in this moment.<br \/>\nYour feedback on how this felt will be most welcome<\/em><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"&quot;A Time to Praise and a Time to Complain&quot;\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aQHUByweRbU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>Responding<\/h2>\n<h3>Offering<\/h3>\n<p>If you wish, you are welcome to use this time to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eservicepayments.com\/cgi-bin\/Vanco_ver3.vps?appver3=3_CMn6vY3gbXWj2GvkW32xVh5LubqSJdgKX6KHFre1VuMdS3Q8kj_eIJXGJN8RG-0gmHZvX_Lw1ha8ZXgn-54Krv7ImQMfM68o70RRXIZtDlvXRu7Icp8meYpri-7vHbdSHJK5fST8PKv5rD7H0pV4u2FYADh6CtWzBcTpjLo9qDxBXK0S3J8MPHZwZCFVXkDJkCUTrur4Wm694FEfvylg==&amp;ver=3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">make a donation to the church online<\/a>, or to put a check in the mail. This is also a particularly good time to reflect on how you are giving of yourself to God \u2013 using your time, your talents, and your treasure towards the building of the kindom. It may even be a good time to consider a deeper commitment.<\/p>\n<h3>Offertory Anthem<\/h3>\n<p><em>The Frozen Earth<\/em> &#8211; James and Marilyn Biery<br \/>\nListen here to <em>The Frozen Earth<\/em><br \/>\n<embed src=\"https:\/\/www.morningstarmusic.com\/audioplayer.php?n=50-5302.mp3\" autostart=\"false\" loop=\"false\"><\/p>\n<h3>Prayer of Presentation<\/h3>\n<blockquote><p>Great Jehovah,<br \/>\nWe thank you for the ways you work in the world,<br \/>\nfor the ways you work in our lives,<br \/>\nfor the invitations you give us to work towards your kindom.<br \/>\nAs we seek to give of ourselves: our time, our talents, and our treasures,<br \/>\nmay the gifts we give be well received,<br \/>\nand used with wisdom.<br \/>\nAmen<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3>Hymn<\/h3>\n<p><em>Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above<\/em> First Plymouth Congregational, Nebraska<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above (MIT FREUDEN ZART)\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nKJP4k4nXD4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\nSheet Music: <a href=\"https:\/\/hymnary.org\/hymn\/UMH\/126\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above<\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>The words in this version are different from the words in our hymnal, but the words are on the screen, for you to sing along.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Benediction<\/h3>\n<p>Beloveds of God, as you transition from soaking up the love of God in worship to sharing the love of God in the world, may you be freed to praise! Amen<\/p>\n<h3>Postlude<\/h3>\n<p><em>Grazioso<\/em> &#8211; Arnold B. Sherman<br \/>\nListen to and watch <em>Grazioso<em> here<\/em><\/em><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Grazioso\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/sSUOl0mM-yc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>First United Methodist Church of Schenectady Worship for the Third Sunday of Lent March 15, 2020 Getting Centered It may &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/2020\/03\/14\/worship-for-the-third-sunday-of-lent\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Worship For the Third Sunday of Lent<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1322,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1255],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1321","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-online-worship"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1321","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1321"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1321\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1334,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1321\/revisions\/1334"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1322"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1321"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1321"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1321"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}