WELCOME AND CONCERNS OF THE CONGREGATION

PRELUDE    “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”      Dan Forrest                                                                                    

SERVICE FOR LENTEN CANDLES

LITANY – from Psalm 19:1, 2

One: Every day as we face the creation of God 

All: we are reminded of what God has done. 

One: Day after day — night after night 

All: we are reminded of God’s glory. 

SCRIPTURE AND PRAYER

*HYMN 275          A Might Fortress Is Our God

PRAYER OF CONFESSION                                    

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name…         

Silent Prayers of confession

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS 

Hear the Good News! God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! —Romans 5:8-9

Leader: Friends, believe the good news of the Gospel.

People: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!

*RESPONSE OF PRAISE   

                      What Wondrous Love Is This”           Hymn 215

     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 heavy cross for my soul, for my soul

  To bear the heavy cross for my soul!

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION 

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON:  Exodus 20:1-17 

HYMN 61    Your Law, Old Lord, Is Perfect  (Psalm 19)

NEW TESTAMENT LESSON:   1st Corinthians 1:18-2:5

SERMON   “Foolishness – God’s and Ours”    Rev. Barrett Ingram 

Text: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”        –1 Corinthians 1.18

*HYMN 223          When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH         The Apostles’ Creed       pg. 35

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic* Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.  

PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER 

OFFERTORY ANTHEM     “The Perfect Wisdom of Our God”       

                                                                     Townsend and Getty

RECEIVING OF GOD’S TITHES AND OFFERINGS

*DOXOLOGY   “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow"      Hymn 606  

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

*HYMN 366          Love Divine, All Loves Excelling    

*BENEDICTION  

*POSTLUDE       “God of Grace”                          Paul Manz