WELCOME AND CONCERNS OF THE CONGREGATION

PRELUDE        Meditation on “Wondrous Love”          Colin Carter                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

SERVICE FOR LENTEN CANDLES

LITANY – from Psalm 121:1, 2, 8

Leader: Where do we find help?

People: All help comes from our Creator God.

Leader: How much will God protect us?

People: God will protect us always and everywhere.

SCRIPTURE AND PRAYER

*HYMN 49   “The God of Abraham Praise” 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION                                         

God of great mercy, we confess that we have sinned against you.  We bless what we should curse and curse what we should bless.  We trust our own righteousness and forget your gift of grace.  Forgive us, by your steadfast love.  Create a clean heart within us, teach us your holy way, and restore to us the joy of your salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord…

Silent Prayers of confession

WORDS OF ASSURANCE 

The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. -- 1 Timothy 1:15 

Hear then Christ’s word of grace to us: Our sins are forgiven.

Thanks be to God.

*GLORIA PATRI     “Glory Be to the Father”                #581

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

                                              world without end. Amen, amen. 

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION 

SCRIPTURE LESSONS: Genesis 12:1-4a; John 3:1-17

SERMON               “New Beginnings”     Rev. Barrett Ingram 

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” – John 3:3

*HYMN 829          “My Faith Looks Up to Thee”

*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    “God So Loved the World”   

  Gilbert Martin

RECEIVING OF GOD’S TITHES AND OFFERINGS

*DOXOLOGY                                                               Hymn 606       

                                                      Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

*HYMN 634           “To God Be the Glory”  

*BENEDICTION  

*POSTLUDE