A SERVICE OF WORSHIP FOR THE LORD’S DAY
Fourth Sunday in Lent
March 14, 2021
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE “There is a Balm in Gilead” arr. Mark Patterson
JOURNEY TO THE CROSS
*HYMN 293 “This Is My Father’s World”
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Merciful God, our Maker and our Judge, we have sinned against you in thought, word and deed; we have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We repent, and are sorry for all our sins. Father, forgive us. Strengthen us to love and obey you in newness of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord…
Silent Prayers of confession
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. (2 Corinthians 5:19) Hear then Christ’s word of grace: Our sins are forgiven.
Thanks be to God!
*GLORIA PATRI
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Blessed Lord, who caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSON: John 15:1-17
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2 He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 3 You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 16 You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.
SERMON “Power to Abide” Rev. Barrett Ingram
*HYMN 403 (vs. 1, 3) “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH The Apostles’ Creed
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.
*“catholic” (little c) is translated as “universal” and is not a reference to the Roman Catholic Church.
PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
*HYMN 359 (1, 2) “More Love to Thee, O Christ”
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE “Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy” arr. John Purifoy
Announcements
Today, March 14
12:00 PM - Fellowship and Nurture Committee Meeting
Sunday, March 28
12:00 PM –Session Meeting
In person worship
Monday, April 12
PW Circle 1 meeting
Prayer List:
Marguerite Hufham, Sarah Melvin, Louise Quick, Ronnie Rush, Betty Johnson, Bill Jackson, Darrel Melvin, Happy Lashlee, Gerry Carey, Becky Regan, Mary Ward, Lucille Hood, Amy Johnson, Bill Marsh, Esther Collier, Madeline NcNeill Long, Shannon Wilcox, Clara Wooten Hunsucker, Ernest Ray Long, Jo Campbell, Linda Smith, Susan and David Butler, Doug Bergeron, Margaret Ingram, Bill Greene, Jimmy Hickman, Holly Eppley, Betty Faircloth, Susan Deans, Sammy Hatcher, Carmen McQueen, Claudia Hester, Richard and Mary Jane Howell, Susan Priest, David Callihan, Ray Battle, Michael Ann Williamson, James Boswell, Molly Cox, Bob Nelson, Ann Burney, Betty Ann McPherson, Alice Waugh, Wendy Marlowe Bowen, Joey Elkins, Mary Pope, Richie Thompson, Rev. Andy Smith, Patsy Grainger, Randy Page, Bob Rivenbark