A SERVICE OF WORSHIP FOR THE LORD’S DAY

Fifth Sunday in Lent

March 21, 2021

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE “Near to the Heart of Godarr. John Innes

JOURNEY TO THE CROSS

*HYMN 387Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Almighty God, you sent Jesus to be our Good Shepherd -- to gather us together; to seek us when we are lost, and to guide us into your green pastures. Yet we have wandered from his fold, and have turned away from his hand that offers us the bread and water of Life. Forgive us for rejecting the gifts of your Good Shepherd. Help us by your Spirit to trust ourselves fully into his hands, knowing that by him we will be abundantly fed and safely led, to your honor and glory forever...

Silent Prayers of confession

WORDS OF ASSURANCE

Jesus himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins we might live for righteousness; by his wounds we have been healed. For we were going astray like sheep, but now have been returned to the shepherd and guardian of our souls. (based on 1 Peter 2:24) So, hear the good news: In Jesus Christ we are sought, we are found, we are forgiven.

Thanks be to God!

*GLORIA PATRI

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

O God, as the scriptures are read, we will listen for your voice. By your Spirit lead us out of our fears and into the knowledge of your love, through Jesus Christ, the Great Shepherd of our souls. Amen.

SCRIPTURE LESSON: John 10:1-17

“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.

SERMON “Called by Name” Rev. Barrett Ingram

*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 172My Shepherd Will Supply My Need

BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us/He Leadeth Mearr. Cindy Berry

Announcements

Palm Sunday, March 28

In person worship

12:00 PM –Session Meeting

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, Karen Davis