Fifth Sunday in Lent
March 26, 2023 | 10:00am
Rev. Jeremy Campbell, Guest Minister | Larry J. Carey, Director of Music
Thought for Worship: “Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become Your Vision is the promise of what you shall one day be. Your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil.” — James Allen
GATHERING
Welcome
Prelude
Call to Worship
Votum
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Amen
Opening Sentences
The Lord be with you
And also with you!
Wait for the Lord.
Our souls wait and hope in God’s word.
Hope in the Lord.
With God there is steadfast love, and great power to redeem.
Our souls wait for the Lord, more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.
Salutation
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Amen.
*Hymn of Praise: Love Divine, All Love’s Excelling
Call to Confession
Prayer of Confession
God of resurrection,
We know the power of death.
We have seen its works,
we have felt its sting.
We have been to the valley of despair,
and felt like there was no chance for life.
We do not believe in your power to resurrect.
We do not believe in your power to redeem our pain,
and fashion something beautiful in this world.
Forgive us.
We cry from the depths—
however faint our call may be,
we pray you hear our voice.
Silent Confession
Assurance of Pardon
Thus says the Lord,
You shall know that I am the Lord
when I open your graves,
and bring you up from your graves, O my people.
I will put my spirit within you,
and you shall live.
We believe the good news!
Thanks be to God.
The Law of God:
*Gloria Patri | #579
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.
*Commitment to Peace Keeping and Peace Seeking
One: May the peace of Christ be with you!
All: And also with you!
Share a sign of peace with one another. After sharing the peace, let us all sing together:
Together, by grace, we witness and work, remembering Jesus, in whom we grow strong. Together we serve in Spirit and truth, remembering love is the strength of our song.
THE WORD OF GOD
Anthem Dry Bones | arr. Fettke/Grassi
Children’s Message
Prayer for Illumination
Gracious God, our way in the wilderness, guide us by your Word through these forty days, and minister to us with your Holy Spirit, so that we may be reformed, restored, and renewed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
First Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Hymn: Somebody’s Knocking at Your Door
Gospel Reading: John 11:1-45
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Sermon: "Rise Up, O Dry Bones!" | Rev. Campbell
Silent Reflection
THE RESPONSE TO GOD
*Affirmation of Faith
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Offering Rise Up! (Lazarus) | Cain
Prayer of the People (ending with Lord’s Prayer)
In Christ Jesus, we have a great high priest
who knows our weakness and suffering;
therefore, with boldness, let us seek God’s grace.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With boldness, we pray for the church . . .
Raise your church from the dead,
so that we may proclaim Christ,
the resurrection and the life.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With boldness, we pray for the earth . . .
Renew in us a vision of the world restored,
shining with the splendor of your glory,
unstained by the sin of human greed.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With boldness, we pray for the earth . . .
Send forth your Holy Spirit
to breathe upon this dying world
and renew the face of the earth.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With boldness, we pray for this community . . .
In the villages and cities where we live,
help us to embody the good news of Christ,
who still lives and works among us.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With boldness, we pray for loved ones . . .
Enter into the depths, O Lord,
to draw out those who wait for you,
who hope and trust in your word. (names read)
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
To you, O God, we entrust these prayers,
knowing that you alone can provide
grace to help in our time of need;
in the name of our great high priest
who has passed through the heavens,
Jesus Christ, our Sovereign and Savior.
In Jesus’ Name, we pray as you taught us…
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory forever. Amen.
SENDING
Hymn: Be Thou My Vision
Benediction
Postlude
DEAR FRIENDS
Welcome to worship here at Peapack Reformed Church! If you are visiting with us, welcome! If you are a member, welcome back! Our mission is to be a congregation called by God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and committed to being the very presence of Jesus Christ in the world. This mission is the catalyst for all that we do, and is our aim for who we want to be.
If you are visiting with us via Facebook Live and would like more information about our church, send us a message on Facebook or email office@peapackreformed.org and we will be in touch with you. Even under these odd and anxious circumstances, we would love to be your church home. Our virtual doors are always open wide and our hearts are always ready to welcome new faces into our fellowship.
FOOD PANTRY NEWS
Many thanks for all those who have shared their abundance with neighbors in need.
Our church refrigerators have plenty of space to hold even more!
Mark your calendars now to pick up these important items
and bring to church by the dates listed:
Sunday, March 5 - gallon(s) whole milk
Sunday, March 12 - eggs
Sunday, March 19 - gallon(s) whole milk
UPCOMING EVENTS
Peapack Reformed Church is a congregation called by God, empowered by the Holy Spirit and committed to being the very presence of Jesus Christ in the world.
CALLED • EMPOWERED • COMMITTED