Second Sunday of Lent
March 13, 2022 | 10:00am
The Rev. Alexander Arthurs, Pastor | Rev. Dawn Alpaugh, Classis Minister | Larry J. Carey, Director of Music
Thought for Worship: Modernity slowly weakened spiritualty, by design and accident, in favor of commerce; it downplayed silence and mere being in favor of noise and constant action. The reason we live in a culture increasingly without faith is not because science has somehow disproved the unprovable, but because the white noise of secularism has removed the very stillness in which faith might endure or be reborn. If churches came to understand that the greatest threat to faith today is not hedonism, but distraction, perhaps they might begin to appeal anew to a frazzled digital generation. | Andrew Sullivan
GATHERING
Prelude: Draw Us To You | Leavitt
Welcome
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.
Amazing God, we listen for your quiet voice
But the noise of life makes it hard to hear.
So many other voices demand our attention.
But you say, “Be still and know that I am God.”
May your voice speak through us
May we pause and breathe you in, so that we might know you better.
Salutation
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Amen.
*Hymn of Praise: We Sing to You, O God
Call to Confession
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. Amen. Amen.
To the glory of your Name. Amen. Amen.
Silent Confession
Assurance of Pardon
Sometimes it can feel as though we are completely buried in the muck of life. It can feel as though there is no way out. But our God calls us by name, forgiving us, rescuing us, and leading us to health and wholeness. Trust in the one who knows you and loves you, no matter what you have done or left undone. You are forgiven.
Thanks be to God!
The Law of God: As forgiven people we are called to offer more. More grace, more love, more forgiveness, more patience. Go and live a life worthy of the gift you have been given
*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: His River, His Peace | arr. Kern
When peace like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; what ever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, “It is well, it is well with my soul.” I've got peace like a river in my soul.
Prayer for Illumination
Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on us. Open our ears to hear your Word. Soften our spirits to receive your truth. Shape our hearts to love what you love. Speak, O Lord. Your servants are listening. Amen.
First Reading: Psalm 45
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Hymn: O Savior, in This Quiet Place
Second Reading: Luke 5:12-15
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Sermon: Silence and Solitude | Pastor Alex
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 I Wish You Peace | arr. Jessie
I wish you peace when the cold winds blow, warmed by the fire's glow. I wish you comfort in the lonely time, and arms to hold you when you ache inside. I wish you hope when things are going bad, kind words when times are sad. I wish you shelter from the raging wind, cooling waters at the fever's end. I wish you peace when times are hard, the light to guide you through the dark. And when storms are high and your dreams are low, I wish you the strength to let love grow, I wish you the strength to let love flow on, I wish you the strength to let love glow on, I wish you the strength to let love go.
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession (ending with Lord’s Prayer)
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: O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee
Benediction
Postlude: Marche | Thygerson
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 13 - eggs
Sunday, March 20- Gallon(s) whole milk
Sunday, March 27 - eggs
We are changing our Online Giving System to a more efficient and church-friendly platform. If you would like to continue giving online or would like to set up online payments, please click the “Give Now” button below to set up your online gifts. If you have any questions or need help setting up payments, please contact the church office. We are so grateful for your flexibility as we make this change. Your generosity drives our mission forward!
• Email: office@peapackreformed.org • phone: (908) 234-2733 •
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
