Third Sunday of Lent
March 20, 2022 | 10:00am
The Rev. Alexander Arthurs, Pastor| Larry J. Carey, Director of Music
Thought for Worship: To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing. | Martin Luther
GATHERING
Prelude: Prayer is the Soul’s Sincere Desire | 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.
Thirsty, our hearts crave living water.
Hungry, our souls ache to be satisfied.
Weary, our minds are tired by thoughts
that do not come from God.
Thirsty, hungry, and weary,
let us worship the Living Water, the Bread of Life, the Great Comforter!
Salutation
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Amen.
*Hymn of Praise: What a Friend We Have in Jesus
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
Walking this earth,
facing temptation,
defeating sin,
Jesus has done for us,
what we could never do for ourselves.
This is good news! In Jesus Christ we are forgiven!
Thanks be to God!
The Law of God: Galatians 5:16-23
*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: Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison (Mass in C minor) | Cherubini
Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy.
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: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-23
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Hymn: As Deer Long for the Streams
Second Reading: Matthew 6:9-13
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Sermon: Prayer | 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 Lord, When the Sense of Thy Sweet Grace | Williams
Lord, when the sense of thy sweet grace sends up my soul to seek thy face,
thy blessed eyes breed such desire, I die in love's delicious fire. O love,
I am thy sacrifice. Be still triumphant blessed eyes, still shine on me fair suns,
that still I may behold, though still I die, I live again; still living so to be still slain.
So gainful is this loss of breath, I die even in desire of death.
Still live in me this loving strife of living death and dying life.
For while thou sweetly slayest me, dead to myself, I live in thee.
Prayer of the People (ending with Lord’s Prayer)
Let us have the same mind that was in Christ Jesus as we pray for the world he came to save, saying: Have mercy, O God; hear our prayer.
We pray for the church . . . Let us be an oasis in the desert— a spring of water for all who thirst, an abundant feast for all who hunger. Have mercy, O God; hear our prayer.
We pray for the world . . . By your everlasting covenant, embrace all the nations of this earth with your steadfast, saving love. Have mercy, O God; hear our prayer.
We pray for this community . . . Save those who are perishing. Let new life flourish among us and help us to bear good fruit. Have mercy, O God; hear our prayer.
We pray for loved ones . . . Show your great faithfulness to those who are sick or suffering. Strengthen them and make them whole. (names read) Have mercy, O God; hear our prayer.
As we pour out our hearts in prayer, O God, lead us to pour out our lives in service to you— ever seeking your will, ever following your way; all in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
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: Lord of All Hopefulness
Benediction
Postlude: Rock of My Salvation | arr. Hayes
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 20 - Gallon(s) whole milk
Sunday, March 27- eggs
Sunday, April 3- Gallon(s) whole milk
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