Third Sunday in Lent
March 12, 2023 | 10:00am
Rev. Jeremy Campbell, Guest Minister | Larry J. Carey, Director of Music
Thought for Worship: “It is important to remember that we cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are.” - Lovett H. Weems, Jr.
GATHERING
Prelude: I Surrender All | arr. Vogt
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!
Come into God’s presence with thanksgiving!
Let us sing to the rock of our salvation.
Even in the deserts of our lives,
God is among us.
Come, let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
Salutation
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Amen.
*Hymn of Praise: Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Call to Confession
Prayer of Confession
Jesus, friend of all,
once again, we come to you knowing
our words have stung,
our actions have harmed,
and our indifference has let evil have its day.
Our hearts yearn for you,
our souls thirst for you,
yet we do not imitate you in our lives.
We scorn those who are different from us,
and relish our own comfort.
Once again, forgive us, O God.
Give us your living water,
that we might tell the world
all you have done for us.
Silent Confession
Assurance of Pardon
We know that God is with us even in our sufferings,
for suffering produces endurance,
endurance produces character,
character produces hope,
and hope does not disappoint us,
because God’s love has been poured into our hearts.
Thanks be to God!
The Law of God: Matthew 22:37-40
*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 As Water to the Thirsty | Scott
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: Exodus 17:1-7
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Hymn: My Faith Looks Up to Thee
Gospel Reading: John 4:5-42
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Sermon: “Living Water” | 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 Cleft for Me | arr. Hayes
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 . . .
Help us to worship you in spirit and truth,
to proclaim the coming of the Savior,
and share living water with the world.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With boldness, we pray for the earth . . .
Hold the mountains and the oceans
in the hollow of your gentle hand;
repair their brokenness; restore their glory.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With boldness, we pray for all nations . . .
Reconcile all the peoples of the earth—
those who seem to share nothing in common.
Help us to find our deeper unity in you.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With boldness, we pray for this community . . .
Help us to feed our neighbors who are hungry,
and give drink to those who are thirsty;
through Christ, bread of life and living water.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With boldness, we pray for loved ones . . .
Heal the divisions in our families,
protect the victims of violence,
and let children live in peace and safety. (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: Glorious Thing of Thee Are Spoken
Benediction
Postlude: Passacaglia | Young
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