Third Sunday of Lent
March 23, 2025 | 10:00am
Rev. Jeremy Campbell, Temporary Minister | Larry J. Carey, Director of Music
Thought for Worship: The Full to the Brim theme keeps bringing me back to the image of resting while God reaches to embrace us. Lately I’ve spent so much time and energy fighting so hard to get some kind of tangible grasp of God, all the while feeling so empty. I’m realizing that I need to practice surrender, allowing God to find me where I am, and to receive God’s care and love, filling me to the brim so I can then be full to pour out once again -Rev. Lauren Wright Pittman
GATHERING
Welcome
Prelude Wondrous Love | Sewell
Call to Worship
Votum
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Amen
Opening Sentences
Come, all who are thirsty.
Come, all who are seeking.
Come, all who are waiting.
Come, all who labor.
Come, all who need rest.
Come, all who dream dreams.
Come - whether you’re young or old,
confident or curious, lonely or hopeful.
This is God’s house. All are welcome here.
Let us worship holy God.
Salutation
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Amen.
*Hymn of Praise Come Ye Sinners Poor and Needy
Call to Confession
There is something so healing, so life-giving, about telling our stories. In the prayer of confession, that is what we get to do. The mask comes off. Any pretense of perfection is removed. We let the pressure to perform slip away and we sit here, face to face with God, sharing honestly who we long to be. Friends, there is healing here. There is life to be gained here. So join me in this moment of honesty. Join me in the prayer of confession.
Prayer of Confession
Holy God, we treat our self-worth like something that can be bought at a store; but you know this even better than we do. Instead of trusting that we are made good, instead of trusting that we are loved exactly as we are, we stockpile our value in earthly things— in trophies and awards, in likes and follows, in wealth and power. Forgive us for creating our own measuring stick. Heal our open wounds and tell our hearts that we won’t be forgotten if we slow down.
We won’t be forgotten if we rest. Gratefully we pray, amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Friends, take a deep breath. Release the tension in your jaw. There is good news here. For even when we stumble, even when we take the easy way out, even when we forget our own self-worth, even when we lose our way—we belong to God. Say it with me—
We are loved. We are claimed. We are under God’s wing. We are worthy of grace. We belong to God. Amen.
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 Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley | Traditional
Prayer for Illumination
God of fig trees and foxes, of today and tomorrow, we would like to ask that you scoop us up. Pick us up like a great gust of wind. Startle us awake like a first love. Light a fire in us like tomorrow depends on today. Do all of this to get our attention and then turn us toward you. We are a scattered people, God. The world is moving faster than we can keep up. So we pray—scoop us up. Catch our eye. Open our ears. Capture our attention. We are here. We long to be close to you. Amen.
First Reading: Isaiah 55:1-9
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
*Hymn: Everyone is Worthy
Second Reading: Luke 13:1-9
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Sermon: “You Are Worthy” | Rev. Campbell
Silent Reflection
THE RESPONSE TO GOD
*Affirmation of Faith
We believe
that the God of the cosmos is at work here.
We believe that God is fertilizing the soil.
We believe that God is planting roots.
We believe that God is growing fruit that is yet to be tasted.
But until that promised day
when the fig tree stands tall and swords are beaten into plowshares,
we believe:
when our work does not bear fruit,
God still loves us.
When our soil grows dry and cracked,
God still longs for us.
When all seems hopeless here on earth,
God holds hope for us.
The God of the cosmos is at work here.
We believe. Help our unbelief.
In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
Offering O Love of God | Buckwalter
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him all creatures here below;
Praise him above ye heavenly hosts;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen!
Prayer of Dedication
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession (ending with the 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 The Love of God
Benediction
Postlude Finale in B flat | Moore
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!
Please consider making a weekly donation of eggs or milk to the P-G Food Pantry.
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