March 22, 2020


Welcome to worship!
Pastor Sarah's sermon today focuses on the power of Christian hope. Even as we navigate unprecedented realities, the hope of God will see us through. That's the promise!

Here are some words on hope, written by Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber, to carry with you this week:

The hope that does not disappoint looks less like being idealistic about ourselves and more like being idealistic about God’s redeeming work in the world. It’s a hope that comes not from naïve optimism, but from being wrong and falling short, and experiencing betrayal and being a betrayer, and it comes from suffering and the grave and what feels like a night from which dawn could never emerge, and then how God reaches into the graves we dig ourselves and each other and again loves us back to life.
The Easter hope we have, brothers and sisters, the hope that never disappoints has nothing to do with optimism or the avoidance of suffering. It is a hope that can only come from a God who has experienced birth and love and friendship and lepers and prostitutes and betrayal and suffering and death and burial and a decent into hell itself. Only a God who has born suffering can bring us any real hope of resurrection.
Service Timing
(Order of Worship below)

Welcome: 0:00 - 2:07
 
Opening Song - O Christ, Surround Me: 2:07 - 5:51
 
1st Scripture reading: Psalm 121: 5:51 - 6:47
 
Children's Time: 6:47 - 12:48
 
2nd Scripture reading: 1 Peter 3:15: 12:48 - 13:28
 
Sermon - Pastor Sarah: 13:28 - 23:28
 
Song of response - My hope is built on nothing less: 23:28 - 27:06
 
Prayers of the people: 27:06 - 33:09
 
Announcements: 33:09 - 36:30
 
Blessing: 36:30 - 37:23


Order of Worship


Call to worship:
L: When we feel down-hearted,
P: Jesus says: “Peace be with you.”
L: When we wonder if we can continue on our journey,
P: Jesus says: “I am with you. You have nothing to fear.”
L: When we hunger and thirst in our souls for relief,
P: Jesus says: “I will be with you to the end of the age.”
L: God of the beginning and the end and every day in-between,
P: Open our hearts and spirits to trust your abiding hope. Amen.

Opening Song – O Christ, Surround Me

1 st Reading – Psalm 121 (read by Patrick Dockins)

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
    from where will my help come?
2  My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.
3  He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
4  He who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.
5  The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6  The sun shall not strike you by day,
    nor the moon by night.
7  The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
8  The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time on and forevermore.

Children’s Time – “The Invisible String”

2 nd Reading - 1 Peter 3:15 (read by Mia Johnson)

15  But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

Sermon – Pastor Sarah

Song of Response: My Hope is Built on Nothing Less (ELW 597)

Prayers of the People with Sung Refrain:
Refrain: “Peace, be still. Peace, be still. The storm rages. Peace, be still.”

L: Out of the depths, O God.
P: We cry out to you. Protect them.

Announcements

Blessing