Order of Worship March 22, 2020
Updated: Jun 10, 2022
UJCC Sunday House Worship Service
March 22, 2020 * 4th Sunday of Lent
Image: a quilted cross in the Fellowship Hall, UJCC
Blessings to you this Sunday morning! You are invited to use the following prayers & order of
worship as we lift our hearts to God together from our respective homes!
Opening Prayer
Generous God and Giver of all things, we rest in your loving and tender care; and we are
revived, restored and renewed by your strength and encouragement. You go before us in life,
leading us in pathways that are secure without the confusion of becoming lost, aware only that we always need to follow you; and so we trust in your guidance and wisdom.
As human beings, we know there will be times of stress, when our body or mind lets us down; we know there will dark times too, when life seems to be nothing but struggle; and it is in those times especially, that we rely on your Presence deep within us to guide and bless us. Grace- Giving God, you provide us with the tools we need for the tasks we face, and for this we give you our trust and our thanks.
Life-Giving God, you put out the ‘Welcome’ mat for us as we gather to worship you. You
nourish our souls and bodies through your goodness and tender mercies; you heal our life’s
wounds; and your generous love fills us to overflowing. You give us an honored place at your
table, and invite us to stay with you as your guest forever. You have promised that your unfailing love will stay with us always, and for this, we give you our thanks. Amen. (js)
Song of Centering: Great is Thy Faithfulness
Children’s Time Rev. Rae Kim
Scripture Reading Psalm 23
A Psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
3 he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
my whole life long.
Sermon “Spiritual Closeness with our Good Shepherd” Rev. Akiko Miyake-Stoner
Time of Confession
As we continue in this season of Lent, God invites us to examine our own spirits, to see what is growing, to see what needs pruning, to see what needs encouragement. Let us come to God with what we see, offering our spirit to the One who loves us. Let us pray, first in silence.
[Silence for self-examination and confession]
Holy God, giver of life and forgiver of sin,
We come to you now with hope –
Hope that you will always love us,
Hope that you will not hold our sin against us,
Hope that you will turn us around from what is evil,
Toward what is good.
Walk with us in this holy season, and help us
To look clearly at our lives and the world,
That we may embrace all with love.
Through Christ we pray. Amen.
Words of Assurance
Hear the Good News: we are forgiven!
We are set free to go out into the world and be the loving, gracious, hopeful people of God! Thanks be to God! (bmn)
Joys and Concerns & Time of Prayer
You are invited to share your joys and concerns with one another using our usual format:
Person lifting the prayer: “O God of Mercy;” everyone’s response: “This is our prayer.”
After you share your joys and concerns, go around the circle and offer prayer, praying
freely or using this format:
“God, I thank you for…” and “God, I ask for…”
You are invited to close together with The Lord’s Prayer.
Song
This was spotted on facebook:
Viruses are contagious.
So is panic.
Fear.
Hysteria.
Calm.
Love.
Enthusiasm.
Kindness.
Joy.
Choose wisely.
As you go forth into this new week, reflect upon where you’re focusing your energy.
May it be life-giving, healing, and of God.
Go in the peace of Christ. Amen.
You are invited to continue your spiritual practice of giving to the church. Please either mail
your offering to the church (136 N. Villa Ave., Clovis, CA 93612) or try our online giving option (LINK HERE). Thank you!
Check out this article with a bunch of videos of people coming together in this time of spatial
distancing!: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/03/16/under-quarantine-
balconies-around-world-set-stage-dj-sets-squats-singing/
Worship Resources: (js) Joan Stott, 2011, “The Timeless Psalms,” RCL Psalm Year A, used with permission, https://www.wesleychurchgeelong.net/; (bmn) Beth Merrill Neil, “Prayer of Confession,” https://holdfasttowhatisgood.com/liturgy/prayer-of-confession/