Today is the 4th Sunday of Lent. Lent is a period of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. “Lent” comes from the Anglo Saxon word lencten, meaning “lengthens,” and refers to the lengthening days of spring. The forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptations of Satan and preparing for his ministry. Lent is a time of repentance, fasting, and preparation for the coming of Easter. It’s a time of self-examination and reflection. This year’s sermon series is called “The Seven Last Words of Jesus.” Each sermon will focus on one of the seven final utterances of Jesus from the cross as recorded by the Gospel writers. Today’s last word is “Woman, here is your son.” The main point is that it is in community that we experience the power of following Jesus.
Welcome & Announcements
Prelude – “In Christ There is No East or West” – Arr. by Robert Hughes
*Call to Worship (based on Psalm 95)
- L: Come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
- P: For the Lord is our God, and we are God’s people.
- L: Listen to God’s voice—the Lord is a great God, above all others.
- P: We will listen and follow God’s way.
*Hymn – “In Christ There Is No East or West” – UMH #548
- In Christ there is no east or west,
in him no south or north;
but one great fellowship of love
throughout the whole wide earth. - In Christ shall true hearts everywhere
their high communion find;
his service is the golden cord
close binding humankind. - In Christ is neither Jew nor Greek,
And neither slave nor free;
Both male and female heirs are made,
And all are kin to me. - In Christ now meet both east and west,
in him meet south and north;
all Christly souls are one in him
throughout the whole wide earth.
Time with Children and Youth
Anthem – “Behold the Lamb” – By Lloyd Larson
Scripture Reading – John 19:23-27
23When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and his sandals, and divided them into four shares, one for each soldier. His shirt was seamless, woven as one piece from the top to the bottom. 24They said to each other, “Let’s not tear it. Let’s cast lots to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill the scripture,
They divided my clothes among themselves,
and they cast lots for my clothing.[a]
That’s what the soldiers did.
25Jesus’ mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene stood near the cross. 26When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” 27Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that time on, this disciple took her into
his home.
- L: The Word of God, the Word of Life.
- P: Thanks be to God!
Sermon “Woman, Here Is Your Son”
*Hymn – “Something Beautiful” – UMH #394 (2x)
2nd time, use the plural, “our/we/lives”
Something beautiful, something good;
All my confusion He understood;
All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife,
But he made something beautiful of my life.
Pastoral Prayer & Lord’s Prayer
Anthem – “If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee”
Invitation to Give
Doxology and Prayer of Dedication
*Closing Song – “And Are We Yet Alive” – UMH #553
- And are we yet alive, and see each other’s face?
Glory and thanks to Jesus give for his almighty grace! - Preserved by power divine to full salvation here,
again in Jesus’ praise we join, and in his sight appear. - What troubles have we seen, what mighty conflicts past,
fightings without, and fears within, since we assembled last! - Yet out of all the Lord hath brought us by his love;
and still he doth his help afford, and hides our life above. - Then let us make our boast of his redeeming power,
which saves us to the uttermost, till we can sin no more. - Let us take up the cross till we the crown obtain,
and gladly reckon all things loss so we may Jesus gain.
*Benediction
*Postlude – “Wings of Faith” – By Edward Broughton
Lyrics to Special Music
Behold the Lamb
Behold the Lamb, behold the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world. For sinners crucified, O holy sacrifice, sacrifice. Behold the Lamb, the Lamb of God, behold the Lamb. Crown, crown Him, crown Him, crown, crown Him, crown Him. Worthy is the Lamb. Praise, praise Him, praise Him, praise, praise Him, praise Him, Heav’n and earth resound! Behold the Lamb, behold the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world. For sinners crucified, O holy sacrifice, sacrifice. Behold the Lamb, the Lamb of God, behold the Lamb. Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne; Hark! how the heav’nly anthem drowns all music but its own. Awake, my soul, and sing, sing of Him who died for thee, and hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity. Behold the Lamb. Behold the Lamb of God. Behold the Lamb, the Lamb of God!
If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee
If thou but suffer God to guide thee, and hope in God through all thy ways, God will give strength, whate’er betide thee, and bear thee through the evil days. Who trusts in God’s unchanging love builds on the rock that naught can move. Only be still, and wait God’s leisure in cheerful hope, with heart content to take whate’er thy Maker’s pleasure and all-discerning love hath sent; we know our inmost wants are known, for we are called to be God’s own. Sing, pray, and keep God’s ways unswerving; so do thine own part faithfully, and trust God’s word; though undeserving, thou yet shalt find it true for thee. God never yet forsook at need the soul that trusted God indeed.
Helping Lead Today’s Worship
- Pastor: Rev. Drew Hart
- Liturgist: Ellen Hoover
- Choir Director: Steve Grattan
- Organist: Kathy Cay
- Audio Tech: Jeannine Schneider
- Streaming Tech: Brian Miller
- Computer Tech: Joe Kaidan