March 15, 2026
Bulletins are posted on the day prior.
Sunday, March 15
9:30 a.m. Worship Service
Gather around the Word
PRELUDE
Adagio for Strings
Samuel Barber, arr. for organ by William Strickland
INTROIT
Lord, For Thy Tender Mercy’s Sake
Richard Farrant
Lord, for thy tender mercy’s sake, lay not our sins to our charge, but forgive that is past, and give us grace to amend our sinful lives. To decline from sin and incline to virtue, that we may walk in a perfect heart before thee, now and evermore. Amen.
DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below; praise God above, ye heavenly host; Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost.† Amen.
*CALL TO WORSHIP (responsively)
One: In your wisdom, O God, you call us here to worship you.
All: We gather, alive to the Word of God.
One: You call us to be fully alive with your life abundant, ready to listen and respond with heart, soul, strength, and mind.
All: We listen, alive to the Word of God.
One: You call us to be always watchful for your Word, sometimes startling and unexpected, sometimes still and quiet, but always dwelling among us.
All: We watch and wait for the Word of God.
*Hymn 81
“Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken”
1. O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the works thy hands hath made, I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder, thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed;
Refrain:
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee: How great thou art! How great thou art! Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee: How great thou art! How great thou art!
2. When through the woods and forest glades I wander, and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees; when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur and hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze; (Refrain)
3. And when I think that God, his Son not sparing, sent him to die, I scarce can take it in, that on the cross my burden gladly bearing he bled and died to take away my sin; (Refrain)
4. When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart! Then I shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim: “My God, how great thou art!” (Refrain)
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Almighty God, we confess to still setting our minds on worldly things, even as you give us glimpses of the kingdom of heaven. You show us great love and mercy yet we are unwilling to show love and mercy to others. You share with us a vision of eternal life yet we are focused on what we have and hold in this lifetime. Forgive us for being shortsighted. Renew in us the call to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with you. Sharpen our focus, that our attention may center more on you than ourselves. We pray all of this in Christ’s holy name. Amen.
Extinguishing the First Lenten Candle
Kyrie, Hymn 551
Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy upon us.
DECLARATION OF PARDON
One: Friends, believe the good news.
All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
One: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
All: And also with you.
TIME WITH CHILDREN
(9:30)
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Anthem
new 52.txt
Prayer for Illumination
First Scripture Reading
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 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.
One: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
*Gloria Patri
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.
Second Scripture Reading
John 9:1–11
As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.”
Sermon
Unlikely Friends: Known and Accepted
Camille Cook Howe
Responding to the Word
*Hymn 440, “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing”
1. O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise, the glories of my God and King, the triumphs of his grace!
2. My gracious Master and my God, assist me to proclaim, to spread thro’ all the earth abroad the honors of your name.
3. Jesus! the name that charms our fears, that bids our sorrows cease, ‘tis music in the sinner’s ears, ‘tis life and health and peace.
4. He breaks the power of cancelled sin, he sets the prisoner free; his blood can make the foulest clean; his blood availed for me.
5. To God all glory, praise, and love be now and ever given by saints below and saints above, the Church in earth and heaven.
*Affirmation of Faith (unison)
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.
Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer (unison)
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 and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Call to Offering
Offertory Anthem
“There is A Balm In Gilead”
Bruce Saylor
There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole, there is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul. Sometimes I feel discouraged and think my work’s in vain, but then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again. If you cannot sing like angels, if you cannot preach like Paul, you can tell the love of Jesus and say, “He died for all.” There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole, there is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.
OFFERTORY RESPONSE, Hymn 652, v. 1
A grateful heart is what I bring, a song of praise, my offering. Among the saints I lift my voice: in you, O God, I will rejoice.
*Prayer of Dedication (unison), from The Worship Sourcebook
God of all peoples and God of all places, we present these offerings, that they may be used to extend your liberating reign. With them we offer our varied ministries, that each of us may be a part of your answer to the cries of the world. Amen.
Bearing the Word into the World
HYMN, “The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want”
1. The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want. He makes me down to lie In pastures green: he leadeth me the quiet waters by.
2. My soul he doth restore again; and me to walk doth make Within the paths of righteousness, ev’n for his own name’s sake.
3. Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale, yet will I fear none ill: For thou art with me; and thy rod and staff me comfort still.
4. My table thou hast furnished In presence of my foes; My head thou dost with oil anoint, And my cup overflows.
5. Goodness and mercy all my life Shall surely follow me, And in God’s house forever more My dwelling place shall be.
*Charge and Benediction
Choral Benediction
God Be in My Head
John Rutter
Postlude
All Glolry Be to God on High
Johann Pachelbel
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