An Order of Worship for the Lord’s Day
March 29, 2020
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Prelude
“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” – performed by Michael Collings
Call to Worship – Psalm 23 (NLT)
The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever.
Opening Prayer
Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day. Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity. In all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose, through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.
Opening Song
“Come, Christians, Join to Sing”
Prayer of Confession
If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness. Please hear me as I confess my sins, and please remind me of your unending grace. (Silent confession)
Assurance of Pardon – Psalm 130:7-8
Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.
Scripture Reading – Romans 7:14-8:4
We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Sermon – The Prayer of Jesus: Lead Us Not into Temptation
Hymn of Response
“I Want Jesus to Walk With Me”
Affirmation of Faith – from The Second Helvetic Confession
Jesus Christ is the only Savior of the world, and the true awaited messiah. For we teach and believe that this Jesus Christ our Lord is the unique and eternal Savior of the human race, and thus of the whole world, in whom by faith are saved all who before the law, under the law, and under the Gospel were saved, and however many will be saved at the end of the world… Now there only remains for all of us to give all glory to Christ, believe in him, rest in him alone, despising and rejecting all other aids in life.
Prayers of the People
Heavenly Father, maker of heaven and earth, you are our help; we lift our eyes to you. As we walk this Lenten journey during such a strange and disorienting time, we trust in your Son to sustain us. Please hear our prayers of joy and our prayers of lament, that they may rise like incense to you. Confident of your love and led by your Spirit, we lift up:
Our family, friends, and church family from whom we are separated this morning…
Our neighbors in need in Jackson County…
Healthcare staff providing medical care and working double-time…
Those currently infected by the coronavirus, and those who care for them…
Medical and scientific experts seeking ways to control the spread of the virus…
Children out of school, employees out of work, and all who find their lives upended by the coronavirus…
Public officials making difficult decisions about closings and quarantines, and those who feel burdened by those decisions…
Christians throughout the globe who endeavor to bring healing, justice, and peace…
We lift up these prayers, trusting that you hear us. And we pray now as Jesus taught us:
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.
(To share individual prayer requests, visit this online form: https://bit.ly/2TTLAF3)
Tithes and Offerings
What do we have that we did not receive? With gratitude for the gospel, we share our time, talents, and resources with the Lord. You may give financially by visiting www.sylvapres.org/giving, or by dropping a check off at the church or sending one to FPC at P.O. Box 2152, Sylva, NC 28779. Thank you!
Offertory
”Canco del Lladre” - performed by Michael Collings
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.
Closing Song
“O Love that Will Not Let Me Go”
Benediction
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever he may send you.
May he guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm.
May he bring you home rejoicing at the wonders he has shown you.
May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Children’s Church Lesson