Welcome

Opening Litany[1]:
Let us worship the Triune God.
Let us worship the One who spoke in the beginning and created something out of nothing.

Let us worship the Triune God.
Let us worship the One who took on the clothing of humanity to set those who were oppressed free.

Let us worship the Triune God.
Let us worship the One whose Spirit rests continually upon us, calling us from sorrow-filled endings to bright new beginnings.

Confession & Forgiveness:
Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, the God of manna, the God of miracles, the God of mercy.
Amen.

Drawn to Christ and seeking God’s abundance, let us confess our sin.

Silence is kept for reflection.

God, our provider,
help us.  It is hard to believe there is enough to share.  We question your ways when they differ from the ways of the world in which we live.  We turn to our own understanding rather than trusting in you.  We take offense at your teachings and your ways.  Turn us again to you.  Where else can we turn?  Share with us the words of eternal life and feed us for life in the world.  Amen.

Beloved people of God: in Jesus, the manna from heaven, you are fed and nourished. By Jesus, the worker of miracles, there is always more than enough. Through Jesus, + the bread of life, you are shown God’s mercy: you are forgiven and loved into abundant life.
Amen.

Prayer of the Day:
Let us pray. God of heaven and earth, before the foundation of the universe and the beginning of time you are the triune God: Author of creation, eternal Word of salvation, life-giving Spirit of wisdom. Guide us to all truth by your Spirit, that we may proclaim all that Christ has revealed and rejoice in the glory he shares with us. Glory and praise to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever.
Amen.

 First Reading: Isaiah 6:1-8
¹In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. ²Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. ³And one called to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”

⁴The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. ⁵And I said: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!”

⁶Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. ⁷The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” ⁸Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!”

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Gospel: John 3:1-17

This is the Holy Gospel according to John, the 3rd chapter.
Glory to you, O Lord.

¹Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. ²He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” ³Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” ⁴Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” ⁵Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. ⁶What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ ⁸The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” ⁹Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” ¹⁰Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

¹¹“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. ¹²If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? ¹³No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. ¹⁴And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

¹⁶“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

¹⁷“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

Children’s Sermon

Sermon

Hymn of the Day

Apostle’s Creed:
Let us confess our faith using the Apostle’s Creed:
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
            creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
            who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
            born of the virgin Mary,
            suffered under Pontius Pilate,
            was crucified, died, and was buried;
            he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
            he ascended into heaven,
            he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
            and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayers of Intercession:
Let us come before the triune God in prayer.

Prayers continue with each petition ending:

. . . Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We lift our prayers to you, O God, trusting in your abiding grace.
Amen.

Sharing of the Peace

Announcements

Offering
https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/468062

Sending Litany[2]:
The words God speaks are the life and sustenance of all that exists.

The life Jesus gives is the re-creation and renewed birth of all that is broken and worn.

The Spirit’s stirring in our souls is the inspiration for creativity, compassion, joy, and community.

Life-giving, life-restoring, life-fulfilling God; may our whole lives be worship. In all things, may we seek to connect with and to reflect your love and your hope.

Lord’s Prayer:
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us saying:
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 trespasses,
      as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
      but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
      forever and ever. Amen.

Benediction:
Almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
Amen.

Dismissal:
Go in peace. You are the body of Christ.
Amen.

 

Prayer Requests:
Gladys Guffey, Courtney Price, Angela Chaundy, family and friends of Brady Hall, Betty Fawcett, Greg Fawcett, Mason Peluso, family and friends of Bill Criswell, Kay Hilkert, Kay Keister, Bryce Warren, Ken Noll Jr., Martha Ketchem, Brooke Houpt, Mary Baker, family and friends of Helen Barsh, Jim, Cole Felker, Marilyn Gresh, family and friends of Mary Kay Harper, Annette Baker, Larry Erb, family and friends of Judy Connolly, Glen Van Dyke, Tom Burns, Megan Brodsky, Bob Keifer, Peg Swinehart.

 

Portions reprinted from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, copyright 2006.  Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress, license #SBL09796L.  Music reprinted from the ELW, by permission of OneLicense, license #A712349.  Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.   Used by permission.

[1] From Watch Night Service 2016, written by Rev. J. Lee Hill, Senior Pastor, Christian Fellowship Congregational UCC of San Diego. Posted on the Worship Ways page of the United Church of Christ website. http://www.ucc.org/worship_worship-ways

[2] Posted on The Minor Keys. http://theminorkeys.blogspot.ca/