Click HERE for a printable version of Order of Worship
Dear Church Family,
We want to share with you the Order of Worship that we will use on the morning of Sunday, March 17, 2024. We will start the service at 10 am.
Please join us in-person or virtually by using either the conference call number, the live stream via Zoom, Facebook, or our website.
We want everyone to have the opportunity to worship. Thank you so much. Welcome to St. Matthew’s UMC!
If you have difficulties with the Facebook link, feel free to join Zoom.
Live-Stream
-
- Meeting ID: 996 0251 9769
- Password: 14900
- St. Matthew’s UMC via Facebook
- St. Matthew’s UMC via Website
Conference Call
- Conference Call Dial-In: +1-301-715-8592
- Enter Access Code: 996 0251 9769 #
- Password: 14900 #
- Then, please wait for the host to begin.
Closed Captioning Available
Worship, classes, and meetings Zoomed now have the capability for closed captioning. The catch is that you must “turn it on”.
To do that, click on the button labeled “More…”. Then in the droplist, click on “Show Subtitles”.
If you need further assistance with this, please contact georgewood@stmatthews-bowie.org
Sunday, March 17, 2024: The Fifth Sunday in Lent
Prelude: Little Prelude in e minor [BWV 555a]
—J.S.Bach (1685-1750)
Welcome
*CALL TO WORSHIP
—based on a text of St. Augustine (354-430)
L: Look upon us, O Lord,
and banish our darkness.
A: Fill us with holy wisdom,
and open to us the treasure of your wisdom.
L: All our needs and desires are known to you.
A: Make perfect what you have begun in us.
L: We seek your face, O Lord.
A: Turn your face upon us, and give us your peace.
*OPENING HYMN: Beneath the Cross of Jesus UMH 297
PRAYER OF CONFESSION UMH 890
Most merciful God,
We confess that we have sinned against you
In thought, word and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your name. Amen.
WORDS OF PARDON UMH 890
May Almighty God have mercy on you,
forgive all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ,
strengthen you in all goodness,
and by the power of the Holy Spirit
keep you in eternal life. Amen
*ACT OF PRAISE: Gloria Patri UMH 71
Joys & Concerns
Pastoral Prayer & The Lord’s Prayer
*HYMN BEFORE SCRIPTURE: Open Our Eyes, Lord TFWS 2086
Today’s Epistle reading is taken from the Letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 5:5-10)
5 So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest but was appointed by the one who said to him,
“You are my Son; today I have begotten you”;
6 as he says also in another place,
“You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”
7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered, 9 and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10 having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
The Word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD.
*GOSPEL ACCLAMATION:
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus UMH 349
This morning’s Gospel reading is from the Gospel of John (John 12:20-33)
20 Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew, then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain, but if it dies it bears much fruit. 25 Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.
27 “Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say: ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.
The Gospel of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD.
Music for Meditation: Pièce Celtique, Op. 45/1
—Swan Hennessy (1866-1929)
Children’s Message
Music at the Gradual: Above the Voices of the World
—traditional Irish tune, arr. Larry Shackley
Message —Rev. JW Park
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Offertory
Music during the Offertory: A Song of the Covenant
—Malcolm Archer
*DOXOLOGY UMH 95
Announcements
*CLOSING HYMN: Lift High the Cross UMH 159
*Benediction
*BENEDICTION RESPONSE: Double Amen UMH 897
Postlude: Little Prelude and Fugue in G Major [BWV 557]
—J.S.Bach (1685-1750)
The flowers on the altar today are given to the glory of God.
To commemorate St. Patrick’s Day, we have 2 Irish selections. American-born Mr. Swan Hennessy spent much of his life in Europe, and has more recently been celebrated as one of the great Celtic composers of the early 20th century; the famous tune of the offertory anthem needs no introduction. J.S.Bach was born on March 21, 1685, so today’s prelude and postlude mark that anniversary.
DAILY SCRIPTURES
Mon: Matthew 11:2-19 Tues: 1 Corinthians 15:1-28
Wed: Romans 1:1-7, 16-17 Thur: Isaiah 25:1-9
Fri: Colossians 3:1-17 Sat: Romans 8:31-39
SPECIAL THANKS TO TODAY’S VOLUNTEERS!
Greeters |
Gerry & Tom Rose |
Ushers |
Melissa Neace*, Maysen Gore-Duran, Diana Scatliffe, Susi Smith |
Acolytes |
Cheyanne Belcher, Violet Wiedman |
Liturgist |
Harold Patterson |
Counters |
Debra Marshall (lead), Melissa Neace, Tom de Seve, Gerri Dayes |
Musicians |
Chancel Choir |
Broadcasting |
The Hulens, George Wood, Steve Smith, Bruce Thoman, Zoom Team |
Welcome Desk |
The Hearne Family |
Coffee Hour |
Deanna Lesche & Margie Pekala |
WHAT’S HAPPENING…
Today |
11am |
Coffee Hour |
Fellowship Hall |
|
|
Children’s Sunday School |
Room 126 |
|
|
Adult Sunday School |
Parlor |
|
1130am |
Coffee with the Pastor |
|
|
1pm |
UWF Exec. Meeting |
Parlor |
|
4pm |
Storee Denson Organ Recital |
Sanctuary |
Mon. |
7pm |
Bells Practice |
Music Room |
|
|
Koinonia Circle |
Parlor |
Tues. |
830am |
S.E.A.L.S. |
Room 125 |
|
945am |
Bible Study In-person |
Parlor |
|
6pm |
EEC Board Meeting |
Room 126 |
|
7pm |
Christian Book Club |
ZOOM |
|
730 pm |
Trustees Meeting |
Room 126 |
Wed. |
8am |
Men’s Breakfast |
Rip’s Country Inn |
|
7pm |
Simple Prayer Lenten Series |
Sanctuary |
|
|
Theatre Troupe Rehearsal |
Fellowship Hall |
|
730 pm |
Ad Council Meeting |
Room 126 |
Thurs. |
7pm |
Chancel Choir |
Music Room |
Fri. |
7pm |
Theatre Troupe Rehearsal |
Fellowship Hall |
Sat. |
9am |
Theatre Troupe Rehearsal |
TBA |
|
10am |
Lenten Brunch |
Fellowship Hall |
|
1030am |
Altar Guild |
Sanctuary |
MORNING PRAYER CALL: Monday-Saturday, 630-645am
Dial 267-807-9601 and enter access code: 111-576-270 #
March 18-23 : Dennis Deensie