March 12 2017 Welcome to OPC Chimes Welcome

March 12, 2017 Welcome to OPC

Chimes Welcome and Announcements Greeting Each Other Ringing of the Bell

Prelude Lighting of the candles Introit “We Come to God”

*CALL TO WORSHIP AND INVOCATION L: Come, all who need help! P: Our help comes from God, the one who made heaven and earth.

L: Come, all who desire blessing! P: Our blessing comes from God, the God of Abraham, the God of Jesus, the God of all.

L: Come, all who long for salvation! P: Our salvation comes from Jesus Christ, the one sent by God to save the world.

L: Let us worship God this day! P: Let us worship the God who loves and saves all people!

*HYMN #276 “Great is Thy Faithfulness” v. 1 Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

*HYMN #276 “Great is Thy Faithfulness” v. 1 Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not; As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

*HYMN #276 “Great is Thy Faithfulness” v. 1 Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see;

*HYMN #276 “Great is Thy Faithfulness” v. 1 All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

*HYMN #276 “Great is Thy Faithfulness” v. 2 Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above

*HYMN #276 “Great is Thy Faithfulness” v. 2 Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

*HYMN #276 “Great is Thy Faithfulness” v. 2 Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see;

*HYMN #276 “Great is Thy Faithfulness” v. 2 All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

*HYMN #276 “Great is Thy Faithfulness” v. 3 Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

*HYMN #276 “Great is Thy Faithfulness” v. 3 Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

*HYMN #276 “Great is Thy Faithfulness” v. 3 Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see;

*HYMN #276 “Great is Thy Faithfulness” v. 3 All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison) God of salvation, you continually fill our lives and our world with love, yet we too often turn away from your blessing.

While you love all people, we choose to love only some people. While you bring the kingdom life of salvation to all people, we offer that only to those we like.

Free us from our unwise choices and our negative attitudes, O God. When we are angry and jealous, redirect our attention to the abundant opportunities to

experience your love. When we withhold love from others, strengthen and encourage our spirits to be open and caring. During this Lenten journey, focus our hearts on you,

that we may choose the blessing of salvation offered us each day, through Jesus Christ, in whom we pray. Amen.

(silence is observed for reflection and prayer)

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON L: God did not send Jesus into the world to condemn it, but that all the world might be saved through him. Through the saving love of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven and blessed!

P: In Jesus Christ all are forgiven. Thanks be to God, Amen.

CHOIR ANTHEM “Come, Follow Me” ~Elly/Steve

Time with Young Christians

PROCLAIMING THE WORD SCRIPTURE READING: Genesis 12: 1 -4 a

Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. ’ So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him.

SCRIPTURE READING: John 3: 1 -21

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He 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. ’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above. ’ Nicodemus 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? ’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above. ” The 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. ’

Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be? ’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 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. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended

from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. ‘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. 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. Those who believe in him

are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved

darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be

clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God. ’ L: This is the Word of the Lord. P: Thanks be to God!

Nicodemus (v. 1) – came at night, seeking Jesus but in secret; doesn’t get it. Signs (v. 2) – Nicodemus “believes” because of miracles, not his heart Born from above (v. 3) – also born again, born anew, born from above… John wants you to hear all of these meanings Born of water/flesh (v. 5) – natural birth

Born of Spirit (v. 5) – born anew, as a believer, with Christ’s life Eternal life (v. 15 -16) – life of the ages, eternal life… must hear both; eternal life is both then and now Believes (v. 14, 15, &16) – for John, faith acts like a verb; it is active

Whole world (v. 16) - “cosmos”… in John, this word typically refers to people who are set against God; enemies Moses/serpent – Israelites had been bitten by deadly snakes, and when Moses lifted up the serpent high, if people looked at it they were healed (= Jesus lifted on the cross)

Condemn/not condemned (v. 18) – not necessarily by God, but by choice to believe or not believe in Jesus

“Choice” Rev. Tedd Pullano

*HYMN #485 “To God Be the Glory” v. 1 To God be the glory, great things He hath done! So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,

*HYMN #485 “To God Be the Glory” v. 1 Who yielded His life an atonement for sin, And opened the lifegate that all may go in.

*HYMN #485 “To God Be the Glory” v. 1 Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear His voice! Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice!

*HYMN #485 “To God Be the Glory” v. 1 O come to the Father through Jesus the Son, And give Him great glory; great things He hath done!

*HYMN #485 “To God Be the Glory” v. 2 Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done, And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;

*HYMN #485 “To God Be the Glory” v. 2 But purer, and higher, and greater will be Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

*HYMN #485 “To God Be the Glory” v. 2 Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear His voice! Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice!

*HYMN #485 “To God Be the Glory” v. 2 O come to the Father through Jesus the Son, And give Him great glory; great things He hath done!

OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD Offertory Invitation Offertory

*DOXOLOGY #592 Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION (unison) Loving God, you have sent your Son into the world, so that all may have life. As we go from your sanctuary this day, guide us to

offer that life in Christ’s name to all our neighbors. Use our talents to build up Christ’s body. Use the money that we give to bring healing for his sake.

All that we give is in response to your generous care for us, and all people. Amen.

RESPONDING TO THE WORD JOYS AND CONCERNS 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. 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.

BEARING AND FOLLOWING THE WORD INTO THE WORLD

*HYMN #447 “Lead On, O King Eternal” v. 1 Lead on, O King eternal, the day of march has come; Henceforth in fields of conquest Thy tents shall be our home:

*HYMN #447 “Lead On, O King Eternal” v. 1 Through days of preparation Thy grace has made us strong, And now, O King eternal, we lift our battle song.

*HYMN #447 “Lead On, O King Eternal” v. 2 Lead on, O King eternal, till sin’s fierce war shall cease, And holiness shall whisper the sweet amen of peace;

*HYMN #447 “Lead On, O King Eternal” v. 2 For not with swords’ loud clashing, nor roll of stirring drums; With deeds of love and mercy the heavenly kingdom comes.

*BENEDICTION

*HYMN #447 “Lead On, O King Eternal” v. 3 Lead on, O King eternal, we follow, not with fears; For gladness breaks like morning where’er Thy face appears;

*HYMN #447 “Lead On, O King Eternal” v. 3 Thy cross is lifted o’er us; we journey in its light: The crown awaits the conquest; Lead on, O God of might.

Sodus Point Lighthouse on March 8 th, 2017 Photo by: Jim Montanus Postlude