GATHERING TO PRAISE GOD Sunday, March 12, 2023
Third Sunday of Lent
Prelude
Choral Introit
Welcome
Praise Songs
The People Gather
L: When we hunger
P: We cry to the Lord, “Help us, O Lord.”
L: When we thirst
P: We cry to the Lord, “Help us, O Lord.”
L: God who created the heavens and the earth hears our cries.
P: Lord, come and quench our thirst and heal our hunger. AMEN.
Hymn
The People Pray Psalm 139:1-12
L: O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
P: You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from far away.
L: You search out my path and my lying down,
and are acquainted with all my ways.
P: Even before a word is on my tongue,
O Lord, you know it completely.
L: You pursue me behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
P: Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is so high that I cannot attain it.
L: Where can I go from your spirit?
P: Or where can I flee from your presence?
L: If I ascend to heaven, you are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
P: If I take the wings of the morning
and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me fast.
L: If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light around me become night’,
P: even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is as bright as the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
Special Music
Children’s Moment
The Word of God for the People of God
Scripture
Jonah 1:4-16
But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, so that there was a great storm on the sea; the ship looked like it might be broken to pieces. 5 The sailors were terrified, and each one cried out to his god. They hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to make it lighter.
Now Jonah had gone down into the hold of the vessel to lie down and was deep in sleep. 6 The ship’s officer came and said to him, “How can you possibly be sleeping so deeply? Get up! Call on your god! Perhaps the god will give some thought to us so that we won’t perish.”
7 Meanwhile, the sailors said to each other, “Come on, let’s cast lots so that we might learn who is to blame for this evil that’s happening to us.” They cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 So they said to him, “Tell us, since you’re the cause of this evil happening to us: What do you do and where are you from? What’s your country and of what people are you?”
9 He said to them, “I’m a Hebrew. I worship the Lord, the God of heaven—who made the sea and the dry land.”
10 Then the men were terrified and said to him, “What have you done?” (The men knew that Jonah was fleeing from the Lord, because he had told them.)
11 They said to him, “What will we do about you so that the sea will become calm around us?” (The sea was continuing to rage.)
12 He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea! Then the sea will become calm around you. I know it’s my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”
13 The men rowed to reach dry land, but they couldn’t manage it because the sea continued to rage against them. 14 So they called on the Lord, saying, “Please, Lord, don’t let us perish on account of this man’s life, and don’t blame us for innocent blood! You are the Lord: whatever you want, you can do.”15 Then they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased its raging. 16 The men worshipped the Lord with a profound reverence; they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made solemn promises.
Matthew 8:23-27
When Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him. 24 A huge storm arose on the lake so that waves were sloshing over the boat. But Jesus was asleep. 25 They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, rescue us! We’re going to drown!”
26 He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you people of weak faith?” Then he got up and gave orders to the winds and the lake, and there was a great calm.
27 The people were amazed and said, “What kind of person is this? Even the winds and the lake obey him!”
Message Saved in the Storm
Message Saved In The Storm
Pastoral Prayer
The People Bring Their Gifts
The offering baskets will be passed or you may use your online app
Offertory
*The People Offer Praise* Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow UMH 95
The People Come to the Table
Blessing of the Sacraments
Sharing the meal
The People Go into The World
Hymn A Closing Prayer
Benediction
Postlude
- Why is it important to obey God’s will?
- What can be the results of disobedience?
- Do you think Jonah’s conscience bothered him?
- You cannot seek God’s
- You cannot truly say that you
- What are some of the ways you ignore God’s call?
- What is God calling you to do that you are avoiding?