March 19, 2023
Fourth Sunday in Lent
Enhance your online worship experience
Whether you’re a first-time online visitor or a life-long member, we welcome and celebrate the ways you enrich our collective worship of a scattered yet gathered Children of God. As we begin our service, we invite you to light a candle, just as we do in the prelude during our in-person worship. Our two altar candles symbolize that Christ was both a human being and God. A light being carried into the world shows that Jesus Christ is for all people - everywhere. Just as a the acolyte carries the lighted candlelight into the congregation, the light symbolizes the light of Jesus Christ preceding us into the world where we as the church are to serve.
Gathering: The chiming of the Trinity
Prelude
Come, O Thou Traveler Unknown arr. Christine S. Robbins
Welcome and Announcements
Call to Worship
One: God calls us to bring our full selves into his presence.
Many: We come to God with the love in our hearts and the questions in our minds.
One: We venture into the wilderness.
Many: Like Jacob, we bring our whole selves to wrestle with God.
One: We draw close to our Lord.
Many: God sees our struggles and doubts and loves us even more.
Hymn
I Sing the Almighty Power of God UMH# 152
Concerns and Prayers with the Lord’s Prayer
UMH# 895
Share your own Prayer or Concern
A Reading from the Old Testament
Solo
Seek the Lord John Carter
Nick Skaggs
A Reading from the Old Testament
Sermon
Holding On | Rev. Lisa Hartzog
Prayer of Confession & Assurance of Pardon
God is not afraid to meet us in the dusty earth of our lives. Christ went to the cross to show us the extent of God's desire to meet us where we are. You are claimed and named by your creator, redeemer, and sustainer. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven and made new
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and made new.
Thanks be to God.
Profession of Faith
A Statement of Faith of the United Church of Canada UMH# 883
Blessing of the tithes and offerings
Doxology | UMH# 95
Hymn
Take My Life, and Let It Be UMH# 399
Postlude
Rock of Ages arr. James Koerts
Today’s worship participants
Our Pastor: Rev. Lisa Hartzog
Music Director: Dr. Joel Reed
Pianist: Patty Higgins
Music Intern: Nick Skaggs
Wanderings in the Wilderness
Reflection: When have you struggled to honestly face someone you have hurt? Have you ever desperately felt the need for God's touch and blessing?
Daily Prayer: God of Love, hold me in your embrace that I might feel your blessing. In the strength of that blessing, guide me to live in loving relationship with others. Amen.
❤️ How to Help The Ukrainian People 🇺🇦
Those wishing to provide humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian people in the wake of the Russian invasion of their country may contribute to the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s Advance #982450, UMCOR International Disaster Response and Recovery. This fund will provide direct assistance to those in Ukraine as well as assistance to Ukrainians fleeing to neighboring countries.
Gifts to support the people of Ukraine can be made in the following ways:
By toll-free telephone: 888-252-6174
By check made out to Global Ministries/UMCOR with “Advance #982450-Ukraine” written on the memo line, either mailed and addressed to Global Ministries/UMCOR, GPO, P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY, 10087-9068 or given at or through any United Methodist church
100% percent of all Advance contributions go to the designated cause.
The United Methodist community in Ukraine, though quite small, is actively engaged in assisting neighbors in need. Global Ministries is in touch with the church’s leadership as well as with church leaders in countries welcoming those who are fleeing from violence in Ukraine.
Continue Your Contribution | Tithes & Offerings
Thank you for your continued financial support.
Mail Your Gift
The best way to contribute right now is by sending your offering through U.S. Mail to our Post Office Box.
Mars Hill United Methodist Church
PO Box 427
Mars Hill, NC 28754
Give Online
If you prefer to give online, Mars Hill United Methodist Church is pleased to offer the convenience and security of online giving through the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church.