March 26, 2023
Fifth 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
There Is a Balm in Gilead arr. Cynthia Dobrinski
Handbell Choir
Welcome and Announcements
Call to Worship
One: We journey through the wilderness
Many: We journey to the cross
One: We cry out for sustenance
Many: God provides for our needs
One: We don't always understand
Many: But God always provides. Thanks be to God.
Hymn
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah UMH# 127
Concerns and Prayers with the Lord’s Prayer
UMH# 895
Share your own Prayer or Concern
A Reading from the Gospels
Solo
Farther Along Stevens/Baxter
Cindy Fulton and Chip Hayden
A Reading from the Old Testament
Sermon
Sustenance for the Journey | Rev. Lisa Hartzog
Prayer of Confession & Assurance of Pardon
The God of love and source of life hears the cries of God's children throughout time. Trust in the provision God offers you, right here and right now. 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
Christ Beside Me TFWS# 216
Postlude
Sonata, Op. 25 Lawson Lunde
Movement 3
Julia Pearson and Rylan Dunn
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: Reflect on your life: When have you had the greatest growth in your spiritual life? Did you recognize it at the time, or only later? How might God be working in your life now with you not realizing it?
Daily Prayer: Ever-present Lord, thank you for all the ways you have provided for me throughout my life. Help me to open my eyes to how you are working in my life today. 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.