Worship Celebration
Worship Celebration
United Church of Hyde Park
March 17, 2019
Guiding Vision
“We are a diverse, Christ-centered people, learning together
and reaching out to serve the community in faith, hope, and love.”
Prelude “Wondrous Love” David N. Johnson
Welcome
*Call to Worship
One: Today, God comes to us, to gather us in worship:
All: to wait in silence for the Word, to sit at the Table of grace.
One: Tomorrow, the Word of God comes, calling us to go forth to serve:
All: to bring hope to those who have none, to love all tossed aside by indifference.
One: The next day, and the next day, the Holy Spirit will come:
All: so we might discover the gift of peace, and offer it to our broken world.
*Opening Hymn “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” # 297
Call to Reconciliation
One: Join me in imitating all who have gone before us, who trusted that if they spoke of their misdeeds and hollow hearts, God would not only hear them, but forgive them. Let us pray together, saying,
Prayer of Confession (in unison)
Offered a feast at grace’s table, God of the covenant, we choose to gorge ourselves on the empty calories of greed. Invited to live in your house, we move into death’s fear-infested boarding house. Though you promise to be with us, we toss you aside, chasing after those who will abandon us at the first chance.
But you will not let the foxes of foolishness devour us, Mothering God, but will gather us under the shelter of your love. You do so in order to give us that peace which heals us, that wonder which surprises us, and that faith which enables us to let go of the present to walk into the covenant of grace made possible through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
One: God does not abandon us. Like a border collie, God gathers us up, leading us to that shelter of love and life.
All: Today, tomorrow, and the next day, God’s grace rests upon us and gives us hope and mercy. Thanks be to God! We are forgiven. Amen.
*Passing the Peace
We invite the congregation to openly greet one another. Show a smile, shake a hand, give a hug. Let’s share God’s love with one another. During the singing of “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” please find your way back to your seat as we continue fellowship.
*Song of Response (sung on the way back to our seats)
“Blest Be the Tie That Binds” #557 (1st verse)
Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.
Anthem “Forty Days and Forty Nights”
Prayer of Illumination
One: Saving Spirit,
as you gathered us in the wilderness
and led us to a land flowing with milk and honey,
gather us before your Word
and lead us into your wisdom
that we might be equipped to follow your Son
on this Lenten path.
All: Amen.
1st Scripture Reading Psalm 27, pew Bible pp. 437, 438
One: Here ends the reading
All: Thanks be to God.
2nd Scripture Reading Luke 13: 31-35, pew Bible p 849
One: Here ends the reading
All: Thanks be to God.
Sermon “Speak My Name: I Am Somebody Part Two” Rev. Charlene Hill
We Respond to God’s Call
*Hymn of Response “Just as I Am” vs 1,2,3 & 6 #357
Invitation to the Offering
You can now give to UCHP electronically 2 ways!
-Text 773-366-8247 the amount you would like to give and follow next steps.
-Visit the website http://uchpchicago.com and click on “Giving”
Offertory “In the Name of the Lord” Olivia Johnson-Smith, Soloist
*Doxology
“Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow” # 95
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Congregants are invited to share requests for prayer.
After each the pastor will offer:
Pastor: Come Holy Spirit—
And the people respond:
People: Hear our prayer!
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer (read together)
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,
and forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, forever. Amen.
*Closing Hymn “God Be With You” Vs 1 & 2 # 672
*Benediction
Postlude
In Worship Today
Pastor: Rev. Charlene Hill
Director of Music – Organist: Joe Wilkinson
Liturgist: Duone Brown
1st Scripture Reading, Psalm 27 (pew Bible pp. 437, 438)
Triumphant Song of Confidence
Of David.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold[a] of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me
to devour my flesh—
my adversaries and foes—
they shall stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
yet I will be confident.
4 One thing I asked of the LORD,
that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the LORD,
and to inquire in his temple.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.
6 Now my head is lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the LORD.
7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud,
be gracious to me and answer me!
8 “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”
Your face, LORD, do I seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me.
Do not turn your servant away in anger,
you who have been my help.
Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
O God of my salvation!
10 If my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will take me up.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they are breathing out violence.
13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the LORD!
2nd Scripture Reading, Luke 13: 31-35 (pew Bible p. 849)
The Lament over Jerusalem
31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32 He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me,[a] ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. 33 Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ 34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when[b] you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’”