Sunday, February 28, 2021
Second Sunday of Lent
PRELUDE
“Sweet Hour of Prayer”
[arr. by Joel Raney #496, Tune: Sweet Hour, by William Bradbury, 1861]
Rebecca Nelson, Piano
WELCOME FROM THE PULPIT
Jan Everhart Hartliff, Pastor
CENTERING MOMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP
Skylar Franks, Liturgist
Leader: Today we recall God’s ways through Scripture and our experiences.
People: Just as God’s promise came to Abram and Sarai late in life,
Leader: God’s promise meets us today.
People: Just as Peter misunderstood Jesus
Leader: We often fail to grasp God’s invitation to us.
People: Open our ears, eyes, and hearts to know God’s claim and promise as we worship this day. Amen.
HYMN
“The God of Abram Praise” verses 1 & 2
[Daniel ben Judah; Hebrew Melody]
United Methodist Hymnal #116
The God of Abram praise, who reigns enthroned above;
Ancient of Everlasting days, and God of love;
Jehovah, great I AM! By earth and heaven confessed;
I bow and bless the sacred name forever blest.
The great I AM has sworn; I on this oath depend.
I shall, on eagle wings upborne, to heaven ascend.
I shall behold God’s face; I shall God’s power adore,
and sing the wonders of God’s grace forevermore.
CHILDREN’S TIME
Alan Cook
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE…PASTORAL PRAYER…THE LORD’S PRAYER
Jan Everhart Hartliff, Pastor
Our God in heaven, your name is holy. Your kindom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us where we have fallen short, just as we forgive those who have wronged us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for yours is the kindom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
PRAYER RESPONSE
“Let Us Pray to the Lord”
[Byzantine chant; harm. By Robert Batistini]
United Methodist Hymnal #485
Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord. Christ, have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Skylar Franks, Liturgist
Genesis 17:1-5; 17
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous.” Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, “As for me, this is my covenant with you: you shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations….” Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”
Mark 8:31-38
Then he began to teach them that the Son of Humanity must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, But turning and looking at his disciples, Jesus rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Those who are ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Humanity will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Liturgist: The word of life.
People: Thanks be to God.
SERMON
“A Queer Lens: Suffering that Leads to Life”
Jan Everhart Hartliff, Pastor
WORSHIP WITH TITHES AND OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY
“Jesus, I Will Ponder Now”
[by J. S. Bach]
Rebecca Nelson, Organ
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
HYMN
“Forth in Thy Name, O Lord”
[Charles Wesley; John Hatton]
United Methodist Hymnal #438
Forth in thy name, O Lord, I go, my daily labor to pursue;
thee, only thee, resolved to know in all I think or speak or do.
The task thy wisdom hath assigned, O let me cheerfully fulfill;
in all my works thy presence find, and prove thy good and perfect will.
Thee may I set at my right hand, whose eyes mine inmost substance see,
and labor on at thy command, and offer all my works to thee.
For thee delightfully employ whate’er thy bounteous grace hath given;
and run my course with even joy, and closely walk with thee to heaven.
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
“The Lord Bless You and Keep You”
[by John Rutter]
Rebecca Nelson, Piano
The Lord bless you and keep you,
the Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious unto you.
The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you,
and give you peace. Amen.
[Numbers 6:24-26]