March 30, 2025
Fourth Sunday of Lent
PRELUDE
Call to Worship
From Ps. 22:28-31, 5:2, 16:1-2
Pastor: Kingship belongs to the
Lord, and he rules over
the nations.
People: Come, proclaim His
righteousness to the
coming generation, to a
people yet unborn.
Pastor: The women of Israel
came out to meet the
first king of Israel, Saul,
with tambourines, with
songs of joy, and with
musical instruments.
People: Jesus Christ is the final
and greatest King of
Israel; come now to
meet him with
thanksgiving and
songs of praise!
Pastor: Lift up your voice and
cry out to your King
and your God, and to
him offer your prayers.
All: Preserve us, O God, for
in You we take refuge.
We say to the Lord,
“You are my God.” ◆
PRAYER of INVOCATION
From John 1:14
SONG of ADORATION “Almost Home”
Don't drop a single anchor, we're almost home
Through every toil and danger, we're almost home
How many pilgrim saints have before us gone?
No stopping now, we're almost home
That promised land is callin’, we're almost home
And not a tear shall fall then, we're almost home
Make ready now your souls for that Kingdom come
No turning back, we're almost home
Almost home, we're almost home
So press on toward that blessed shore
Oh, praise the Lord, we’re almost home
This journey ours together; we’re almost home
Unto that great forever, we’re almost home
What song anew we'll sing ‘round that happy throne
Come faint of heart, we're almost home
CHORUS
This life is just a vapor, we're almost home
That sun is settin’ yonder, we're almost home
Take courage, for this darkness shall break to dawn
Oh, lift your eyes, we're almost home
CHORUS x 2
© Getty Music Hymns and Songs, Love Your Enemies Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.), Messenger Hymns (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) CCLI #3071858
Confession and Assurance
READING of GOD’S LAW
Hear God’s Law, His Will for Your Life, from Rom 12:
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be con-formed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fer-vent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God. ◆
PRAYER of CONFESSION
Julain of Norwich
Pastor: In You, O Lord, we
find our rest, but too
often we have sought
comfort elsewhere.
People: Forgive us, O God,
and draw us back to
You.
Pastor: In Your mercy, you
call us near, yet we
have wandered far
from your embrace.
People: Forgive us, O God,
and draw us back to
You.
Pastor: You have shown us
your goodness, and
still, we have chosen
the emptiness of sin.
People: Forgive us, O God,
and draw us back to
You.
Pastor: Heal the wounds we
have caused by our
pride and self-will.
People: Renew us, O God,
and make us whole.
Pastor: Restore to us the joy
of Your salvation and
the sweetness of Your
presence.
People: Renew us, O God,
and make us whole.
Pastor: Teach us to trust your
love, which never
fails.
All: And to rest in the
certainty that all shall
be well, and all shall
be well, and all
manner of things
shall be well.
Amen. ◆
ASSURANCE of PARDON from Psalm 32:5
Receive these words of comfort from God:
I acknowledged my sin to you,
And did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
And you forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Friends in Christ, be assured that the Lord our God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Be assured that, having confessed your sins to Him, you now stand forgiven and spotless in his sight—righteous with the very righteousness of Christ.
Amen. ◆
SONG of RESPONSE “’Tis So Sweet . . .” CH#581
Life of Worship
MOMENT for MISSOINS
PROFESSION of FAITH
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there shall he come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Church universal,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen. ◆
OFFERING
DOXOLOGY CH#815
PRAYER of DEDICATION
CHILDREN’S CATECHISM
PASSING of the PEACE
PRAYER OF INTERCESSION
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,
For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, forever. Amen. ◆
Ministry of the Word
SONG “Praise to the Lord the Almighty!” CH #210
PRAYER for ILLUMINATION
Waldensian Liturgy
O God, you instruct us by your Holy Scriptures- we urge you by your grace to enlighten our minds and cleanse our hearts; that reading, hearing, and meditating upon them, we may rightly understand and heartily embrace the things you have revealed in them. Give efficacy to the reading of the gospel in your Word, that through the operation of the Holy Spirit, this holy seed may be received into our hearts as into good ground; and that we may not only hear your Word but keep it, living in conformity with your precepts; so that we may finally attain everlasting salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ◆
SCRIPTURE READING John 3:1-10
SERMON “Where Does the Wind Go?”
SONG of DEPARTURE “My Friends, May You Grow in Grace”
My friends, may you grow in grace,
And in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior.
My friends, may you grow in grace,
And in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
To God be the glory, now and forever!
Now and forever, Amen! (Repeat)
Meaney / Demey / Kett © 2000 Timothy James CCLI #3071858
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
