Fourth Sunday of Lent
Organ Prelude “A Lenten Supplication” (R. Dittrich)
Congregational Welcome
Choral Introit “Somos Pueblo que camina” (Manuel Salvador Dávila)
from Missa Popular Nicaragüense
Call to Worship
*Opening Hymn (insert) O Jesus Christ, May Grateful Hymns
*Prayer of Union and Hope
One Voice: Psalm 107 begins this way: “O give thanks to the Lord, for God is good, with steadfast love that endures for ever. Let the redeemed of God say so— those redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south… let them thank God for steadfast love and wonderful works for humankind.” Let us pray to the God who so loves the world:
All: Creator God, all through Lent we seek ways to follow you. And then we hear that you ‘so love the world,’ that you are seeking us. We hear that you are the one who longs for us, all along: to gather us and share steadfast hope. So this day we pray that our worship clears any obstructions in our way to you, so that all of us receive your steadfast works and wonders, and share them from Newton to Nicaragua, and beyond. Amen.
*Assurance of Grace
*Sung Response (Passion Chorale) O God of all the living, both banished and restored,
Compassionate, forgiving, our peace and hope assured.
Grant now that our transgressing, our faithlessness may cease.
Stretch out your hand in blessing, in pardon, and in peace.
*Sharing of Peace
One Voice: The Peace of Christ be always with you. All: And also with you!
The Hebrew Bible Numbers 21: 4-9
The Children’s Time Wendy Donnell
*Hymn Response #323 Loving Spirit
(During the hymn children are invited to Church School)
The Gospel Reading John 3: 14-21
The Morning Meditation The Rev. Kenneth Baily
The Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer
(Our father and mother…trespasses)
Call to Offering
Choral Offering “Our Soul Waiteth for the Lord” (Joan Pinkston)
*Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Christ the word in flesh born low,
Praise Holy Spirit evermore,
One God, Triune, whom we adore. Amen.
*Prayer of Thanksgiving
*Closing Hymn #223 O My Soul, Bless Your Redeemer (st. 1; 4-6)
*Assurance and Blessing
*Choral Benediction “We are People on a Journey” (Manuel Salvador Dávila)
from Missa Popular Nicaragüense
Postlude “Andante Serioso” (A. Wetelbey)
* Those who are able please stand
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Each week during Lent Ken Baily will post two “cartoons” on the bulletin boards near the Parlor.
Take a look on your way to fellowship time. Perhaps they inspire discussion.
Today: Come join us after worship today for our Nicaraguan lunch and presentation,
put together by our very own mission committee!
A Trinity of Missions: Today we welcome one of the leaders of the Community Day Center of Waltham, who serve 10,000 meals per year. We send about 100 sandwiches each month. Plus, after worship we share a free Nicaraguan meal, then invite donations — if you wish — to support programs in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. Then, next Sunday, we take a free-will offering for One Great Hour of Sharing. Once a year, across the country, to serve disaster and refugee missions through our UCC denomination. (More here: www.ucc.org/giving)
Is this a lot? Well, it’s a trinity of missions, and we invite everyone to help as you are able.
Thanks to worship leaders Ken Baily, Wendy Donnell, Jan Zimmerman, Yevgenia Semeina-Maroyan, Yumiko Matsuoka, Buildings and Grounds, and Misha Hill.
Each Sunday, NHCC is blessed to be able to include remote members and friends in worship via YouTube and on our website. Our services are live streamed and recorded.
We don’t control who can watch or who can be seen. If you do not wish to have your likeness recorded, streamed, or photographed, please inform a greeter so you can be seated appropriately.
If you would like to be on our list to learn more about mission and ministry here,
if you would like to connect with our new member group, participate in adult education, church school or other events, and even make a donation — and if you have a smartphone,
please scan the qr code below and access plenty of our parish information.
(Also, you can talk to our reader or pastor, any day at all.)
“(John’s Gospel) emphasizes the mystery of a God who has always
been with us and who chooses to come closer to us.”
– E. Carrington Heath