Virtual Worship – Sunday, March 21, 2021

First Presbyterian Church

Delavan, Illinois

Service for the Lord’s Day

21 March 2021

5th Sunday in Lent

Prelude “How Firm A Foundation”    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGi_c4fMAfc&t=8s        

Welcome and Announcements

Good morning everyone. We continue to do a new thing in this time of social distancing. We are still a community of faith, even though we are separated for the safety of ourselves, our families, our congregation, and our communities. We will continue to offer this service for the foreseeable future. 

In this bulletin, you will find links to the hymns which also show the lyrics (or are shown below). If you get an ad (and you likely will) you can skip it by clicking the SKIP AD usually found in the lower right corner of the video. There are also links to the Gospel reading and the sermon.

For inclusion in next week’s service, please email or phone the church or Pastor Jean (who can also receive texts) with any prayer requests.

We have resumed LIMITED in-person worship. Please read the guidelines below!

We offer praise and prayer to God

^Call to Worship

Whoever serves me must follow me, 

says the Lord,

and where I am, 

there will my servant be also.

^Opening Prayer

Almighty God, our Redeemer, in our weakness we have failed to be your messengers of forgiveness and hope. Renew us by your Holy Spirit, that we may follow your commands and proclaim your reign of love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

^Hymn     “Here I Am, Lord” # 452   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SHIrS6pMG4

Call to Confession

If the LORD counted our sins, who could stand? But with God there is forgiveness, steadfast love, and great power to redeem. Hope in the LORD! It is God who will save us from our sin. (Ps. 130)

With faith and hope, let us confess our sin.

Confession of Sin

Create in me a clean heart, O God; put a new and right spirit within me. 

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 

Create in me a clean heart, O God; put a new and right spirit within me. 

Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. 

Create in me a clean heart, O God; put a new and right spirit within me.

Time of Silent Confession

(Lord, have mercy on us) #300

Assurance of Pardon

Hear the word of the LORD: I will open your graves, O my people, and these dry bones will live! I will put my Spirit within you, and you will live, and you will know that I am the LORD. 

In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. Thanks be to God!

^Gloria Patri (Glory be to the Father) #35

^Passing the Peace

Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another. The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

And also with you.

We listen to God’s Word

Prayer for Illumination

God our helper, by your Holy Spirit, open our minds, that as the Scriptures are read and your Word is proclaimed, we may be led into your truth and taught your will, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

First Reading   Jeremiah 31:31-35  

(A new covenant is coming!) 

31The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD. 33But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the LORD,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.

35      Thus says the LORD,

      who gives the sun for light by day

      and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night,

      who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—

      the LORD of hosts is his name:

The Word of The LORD.  Thanks be to God.

Psalm 119:9-16 (Delighting in God’s law) Responsive

How can young people keep their way pure? By guarding it according to your word.

With my whole heart I seek you; do not let me stray from your commandments.

I treasure your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against you.

Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes.

With my lips I declare all the ordinances of your mouth.

I delight in the way of your decrees as much as in all riches.

I will meditate on your precepts, and fix my eyes on your ways.

I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

Second Reading     Hebrews 5:5-10  

(Christ is the High Priest)

5So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him,

      “You are my Son,

      today I have begotten you”;

6as he says also in another place,

      “You are a priest forever,

      according to the order of Melchizedek.”

7In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; 9and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

The Word of The LORD.  Thanks be to God.

Gospel Reading   John 12:20-33   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4-Ks1MNw0Y

(Greeks come to see Jesus and He speaks again of His death) 

20Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.

27“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. 31Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.

The Word of The LORD.  Thanks be to God.

Sermon The Road To The Cross – An Invitation Is Heard    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDfxhHlg9uQ

^Affirmation of Faith  Apostle’s Creed 

I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come again to judge the quick and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.  Amen.

^Hymn     “Beneath The Cross Of Jesus” #197  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G3-KsR9AAI

Prayers of the People

Almighty God,  who taught us to pray not only for ourselves but for people everywhere, hear us as we pray for others, in the name of Jesus Christ.

Inspire the whole church with your power, unity, and peace. Grant that all who trust you may obey your Word, and live together in love.

Lead all nations in the way of justice and goodwill. Direct those who govern, that they may rule fairly, maintain order, uphold those in need, and defend oppressed people; that this world may claim your rule and know true peace.

Awaken all people to the danger we have inflicted upon the earth. Implant in each a reverence for all you have made that we may preserve the delicate balance of creation for all coming generations.

Give grace to all who proclaim the gospel through Word and Sacrament and deeds of mercy, that by their teaching and example they may reveal your love for all people.

Comfort and relieve, O Lord, all who are in trouble . . . sorrow . . . poverty . . . sickness . . . grief . . . especially those known to us, whom we name before you in silence. . . . We especially name those battling the Covid virus in any way.

Heal them in body, mind, or circumstance, working in them, by your grace, wonders beyond all they may dream or hope.

We ask for the miracle of growth in this congregation, the revitalization of the main street, and your blessing on this community and its schools,

Bring to our remembrance all those who, having served you on earth, now sing your praises eternally. May their endurance give us courage and their faithfulness give us hope; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Offering Invitation

It might seem a bit strange to see an invitation to offering in this time of social distancing and virtual worship. Some of you may be financially affected as well. I would like to remind you that offering of ourselves is always a three-part process – our time, our talent and our treasure. So I invite you to offer yourself in whatever way(s) are most appropriate to our heavenly Father.

Offertory “Bless His Name”    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDW2-WFrtpU&t=6s

^Doxology (Praise God from Whom all blessings flow)     #46

^Prayer of Thanksgiving

Let us give thanks to The LORD our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

God of compassion, we praise you that you look upon our frail lives with love and understanding, and that you desire for us all new life in Jesus Christ. We are overwhelmed by your love, which goes to the cross for us, endures the grave, and leads us to new life. By your Spirit, strengthen our souls to be brave and bold in Christ’s service. Take our offerings, and use them and us for your purposes, in the name of Jesus Christ, our crucified and risen Lord. Amen.

^Lord’s Prayer

We depart to serve Christ in the world

^Hymn “O Jesus, I Have Promised” # 612 (1, 2, 4) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC-2Ss9tg7I

^Charge

As God’s own, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, and patience, forgiving each other as the Lord has forgiven you, and crown all these things with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Benediction (A word of blessing)

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of God’s Son, Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, remain with you always.

Postlude

Please remember in your prayers

Marian Allen, Marge Donley (Pekin Manor), Helen Hopkins (shoulder surgery), Barb Day, Verbie Hoffman, Susan (Sinn) Funke, Glenn and Loretta (broken shoulder) Holmes, Meryl Place (Pastor Jean’s cousin), Diane Schlosser, Joyce Culbertson (broken bone in foot), Mardelle Neumann (Apostolic Christian Skylines), Donna Diekhoff, Dick Temple, Myrna and Don (blood clots) Brose, Margaret Altine, Blake Renner (Diane Allen Renner’s son), Joy Heaton, Lyndee Lewis’ niece, Jeremy Warner, Rose Goeken, Richard Hopkins (cancer), Dick Watts, Kyle Diekhoff (second spinal surgery), Rick Woodrow (Crohn’s)

The family and friends of Dick Place

All affected by the Covid-19 virus, those caring for them in any way, and those working to find a cure

WORSHIP RESUMES – I’m sure many of you are overjoyed to see these words but they come with some precautions. Please wear a mask to protect others, as it is astonishing to see the number of people who are ill but asymptomatic. (Masks will be available if you don’t have your own.) When you enter please use the provided hand sanitizer then pick up a bulletin. We will practice social distancing inside the sanctuary, asking that those who live in the same household sit together and to space yourselves out if you do not. Please keep your mask on throughout the service, especially when singing. We will not move around during the Passing of the Peace, instead wave, bow, or give air hugs. The offering plates will not be passed. Instead, they will be located at the rear of the sanctuary so you may make your offering as you enter or leave. Some may feel these restrictions are too much, others may feel they are not enough. Your Session has considered all the available information before resuming in-person worship. If you are uncomfortable in attending worship, please know we are continuing the virtual services. PLEASE, IF YOU FEEL AT ALL ILL, STAY AT HOME and use the virtual option.

Calendar:

Sun., 3/21:  Sunday School, 9:30 a.m.; Worship, 10:30 a.m., Pastor Jean Sparks preaching; Virtual option available. Community Lenten Service, 6:00 p.m. at Presbyterian Church, Pastor Charles Graul preaching

Mon., 3/22: 4th Monday Free Meal, 5:30 p.m., will be drive-by pick-up. Drive south on 

Thurs., 3/25:  Lenten Bible Study, 10-11:30 a.m. or 6-7:30 p.m., or Zoom, if requested

Sat., 3:27:  Prayer Group, 9:00 a.m. or Zoom, if requested

Sun., 3/28:  Sunday School, 9:30 a.m.; Worship, 10:30 a.m., Pastor Jean Sparks preaching; Virtual option available. Community Lenten Service, 6:00 p.m. at United Methodist Church, Father Tim Nolan preaching

Thurs., 4/1:  Lenten Bible Study, 10-11:00 a.m. or Zoom, if requested; Maundy Thursday service, 7:00 p.m., Virtual option available

Sat., 4/3:  Prayer Group, 9:00 a.m. or Zoom, if requested

Sun., 4/4: Easter, COMMUNITY SUNRISE SERVICE, 6:30 a.m. at Crosswalk; NO Sunday School; Worship, Holy Communion, 10:30 a.m., Pastor Jean Sparks preaching; Virtual option available.

First Presbyterian Church

P.O. Box 602, 201 W. Fourth Street, Delavan, IL 61734

(309) 244-7105

E-mail: firstpresdelavan@gmail.com

www.firstpresdelavan.org

Rev. Jean Sparks, Pastor

Linda Clauser, Organist