Sunday, March 17th
St. James United Church of Christ
2nd Sunday in Lent, March 17th, 2019
For Meditation and Reflection
“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” – Maya Angelou
“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” – Robert Kennedy
“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.”- Joseph Campbell
Welcome and Announcements
Call to Worship
Pastor: We give thanks for the life that pulsates within us
Congregation: breath and heartbeat, joy and sorrow, dance and stillness.
Pastor: We give thanks for the life that ebbs and flows between us
Congregation: loving, understanding, creating, embracing and letting go.
Pastor: We give thanks for the web of life that surrounds and sustains us
Congregation: feeding, protecting, teaching, inspiring mutual care.
Pastor: We give thanks for the source of all life,
All: this living universe, of which our lives are an expression.
Opening Hymn #394 – In Christ There Is No East or West
Opening Prayer
Spirit of life, in us and around us, here is our chance, once again, to live like we wish the world would live. May we find within our-selves the courage to be who we are. May we know when it is time to listen and when it is time to speak. May we trust ourselves to be the ones to find the words that need to be said or to do what needs to be done. May we trust one another and know there are many ways to go through life. May we know that though we cannot change some of what life gives to us, we can choose how we deal with what we are given. Together we can make possible justice and love. As we worship this morning, may we be reminded that we are all connected. We depend upon one another more than we know. We are one body. We are one. Amen.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 9:9-13
Sermon Series: “Boundary Breaking Awareness” – Rev. Samantha Tuttle
Reflective Hymn: #349 – I Come with Joy (verses 2-5)
The Offerings and Offertory Music
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
The Lord’s Prayer (Traditional, with “debts”)
Closing Hymn: #388 – Help Us Accept Each Other
Blessing and Sending:
The God we worship is never confined to this holy place. So go and travel with the God who is found in ordinary and surprising places. Worship need not cease. It can echo in our lives, in our words, in our deeds, in our moods, in our dreams, and even in your dancing. Carry worship with you wherever you may go. Be a blessing in your going out and your coming in. Go in peace, and may the peace of God go with you.
Sharing the Peace as we go…
Announcements
This Sunday, March 17th:
10:00am Sunday School for adults in the Sanctuary with Janell and for children in the Fellowship Hall with Robin Scott. 11:00am Worship led by Rev. Samantha Tuttle; music by Janell.
Next Sunday, March 24th:
11:00am Worship led by Rev. Mike Morse; music by Sea Raven Morse.
Sunday, Mar 31st: Worship led by Rev. Samantha Tuttle; music by Janell.
Sunday, April 7th: Worship led by Rev. Samantha Tuttle, followed by a First Sunday potluck, which will include informal, yet special poetry readings by Rev. Mike Lyle and others, from his newest book, The Everywhere of Light.
Childcare: During services while the Fellowship Hall is under repair: Parents are welcome to bring children to church. Children can share worship with adults as their attention permits and then go to the “cry room” for Childcare in the back of the sanctuary. Thank you to Katie and Greta for your gracious care of the children.
Lovettsville Food Bank Donations: Thanks to all who are generously bringing non-perishable food items to church. Thank you, Tena Brass, for taking our donations.
Statement of Faith: We gather as an open and affirming community to worship God, however known. We welcome everyone, no exceptions. Together we find spiritual comfort and challenge, learn from ancient and modern texts, and discover new dimensions of truth. We practice following the way of Jesus. We dare to demonstrate God’s love by working for justice and peace among all people