Saturday Vespers
Grace United Methodist Church
3700 Cottage Grove Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50311
(515) 255-2131
www.gracedesmoines.org
SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2010
THIRD SATURDAY IN LENT
HOLY COMMUNION
5:00 P.M.
Please ask an usher if you need a large print hymnal or bulletin.
Hearing aids are also available.
The music marks the beginning of our service. Please quiet your thoughts for meditation, prayer and worship.
*Please stand as you are able.
GATHERING AND PRAISE
PRELUDE “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” Maker/Shackley
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: O come, let us sing to the Lord, let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
People: Let us come into God’s presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise with songs of praise!
Leader: Your steadfast love is better than life, and our lips will praise you. In the shadow of your wings we sing for joy.
People: We will bless you as long as we live; we will lift up our hands and call on your name.
(Based on Psalms 63 and 95)
*OPENING HYMN No. 381 “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us”
UNISON PRAYER
God of wisdom, your word revives our soul; you give us a spring of water gushing up to eternal life. Grant us grace to see and follow Jesus, to offer his compassion to those in need, to walk in the steps of his zeal for justice, that we may worship you in spirit and truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
HYMN No. 340 “Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy”
PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING
MESSAGE IN POETRY “Walking Rainbows” Anne Weems
Scott Morrison
HYMN No. 629 “You Satisfy the Hungry Heart”
MESSAGE IN POETRY “Counting the Cost” Anne Weems
Scott Morrison
SECOND READING
Leader: The Word of God
All: Thanks be to God
MESSAGE Rev. Bill Steward
CALL TO CONFESSION
Pastor: Jesus was quick to denounce those who made the temple a marketplace, but he is slow to anger when we turn to him for help and forgiveness. Because we have access to God’s grace, let us seek the peace of God through prayer and repentance.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of grace, you call on us to repent, to endure and to hope. Strengthen us that we may work always for the common good. We confess that though we look for sin in others, we are reluctant to examine ourselves. We are caught us in worldly wisdom and forget your words; we complain about troubles and fail to see your good gifts. Have patience with us and nurture us that we may grow in love, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
Pastor: While we were still sinners Christ died for us. We have been justified by his blood and we are saved by his life. This is proof of God’s love for us. Thanks be to God for God will abundantly pardon.
INVITATION TO SILENT PRAYER
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Leader: O God, in your mercy,
People: Hear our prayer.
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE
OFFERTORY VOLUNTARY “Jesus Loves Me” Bradbury/Summer Leigh Fleming, pianist
Please sign and date the attendance register located at the end of the pew and pass it along. When it reaches the end of the pew, please return it.
*A DOXOLOGY FOR LENT to the tune of “Old Hundredth”
Were the whole realm of nature mine that were a present for too small; love so amazing, so divine demands my soul, my life, my all.
BLESSING OF OFFERING
THE SACRAMENT OF THE BREAD AND THE CUP
INVITATION
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
Leader: This is the joyful feast of the people of God.
People: Let us rejoice and be glad.
Leader: Creator God, we bless you and praise you. You spoke and the earth was formed. You drew a breath and the sea rose.
People: All of creation sings your praises.
Leader: From the dust of the earth, you created our bodies. You gave us our senses and blessed us with the power of reason and love. Yet we turn against our covenant with you, with one another and with creation.
People: Have mercy on us, gracious God.
Leader: Jesus the Christ came to show us how to love you. He announced good news to the poor, release to the captives, sight to the blind, and freedom to the oppressed.
People: Through all his life and death, he reconciled us to you and to our brothers and sisters.
Leader: Witnessing to that reconciliation, on the night he was arrested, Jesus took bread. After giving thanks he broke it and said,
People: “Take, eat, this is my body, which is given for you. Do this, remembering me.”
Leader: After supper, he took the cup and said,
People: “Drink this, all of you. This is the new covenant, sealed in my blood; whenever you drink it, do this, remembering me.”
Leader: Remembering Jesus, we ask you to send the power of the Holy Spirit upon this bread and cup that these gifts may be for the sacrament of your healing presence among us in a broken world. Feed us with power; fill us with your peace; lead us, reconciled and redeemed, into the world for the liberation and reconciliation of all peoples.
People: In the name of God, creating, redeeming and sanctifying, we pray. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us,
And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil,
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
BREAKING THE BREAD
RECEIVING THE ELEMENTS
NEW CREED
We are not alone; we live in God’s world.
We believe in God:
Who has created and is creating, who has come in Jesus,
The Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new,
Who works in us and others by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church:
To celebrate God’s presence, to live with respect in Creation.
To love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil,
To proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us.
We are not alone. Thanks be to God.
SENDING FORTH TO SERVE
*HYMN NO. 127 “Guide me, O thou Great Jehovah”
*BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE