February 18, 2018 Welcome to OPC

“What Wondrous Love Is This?” Welcome and Announcements Chimes “What Wondrous Love Is This?” Welcome and Announcements Greeting Each Other

“Solemn Melody” ~Davies Ringing of the Bell Prelude “Solemn Melody” ~Davies Lighting of the candles

*CALL TO WORSHIP AND INVOCATION L: We come this day, trusting in God’s mercy and care, P: Longing to know God in Christ better.

L: We come, to be guided in the ways of Jesus’ passion, P: To experience the power of his choices. L: Sisters and Brothers, today we walk the Lenten journey.

P: We walk this journey to the cross with fear and trembling P: We walk this journey to the cross with fear and trembling. L: Our journey may be challenging and demanding. P: So shall we call upon the Lord to guide and comfort us.

L: And we shall journey on together L: And we shall journey on together. P: We shall journey on together in faith, always remembering Christ’s love for each of us.

*HYMN #72 “When Jesus Came to Jordan” v.1 When Jesus came to Jordan to be baptized by John, He did not come for pardon, but as God’s Holy One.

*HYMN #72 “When Jesus Came to Jordan” v.2 He came to share repentance with all who mourn their sins, To speak the vital sentence with which good news begins.

*HYMN #72 “When Jesus Came to Jordan” v.3 He came to share temptation, our utmost woe and loss; For us and our salvation, to die upon the cross.

*HYMN #72 “When Jesus Came to Jordan” v.4 So when the Dove descended on him, the Holy One, The hidden years had ended, the age of grace begun.

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION Today, please offer your own silent prayers of brokenness and sin in your lives.

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON L: Sisters and Brothers, God has seen your broken and remorseful hearts. Know that God has cleansed you and made you whole.

P: Thanks be to God for creating in us a new and clean heart. Amen.

“Gather at the River” ~Ruth Schram CHOIR ANTHEM “Gather at the River” ~Ruth Schram

PROCLAIMING THE WORD SCRIPTURE READING: 1 Peter 3:18-22

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison,

who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight people, were saved through water. And baptism, which is prefigured, now saves you – not as a removal of dirt from the body,

but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

SCRIPTURE READING: Mark 1:9-15

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth to Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven,

‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’ And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’

L: This is the Word of the Lord. P: Thanks be to God!

“In Order to Bring You to God” Rev. Tedd Pullano

*HYMN #81 “Lord Who Throughout these…” v.1 Lord, who throughout these forty days for us did fast and pray, Teach us with Thee to mourn our sins, And close by Thee to stay.

*HYMN #81 “Lord Who Throughout these…” v.2 As Thou with Satan didst contend, And didst the victory win, O give us strength in Thee to fight, in Thee to conquer sin.

*HYMN #81 “Lord Who Throughout these…” v.3 And through these days of penitence, And through Thy Passiontide, Yea, evermore, in life and death, O Lord, with us abide.

*HYMN #81 “Lord Who Throughout these…” v.4 Abide with us, that so, this life Of suffering over past, An Easter of unending joy We may attain at last!

OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD Offertory Invitation Offertory “Lenten Meditation” ~Blake

*DOXOLOGY #542 v.4 Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION (unison) Holy God, we know Christ suffered to bring us to you. For that we are eternally grateful. Out of that gratitude we return a portion of our blessings.

Please bless, multiply, and use our offerings to bring others to you Please bless, multiply, and use our offerings to bring others to you. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

RESPONDING TO THE WORD JOYS AND CONCERNS PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

The Lord’s Prayer (unison) 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 Give us this day our daily bread. 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.

BEARING AND FOLLOWING THE WORD INTO THE WORLD

*HYMN #379 “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less” v.1 My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

*HYMN #379 “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less” v.1 On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.

*HYMN #379 “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less” v.2 When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.

*HYMN #379 “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less” v.2 On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.

*HYMN #379 “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less” v.3 His oath, His covenant, His blood support me in the whelming flood; When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.

*HYMN #379 “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less” v.3 On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.

*HYMN #379 “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less” v.4 When He shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in Him be found, Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.

*HYMN #379 “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less” v.4 On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.

*BENEDICTION

“Symphonic Postlude” ~Brahms