March 17, 2019 Welcome to OPC

Welcome and Announcements Cambridge Chimes Welcome and Announcements Greeting Each Other Ringing of the Bell

“Onward Christian Soldiers” & “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” Prelude “Onward Christian Soldiers” & “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” ~BELL CHOIR Lighting of the candles

*CALL TO WORSHIP AND INVOCATION (Psalm 27) L: Let us worship God, who is our light, our strength, and our salvation. P: When our confidence is in God, of whom shall we be afraid?

L: One thing we ask of God, one thing we seek: to stay focused and live in the house of God all the days of our lives, P: So we may behold the beauty of God in creation, and in one another.

L: One thing we ask of God, one thing we seek: to trust the ways of God, P: So we may know God’s goodness and strength all the days of our lives.

L: May the God of the Universe guide and strengthen us on our journeys L: May the God of the Universe guide and strengthen us on our journeys. P: Let us worship God.

*HYMN #361 “How Firm a Foundation” v.1 How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in God’s excellent Word!

*HYMN #361 “How Firm a Foundation” v.1 What more can be said than to you God hath said, To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

*HYMN #361 “How Firm a Foundation” v.2 “Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed, For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;

*HYMN #361 “How Firm a Foundation” v.2 I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.”

*HYMN #361 “How Firm a Foundation” v.3 “When through the deep waters I call thee to go, The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;

*HYMN #361 “How Firm a Foundation” v.3 For I will be near thee, thy troubles to bless, And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.”

*HYMN #361 “How Firm a Foundation” v.4 “When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, My grace, all-sufficient shall be thy supply;

*HYMN #361 “How Firm a Foundation” v.4 The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.”

*HYMN #361 “How Firm a Foundation” v.5 “The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose, I will not, I will not desert to its foes;

*HYMN #361 “How Firm a Foundation” v.5 That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake.”

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison) There is often a certain winter in our spirits this time of year, O Lord. We feel that all of the journeys which we are on will demand too much of us.

There are so many things in our lives which claim our spirits, our energy, our hopes and fears. It is easy to be like your city of Jerusalem, turning our backs on those whom you send to us.

The world shouts its solutions to us and then deserts us when we are in need. Forgive us for the many times in which we have strayed from your pathway of life;

when we have chosen not to hear the cries of those in need; when we have belittled the gifts and skills you have given us in order to avoid serving others. Heal us, O Lord.

Give us strength for the journey, and place us back on your path to Jerusalem. (silence is observed for reflection and prayer)

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON L: Friends, hear the Good News: In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we learn that God’s love has no bounds. In Christ, we are forgiven, and are empowered to begin anew.

Friends, believe the Good News of the Gospel Friends, believe the Good News of the Gospel. P: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen.

“Theme from Symphony No. 1” BELL CHOIR “Theme from Symphony No. 1”

Time with Young Christians

PROCLAIMING THE WORD SCRIPTURE READING: Philippians 3:14 – 4:1

I press on towards the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. Only let us hold fast to what we have attained.

Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction;

their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation so that it may be conformed to the

body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 13:31-35

At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, ‘Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.’ He said to them, ‘Go and tell that fox for me, “Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work.

Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed away from Jerusalem.” Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophesy and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen

gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord”.’

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

“Stand Firm” Rev. Tedd Pullano

*HYMN #307 “Fight the Good Fight” v.1 Fight the good fight with all thy might; Christ is thy strength and Christ thy right; Lay hold on life, and it shall be Thy joy and crown eternally.

*HYMN #307 “Fight the Good Fight” v.2 Run the straight race through God’s good grace, Lift up thine eyes, and seek Christ’s face; Life with its way before us lies, Christ is the path, and Christ the prize.

*HYMN #307 “Fight the Good Fight” v.3 Cast care aside, lean on thy guide; God’s boundless mercy will provide; Trust, and thy trusting soul shall prove Christ is its life, and Christ its love.

*HYMN #307 “Fight the Good Fight” v.4 Faint not nor fear, God’s arms are near; God changeth not, and thou art dear; Only believe, and thou shalt see That Christ is all in all to thee.

OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD Offertory Invitation Offertory “Bagpipes” ~BELL CHOIR

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

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION (unison) We offer these gifts and the service of our lives to you, O God, as signs of our gratitude for all you have done, and are doing, for us.

Without your love as we know it in Jesus, our lives would lack meaning and purpose. We pray that these gifts, and our witness, may help others to discover in Jesus

new meaning and purpose for their lives. 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, and 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 “Trust and Obey” v.1 When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, what a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will, He abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey.

*HYMN “Trust and Obey” v.1 Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

*HYMN “Trust and Obey” v.2 Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies, but His smile quickly drives it away; Not a doubt nor a fear, not a sigh nor a tear, can abide while we trust and obey.

*HYMN “Trust and Obey” v.2 Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

*HYMN “Trust and Obey” v.3 Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share, but our toil He doth richly repay; Not a grief nor a loss, not a frown nor a cross, but is blest if we trust and obey.

*HYMN “Trust and Obey” v.3 Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

*HYMN “Trust and Obey” v.4 But we never can prove the delights of His love, until all on the altar we lay; For the favor He shows and the joy He bestows are for them who will trust and obey.

*HYMN “Trust and Obey” v.4 Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

*HYMN “Trust and Obey” v.5 Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet, or we’ll walk by His side in the way; What He says we will do, where He sends we will go – never fear, only trust and obey.

*HYMN “Trust and Obey” v.5 Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

*BENEDICTION

Postlude “Jubilation” ~Handel