Daily Archives: March 28, 2025

March 30th Worship Service

Welcome and Announcements

*Praise Song
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”………UMH 384

Prelude

*Processional
In this place, among these people
God is worshipped, God is praised.
We have seen the signs and wonders;
The lost are found here, the dead are raised.
We are living the Gospel story;
lives are changed, and mountains moved.
Won’t you come and work among us?
You are welcomed, you are loved.

*Call to Worship
Leader: We come together today, remembering God’s faithfulness in times of trial.
All: God is with us, through every storm and every season.
Leader: In the wilderness, God provided manna from heaven, feeding and sustaining God’s people.
All: We are nourished by God’s grace, given through the hands of others.
Leader: When a disaster strikes, we remember that we are not alone.
All: Through UMCOR and all who serve, God’s love and healing reaches those who are hurting and broken.
Leader: Just as God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness, God continues to provide for those rebuilding after the devastation of a disaster.
All: We are God’s people, and we are called to join in the work of restoration, bringing hope and healing.
Leader: As the Israelites transitioned from the wilderness to abundance, we too transition from crisis to recovery, trusting that God’s provision will sustain us.
All: We trust in God’s faithfulness, and we will walk alongside those affected by disaster, offering comfort and support, just as Christ has shown us.
Leader: Let us respond to God’s call to serve those in need, offering our time, our talents, and our resources.
All: AMEN.

*Gloria Patri………………………………UMH  70

*Opening Prayer

*Hymn
Give to the Winds Thy Fears”…………..UMH 129

Recognizing UMCOR Sunday

Prayers of the People – Joys and Concerns

Shalom Offering

The Offering of our Gifts and Ourselves

*Doxology………………………………….…UMH 95

*Prayer of Dedication

*Hymn
He Touched Me”…………………….UMH 367

Sharing of the Word

Old Testament Reading
Joshua 5:9-12…………………………………….Page 171
Epistle Reading
2Corinthians 5:16-21………….………Page 940
*Gospel Reading

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32……………………………………….Page 850

Message by Paster Gary Peterson
“A Convincing Argument”

Prayer

*Hymn
How Can We Name a Love”…………….UMH 111

Postlude –
Please be seated

Benediction

Pianist – Suzanne Bellrichard

Liturgist – Ellen Zimmerman

Ministers – All People As We Live The Good News

Pastor’s Ponderings

During this time in Lent, I have been encouraging you to take extra time in your devotional life. During Lent I have expanded my devotional time and I thought it might be good to share a devotion that I read and meditated upon recently that talks about the journey we have begun during Lent. It comes from a devotional called “Forty Daily Prayers” and I want to share about devotion with you because I think it speaks to what the journey has been like so far for me in Lent. It has helped me recognize where I am and where our spiritual journey can take us as we approach Holy Week and the celebration of Easter Sunday.

The Spiritual Journey
Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. Glory be to the Master, now and forever! Yes! 2 Peter 3:18 (From The Message).

The journey toward spiritual maturity lasts a lifetime: as Christians, we can and should continue to grow in love and knowledge of our Savior as long as we live. When we cease to grow, either emotionally or spiritually, we do ourselves and our loved ones a profound disservice. But, if we study God’s word, if we obey His commands, and if we live in the center of His will, we will not be a “stagnant” believer; we will, instead, be growing followers of Jesus Christ and that is exactly what God wants for our lives.

Some of life’s most important lessons are painful to learn. During times of heartbreak and hardship, God stands ready to protect us. As Psalm 147 promises, “He heals the broken hearted and bandages their wounds.” In God’s own time and according to God’s grand plan, God will heal us if we invite him into our hearts.

Spiritual growth need not take place only in times of adversity. We should seek to grow in our relationship with the Lord through every season of our lives and a wonderful time to start or reconnect is during Lent. It is through the happy times and yes, the challenging times, through times of celebration and times of pain that if we are committed in our devotional time, in meditation and in prayer we continue to grow as we step out on our spiritual journey.

It is in those quiet moments of devotion, reflection, and prayer when we open our hearts to God, the one who makes us keeps remaking us. God through the power of the Holy Spirit gives us direction, perspective, wisdom, and courage. And of course, the appropriate moment to accept those spiritual gifts is always the present time.

I would like you to think upon a special quote that goes along with this meditation: “There is wonderful freedom and joy in coming to recognize that the fun is in the becoming” says Gloria Gaither.

From Colossians 1:9, “For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we have not stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.”

Let us pray: Dear Lord, the Bible tells me that you are at work in my life, continue to help me grow and to mature in my faith. Be with me on my journey this Lenten Season. Show me your wisdom, Father, and let me live according to Your will and Your Word. Amen.

Pastor Gary

Announcements and Stuff

United Women of Faith
March 20th Meeting

The UWF will be taking orders for flowers to decorate our sanctuary for Easter.  Watch for order forms in the bulletins or talk with Cinda for details.

On Easter morning, there will be a continental breakfast following the early (out of doors) portion of the service.  We need people to sign up to help fill our fruit bowl for breakfast. There’s a sign-up sheet in the fellowship hall.  Please bring your donations in, ready to go, washed, cut up, etc.

Please come to our next UWF meeting on April 17 at 1:00 p.m.

Upcoming Worship Schedule

APRIL SCRIPTURE AND MESSAGE

Sunday, April 6
Isaiah 43:16-21
Psalm 126
John 12:1-8
How We Can Twist Scripture

Sunday, April 13
Palm Sunday
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
Luke 19:28-40
What A Celebration

Thursday, April 17
Holy Thursday
7:00 p.m. – Worship With White Lake UMC

Friday, April 18
2:00 p.m. – Good Friday Worship

Sunday, April 20
Acts 10:34-43
John 20:1-18
The Tomb Is Empty
Easter Sunday
9:30 a.m. – Visit To The Empty Tomb
9:45 a.m. – Easter Morning Continental Breakfast
10:30 a.m. – Worship

Sunday, April 27
Guest Worship Leader – Terri Cummins