Bulletin – March 6, 2011

GATHERING

GREETING

Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.

From everlasting to everlasting, you are God.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:  Transfiguration Sunday/Lent begins Ash Wed.

PRELUDE                                                                              Patty Bell

*PRAISE MUSIC:       “Praise To The Lord, The Almighty”  UMH 139

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

People: And God saw that the light was good.

Leader: Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will                    never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

People: The Lord is our light and our salvation.

All: Let us praise the Lord!

OPENING PRAYER

Magnificent God, we long to be people who live and walk in the light of your glory, but sometimes we find ourselves shrouded in the darkness of fear, loneliness or despair. In our anguish, we cannot always find you. Help us trust that you will lead us out of the shadows and back into your radiant presence. Fill us with your light so we are able to chase away the demons that taunt us in the dark. Let your light shine in us so that our

faces reflect your light and love to all those who don’t yet know your saving grace. Amen.

HYMN:    Lord Who Throughout These Forty Days”          UMH 269

TIME WITH THE YOUTH

PROCLAIMING GOD’S WORD

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

GOSPEL LESSON:       Matthew 17:1-9                       PB, pg. 17NT

THE MESSAGE:                                                           Pastor Vicki Lerdahl

*HYMN RESPONSE:       “Take Our Bread”                          UMH 640

PRAYERS AND OFFERING

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE: Joys and Concerns

PASTORAL PRAYER

THE LORD’S PRAYER

RECEIVING OUR OFFERING

* PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERING

“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”                                  UMH 349

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

COMMUNION AND SENDING FORTH

CALL TO RECONCILIATION

Sometime it seems that we wait for God to astound us with might wonders, while God knows that we need is grace. God waits to forgive us, so let us hold nothing back, but trust in the One who listens to our prayers and answers us with mercy.

CONFESSION

God of mountaintops, the noise of the world can harden our hearts to your word. We watch news, reality television, silly sitcoms, and yet have trouble bearing witness to your presence in our lives. Our faith is placed in those who fail us; our trust is given to those who misplace it.

Forgive us, Revealer of Mystery. You offer mercy to us, that we might hear your call to discipleship. You whisper our names, that we might know how loved we are. Caught by the surprise of your never-ending love for us, how can we not follow our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, onto the mountaintops of worship and into the valleys of sacrifice and service?

Silence is kept for personal confessions

PARDON

One:  On the mountaintops and in the valleys, in our homes and in our hearts, God knows us better than we know ourselves, and God forgives us when     we cannot forgive ourselves.

All:    By God’s mercy, we are forgiven.

By God’s mercy, we are made whole.

By God’s mercy, we are equipped to serve others.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING                                            UMH 13

RECEIVING THE BREAD AND THE CUP

*CIRCLE SONG: “God Be With You Till We Meet Again”    UMH 672

God be with you till we meet again; by His counsels guide, uphold you, with His sheep securely fold you; God be with you till we meet again.

*BLESSING

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