John Calvin Presbyterian Church

Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice, give thanks, and sing!

2 With voice as full and strong as ocean’s surging praise,

send forth the sturdy hymns of old, the psalms of ancient days. [Refrain]

3 Yes, on through life’s long path, still chanting as ye go,

from youth to age, by night and day, in gladness and in woe: [Refrain]

4 At last the march shall end; the wearied ones shall rest;

the pilgrims find their home at last, Jerusalem the blest. [Refrain]

5 Then on, ye pure in heart! Rejoice, give thanks, and sing!

Your festal banner wave on high, the cross of Christ your King. [Refrain]

WORDS OF WELCOME

ANNOUNCEMENTS

LENT READING   “The Whip” Matthew 27:24-26           

ADORATION

CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 95:1-2

ONE: O come, let us sing to the Lord

           And shout with joy to the rock of our salvation.

MANY:     Let us come into God’s presence with thanksgiving,

                                        

PRAYER OF THE DAY 

Gracious God, seeker of the lost, draw your children back to your loving embrace, restore us to our inheritance as daughters and sons, and reconcile our hearts to you, that we may be ambassadors of your reconciling love to all the world. Through Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we make this prayer.  Amen.

HYMN [Blue85][GTG215] What Wondrous Love Is This?

1 What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,

what wondrous love is this, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss

to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,

to bear the dreadful curse for my soul!

2 When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,

when I was sinking down, sinking down,

when I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown,

Christ laid aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,

Christ laid aside his crown for my soul!

3 To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing,

to God and to the Lamb, I will sing;

to God and to the Lamb who is the great I AM,

while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing;

while millions join the theme, I will sing!

4 And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;

and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on;

and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be,

and through eternity, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;

and through eternity I’ll sing on. 

REPENTANCE

CALL TO CONFESSION                                                                  

SILENT CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Merciful God, we confess that we have, like the Prodigal, wasted our inheritance.  You gave us the earth for our home, but we have squandered its resources, and hoarded its bounty,  You gave us neighbors to love, but we judge them and insist on our ways.  You show us the way that leads to human flourishing, but we break your laws and forsake your love. Forgive us, we pray, and bring us to repentance.  Draw our wandering hearts back to you.  Teach us the joy of living in your love. Through Christ we pray.  Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON                     

GLORIA PATRI [Blue#579[ [GTG581]     

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.

THE WORD READ AND PROCLAIMED

1st SCRIPTURE Psalm 32

Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

While I kept silence, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long.

For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah

Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to you; at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters shall not reach them.

You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. Selah

I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding, whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not stay near you.

Many are the torments of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.

Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

2nd  SCRIPTURE             Luke 15:11-32

Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. “Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”               

ONE: The Word of the Lord

MANY: Thanks be to God

SERMON “Two Sons” Rev. Jan Condren

 RESPONSE     

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Apostle’s Creed

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,  and in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

RECEIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY  What Wondrous Love is This  

DOXOLOGY [GTG#609]

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. Amen

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND 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 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.

HYMN  [Blue#485][GTG634] To God Be the Glory

1 To God be the glory; great things he has done!

So loved he the world that he gave us his Son,

who yielded his life an atonement for sin,

and opened the life-gate that all may go in.

Refrain:

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord; let the earth hear his voice!

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord; let the people rejoice!

O come to the Father through Jesus the Son,

and give him the glory: great things he has done!

2 Great things he has taught us; great things he has done,

and great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;

but purer and higher and greater will be

our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see. [Refrain]

PARTING PRAYER  

God of transforming love, as in Christ you gave yourself to us, so may we give ourselves to you. Keep our feet firmly in the way where Christ leads us; make our mouths speak the truth that Christ teaches us; fill our bodies with the life of Christ within us.  Through Him we pray.  Amen.

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

RESPONSE [Blue#435][GTG#748] Go with Us, Lord

Go with us, Lord, and guide the way

through this and every coming day,

that in your Spirit strong and true

our lives may be our gift to you.

 

 POSTLUDE  March in G Major, HWV. 20 by G. Handel                             

*Note: the hymn lyrics in the bulletin and on the projection screen are from the Glory To God Hymnal (© 2013 Westminster John Knox Press), which we are transitioning to. Words in the “Blue” Presbyterian Hymnal (© 1990) in your pew may differ slightly. The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by Permission. All Rights Reserved.

STAFF