650 NORTH DONNELLY STREET 352-383-2285

WEB SITE: CONGREGATIONALCHURCHMTDORA.WEEBLY.COM

NEW CHURCH EMAIL: MTDORACC@GMAIL.COM

Second Sunday in Lent March 12, 2017

MORNING WORSHIP 11:00 a.m.
Ringing the Church Bell 10:30 & 10:45 a.m. Lighting the Candles Gathering Music
WELCOME TO OUR HISTORIC CHURCH ORGANIZED DECEMBER 23, 1883
THE REVEREND GARY A. MARSHALL, PASTOR
JOANN GAITHER, GUEST ORGANIST KARYN HOLMES, CHURCH ORGANIST

Silent Meditation
Contradictions in this season are confusing. There is death that brings life. There is
suffering which brings redemption. There is betrayal which begets faithfulness. How
are we to understand such blatant contradictions? Grant us wisdom to know how to
follow You.
 Grant us forgiveness for our failures. Amen.

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

WE GATHER AS GODS PEOPLE

PRELUDE: The Heavens are Telling

*Denotes please stand all who are able
*CALL TO WORSHIP:
Pastor: From the valley of unbelief and doubt we come to you.
People: Save us, O Lord from our unbelief.
Pastor: From streets marked by difficulty and violence we come to you.
People: Save us, O Lord, from our own wrathful anger.
Pastor: From a world where death reigns we come to you.
People: Save us, O Lord, from the death that stalks us.
Pastor: From a place with no dream for the future we come to you.
ALL: Grant us a vision, O Lord, of what life can be with your
guidance and with you beside us. Let us worship God!
*HYMN OF PRAISE NO. 410 My Faith Looks up to Thee
*PRAYER OF INVOCATION & CONFESSION (in unison): O God who created
us to be Your children: Grant us the wisdom to realize that nothing is more
important than our being faithful to You and to the people of love You call
into being. Come close to us for we want to praise You, our Great God.
Bless us with an outpouring of Your Holy Spirit, O Lord. We need You in
our lives. We are quick to judge others, to measure ourselves against others,
to be jealous and envious of others. We are quick to throw pity parties for
ourselves, to selfishly hold on to what is really Yours. We ask that You
forgive us, Holy One. Change our hearts and lives to be more like Yours.
Make us people so imbued with Your love that we ache to lavish love on all
Your children. We pray in Your Precious Name, Lord Jesus. Amen.
*THE GLORIA PATRI NO. 623
WE LISTEN TO GODS WORD:
Holy Scripture: Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 John 3:1-17
Pastor: This is the Word of God!
 People: Thanks be to God!
SERMON: For God so Loved the World
The Reverend Gary A. Marshall, Pastor
PRAYER HYMN NO. 206 There is a Redeemer
CALL TO PRAYER:
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
MORNING PRAYER AND THE LORDS PRAYER (use debts/debtors)
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING: Let Christs love for us lead us to share
generously and compassionately, not only in this mornings offering but also
in everything we do and everything we say.
THE OFFERTORY: For God so Loved the World
*THE DOXOLOGY NO. 625
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION (in unison): Compassionate Christ, accept these
gifts of our lives, our souls, and our treasure. Transform them with Your
Spirit, that they may accomplish Your work in the world. To the thirsty and
hungry, may these gifts bring water and food. To the oppressed and the
forgotten, may these gifts bring justice and hope. May all of us be ever
mindful that everything we have is a trust from You. Amen.
*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING (in unison): O God, we believe that
Jesus Christ is Your Son and so we believe in the love you have for us.
Strengthen us to love as your beloved children, free to share Your bounty, to
be generous in kindness. Empower us to be more Christ-like, to share the
love we learned from Jesus. Give us courage when loving is difficult and
wisdom as to what Your loving will would have us do. Give us Your Spirit
of deep love for all creation. We ask these things in Jesus name. Amen.
*CLOSING HYMN NO. 183 Beneath the Cross of Jesus
*BENEDICTION:
Pastor: We have encountered the living God through the living Christ.
People: We have been refreshed by living water.
Pastor: Go now to live in the hope this encounter inspires.
ALL: Let us go to be water bearers to a dry and parched world,
knowing that the God of love and hope goes before us and
will be with us always. Amen.
CLOSING RESPONSE NO. 301 Go Ye into all the World
POSTLUDE: When we all get to Heaven
BULL 3.12.17

This church is a member of the Florida and National

Associations of Congregational Christian Churches.

YOU ARE A STRANGER ONLY ONCE AT THIS HISTORIC CHURCH.

PLEASE COME AGAIN AND JOIN US FOR COFFEE EVERY SUNDAY
FOLLOWING MORNING WORSHIP.

WHATS HAPPENING!
PLEASE NOTE: Tuesday night Bible Study will be suspended until
after Lent. Every Wednesday throughout Lent at 6 p.m., a Lenten
service will be given for discussion during the meal. ALL WELCOME!

Wednesday, March 15, 6 p.m. Lenten service and meal

Thursday, March 16 6:30 p.m. T. O. P. S.
Friday, March 17 6:30 p.m. XYZ ST. PATS PARTY & MOVIE
Sunday, March 19 ST. PATS BRUNCH following morning worship
(PLEASE SIGN ON BULLETIN BOARD TO BRING FOOD)

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS MARCH 2017 : Gloria Johnson, 9 Charles Barr II, 25

Perry Ledford, 25 Harry Harnden, 31

PRAYER LIST:
Departed: Eleanor Goodnow Stewart
Joyce Miller (Joanne Folders sister)
Illness: Paul, Donna, Effie, Avelyn Marie, Susan Elizabeth, Dean,
Christl, Marianna, Molly, Randy, George, Shirley, Walt, Jan, Jack.
Special Concerns: Bill Stewart & family, Joanne Folder & family,
Jim, Sami, Alex, Mary, Michaela, Mindy, Arik, our president and his
cabinet, our men & women in armed services, Jackie, Sylvia, Carlyle,
Dale, Mike, Gary, Maxi, Callie, Glenn, Christian & Anna & family.
Travel: Greg & Perry, Randy & Sue.
CHURCH OFFICE: 352.383.2285 FOR PASTOR CONSULTATION,
ARRANGE A WEDDING, OR PRAYER FOR YOURSELF OR OTHERS.

Please contact the church office 352.383.2285 to add

someone for prayer, request a hospital visit or consultation
with the pastor. Thank you.

for a birthday or anniversary date that does not get put in

the bulletin, to correct any misspellings or misinformation or
to request a hospital visit or consultation with a pastor.
Thank you.