FIRST PARISH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF SACO
March 17, 2024 Fifth Sunday in Lent 10:00 AM
We extend a warm welcome to all who gather here.
We pray that the service will offer you peace, comfort, and substance to feed your soul.
The Community Gathers
Meditation “When God makes a covenant with us, God says: ‘I will love you with an
everlasting love. I will be faithful to you, even when you run away from me, reject me,
or betray me.’” ~ Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey
Prelude “Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross/Nearer, My God, to Thee”
Jamie Beals, recorder
Welcome and Announcements
Moment of Preparation – Let us prepare our hearts and minds for worship.
Introit “Old Irish Blessing” by Denes Agay
Peggy Blood, Lynn Beals, Phil Blood, Jamie Beals
Call to Worship
Leader: There is something more … or something missing … that sends us searching
in the dark,
People: Looking for answers, risking a question.
Leader: We are drawn here because God touched us,
People: Because God gave us hope, whispered our name.
Leader: Here in this place, we journey toward grace
All: And know the “something more” is revealed in the love of Jesus’ face.
*Opening Hymn “Open the Eyes of My Heart” (see insert)
Prayer of Invocation and Lord’s Prayer (unison)
O God, we lift up our souls to you. You alone are truly good, you alone are upright. To you, O God, we lift up our souls. And we wait on you, God. We wait on you to show us your path. O God, we thank you for your mercy and your steadfast love. We call on you, O God, we lift up our souls. We offer this prayer in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, and we lift up the words that he taught us to use when we pray:
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.
A Message for Children “Come Follow Me” by Martie McMane
Refrain: Come follow me and take the risk to be free
and I will make you fishers of people. Come follow me.
The Word of God to Us
The Reading of Scripture Jeremiah 31:31-34 (OT, p. 694)
The Message “Deep in My Heart” Rev. Scott W. Cousineau
Anthem “Dies Irae” by W. A. Mozart
We Respond to God’s Word
The Community at Prayer
Sharing our Prayers
Silent Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
Offering Our Gifts to God
Invitation
Offertory “A Safe Place to Land” by Sara Bareilles
Duet: Jacqui Savage and Will Sawyer
*Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise God all creatures here below.
Praise God above ye heavenly hosts, Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost.
*Prayer of Dedication
*Closing Hymn “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” (see insert)
*Benediction
*Postlude “Norwegian Dance, Op.35, No. 2” by Edvard Grieg
Three pianos: Carrie Suchar, Paula Squires Maclay, Delaney Clifford,
Sarah Heath, Jacqui Savage, Will Sawyer