Worship Service - March 16, 2025

                                           Elkton United Methodist Church

                                                    Second Sunday in Lent

                                                   Sunday, March 16, 2025

                                                                10:00 a.m.

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GREETING AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE....................................... “LORD, KEEP US STEADFAST”¹............... ARR. BY BENTON PRICE

INTROIT..................................... “O HOW HE LOVES YOU AND ME”¹.......................... CHANCEL CHOIR

OPENING

TIME OF CENTERING PRAYER

RESPONSE #3119 (W&S)................................................................................ “TAKE, O TAKE ME AS I AM”

Take, O take me as I am; summon out what I shall be; set your seal upon my heart and 

live in me.

**CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader:       Children of God, when you are surrounded on every side by shadows that frighten 

                    and voices that deride and confuse, what do you say?

People:       God is our light and our salvation!  Whom shall we fear?

Leader:       When threats bombard you from every corner, stealing the security and peace you 

                    long for, what do you say?

People:       God is the stronghold of our lives!  Of whom shall we be afraid?

Leader:       When anxiety and loneliness overwhelm and you do not know who or what to trust 

                    any more, what do you say?

People:       Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Leader:       Because God knows our suffering.  God makes a home among us, welcoming us to 

                   come home to God and one another.

All:             Come!  Let us worship God who hides us in the day of trouble and conceals us 

                   together under the cover of the tent of love.  AMEN.

**HYMN #419 (UMH)..................................................................................................... “I AM THINE, O LORD”

CALL TO CONFESSION

If anyone sins, we have someone who pleads with the Father on our behalf - Jesus Christ, the 

righteous one.  And Christ himself is the means by which our sins are forgiven, and not our sins 

only, but also the sins of the whole world.  Let us confess our sins before God and one another…

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (IN UNISON)

We live in the shadow of peace, O God, but too often, we face the shadow and not the 

light.  We pray for peace today because we know we are not a whole people without it. 

Forgive us our warring madness, our abuse of power, and our disregard of the rights of 

others.  Lift from us the burden of the need always to be in control.  Teach us the ways of 

mutual love for all people.  Help us to give peace a chance.  AMEN.

SILENT PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

WORDS OF PARDON AND ASSURANCE

Leader:      God does not abandon us.  Like a mother hen who gathers her chicks under her 

                  wings, God gathers us up, leading us to that shelter of love and life.

People:     Today, tomorrow, and the next day, God’s grace rests upon us and

                  gives us hope and mercy.  Thanks be to God!  We are forgiven.

                  AMEN.

NEW TESTAMENT LESSON, PHILIPPIANS 3:17-4 :1 (PAGE 198)

Leader:   This is the Word of God for the people of God.

People:  Thanks be to God!

MUSICAL OFFERING............................ “IN CHRIST ALONE”¹................................... HANDBELL CHOIR

**GOSPEL LESSON, LUKE 13:31-35 (PAGE 77)

Leader:      This is the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

People:     Thanks be to God!

**RESPONSE #3137 (W&S).................................................. “LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR LIGHT SHINES”

Lord Jesus Christ, your light shines within us. Let not my doubts nor my darkness speak 

to me. Lord Jesus Christ, your light shines within us. Let my heart always welcome your

love.

SERMON............................................. “CHRISTIAN CHARACTER:.......................... REV. ERIC WARNER

DISCIPLINE”

**RESPONSE #348 (UMH).................................................. “SOFTLY AND TENDERLY JESUS IS CALLING”

PRAYER CONCERNS/PASTORAL PRAYER

RESPONSE #2215 (TFWS)................................................................................................. “CARES CHORUS”

I cast all my cares upon you, I lay all of my burdens down at your feet, and anytime that 

I don't know what to do, I will cast all my cares upon you.

CALL TO OFFERING

OFFERTORY....................... “HOW DEEP THE FATHER’S LOVE FOR US”¹................ CHANCEL CHOIR

ACCOMPANIED BY JOE INGRAM ON CELLO

**DOXOLOGY #95 (UMH)..................................... “PRAISE GOD, FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW”

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Amen.

**OFFERTORY PRAYER

**HYMN #3093 (W&S).................................................................................................... “FILL MY CUP, LORD”

**CHORAL BENEDICTION...... “THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU”¹................ CHANCEL CHOIR

**CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE

Bind us together, Lord, bind us together with cords that cannot be broken.

Bind us together, Lord, bind us together, bind us together in love. 

POSTLUDE.................................................. “O SACRED HEAD”¹................... ARR. BY CRAIG PENFIELD

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**Indicates the congregation should stand if able

UMH: United Methodist Hymnal (red cover)

TFWS: The Faith We Sing (black cover)

W&S: Worship & Song (green cover)

¹Public Music performance provided for and reported to CCLI Licensing

Copyright License: #1824650/Recording License:  CSPL148932