The Fifth Sunday in Lent
Centering Practice
As we continue to journey together through this season of Lent, let us wait on the Lord with faith, hope, and love. Once again, today’s centering practice comes from Cole Arthur Riley, creator of Black Liturgies. We invite you to close your eyes and reflect on this quote before we engage our breath prayers: Author and theologian Frederick Buechner wrote, “You can survive on your own; you can grow strong on your own; you can prevail on your own; but you cannot become human on your own.”
Inhale: My journey is not solitary
Exhale: We heal together
Call to Worship
As we journey together
during this Lenten season,
we remember:
The everyday places we walk
are holy ground;
and the ordinary people we meet
are deeply loved by God.
In these thin spaces,
steadfast love and faithfulness meet.
From ashes and dust, God creates beauty.
Amen.
Worship Song
Sound of Adoration
When we were lost ones
You were the Shepherd that carried us home
When we were prodigals
You ran to meet us with open arms
And we can’t hold back our praise
When we were refugees
You were the One who took us in
When we were enemies
You paid the price for all our sin
And we can’t hold back our praise
This is the sound of adoration
Oh, how we love You
Jesus, we love You
You are the joy of all creation
Oh, how we love You
Jesus, we love You
You are the Risen One
You conquered death and made a way
You sang our freedom song
Now we are dancing on our chains
And we can’t hold back our praise
By the cross, I am free
Your grace changes everything
I was blind, now I see
Your grace changes everything
Kingdom Come
God, let Your kingdom come
May Your will be done
God, let Your kingdom come
Earth is groaning and we are longing
For Your kingdom to come
All creation and all of heaven
Join their voices as one
Hope is stirring, joy arising
As we look to the day
When all injustice will bow
And every voice will cry out
Holy is Your name
Lift up your heads, all the weak and the poor
The Lord is at hand and His kingdom is yours
Lift up your hearts, all who suffer and mourn
The Lord is at hand and His kingdom is yours
Lift up your eyes, all who hunger for more
The Lord is at hand and His kingdom is yours
Lift up a shout, let the earth hear your voice
The Lord is at hand and His kingdom is yours
I will build my life upon Your love
It is a firm foundation
I will put my trust in You alone
And I will not be shaken
Prayer of Confession
God of love,
We thank You for being
Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer
of our lives and all creation.
We confess how easy it is
for us to remain stuck in our ways
rather than risk transformation and hope.
Forgive us, O God, we pray:
— Moment of silent prayer —
God of hope,
Guide us to reorient our lives
towards Your goodness and joy,
for the life of the world around us.
Amen.
Assurance of God’s Love
Prayers of the People
Today’s Prayers of the People will be about expanding our circles of love, concern, and prayer. I’ll invite you to pray from very local to global by embodying a motion, praying silently for 5 seconds — and then I’ll repeat the prayer topic and we’ll respond out loud, “Lord, have mercy.”
- For those living under our household, in all of the concerns we see and in all of those we cannot see (hands to heart)
- For our local communities where we live, study, work, and play (palms upward in our laps)
- For our nation and the many concerns arising in our world today (hands held upward)
- For the Church worldwide to be faithful witnesses & advocates of Christ’s love and justice (stand together)
- For those suffering from violence, hatred, and war (arms crossed across to shoulders)
Communion
Offering Prayer
Announcements
- Thanks for worshiping with us today! We hope you experience meaningful connection with God and others in our community. If you’re visiting for the first time today, we’d love to get to know you better. Please take home a visitor’s card with QR code so that we can stay in touch & build a relationship!
- Easter Sunday School Donations: We’re always grateful for your generous & fun donations for our Easter egg hunt! We don’t need plastic eggs, but we do need fillers! Ideas for fillers: mini squishy toys, sidewalk chalk, playdough/slime, finger puppets, bouncy balls, stickers, temporary tattoos, etc.). Please bring by next Sunday, 4/13! Questions, please text Teacher Ann.
- Art & Faith Camp: Let’s continue to pray for this great day of creativity, faith, and outreach coming up in the month of May. Please talk to Ann Leong if you’d like to help out!
Passing of the Peace
Let’s greet each other at this time!
Family Praise
Happy All the Time
Worship Song
Promises
God from age to age
Though the earth may pass away
Your word remains the same
Your history can prove
There’s nothing You can’t do
You’re faithful and true
Though the storms may come
And the winds may blow
I’ll remain steadfast
And let my heart learn
When You speak a word
It will come to pass
Great is Your faithfulness to me
Great is Your faithfulness to me
From the rising sun to the setting same
I will praise Your name
Great is Your faithfulness to me
I put my faith in Jesus
My anchor to the ground
My hope and firm foundation
He’ll never let me down
Scripture Reading
Luke 12:22-32
22 He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to your span of life? 26 If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith! 29 And do not keep seeking what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. 30 For it is the nations of the world that seek all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
Together: Thanks be to God.
Sermon
God is Kind
Pastor David
Reflection questions:
- When was the last time you experienced kindness from someone?
- Is there something that you used to deeply pray for that you are currently experiencing? What is a prayer that you are hoping to see come to life?
Worship Song
You Hold It All Together
You come at the right time
When I least expect it
Never behind
So why would I be surprised
When You deliver every time?
On mountaintops, You stay the same
On valley low, You never change
And I believe that I will see
The goodness of the Lord
I’m confident as seasons change
Your faithfulness remains
You go, You go before me
To prepare a blessing
You madе a way
It’s more than I could imagine
More than I can fathom
Or comprehend
God of my present
God of my future
You write my story
You hold it all together
Anchor & Hope Church 