The Fourth Sunday in Lent
Centering Practice
We invite you to slow down, breathe, and connect with God, each other, and yourself. Begin by closing our eyes and taking several slow, deep breaths. Today’s centering practice is adapted from Black Liturgies by Cole Arthur Riley:
- Inhale: The night is long
- Exhale: My soul keeps watch
Call to Worship
Adapted from Cole Arthur Riley
As we journey together through Lent,
we remember this sacred truth:
We are born of dust and ash and dirt;
brought to life by the breath of God.
We are not what we once were.
The steadfast love of God guides us,
even through the wilderness. Amen.
Worship Songs
Here For You
Let our praise be Your welcome
Let our songs be a sign
We are here for You, we are here for You
Let Your breath come from heaven
Fill our hearts with Your life
We are here for You, we are here for You
To You our hearts are open
Nothing here is hidden
You are our one desire
You alone are holy
Only You are worthy
God, let Your fire fall down
Let our shout be Your anthem
Your renown fill the skies
We are here for You, we are here for You
Let Your Word move in power
Let what’s dead come to life
We are here for You, we are here for You
We welcome You with praise
We welcome You with praise
Almighty God of love
Be welcomed in this place
Let every heart adore
Let every soul awake
Almighty God of love
Be welcomed in this place
The Love of the Father
Lift up your voices and lift up your praise
Join with the heavens, declaring the wonders
Of His faithfulness forever
Sing of the victory, the hope of the world
The Saviour has risen, the Spirit has come to
Bring us into love forever
We are the people of God
With the freedom of hope in our hearts
How great is the love of the Father
Lifted from darkness and into the light
The sons and the daughters are loved at a price
Our God has made us His forever
This is the song of the redeemed
The ransomed and the free
Given life at such a price
This is love, this is love
And when the Father calls us home
And we see Him on the throne
Hear the voices sing as one
This is love, this is love
Prayer of Confession
God our Shepherd,
You lead us by still waters
and guide us in right paths.
Have mercy upon us,
embracing us when we are broken;
Show us that love never fails;
Hear us, O God, we pray:
— Moment of silent prayer —
By Your Spirit,
make us a people of mercy and goodness,
for all our days.
Amen.
Assurance of God’s Love
Prayers of the People
A collect from our community, written by Ann Leong
Loving and Gracious God,
Who promises never to leave or forsake us.
We need Your comfort, Lord.
For all of us who are fighting an illness or sickness,
would You grant us relief and restoration
For all of us who are experiencing
fear, anxiety, depression and grief,
would You send hope and peace
For all of us who are struggling
with emotional, psychological, and social well-being,
would You provide clarity and stability
For all of us who are seeking
a sense of purpose and need spiritual healing,
would You renew in us a desire
for deeper connection and inner transformation.
We ask in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
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!
- Lenten Community Prayer: Throughout Lent, we will gather every Wednesday at 8:00 pm for a 15 minute Zoom prayer meeting.
- College Ministry Gathering: Next Sunday, March 22nd will be our next college ministry gathering. Please talk to our Director of Worship Engagement, Kathy Lee, for more details!
- Good Friday: We will have a special night of interactive prayer & worship on Good Friday, April 3rd at 7:00 pm here at Sandburg Elementary.
- Easter Egg Donations: Please bring donations of filled easter eggs for our Easter egg hunt on Sunday, April 5th. Talk to our Director of Children’s Ministry, Ann Leong, if you have any questions.
- Meal Packing Event: In partnership with Feeding San Diego, we will host a meal packing event after service on Sunday, May 3rd.
- We will send out information about the 6 different recipes and invite you to bring ingredients for those recipes to donate.
- That Sunday, we will assemble the ingredients in clear bags with recipe cards — and we’ll share a meal that day from those recipes as well!
- Interview Requests: Linda is conducting a study that aims to investigate how Korean American women pastors uniquely shape the theological and political subjectivity formation of their congregants. Linda would love to hear your experiences regarding our church life, adversities you’ve faced pertaining to race and/or gender, church leadership, and civic participation. Interviews will be anonymous, and will last about an hour. Please talk to Linda today if you’d like to volunteer!
- Youth Group Bible Study: Today right after the Blessing of the Children with Uncle Will!
Passing of the Peace
Let’s greet each other at this time!
Blessing of the Children
Go in peace and go in joy;
Filled with wonder for this day.
Go in faith and go in love;
God will guide you on your way!
Worship Song
Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly
It all comes down to this
What You require of me
Love my neighbor as myself
And You above all things
Act justly, love mercy
Walk humbly, with You God
In all things, in all ways
Walk humbly, with You God
It all comes down to this
To be Your hands and feet
Good News to all the world
The truth will set us free
It’s beauty for ashes
It’s mourning to dancing
It’s closer and closer
The Kingdom of heaven
Years from now we’ll see
The fruit our hands have sown
Faith just like a seed
The only way it grows
Scripture Reading
John 1:1-9
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Together: Thanks be to God.
Sermon
Practices You Should Know:
Lament
Pastor Dan
Discussion questions
- What words or emotions come to mind when you think about the spiritual practice of being a witness?
- How have you been changed by someone else’s authentic witness to Jesus’ love? How are you changed when you practice being a witness?
Worship Song
Let Us Be Known
Let us be known by our love
In every word, in every deed
Honor the Son
Let our light shine in every eye
Let us be known by our love
For the glory of our Savior
For the glory of our God
For the glory of the Spirit
Let us be known by our love
Let us be known by our joy
In every home, in every heart
Sing to the Lord
Let our lives show goodness and hope
Let us be known by our joy
For the glory of our Savior
For the glory of our God
For the glory of the Spirit
Let us be known by our joy
Let us be known by our peace
In every town, in every tribe
Jesus is King
Let us go forth, heal and restore
Let us be known by our peace
For the glory of our Savior
For the glory of our God
For the glory of the Spirit
Let us be known by our peace
For the glory of our Savior
For the glory of our God
For the glory of the Spirit
Let us be known by our love
Anchor & Hope Church 