Home

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Centering Practice

On this Palm Sunday, we proclaim our joy in the saving love of Jesus

• Begin by closing our eyes and taking several slow, deep breaths 
• Take a moment to write a word or short phrase of praise to Jesus on your ribbon 

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Call to Worship

We join with saints from days of old, proclaiming:
Hosanna! Salvation belongs to Jesus!
Open wide the gates of praise.

We welcome Jesus with branches and songs of praise.
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna to the King of kings! Amen.

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Worship Songs

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

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Great Are You Lord

You give life, You are love
You bring light to the darkness
You give hope, You restore every heart that is broken
And great are You, Lord

It’s Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise, we pour out our praise
It’s Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise to You only

All the earth will shout Your praise
Our hearts will cry, these bones will sing
Great are You, Lord
All the earth will shout Your praise
Our hearts will cry, these bones will sing
Great are You, Lord

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Prayer of Confession

Jesus, our Humble King,
in this world of self-centered pursuits,
Your love amazes us.

You call us to serve,
yet we confess how much we prefer to be served.
Lead us to the cross, step by step,
and forgive us, O God, we pray: 

— Moment of silent prayer —

By Your Spirit, lead us in the way of steadfast love.
Let Your dreams become reality
in and through our lives.
Amen.

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Assurance of God’s Love

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Prayers of the People

After each phrase, the congregation will reply with one voice:
Lord, have mercy.

For those longing for hope in our world… 

For those suffering
from violence, hatred, and war… 

For our friends who need to know Your love
and the friendship of our Anchor & Hope community… 

For our partners & collaborators,
and for the mission of our church… 

Amen.

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Communion

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Send the Rain

Lord, we come to You
Now with open hands
Broken lives and dreams
Washed up on the sand

We’ve been beaten down
But still we choose to stand
We choose to stand

Lord, we long for You
For Your hand to move
Heal this barren land
Come and make it new

Jesus, You’re the life
That is breaking through
You’re breaking through

The saints of old in ancient days
They worked the ground
that we reap from today

So use our hands to cultivate
The harvest that
our children’s children taste
We’re ready God, so send the rain

Lord, we’ll follow You
To unbroken earth
On the path not used
Where new hope is birthed

We will work as one
Holding to Your truth
To Your truth

Heal the ruined cities
We destroyed with our own hands
Bring us back together
Let us see the promised land

Pour out Your Spirit
On this dry and thirsty ground
O God of the harvest
Could it be right here and now
Could it be right here and now

Open up the heavens,
let Your rain fall down
We are thirsty, we are thirsty

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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!
• Art Day with Sandburg: Thank you to Ann for leading this wonderful partnership and to Yang & Deleine for volunteering on Wednesday!
• Good Friday service: We will gather in-person here at Sandburg this Friday, March 29th at 7:00 pm for a time of quiet prayer & reflection.
• Easter Sunday: We will celebrate Jesus’ resurrection together this Sunday, March 31st with a special family service! Please sign up with Tae for the potluck today and bring your candy/Easter egg donations next Sunday!
• Visit a garden: As we reflect on “the garden” of God’s grace throughout Lent, we encourage you to visit one of the many gardens around the San Diego region. If you get a chance to visit, we’d love to hear about it!
• Mira Mesa Prayer Walk: We invite you to join us Saturday, April 6th at 9:00 am to pray for our neighborhood here! Coffee from Jaunt on your pastors for all who can join us 🙂

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Passing of the Peace

Let’s greet each other at this time!

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Family Praise

Jump, Jump, Jump

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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! 

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Worship Song

Open Space / Hosanna

Hosanna, Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

Pull me in closer
Close to Your heart
May I be a pure reflection of all You are

Love that is patient
Love that is kind
And love that keeps no offences
or wrongs in my mind

Make me like Jesus
Make me like Jesus

You’re faithful to find me
Right where I am
Though even in my wandering You call me friend

And mercy receives me
and lifts me to my feet
And I’m caught up in the wonder and mystery

Of knowing Jesus
Of knowing Jesus

My heart is an open space
for You to come and have Your way
I’m open, I’m open

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Scripture Reading

John 12:12-16

¹² The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. ¹³ So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord— the King of Israel!”

¹⁴  Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:

¹⁵  “Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”¹⁶  His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him.

Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
Together: Thanks be to God.

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Sermon

Palm Sunday
Pastor Jeya So

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Reflection Questions:

• What comes to mind as you think of the things that you’ve heard today? (Jesus the King, Sequoia fairy rings and root systems)
• Where do you find hope? 
• Where do you need hope? 
• Where in the world needs hope? 
• Take some time to pray together for hope where it’s needed

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Worship Song

Send the Rain

Lord, we come to You
Now with open hands
Broken lives and dreams
Washed up on the sand

We’ve been beaten down
But still we choose to stand
We choose to stand

Lord, we long for You
For Your hand to move
Heal this barren land
Come and make it new

Jesus, You’re the life
That is breaking through
You’re breaking through

The saints of old in ancient days
They worked the ground
that we reap from today

So use our hands to cultivate
The harvest that
our children’s children taste
We’re ready God, so send the rain

Lord, we’ll follow You
To unbroken earth
On the path not used
Where new hope is birthed

We will work as one
Holding to Your truth
To Your truth

Heal the ruined cities
We destroyed with our own hands
Bring us back together
Let us see the promised land

Pour out Your Spirit
On this dry and thirsty ground
O God of the harvest
Could it be right here and now
Could it be right here and now

Open up the heavens,
let Your rain fall down
We are thirsty, we are thirsty

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Benediction

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Worship Song

Center / Oh Our Lord

Oh Christ be the center of our lives
Be the place we fix our eyes
Be the center of our lives

We behold the breaking dawn
The light that shines over everyone
We look to You, we long for You, oh Lord

We behold the rising sun
The earth awaits, Your hope has come
We look to You, we long for You, oh Lord

Oh, oh, oh, our Lord
Oh, oh, oh, our Lord
How majestic is Your name in all the earth

We behold the falling rain
Like waters rise, flood this place
We reach for You, we cling to You, oh Lord

Oh, Your name is a light in the darkness
Oh, Your name is the word of truth
Oh Your name, oh Your name

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Call to Worship

Introduction to our interactive praise & prayer day

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Breath Prayer

By Cole Arthur Riley, Black Liturgies

INHALE: I know this place.
EXHALE: This is holy ground.

INHALE: I am rooted.
EXHALE: I am home.

INHALE: Take me where it’s safe.
EXHALE: God, prepare a place.

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Worship Songs

Cornerstone / Solid Rock / Worthy

On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus’ name

Christ alone, Cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Savior’s love
Through the storm, He is Lord
Lord of all

When darkness seems to hide His face
I’ll rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil

He is worthy of it all
He is worthy of it all

For from Him are all things
To Him are all things
He deserves the glory

When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless stand before the throne

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Scripture Reading

1 Peter 2:4-5

⁴ As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— ⁵ you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
Together: Thanks be to God.

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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! 

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Prayer Stations

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Worship Songs

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 

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Have My Heart

You love with no reservations
You’re not looking for perfection
And there’s no need in me pretending
I’ll give You everything
I’ll give You everything

You deserve my full attention
Nothing less than my devotion
Oh, speak to me and I will listen
I’ll give You everything
I’ll give You everything

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh 
You can have my heart
You can have my heart

Be the Lord of my emotions
Set me free from selfish motives
And search me ’til there’s nothing hidden
And I’ll give You everything
Yes, I’ll give You everything

My heart is Yours forever
My heart is Yours forever

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Prayer Stations

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Prayer

Patient Trust, prayer by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Above all, trust in the slow work of God.
We are quite naturally impatient
in everything to reach the end without delay.
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.

We are impatient of being on the way
to something unknown, something new.
And yet it is the law of all progress
that it is made by passing
through some stages of instability—
and that it may take a very long time.

And so I think it is with you;
your ideas mature gradually—let them grow,
let them shape themselves,
without undue haste.

Don’t try to force them on,
as though you could be today what time
will make of you tomorrow.

Only God could say what this new spirit
gradually forming within you will be.
Give Our Lord the benefit of believing
that his hand is leading you,
and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself
in suspense and incomplete.

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Worship Songs

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

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Open Space w/ Make Room tag

I will make room for You
To do whatever You want to
To do whatever You want to

My heart is an open space
For You to come and have Your way
I’m open, I’m open

Pull me in closer, close to Your heart
May I be a pure reflection
of who You are

Love that is patient, love that is kind
Love that keeps no offenses
or wrongs in mind

Make me like Jesus
Make me like Jesus

You’re faithful to find me
Right where I am
Even in my wandering
You call me friend

Mercy receives me
And lifts me to my feet
I’m caught up in the wonder
and the mystery

Of knowing Jesus
Of knowing Jesus

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Prayer Stations

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Worship Song

Send the Rain

Lord, we come to You
Now with open hands
Broken lives and dreams
Washed up on the sand

We’ve been beaten down
But still we choose to stand
We choose to stand

Lord, we long for You
For Your hand to move
Heal this barren land
Come and make it new

Jesus, You’re the life
That is breaking through
You’re breaking through

The saints of old in ancient days
They worked the ground
that we reap from today

So use our hands to cultivate
The harvest that
our children’s children taste
We’re ready God, so send the rain

Lord, we’ll follow You
To unbroken earth
On the path not used
Where new hope is birthed

We will work as one
Holding to Your truth
To Your truth

Heal the ruined cities
We destroyed with our own hands
Bring us back together
Let us see the promised land

Pour out Your Spirit
On this dry and thirsty ground
O God of the harvest
Could it be right here and now
Could it be right here and now

Open up the heavens,
let Your rain fall down
We are thirsty, we are thirsty

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Conversation

• What spoke to you today? 
  (A song, prayer station, thought, something else)
• What’s a word of blessing for our church?
  For the broader community? 

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Worship Song

Open Up

You heard the cry of our hearts
And You came down
Freely You gave us Your love
Showing us how

Make me an instrument of Your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is darkness
Let me shine light and…

May Your love
Cause us to open up
Cause us to open up our hearts

May Your light
Cause us to shine so bright
That we bring hope into the dark

All that we do without love
It means nothing
Grant us the courage to give
As You’re calling

Hope for the hopeless
Your love is

Strength in our weakness
Your love is

May we love
As You love

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Benediction

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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!
• Art Day with Sandburg: Please pray for our next art class with Sandburg led by Ann Leong this Wednesday, March 20th. Students will be learning about and painting in the style of Van Gogh, and all registration fees will be donated to the school. Please let Ann know if you’d like to volunteer! 
• Good Friday service: We will gather in-person here at Sandburg on Good Friday, March 29th at 7:00 pm for a time of quiet prayer & reflection.
• Easter Sunday: We will celebrate Jesus’ resurrection together on Sunday, March 31st with a special family service! Please keep an eye out for candy/Easter egg donation and potluck sign-ups coming soon.
• Visit a garden: As we reflect on “the garden” of God’s grace throughout Lent, we encourage you to visit one of the many gardens around the San Diego region. If you get a chance to visit, we’d love to hear about it!

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Centering Practice

In Psalm 139, the psalmist marvels at how precious and vast are God’s thoughts — they even outnumber the grains of sand!

• Begin by closing our eyes and taking several slow, deep breaths 
• Picture your favorite beach, imagine standing on the sand, letting waves wash over your feet — what do you hear, what do you see? 
• Look up and down the shoreline at the infinite number of grains of sand, and enter into our worship space with gratitude and wonder at the precious thoughts of God 

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Call to Worship

Give thanks to the Lord, for God is good!
God’s steadfast love endures forever.
Let the redeemed rejoice
in the wide embrace of God.

To those in darkness, God brings light.
In the deserted land, God brings forth a garden.
For all who seek, God offers hope and belonging.
Amen.

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Worship Songs

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

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Build My Life

Worthy of every song we could ever sing
Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring
Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe
We live for You

Jesus, the Name above every other name
Jesus, the only One who could ever save
Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe
We live for You, we live for You

Holy, there is no one like You
There is none beside You
Open up my eyes in wonder

And show me who You are
And fill me with Your heart
And lead me in Your love
To those around me

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

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Prayer of Confession

Holy God,
You bless us abundantly in every way;
with the breath we breathe, with food and shelter,
with love, grace, and community. 

We confess how easily we dismiss Your care for us,
worrying and trying to control outcomes.
Forgive us for leaving such little room
for Your Spirit to move in our hearts.

— Moment of silent prayer —

Refine us, O God.
Shape and sharpen us into Your people,
for the life of the world around us.
Amen.

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Assurance of God’s Love

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Prayers of the People

After each phrase, the congregation will reply with one voice:
Lord, have mercy.

For those who will receive the meals
we packed with Rise Against Hunger… 

For those suffering
from violence, hatred, and war… 

For our friends who need to know Your love
and the friendship of our Anchor & Hope community… 

For our partners & collaborators,
and for the mission of our church… 

Amen.

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Communion

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Send the Rain

Lord, we come to You
Now with open hands
Broken lives and dreams
Washed up on the sand

We’ve been beaten down
But still we choose to stand
We choose to stand

Lord, we long for You
For Your hand to move
Heal this barren land
Come and make it new

Jesus, You’re the life
That is breaking through
You’re breaking through

The saints of old in ancient days
They worked the ground
that we reap from today

So use our hands to cultivate
The harvest that
our children’s children taste
We’re ready God, so send the rain

Lord, we’ll follow You
To unbroken earth
On the path not used
Where new hope is birthed

We will work as one
Holding to Your truth
To Your truth

Heal the ruined cities
We destroyed with our own hands
Bring us back together
Let us see the promised land

Pour out Your Spirit
On this dry and thirsty ground
O God of the harvest
Could it be right here and now
Could it be right here and now

Open up the heavens,
let Your rain fall down
We are thirsty, we are thirsty

---

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!
• Rise Against Hunger: Thank you to everyone for participating to pack over 10,000 meals last Sunday — and special thanks to Tae for the vision and effort in coordinating with Rise and Solana Beach Pres! You can still give via Tithely or via check if you haven’t had the chance. 
• Art Day with Sandburg: Please pray for our next art class with Sandburg led by Ann Leong on March 20th. Students will be learning about and painting in the style of Van Gogh, and all registration fees will be donated to the school. Please let Ann know if you’d like to volunteer! 
• Good Friday service: We will gather in-person here at Sandburg on Good Friday, March 29th at 7:00 pm for a time of quiet prayer & reflection.
• Easter Sunday: We will celebrate Jesus’ resurrection together on Sunday, March 31st with a special family service! Please keep an eye out for candy/Easter egg donation and potluck sign-ups coming soon.
• Visit a garden: As we reflect on “the garden” of God’s grace throughout Lent, we encourage you to visit one of the many gardens around the San Diego region. If you get a chance to visit, we’d love to hear about it!

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Passing of the Peace

Let’s greet each other at this time!

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Family Praise

Your Love is Deep

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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! 

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Worship Song

Promises

God of Abraham
You’re the God of covenant
And of faithful promises
Time and time again
You have proven
You’ll do just what You said

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

God from age to age
Though the earth may pass away
Your word remains the same, yeah
Your history can prove
There’s nothing You can’t do
You’re faithful and true

I put my faith in Jesus
My anchor to the ground
My hope and firm foundation
He’ll never let me down

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Scripture Reading

John 9:1-12

¹ As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. ² His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” ³ Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. ⁴ We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. ⁵ As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” ⁶ When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, ⁷ saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. ⁸ The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” ⁹ Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am he.” ¹⁰ But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” ¹¹ He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” ¹² They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
Together: Thanks be to God.

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Sermon

Sand
Pastor Dan So

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Worship Song

Expectation

You redeem our past
You take what’s old and broken
You’re breathing in new life

Rhythms of Your grace
Moving us to freedom
From darkness into light

You will make all things new
You’ll bring Your kingdom here
We wait in expectation

We lift our eyes to You
Salvation’s drawing near
We wait in expectation

You have overcome
the troubles we are facing
You’re standing here with us

Oppression cannot win
and anxious thoughts are broken
By the pow’r of Jesus’ name

You have me
You have me
You have my heart completely

Would You come, Lord Jesus, come
Come, Lord Jesus, come
Come, Lord Jesus, come

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Benediction

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Centering Practice

Scripture says, many waters cannot quench love. Let’s gather in the flow of God’s love together this morning.

• — Yoga flow —
• Together: Out of our hearts, let the Living Water of God’s love flow!

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Call to Worship

based on Isaiah 58

During this season of Lent,
may our fasting loose the chains of injustice
and set the oppressed free.
May our light break forth like the dawn.

Guide us, Lord,
through a sun-scorched land.
Make us a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
Amen.

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Worship Songs

Oh Our Lord

We behold the breaking dawn
The light that shines over everyone
We look to You, we long for You, oh Lord

We behold the rising sun
The earth awaits, Your hope has come
We look to You, we long for You, oh Lord

Oh, oh, oh, our Lord
Oh, oh, oh, our Lord
How majestic is Your name in all the earth

We behold the falling rain
Like waters rise, flood this place
We reach for You, we cling to You, oh Lord

Oh, Your name is a light in the darkness
Oh, Your name is the word of truth
Oh Your name, oh Your name

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Send the Rain

Lord, we come to You
Now with open hands
Broken lives and dreams
Washed up on the sand

We’ve been beaten down
But still we choose to stand
We choose to stand

Lord, we long for You
For Your hand to move
Heal this barren land
Come and make it new

Jesus, You’re the life
That is breaking through
You’re breaking through

The saints of old in ancient days
They worked the ground
that we reap from today

So use our hands to cultivate
The harvest that
our children’s children taste
We’re ready God, so send the rain

Lord, we’ll follow You
To unbroken earth
On the path not used
Where new hope is birthed

We will work as one
Holding to Your truth
To Your truth

Heal the ruined cities
We destroyed with our own hands
Bring us back together
Let us see the promised land

Pour out Your Spirit
On this dry and thirsty ground
O God of the harvest
Could it be right here and now
Could it be right here and now

Open up the heavens,
let Your rain fall down
We are thirsty, we are thirsty

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Prayer of Confession

Jesus, our Living Water,
everywhere Your river flows,
You sustain, renew, and refresh life.

We confess the dryness of our lives:
jagged words we’ve thought & spoken,
crumbling relationships, brittle hearts.
Forgive us, O God, we pray:

— Moment of silent prayer —

Rain down Your mercy upon us, O God.
Wash away the dust & grime.
Renew us in Your ever-flowing stream.
Amen.

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Assurance of God’s Love

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Prayers of the People

After each phrase, the congregation will reply with one voice:
Lord, have mercy.

For all who suffer from thirst or hunger…
For those who are weary and in need of strength…
For those oppressed by war, violence, and hatred…
For our neighbors near and far…
For ourselves, our families, and our church…
Amen.

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Communion

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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!
• 10:02 Prayer: We’re continuing our 10:02 pm prayer throughout this Lenten season (set your alarms again!). We invite you to prayerfully consider a fast — temporarily withdrawing from a good gift of God — to make more room in your heart for Christ. And, because Sundays are a mini-resurrection, we invite you to break your fasts each Sunday!
• Rise Against Hunger: Next Sunday, March 3rd • 10,000 meals! • Information on shifts, registrations, and financial support here on our blog

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Passing of the Peace

Let’s greet each other at this time!

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Family Praise

Every Move I Make

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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! 

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Worship Song

Open Up

You heard the cry of our hearts
And You came down
Freely You gave us Your love
Showing us how

Make me an instrument of Your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is darkness
Let me shine light and…

May Your love
Cause us to open up
Cause us to open up our hearts

May Your light
Cause us to shine so bright
That we bring hope into the dark

All that we do without love
It means nothing
Grant us the courage to give
As You’re calling

Hope for the hopeless
Your love is

Strength in our weakness
Your love is

May we love
As You love

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Scripture Reading

Mark 9:41

⁴¹ For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.

Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
Together: Thanks be to God.

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Sermon

Water: Neighboring
Kathy Pham

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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

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Benediction

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Centering Practice

This morning, together we seek God: here in this place, at this moment, together

• Take a few moments to breathe 
• As we think about place, find a word that describes “home” to help center you this morning (belonging, peace, restoration, laughter)

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Call to Worship

As we continue our Lenten journey
we remember that from dust we came,
and to dust we shall return.

We remember that from home we came,
and to home we shall return.
Amen.

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Worship Songs

Oh Our Lord

We behold the breaking dawn
The light that shines over everyone
We look to You, we long for You, oh Lord

We behold the rising sun
The earth awaits, Your hope has come
We look to You, we long for You, oh Lord

Oh, oh, oh, our Lord
Oh, oh, oh, our Lord
How majestic is Your name in all the earth

We behold the falling rain
Like waters rise, flood this place
We reach for You, we cling to You, oh Lord

Oh, Your name is a light in the darkness
Oh, Your name is the word of truth
Oh Your name, oh Your name

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Called Me Higher

I could just sit
I could just sit and wait for all Your goodness
Hope to feel Your presence

And I could just stay
I could just stay right where I am
and hope to feel You
Hope to feel something again

But You have called me higher
You have called me deeper
And I’ll go where You will lead me Lord

And I could hold on
I could hold on to who I am and never let You
Change me from the inside

And I could be safe
I could be safe here in Your arms
and never leave home
Never let these walls down

And I will be Yours
I will be Yours for all my life

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Prayer of Confession

Merciful God,
We confess how easily we wander from You.
We have hungered for that which does not satisfy.

You speak, but we have not listened.
Creation cries out, but we do not hear.
Forgive us, O God.

— Moment of silent prayer —

Lead us, Lord, on every path we walk.
Renew a right spirit within us,
to love You and our neighbors well.
Amen.

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Assurance of God’s Love

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Communion

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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!
• The Season of Lent: Lent is the 40 days before Easter, not including Sundays. We’ll be praying at 10:02 pm throughout this season (set your alarms again!). We invite you to prayerfully consider a fast — temporarily withdrawing from a good gift of God — to make more room in your heart for Christ. And, because Sundays are a mini-resurrection, we invite you to break your fasts each Sunday!
• Rise Against Hunger: Sunday, March 3rd • 10,000 meals! • Information on shifts, registrations, and financial support here on our blog
• Youth Group will meet today during our worship service and will have a gathering at the Leong’s place after church today!

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Passing of the Peace

Let’s greet each other at this time!

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Family Praise

Lord I Lift Your Name on High

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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! 

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Worship Song

Send the Rain

Lord, we come to You,
now with open hands
Broken lives and dreams
washed up on the sand

We’ve been beaten down,
but still we choose to stand
We choose to stand

Lord, we long for You,
for Your hand to move
Heal this barren land,
come and make it new

Jesus, You’re the life
that is breaking through
You’re breaking through

The saints of old in ancient days
They worked the ground
that we reap from today

So use our hands to cultivate
The harvest that
our children’s children taste
We’re ready God, so send the rain

Heal the ruined cities
We destroyed with our own hands
Bring us back together
Let us see the promised land

Pour out Your Spirit
On this dry and thirsty ground
O God of the harvest
Could it be right here and now
Could it be right here and now

Open up the heavens,
let Your rain fall down
We are thirsty, we are thirsty

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Scripture Reading

James 3:17-18

¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. ¹⁸ And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
Together: Thanks be to God.

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Sermon

Soil
Pastor Jeya So

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Worship Song

Have My Heart

You love with no reservations
You’re not looking for perfection
And there’s no need in me pretending
I’ll give You everything
I’ll give You everything

You deserve my full attention
Nothing less than my devotion
Oh, speak to me and I will listen
I’ll give You everything
I’ll give You everything

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh 
You can have my heart
You can have my heart

Be the Lord of my emotions
Set me free from selfish motives
And search me ’til there’s nothing hidden
And I’ll give You everything
Yes, I’ll give You everything

My heart is Yours forever
My heart is Yours forever

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Benediction

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Call to Worship

Adapted from adapted from the United Church of Christ (Genesis 2:7; 3: 19 Psalm 104: 29-30; John 1: 18)

Friends and neighbors,
we pause during our week
to observe Ash Wednesday together
as a faith community.

We remember that God made us
from fragile, blessed dust
And breathes through us
the breath of life and love.

From dust we are created in God’s image
and to God’s good dust we shall return.
Today we begin our 40-day Lenten journey
to discover who we are created to be
as God’s beloved.

In daily practices of prayer and service
we will embark upon this Lenten journey.
So come, let us pray
for strength and imagination to follow Jesus
wherever He will lead us this Lent.
Amen.

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Prayer

by John Paarlberg

Gracious God,
You created us out of the dust of the earth
and breathed into us the breath of life.
By Your hand we live and to Your hands we return
when all our days are done.
Grant that the awareness of our mortality
may lead us not to fear, but to faith.

In our weakness,
teach us to look to You for strength;
in our failures,
to turn to You and find forgiveness;
and in our dying,
to await the gift of everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

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Worship Song

Lord, I Need You

Lord, I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You’re the One that guides my heart

Lord, I need You
Oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

Where sin runs deep Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are, Lord, I am free
Holiness is Christ in me

Teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I’ll fall on You
Jesus, You’re my hope and stay

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Scripture Reading

John 12:23-24

To be read aloud together:

²³ Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴ Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
Together: Thanks be to God.

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Reflection

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Ash Wednesday: Seeds Born of Fire
Pastor Dan So

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Giant sequoias are the largest trees on Earth.
They can grow for more than 3,000 years.
But without fire, they cannot reproduce.
The giant sequoias really are born of fire.

A fire gives them 3 things they need for regeneration.
The first one is,
it punches a hole in the forest –
that allows there to be more light and more water
for the sequoia seedlings.

The second thing it does is,
it heats the cones up in the mature sequoia trees,
without harming the trees and those cones open
and there’s a rain of seeds on the ground.

And, the final thing it’s done is,
it’s cleared away all the leaves that have built up.
Because sequoia seeds need to hit bare mineral soil
before they can germinate, and survive well.

Then the winter storms come
and bury them in a blanket of snow.
And then when the spring comes
they have the ideal conditions… its warmer… it’s really wet
and those seeds will take off and become seedlings.

From their birth among the ashes,
these seedlings have become the groves we see today,
with trees nearly 300 feet tall.

From “Why the Giant Sequoia Needs Fire to Grow”

Reflection Questions:

• Everything in life that matters requires risk & sacrifice. What or who is so close to your heart that you’re willing to sacrifice for them?
• Could this Lent season create the necessary space in your life to let in more light or water?
• How can you open your heart to God & others over the next 6 weeks to allow the seeds of God’s dream to be scattered?
• Is there room for God’s dream to grow in your life? Are there “leaves” that have built up which need to be swept away?
• As you make space for quietness in your heart (through silence and/or coloring), what seeds are you planting today? At Eastertime, what’s a word or short phrase that captures the transformation or growth you hope to see happen?

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Communion

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Worship Song

Expectation

You redeem our past
You take what’s old and broken
You’re breathing in new life

Rhythms of Your grace
Moving us to freedom
From darkness into light

You will make all things new
You’ll bring Your kingdom here
We wait in expectation

We lift our eyes to You
Salvation’s drawing near
We wait in expectation

You have overcome
The troubles we are facing
You’re standing here with us

Oppression cannot win
And anxious thoughts are broken
By the pow’r of Jesus’ name

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Benediction

from “An Ash Wednesday Liturgy” written by Tim Graves and posted on LiturgyBits.

Created from dust,
held together by God’s extravagant love,
Turn away from sin,
and leave today embracing God’s love.
Amen.

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