The Third Sunday in Lent
March 23, 2025 - 10 a.m. EDT

Order of Worship

Prelude - Wondrous Love
arr. Craig Phillips

Ringing of the Church Bell

Invitation to Worship
Wallace Bubar

One: Come, all who are thirsty.

All: Come, all who are seeking.

One: Come, all who are waiting.

All: Come, all who labor.

One: Come, all who need rest.

All: Come, all who dream dreams.

One: Come – whether you’re young or old, confident or curious, lonely or hopeful.

All: This is God’s house. All are welcome here. Let us worship God.

Hymn 401 - Here in This Place
Walter Meenach, acolyte

Here in this place, new light is streaming,
now is the darkness vanished away,
see in this space our fears and our dreamings
brought here to you in the light of this day.
Gather us in the lost and forsaken,
gather us in the blind and the lame;
call to us now, and we shall awaken,
we shall arise at the sound of our name.

We are the young our lives are a mystery,
we are the old who yearn for your face.
We have been sung throughout all of history,
called to be light to the whole human race.
Gather us in the rich and the haughty
gather us in the proud and the strong,
give us a heart so meek and so lowly,
give us the courage to enter the song.

Here we will take the wine and the water,
here we will take the bread of new birth,
here you shall call your sons and your daughters,
call us anew to be salt for the earth.
Give us to drink the wine of compassion,
give us to eat the bread that is you;
nourish us well and teach us to fashion,
lives that are holy and hearts that are true.

Not in the dark of buildings confining,
not in some heaven light years away,
but here in this place, the new light is shining,
now is the kingdom; now is the day.
Gather us in and hold us forever,
gather us in and make us your own;
gather us in all peoples together,
fire of love in our flesh and our bones.

Prayer of Confession [unison]

Holy God, we treat our self-worth like something that can be bought at a store; but you know this even better than we do. Instead of trusting that we are made good, instead of trusting that we are loved exactly as we are, we stockpile our value in earthly things — in trophies and awards, in likes and follows, in wealth and power. Forgive us for creating our own measuring stick. Heal our open wounds and tell our hearts that we won’t be forgotten if we slow down. We won’t be forgotten if we rest. Gratefully we pray. Amen.

Kyrie
Marty Haugen

Kyrie, eleison. Christe, eleison.
Kyrie, eleison, eleison, eleison.

Assurance of Forgiveness

Sharing the Peace

Welcome and Announcements

Scripture Reading - Isaiah 55:1-9
Doris Porter, liturgist

Anthem - We Shall Walk Through the Valley in Peace
arr. Moses Hogan
The Chancel Choir

Word with Children
Jenni Whitford

Scripture Reading - Luke 13:6-9

Sermon - “Gardener of the Soul”

Hymn 479 - Ho, All Who Thirst

Ho, all who thirst, come now to the water,
And all whose souls are parched and weary, come drink!
Ho, all who thirst, come now to the water,
And from your heart will flow a never-failing spring!

Why forsake the Lord, the fount of living water,
Choosing broken cups that cannot be filled?

Ho, all who thirst, come now to the water,
And all whose souls are parched and weary, come drink!
Ho, all who thirst, come now to the water,
And from your heart will flow a never-failing spring!

For the Lamb will be our shepherd and will guide us
To the well-springs of the water of life.

Ho, all who thirst, come now to the water,
And all whose souls are parched and weary, come drink!
Ho, all who thirst, come now to the water,
And from your heart will flow a never-failing spring!

All who come may take this gift of living water.
They will thirst no more, for they shall be filled.

Ho, all who thirst, come now to the water,
And all whose souls are parched and weary, come drink!
Ho, all who thirst, come now to the water,
And from your heart will flow a never-failing spring!

Affirmation of Faith [unison]

We believe that the God of the cosmos is at work here. We believe that God is fertilizing the soil. We believe that God is planting roots. We believe that God is growing fruit that is yet to be tasted. But until that promised day when the fig tree stands tall and swords are beaten into plowshares, we believe: when our work does not bear fruit, God still loves us. When our soil grows dry and cracked, God still longs for us. When all seems hopeless here on earth, God holds hope for us. The God of the cosmos is at work here. We believe. Help our unbelief. Amen.

Prayers of the People

One: Lord, we look to you,

All: Receive our prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer [unison]

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.

Offering

Offertory - Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley
arr. Thomas Keesecker

Give online at granpres.org/give

Doxology 606

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication

Hymn 436 - God of Compassion, in Mercy Befriend Us

God of compassion, in mercy befriend us,
giver of grace for our needs all-availing.
Wisdom and strength for each day ever send us,
patience untiring and courage unfailing.

Though we are lost, you have sought us and found us,
stilled our rude hearts with your word of consoling.
Wrap now your peace, like a mantle, around us,
guarding our thoughts and our passions controlling.

How shall we stray, with your hand to direct us,
you who the stars in their courses are guiding?
What shall we fear, with your power to protect us,
we who walk forth in your greatness confiding?

Charge and Benediction

Postlude - I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
arr. James Biery
Philip Everingham

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service has been obtained from ONE LICENSE with license A-722069.