Sermon Only
03.15.2020 — Thomas, the Doubter — Rev. Edie Lenz
Longer Service
This recording contains announcements, prayers, readings and some songs, in addition to the sermon. The service order below has been edited to reflect what is included in the recording.
03.15.2020 — Thomas, the Doubter (Longer Service) — Rev. Edie Lenz
| WE GATHER TO WORSHIP |
| Prelude “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” |
| Gathering of the People: Registration and Announcements |
| *Call to Worship (responsive) One: Let us worship God, who reconciled us through Christ. All: We are new creations; the old has gone, the new has come! One: Let us worship God as Christ’s ambassadors in this world. All: Through us and through our worship may we announce the good news to all. |
| *Opening Prayer All-knowing and all-caring God, we gather this day drained by another week. We are like a parched desert, empty and in need of replenishment. Visit us with your presence, saturate us with your Spirit, and bathe us in your streams of living water, that our lives might acknowledge and worship you to the praise and honor of Jesus Christ. Amen. |
| *Assurance of Pardon (responsive) One: Jesus said, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. All: Lord, to who else can we go, you have the words of eternal life. |
| WE HEAR GOD’S WORD |
| I Was ThereThomas, The Doubter |
| Gospel Lesson John 11:1-16, 20:24-29 1 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4 But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5 Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, 6 after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. 10 But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.”11 After saying this, he told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” 12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.” 13 Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” 24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin) one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” |
| Sermon“Thomas, The Doubter” |
| WE RESPOND IN FAITH |
| Morning Prayers/The Lord’s Prayer |
| Offertory“My Savior First of All” |
| *Charge + Benediction |