Third Sunday in Lent • March 23, 2025
Welcome to worship with First UMC Santa Monica! We count it a blessing that you are joining us today. To find out more about this community of faith, go to: https://santamonicaumc.org/order Order of Worship: https://santamonicaumc.org/wp-content... Let's Connect / New Visitor Sign In: https://santamonicaumc.org/new-visito... Prayer Requests: https://santamonicaumc.org/prayer-req... Thank you for participating online! Consider a donation to keep this feature in place: https://santamonicaumc.org/give Hymns Used by Permission: CCLI Streaming License: 4034411 -------------------- Welcome Tricia Guerrero, Pastoral Associate Prelude Berceuse (Gabriel Fauré) Kevan Torfeh, cello *Opening Hymn #140 United Methodist Hymnal – Great Is Thy Faithfulness *Call To Worship Leigh Erlandson, Lay Lector We seek God’s presence in our lives today. Forgive us Lord when we fail to bear good fruit. God continually surrounds us with patience and persistence. God forgives and heals our weakness. Rejoice! Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised! We will turn our lives again to the Lord, to serve and seek God’s presence. *Choral Act of Praise “All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, O God!” *Sharing the Peace of Christ Leigh Erlandson CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Jamie Jones, Family Ministries Coordinator #2233 The Faith We Sing — Where Children Belong This, this is where children belong, welcomed as part of the worshiping throng. Water, God’s word, bread and cup, prayer and song: This is where children belong. As the congregation sings, all children are invited to come forward. I Am a Child of God I am a child of God; You are God’s child, it’s true. Children of God are called to love one another, as Jesus taught to do. As the congregation sings, the children may go to Sunday School in Rooms 204 and 206. Our Mission & Common Life Tricia Guerrero HYMN #357 UMH — Just as I Am, Without One Plea (verses 1,2,5,6) SILENT PRAYER & PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION Tricia Guerrero Response: Open our hearts, O God. THE LORD’S PRAYER 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. Choral Response The Gospel Luke 13:1-9 Leigh Erlandson The Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God! Sermon “Repentance and Mercy” Rev. Greg Batson, Senior Minister We Offer Our Gifts & Ourselves Leigh Erlandson Offertory The Chancel Choir/Dr. James Smith, Music Director O Love (Elaine Hagenberg) O love, that will not let me go, O Love, I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe, that in thy ocean depths its flow may richer, fuller be. O Joy, that seeks me through the pain, O Joy, I cannot close my heart to thee; I trace the rainbow through the rain, and feel the promise is not vain that morn shall tearless be. O Love, that will not let me go, O love, I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe and in thy ocean depths its flow shall richer, fuller be. O love, that will not let me go. *RESPONSE #95 UMH — The Doxology 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. *UNISON PRAYER OF DEDICATION Tricia Guerrero Faithful God, our guide and sustainer, as we offer these gifts, may they bear fruit for your kingdom. In this solemn season of Lent, we remember your call to repentance and renewal. Help us tend the soil of our hearts so that we may grow in faith and bear witness to your grace. Use these offerings to bring hope to those in need and light to those in darkness. May we live as your fruitful servants, trusting in your abundant mercy. In the name of Christ who calls us to new life, we pray. Amen. *Hymn #438 UMH — Forth in Thy Name, O Lord *Benediction Rev. Batson *BENEDICTION RESPONSE Postlude Fugue in G minor the “Little” (J. S. Bach) Ty Woodward, organ
