First Sunday in Lent • February 26, 2023
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/ Today's 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... Consider making a donation. Thank you for your support: https://app.http://clovergive.com/app... ------------------ Welcome Rev. Patricia Farris Prelude Prayer from Suite Gothique (Léon Boëllmann) Ty Woodward, organ *Processional Hymn #269 United Methodist Hymnal – Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days Lord, who throughout these forty days for us didst fast and pray, teach us with thee to mourn our sins and close by thee to stay. As thou with Satan didst contend, and didst the victory win, O give us strength in thee to fight, in thee to conquer sin. As thou didst hunger bear, and thirst, so teach us, gracious Lord, to die to self, and chiefly live by thy most holy word. And through these days of penitence, and through thy passiontide, yea, evermore in life and death, Jesus, with us abide. Abide with us, that so, this life of suffering over past, an Easter of unending joy we may attain at last. *Call To Worship Rev. Larry Young Listen! There is hope to be found here. Listen! God calls you by name here. Listen! There is love that abides here. This world is full of chatter, so may we do our best to listen. God is present in our midst. Let us worship. *Choral Act of Praise “Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Bow down before Him, His glory proclaim; with gold of obedience and incense of lowliness, kneel and adore Him: the Lord is His name!” Our Mission & Common Life Molly Smith, Lay Leadership Team We give thanks for God’s Creating Spirit that continues to give us life and lead us forward! Thanks be to God! The Gospel Matthew 4:1-11 (Pew Bible page 3, N.T.) Rev. Young Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God! Sermon “seeking: listening to a deeper voice” Rev. Farris INVITATION TO PRAYER #143 UMH — On Eagle’s Wings And God will raise you up on eagles’ wings, bear you on the breath of dawn, make you to shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of God’s hand. Silent Prayer & Pastoral Prayer Rev. Young 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 We Offer Our Gifts & Ourselves Molly Smith Your continued financial support of the church is now more important than ever. You may place gifts of cash or checks made out to “First UMC” in the offering plates as they are passed. You may also mail your gift to the church or drop it into the mail slot of our offices any day of the week. Or, you may also give online at www.santamonicaumc.org/give, or mail checks through your online banking programs. You may continue to earmark gifts for our various mission projects. May God grow in us generous and joyful hearts. Thank you. The Offertory The Chancel Choir If Ye Love Me (Philip Wilby) If ye love me, keep my commandments, and I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; e’en the Spirit of Truth. And ye know Him, for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you. *Response #95 UMH — The Doxology (note change) *Unison Prayer of Dedication Molly Smith In a world full of noise, we believe that God is speaking. In a world full of chaos, we believe that God is singing. In a world full of temptation, we believe that God is healing. And so, we will listen for God—our Creator, Friend, and Guide. We will listen for water in the desert, for the wind of the Spirit, for the laughter of children, for the sound of open doors, and for God’s voice, who calls us beloved. Amen. *Benediction Rev. Farris Benediction Response Postlude Prelude and Fugue in G Minor (J. S. Bach) Ty Woodward
