Chatham Circuit
St Louisville, Chatham & Liberty UMC
March 23, 2025
Third Sunday of Lent

Prelude Bringing the Light

*Call to Worship:
L: A rich feast awaits those who call upon the Lord. P: God offers to us all the bounty of God’s love. L: How we have thirsted for hope and peace! P: How we have longed for joy and love! L: God continually blesses and heals us. P: Praise be to God for God’s steadfast love. AMEN.

*Opening Prayer
Open our eyes, our ears, our hearts and spirits this morning, Lord, that we may be healed of our faithlessness, freed from our fears and anxieties, and placed on the pathways that lead to peace and service to you. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. AMEN. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.

Hymn: Rise Up O Men of God #576
1. Rise up, O men* of God! Have done with lesser things. Give heart and mind and soul and strength to serve the King of kings.

2. Rise up, O men of God! The kingdom tarries long. Bring in the day of brotherhood and end the night of wrong.

3. Rise up, O men of God! The church for you doth wait,
her strength unequal to her task; rise up, and make her great!

4. Lift high the cross of Christ! Tread where his feet have trod. As brothers of the Son of Man, rise up, O men of God!

The Lord’s Prayer

First Scripture: Psalm 63:1 - 8

The Apostle’s Creed #881

Second Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:1 - 13

Gloria Patri #70

*Message Lesson: Luke 13:1 - 9
Spirit of the Living God #393
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.

The Message
Our God of Second Chances
Sharon Babbert

Hymn: He Leadeth Me #128
1. He leadeth me: O blessed thought! O words with heavenly comfort fraught! Whate'er I do, where'er I be, still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.

Refrain: He leadeth me, he leadeth me, by his own hand he leadeth me; his faithful follower I would be, for by his hand he leadeth me.

2. Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom, sometimes where Eden's bowers bloom, by waters still, o'er troubled sea, still 'tis his hand that leadeth me. [Refrain]

3. Lord, I would place my hand in thine, nor ever murmur nor repine; content, whatever lot I see, since 'tis my God that leadeth me. [Refrain]

4. And when my task on earth is done, when by thy grace the victory's won, e'en death's cold wave I will not flee, since God through Jordan leadeth me. [Refrain]

Prayers of the People

Invitation to Respond to God’s Grace

The Lord offers us everything we need without price. In celebration of this great gift, let us share our joy by passing the peace of Christ with one another.

*Doxology/Prayer
Loving God, you have set the table before us and given us every good thing. In gratitude for your kindness and mercy, receive our gifts and our offerings. Accept our hearts into your keeping, that our lives may bear good fruit and that we may enter into your glory. Amen..

Hymn: Glorius Things of Thee are Spoken #731

1. Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God; God, whose word cannot be broken, formed thee for his own abode. On the Rock of Ages founded, what can shake thy sure repose? With salvation's walls surrounded, thou mayst smile at all thy foes.

2. See, the streams of living waters, springing from eternal love, well supply thy sons and daughters, and all fear of want remove. Who can faint while such a river ever will their thirst assuage? Grace which like the Lord, the giver, never fails from age to age.

3. Round each habitation hovering, see the cloud and fire appear for a glory and a covering, showing that the Lord is near! Thus deriving from our banner light by night and shade by day, safe we feed upon the manna which God gives us when we pray.

4. Blest inhabitants of Zion, washed in our Redeemer's blood;
Jesus, whom our souls rely on, makes us monarchs, priests to God. Us, by his great love, he raises, rulers over self to reign,
and as priests his solemn praises we for thankful offering bring.

Responsive Benediction
L: Seek the Lord while God may be found. P: We will call upon the Lord, while God is near. L: Embrace the paths that lead to life. P: We will return to our God. L: Seek the Lord while God may be found. P: We will call upon the Lord, while God is near.

Closing

Chatham Charge News:

Bible Study this week, Tuesday Night at 7 PM and Wednesday afternoon at 2 PM. We will be studying Luke 19 and 20.

Words of Confession:
Merciful God, when we suffer thirst, you refresh us with the waters of life. When we set our jaws and lose our cool,
you heal our hardness of heart. Help us abide in your steadfast love, both now and forevermore. Amen.

Words of Assurance
God is our help in times of trial and when we lose our way. When we place our trust in Christ, God helps us stand and restores our honor.

Contact info for Pastor Bryan
email: brmoore1@aol.com - phone: 614-323-9561