March 1, 2026 – The Second Sunday in Lent

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At Grace, all are welcome, which means we affirm people of every age, race, language, nationality, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, ability, family structure, or economic, social, immigration, and marital status.

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Welcome to Grace UMC! We’re blessed by your presence for worship. Please register your attendance using the red attendance pads in the Sanctuary or the link above. If you are in-person and need an assisted listening device, they are available at the back of the Nave. Please ask an usher or greeter. During worship, we use three hymnals: The United Methodist Hymnal, The Faith We Sing, and Worship & Song.

 

+Please rise in body or spirit​

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Welcome

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Prelude- Anita Lockwood

“Psalm Prelude" by Carl Hager

 

+Opening Hymn-UMH 451

“Be Thou My Vision”

 

+Opening Prayer

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.​

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Prayer of Confession

I confess to almighty God and to you, my sisters and brothers, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault; therefore I ask you, my siblings, to pray for me to the Lord our God.​​ Amen.

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Silence for personal confession and assurance of pardon.

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Passing the Peace

May the peace of Christ be always with you.

And also with you.

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First Lesson- Genesis 12:1-4a

The Lord said to Abram, “Leave your land, your family, and your father’s household for the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation and will bless you. I will make your name respected, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, those who curse you I will curse; all the families of the earth will be blessed because of you.” Abram left just as the Lord told him, and Lot went with him.​

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This is the word of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

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I lift up my eyes to the hills—
from where will my help come?
    My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

God will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
     He who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep. R.

 

The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
     The sun shall not strike you by day
    nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil

and will keep your life.
     The Lord will keep your going out 

     and your coming in from this time on 

     and forevermore. R.

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+Hymn of Preparation-W&S 3110

"By Grace We Have Been Saved" vs. 1-3

 

+Second Lesson - John 3:1-17

There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a Jewish leader. He came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could do these miraculous signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered, “I assure you, unless someone is born anew, it’s not possible to see God’s kingdom.” Nicodemus asked, “How is it possible for an adult to be born? It’s impossible to enter the mother’s womb for a second time and be born, isn’t it?” Jesus answered, “I assure you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. Don’t be surprised that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ God’s Spirit blows wherever it wishes. You hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. It’s the same with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said, “How are these things possible?” Jesus answered, “You are a teacher of Israel and you don’t know these things? I assure you that we speak about what we know and testify about what we have seen, but you don’t receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has gone up to heaven except the one who came down from heaven, the Human One. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so must the Human One be lifted up so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life. God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him.​

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This is the word of God for the people of God. 

Thanks be to God.

 

+Hymn of Preparation-

W&S 3110

"By Grace We Have Been Saved" vs. 4,5

 

Sermon-The Rev. Seth O’Kegley

All the Families of the Earth (Click here to read text)​​​​​

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Affirmation of Faith (The Apostles Creed, ed. O'Kegley)

I believe in God, the Almighty maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead, he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God Almighty. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

 

Prayers of the People

Siblings in Christ, God has called us into a covenant that reaches beyond tribe and nation, beyond fear and division. Trusting in the wideness of God’s mercy and the steadfast love revealed in Jesus Christ, let us offer our prayers for the Church and for the world.

 

For the holy Church of God throughout the world, that it may proclaim without hesitation the good news of salvation, stand firmly against all that diminishes human dignity, and bear witness to a love that embraces the whole world. 

 

We pray to the Lord. God, hear our prayer.

 

For those entrusted with authority in this nation and in every nation, especially Donald our President and Jared our Governor, that they may be guided by wisdom, restrained by humility, and committed to justice, peace, and the flourishing of all people.

 

We pray to the Lord. God, hear our prayer.

 

For peace among the nations, especially in this time of escalating conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran, that there may be an immediate ceasefire and an end to hostilities; that leaders may reject the myth that security is secured through violence; and that diplomacy, accountability, and reverence for human life may prevail over retaliation and power; we pray to the Lord.

 

We pray to the Lord. God, hear our prayer.

 

For all who suffer because of war and unrest, for civilians whose homes and futures are shattered, for refugees and the displaced, for members of the armed forces and their families, and for all who labor for peace and reconciliation, that the Spirit of Christ may break cycles of vengeance and turn hearts toward justice rooted in mercy; we pray to the Lord.

 

We pray to the Lord. God, hear our prayer.

 

For this district and this conference, for Kristin our Bishop and Jessica our Superintendent, that they may lead with courage and compassion; and for this congregation of Grace, that we may be renewed by water and Spirit and live as people shaped by covenant rather than fear; we pray to the Lord.

 

We pray to the Lord. God, hear our prayer.

 

For those who are sick, anxious, grieving, or in any kind of distress, and for those whose needs we name now either silently or aloud, that the Lord who keeps our going out and our coming in may surround them with comfort and hope; we pray to the Lord.

 

We pray to the Lord. God, hear our prayer.

 

For those who have died in the hope of the resurrection, and for all the departed, especially remembering Darlene, that they may rest in your eternal light and that we may be strengthened by the promise of life that overcomes death

 

We pray to the Lord. God, hear our prayer.

 

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will is life and not destruction, whose covenant spans generations, and whose Son was lifted up for the salvation of the world: hear the prayers of your people. Turn the hearts of nations away from war and toward the hard work of peace. Strengthen your Church to speak truth with love and to live as a sign of your reconciling grace. Renew us by your Holy Spirit, that we may follow Christ faithfully in this troubled world, until justice and peace embrace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

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Parish Announcements

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Offertory- Chancel Choir

“Come to the Table of the Lord” by Patrick Liebergen

 

Come, eat the bread at the table of the Lord; the bread of life shall set you free. Come, eat the bread at the table of the Lord; on the cross my Savior died for me. Come, drink the cup at the table of the Lord; His blood was poured at Calvary. Come, drink the cup at the table of the Lord; now He lives! Proclaim the victory, He died for me! As prophets long ago foretold, the Son of God we now behold; He came to earth from God above, King of love! He gave His life at Calvary, He died for me! My Savior lives eternally! Come, Christians, come to the table of the Lord; the bread and cup are here to share. Come, Christians, come to the table of the Lord; be with Him in His loving care.

 

-Today’s loose coin offering is for Warren Village-

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+Lenten Doxology- TALLIS CANON

Praise God throughout these forty days.

Praise Christ, our Lord, whom God did raise.

And praise the Spirit who imparts

God's love to all into our hearts. Amen.

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The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

 

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth. You brought all things into being and called them good. From the dust of the earth you formed us into your image and breathed into us the breath of life. When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast. When rain fell upon the earth for forty days and forty nights, you bore up the ark on the waters, saved Noah and his family, and made covenant with every living creature on earth. When you led your people to Mount Sinai for forty days and forty nights, you gave us your commandments and made us your covenant people. When your people forsook your covenant, your prophet Elijah fasted for forty days and forty nights; and on your holy mountain, he heard your still small voice.

 

And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

 

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

 

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. When you gave him to save us from our sin, your Spirit led him into the wilderness, where he fasted forty days and forty nights to prepare for his ministry. When he suffered and died on a cross for our sin, you raised him to life, presented him alive to the apostles during forty days, and exalted him at your right hand. By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.  Now, when we your people prepare for the yearly feast of Easter, you lead us to repentance for sin and the cleansing of our hearts, that during these forty days of Lent we may be gifted and graced to reaffirm the covenant you made with us through Christ.

 

On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: "Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

 

When the supper was over he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said: "Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."

 

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving, as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

 

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

 

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet.

Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and for ever. Amen.

 

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. 

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Giving of the Bread and Cup

This is the body of Christ, broken for you.

This is the blood of Christ, shed for you.

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Prayer after Communion

Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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+Hymn of Discipleship- UMH 389

“Freely, Freely"

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+Benediction & Dismissal

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

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Postlude- Anita Lockwood

Postlude on “The Glory of These Forty Days" by Matthew McConnell

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Worship Leaders

The Rev. Seth O’Kegley, celebr

Jennifer Moore, liturgist

Steven Burchard, Director of Music

Anita Lockwood, pianist and organist

Chancel Choir