So Loved
Fourth Sunday of Lent
Sunday, March 15, 2014

Numbers 21:4-9, Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22, Ephesians 2:1-10, John 3:14-21

CALL TO WORSHIP
One:		Brothers and sisters in Christ, 
why have you come to worship this morning?

All:		We come to celebrate the love of God
in the form of Jesus Christ.

One:	This love reaches through the darkness of our lives to embrace us.
Our challenge is to trust the light of God’s love in the midst of our struggles.

All:		We come to celebrate the light of God in Jesus
who offers love and acceptance,
not judgment and rejection.

One:		If only we will trust,
Jesus leads us in the way of light and love. 

All:		We come to celebrate our God 
who loved and loves us so much!

SONG FOR CENTERING 
 		Let Your Spirit Come		 		Sing! Prayer and Praise 17

LENTEN CENTERING FOR PRAYER
(As a way to prepare one’s minds and hearts for prayer, you are invited to read the following. This also offers the congregation an image on which they may focus rather than be distracted with external thoughts.)

Settle into your seats and close your eyes. 
Visualize a place of darkness. 
What comes up for you? 
(If this first image is too disturbing, 
find another place of imagination that offers you comfort and peace.) 
Imagine your presence there. 
Now imagine that with you  
is the presence of Jesus as a glimmer of light. 
What does that light look like? 
Stay there a moment with Jesus, the Light.
As you focus your attention on the glimmer of light, hear this:

For God so loved the World that God gave God’s only begotten child
For God so loved the World that God gave 
For God so loved the World 
For God so loved
So loved
The World
God

PRAYER OF RECONCILIATION
	O God of Comfort and God of Challenge, 
we come to you this morning the way the Israelites did, 
full of complaints and dissatisfaction. 
Nothing is enough; 
we do not recognize your blessing at work in our day to day lives. 
Forgive us when we become so comfortable 
that we moan and groan about 
the most insignificant details of our lives. 

In our complaints, challenge us as you did the Israelites, 
to consider the bigger picture 
of oppression, injustice, and inequality around us. 
Forgive us when we close our eyes for fear of what you might show us; 
keep sending loving and compassionate leaders 
to open our eyes until we see what you see in our world.

ASSURANCE OF BLESSING
You are blessed because God’s image resides deep within each of you. 
So return God’s blessing by the way you love others.

OFFERTORY DEDICATION
	Consider the steadfast love of God in every breath you breathe. 
May that steadfast love inspire you to give generously. 
so that we may live into God’s Reign of peace and compassion
through the offerings of our own church.

OFFERTORY PRAYER 
O Generous One, we give thanks to you 
for your steadfast love endures forever. 
May these gifts be used to feed the hunger and satisfy the thirst 
Of all those you love throughout your creation. Amen.

BENEDICTION
Let us rejoice: God so loves the world! 
May God your Maker 
send you back into the world with creative energies refreshed.
May Christ the Light
illuminate your darkest moments. 
And may the Holy Spirit of steadfast love 
guide you until we worship together again. 
This day and forevermore. Amen!

MUSIC FOR FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

#208	“God Loved the World”				The New Century Hymnal
#222	“My Song is Love Unknown”		          The New Century Hymnal
#533	“Children of God”					The New Century Hymnal

#208	“Pass the Love” (at the end of worship)		Sing! Prayer and Praise 
#139	“I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me”	Sing! Prayer and Praise 

So Loved: Service Prayers for the Fourth Sunday of Lent was written by the Rev. Dr. Ginny Brown Daniel, pastor of Plymouth United Church, UCC, in Spring, Texas.

Copyright 2014 Local Church Ministries, Faith Formation Ministry Team, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH  44115-1100.  Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education.  All publishing rights reserved.