Sunday March 30, 2025 Worship Service
Livestream at 11:10 a.m.

Gathering in God’s Name

Prelude — A Lenten Prelude Charles Callahan
As the prelude begins, you are invited to begin your personal preparation for worship.

Silent Meditation
Jesus, you are my true friend. You take part in all of my misfortunes; you take them on yourself. You know how to change them into blessings. You listen to me with the greatest kindness when I relate my trouble to you, and you always have balm to pour on my wounds. I find you at all times, I find you everywhere, I find you wherever I go. You never weary of listening to me. You are never tired of doing me good. — St. Claude La Colombiere (1641-1682)

Call to Worship: the Sursum Corda
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!                                                                                   
       Praise and Adoration

*Opening Hymn #224 — When I Survey the Wondrous Cross — ROCKINGHAM        
(*Please stand, if you are able)

Confession and Pardon

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession
Gracious and Loving God, we come to you acknowledging that we do not deal always with others as you deal with us. When we err, we hope for grace and mercy. With the errs of others, we are prone to hope for judgment and justice. Forgive us, Lord. Give us the wisdom and the patience to be for others as you would have us be. Help us to be an example in a world that needs us to be good.

Silent Prayers of Confession and Petition

Confessional Response (#417) — Lord Jesus, Think on Me — SOUTHWELL

Assurance of Pardon

*Welcome
During the welcome, children are invited to come forward for their time with Rev. Garry.

Time for Young Disciples

Announcements

Moment for Mission — Julie Evers, for Camp Calvin Crest

Fellowship of Prayer

Joys and Concerns

Prayers of the People
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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Anthem — Stay with Us — Egil Hovland

The Old Testament Reading

Hymn #446 — How Blest, Those Whose Transgressions — MEIRIONYDD                                   

Proclamation of God’s Word

Scripture Lesson — Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 — page 850 of the pew Bible

Sermon — “Decisions, Decisions”  — Rev. Garry

Our Response to God’s Word

*Affirmation of Faith — The Westminster Confession of Faith 6.015; 6.059
We believe that although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon all supposed conditions; yet hath he not decreed anything because he foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass, upon such conditions. We believe that God hath endued the will of humankind with that natural liberty, that it is neither forced, nor by any absolute necessity of nature determined to good or evil.

*Sanctus (#569) —  Holy, Holy, Holy — SANCTUS (Oliver)

Presentation of Tithes and Offerings

Offertory — The Joy of Thy Salvation — Daniel E. Gawthrop
Commissioned by the choirs of Presbyterian Church of the Cross in honor of forty years of service by Organist & Choir Director Dana Sloan

*Doxology (#608) — Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow — PRAISE GOD (Hopson)

*Prayer of Dedication

*Hymn of Dedication #418 —  Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling SOFTLY AND TENDERLY

*Charge and Benediction          

Postlude — I Love to Tell the Story Charles Ore