March 7, 2010
10:30 AM
Third Sunday in Lent

WE ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE
Preparation for Worship
*Call to Worship
Let us worship God, who has done great things.
We rejoice in our God, who made a way through the desert of this world.
Let us worship God, who has caused streams of mercy to flow in the wasteland.
We are the people God has formed through Christ; we worship him, and we rejoice!
Let us worship God in spirit and in truth.
We praise God for the grace that has saved us.
Alleluia!  We rejoice!
*Opening Praise – 486 “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”
*God Greets Us
*We Greet Others
*Continuing Praise

Call to Confession
During his whole life on earth, but especially at the end, Christ sustained in body and soul the anger of God against the sin of the whole human race.  In response to his sacrifice, let us confess our sins to God.(Heidelberg Catechism, Q and A 37)
Prayer of Confession
God of compassion, in Jesus Christ you did not disdain the company of sinners but welcomed them with love.  Look upon us in mercy, we pray.  Our sins are more than we can bear; our pasts enslave us; our misdeeds are beyond correcting.  Forgive the wrongs we cannot undo; free us from a past we can no longer fix.  Grace our lives with your love and turn the tears of our past into the joys of new life with you.  Amen.
Assurance of Pardon – I Peter 2:9-10
Call to Service
We respond to God’s forgiveness by living our thanks according to God’s Word.  Hear the teaching of Christ.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another just as I have loved you.”  (John 13:34)
*Song of Dedication – 555:2,3 “Lead On, O King Eternal”
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
Children’s Time
Prayer of Preparation
Scripture Reading – Matthew 26:14-16; 27:1-10
Message – “Symbols of Suffering:  A Bag of Money”
Prayer
WE RESPOND WITH THANKSGIVING
*Song – 374:1,2 “No Weight of Gold or Silver”
The Offerings – First:  General Fund
  Second:  Lissette Perez Matos
Offertory Prayer
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Intercessory Prayer
WE ARE SENT TO LOVE AND SERVE
Opportunities for Ministry and Fellowship
*God Blesses Us
*Parting Song – 384:4 “Were the Whole Realm of Nature Mine”
Postlude

ANNOUNCEMENTS

If you still have one of the baby bottles from the Life Choices Center (either filled or empty), bring it back to church no later than Tuesday when they will be returned to the center.  Thank you to all who used this means to support this ministry.

The second offering today is for the Christian school ministry that Lissette Perez Matos and her husband are providing in the Dominican Republic.  Lisette was a CASS student at BCC who lived with Al and Joyce Vos several years ago and who worshiped with us at Valley during that time.  The deacons encourage your generous support, which will go toward the purchase of books and other supplies needed for this challenging work.
Pastor Gelder will be conducting worship this afternoon at 3:30 PM at the Fairview-Good Shepherd Home.  You are welcome to join the Gelders there to help with the singing and to greet the residents who come to worship.

Sunday, 3:30 PM Worship at Fairview-Good Shepherd home
Wednesday, 6:00 AM Men’s breakfast and Bible study at the Spot
Wednesday, 9:30 AM Women’s Bible Study meets at
Thursday, 7:30 PM Worship Ministry Team meets

Congratulations to Wilner and Marila Nicolas, and all the extended Germain
family, on the birth of Whitney Fiona Nicolas, Saturday, February 27, at
Lourdes hospital. (Marila is Etienne's sister.) 7.1 pounds. Mother and
baby are doing fine.

Remember to turn your clocks ahead one hour Saturday evening.  Daylight savings time begins next Sunday and you want to be on time for Sunday School and worship. 

NEXT SUNDAY, March 14, 2010
SUNDAY SCHOOL:  9:15 AM  Classes for all ages meet.  The adult class will continue the video series based on John Ortberg’s book The Life You’ve Always Wanted
MORNING WORSHIP: 10:30 AM  Pastor Gelder continues the Lenten series of messages on “The Symbols of Suffering”.  This week we will read from Luke 23 about Jesus’ clothes and the cloth in which his body was wrapped.
Holy Communion will be celebrated at the service.  Take time this week to reflect on the love of Christ for you and your gratitude for his saving work.  If you have questions concerning your participation in the sacrament, talk with the pastor or an elder this week.