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University Presbyterian Church3240 Dalrymple Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70802

(225)383-0345 • www.upcbr.org

Co-Pastors: Mamie Broadhurst and Patti SnyderChoir Director: David Walters Organist: Anne Maverick Ministers: The people of this church

Third Sunday in LentMarch 7, 2021

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Third Sunday in LentMarch 7, 2021

WE GATHER IN GOD’S NAMEWe worship today gathered in Spirit if not in body, realizing perhaps more than ever the nature of the body of Christ. We gather as a resurrection people even in our time of loss and uncertainty. As we gather may we be strengthened by the Spirit who knows no boundaries.

As you prepare for worship together you may wish to light a candle represent-ing the presence of God with you and concerns, laments, desires for healing, confessions or prayers of thanksgiving that you are particularly holding in the light of Christ today.

OPENING MUSIC Jesus Refuge of the WearyBusarow

Five Chorale Preludes for Organ.Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2004

WELCOME, ANNOUNCEMENTS, JOYS, AND CONCERNS Mamie Broadhurst

CALL TO WORSHIP (responsive) based on Psalm 19Gary Meise

Day after day and night after night, creation tells the story of God’s beautiful ways of wisdom. Indeed, those ways are stretched out before us.In word and vision, in commandment and sometimes surprising action,those ways revive us, make our hearts rejoice, and free us from lesser desires.In this moment, this time together, and this seasonmay God grant clarity and courage that again and again we will find ourselves steadied and nourished by the covenant promises.

HYMN No. 61 Your Law, O Lord, is Perfect

*The asterisk indicates parts of the worship when you are invitedto rise in body or spirit as able.

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CALL TO CONFESSION PRAYER OF CONFESSION (responsive)God of Justice, we are guilty of building tables.We have built tables that oppression dines on, sexism thrives on, and racism lives on.God of Guidance, we are guilty of forgetting where we are,of turning faith into a negotiation tool and the church into a place of insiders.God of the Covenant, we are guilty of ignoring the point;for you taught that your rules are meant to help us; that your mes-sage was for all.God of our hearts, be in our decision making.Draw near to our choices.Forgive our mistakes.And as you do,flip every table, habit, belief, or point of view that needs adjusting.Help us find ways to be more expansive.With hope we pray for a better day. Amen.

SILENT PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

RESPONSE TO FORGIVENESS No. 59 (refrain only) The Steadfast Love of the Lord

WE EXPERIENCE GOD’S WORD

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION (unison) Gary MeiseCreator God, we don’t just want to listen, we want to hear you. We want to read scripture aloud and know that you are as close as you have always been. We want to read scripture aloud and feel your word resonating inside our bones. Creator God, we don’t just want to listen, we want to hear you. So turn our hearts toward you, just as you turned strangers into disciples. Turn our minds toward you, as you turned stone tablets into building blocks of a new com-munity.Turn our ears toward you, just as you turned tables in the temple. We are listening. Amen.

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SCRIPTURE LESSONS John 2:13-22 Gary Meise Exodus 19:1-6, 20:1-4, 8-9, 12-17 Mamie BroadhurstSERMON Mamie Broadhurst

WE RESPOND WITH DEDICATION

*HYMN No. 503 Lord We Have Come

COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE INVITATION TO THE TABLE

GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING 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 God thanks and praise.In your wisdom, O God, you made all things…By your covenant enlivened by your Spirit, unite us with the living Christ, and with all who are his, that we might be one in ministry in every place. As this bread is Christ’s body for us,send us out to live in covenant with you and with all cre-ation, the body of Christ in the world.WORDS OF INSTITUTION SHARING OF THE ELEMENTS

Communion is shared in each home with elements– bread and drink – that you have prepared.

COMMUNION PRAYER

OFFERING OF GIFTSDuring this time you are encouraged to consider your response to the work of

Christ in the world today, making a commitment of time, talents, and resources.Please remember your family, neighbors, the wider community, and the churchin your offering. Although many things are shifting, please continue to honor

previous commitments to the best of your ability.

If you choose to contribute to the work of Christ through UPC at this time, on-line giving is available via the GIVE tab on our website (www.upcbr.org) or by

texting “upcbr (space) and then the number of dollars” to 73256.

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INVITATION PRAYER OF DEDICATION (unison)

Gifts and lives, intentions and actions, traditions and new ways of thinking, we offer them all to you. Ground all that we are and all that we are becoming in the wisdom of your covenant. Set a table before the world with the bounty that you provide, that all might know and share the good news of your grace. Amen.

HYMN No. 687 vs. 3 Our God, Our HelpWe will sing one verse each Sunday throughout Lent

until we sing all verses on Easter Sunday

WE GO FORTH TO SERVE

*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

*BENEDICTION RESPONSEAgain and again it dawns on us,God’s love remains.

CLOSING MUSIC If Ye Love Me, Keep My CommandmentsTallis

Public Domain

If ye love Me, keep My commandments,And I will pray to the Lord,

And God shall give you another Comforter,That he may abide with you forever,

Even the Spirit of truth.

Portions of this service include material reprinted by permission and adapted from a prayerby Sarah Are | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org. Permission to reprint, podcast, and/or stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license no. A-705298.All rights reserved. Cover art: "Overturn" by Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org