Hampstead Congregational Church UCC

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Hampstead Congregational Church

April 6, 2025

Fifth Sunday of Lent

with Communion

No Matter Who You Are or Where You Are on Life’s Journey,

You are Welcome Here!

Order of Worship

Greetings and Announcements

Call to Worship                                                                                     Rick Little 

One: We gather in the presence of God, the creator of sand and stars:

Response: ready to worship.

One: We gather in the presence of Christ, our guide for setting a table of welcome:

Response: ready to worship.

One: We gather in the presence of the Spirit, our inspiration for moving beyond fear:

Response: ready to worship.

One: We gather together in grace:

Response: ready to worship.

Gathering Prayer:   (unison)                                                              Rick Little

      We come into your presence, O Lord, with so many burdens and concerns on our hearts. Help us to be open to your words of healing and restoration. Bring us closer to you. Enable us to discern your will for us that we may serve you more faithfully by serving others in need. In Christ’s name, we pray. AMEN.

Passing of the Peace of Christ 

(Feel free to pass the peace by shaking hands, offering hugs or waves.  Those who would like to share peace without physical contact are invited to place their hands over their hearts in greeting.)

Opening Hymn:

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession  (unison)

      Gracious God, you call us to live with compassion, yet sometimes we show indifference.  You call us to revise our assumptions, yet sometimes we remain stuck in our ways.   You call us to cultivate hope, yet sometimes we focus on despair. You call us to seek reconciliation, yet sometimes we turn toward conflict

 Renew us, we pray, and lead us on a path of transformation. Amen.   

Words of Assurance

Congregational Response:  Ch # 305  Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying

     Lord, listen to your children praying, Lord, send your spirit in this place;

    Lord, listen to your children praying, send us love, send us power, send us grace.

Scripture Readings:  John 12: 1-8  (NSRVUE)                                 Rick Little

     Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. ² There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him. ³ Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’s feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. ⁴ But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, ⁵ “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” ⁶ (He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) ⁷ Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. ⁸ You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”

Children’s Message

Sermon: Extravagant Love                                               Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin

Special Music

Call for Concerns & Celebrations

Pastoral Prayer                                                                 Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin

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, the power, and the glory forever.  Amen.

Call to Offering

*Doxology:    

Prayer of Dedication                                                           Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin

      We offer our gifts this day with gratitude.  Through them, may hope come to those who know despair, may love come to those who feel alone, may healing come to those who endure pain. May these gifts be a sign of our commitment to serve you in the world. Amen.

Communion Hymn:  

Celebration of Holy Communion

Invitation to Communion
Communion Prayer
Words of Institution
Prayer of Consecration
Sharing of the Elements—All are welcome to the table always
Prayer of Thanksgiving

     We give thanks almighty God, that you have refreshed us at your table by granting us the presence of Jesus Christ.  Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one another, and send us forth into the world in courage and peace, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our savior.  Amen.

Hymn of Going Forth:    

Benediction                                                                  Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin

     My sisters and brothers: go forth into a world that is beloved by God.

Bless it with your compassion.  Renew it with hope.

In every step you take may you feel anew the peace of Christ, the promise of the Spirit, and the presence of God. Amen

Music Usage permitted through OneLicense HCC License # A-730412 and CCLI License Number 2927783. All rights reserved.

Announcements…

Invitation to join us on a Mission Trip

Our Confirmation Class is planning a summer mission trip to volunteer to serve the hungry and to help the unhoused. This trip is open to anyone aged 14 and older who would like to go. Dates are being settled and plans finalized. We will likely sleep on a church floor, cook our meals together, spend our days doing volunteer work, have fun, and learn together. If you are interested in participating in such an adventure, please email or speak to the pastor.

April 7^th Church Weekly Calendar