The First United Presbyterian Church of Mingo Junction Celebration Service - Sunday, March 7, 2021

Here's a copy of the order and the podcast of the worship service I led in the First United Presbyterian Church of Mingo Junction, Ohio on Sunday, February 28, 2021. Below was our order of worship.

Our Call to Worship: Psalm 19

Leader: The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.

People: Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.

Leader: There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard;

People: Yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.

Leader: In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy.

People: Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat.

Leader: The law of the Lord is perfect reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple;

People: The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes;

Leader: The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

People: More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.

Leader: Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

People: But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults.

Leader: Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me.

People: Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.

All: Let the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Welcome and Announcements 

Opening prayer

Congregational Song 

Prayer of Confession

Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you. Although you’ve given us a way to relate to you without limitations and restrictions, we’ve chosen to put up barriers. Through structure and ritual, we create impediments that make is difficult for people to know and to praise you. Loving Father, forgive us and help us tear down those walls that we’ve made.

Words of Forgiveness

Gloria Patri

Special Music

Joys and Concern/ Prayers of the People/The Lord's Prayer

Offering Our Gifts to God

Doxology

Scripture Lesson: John 2:13-22

Not long before the Jewish festival of Passover, Jesus went to Jerusalem. There he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves in the temple. He also saw moneychangers sitting at their tables. So he took some rope and made a whip. Then he chased everyone out of the temple, together with their sheep and cattle. He turned over the tables of the moneychangers and scattered their coins.

Jesus said to the people who had been selling doves, “Get those doves out of here! Don’t make my Father’s house a marketplace.”

The disciples then remembered that the Scriptures say, “My love for your house burns in me like a fire.”

The Jewish leaders asked Jesus, “What miracle[a] will you work to show us why you have done this?”

“Destroy this temple,” Jesus answered, “and in three days I will build it again!”

The leaders replied, “It took forty-six years to build this temple. What makes you think you can rebuild it in three days?”

But Jesus was talking about his body as a temple. 22 And when he was raised from death, his disciples remembered what he had told them. Then they believed the Scriptures and the words of Jesus.

Sermon: A Church without Walls

Congregational Song

Charge and Blessing 

End with “Surely the Presence of The Lord”