The Gift of Emptiness

March 5, 2023

PRELUDE                  Stephanie Shorden

GREETING               Rev. David Petty

THRESHOLD SONG            “I Believe”        

*CALL TO WORSHIP                                            CLM Twinkle Gordon

Leader: Trusted Love, enter our lives
People: and open us to the gifts residing deep within the Holy Darkness of our lives.
Leader: Help us to empty ourselves with every breath.
People: Make room in us so that you might take up residence in the very marrow of our bones.
Leader: This is the day the Lord has made.
People: We shall rejoice and be glad in it.

*HYMN                     Open My Eyes That I May See        UMH #454    WORDS: Clara H. Scott, 1895

1. Open my eyes, that I may see glimpses of truth thou hast for me, place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free. Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see. Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!

2. Open my ears, that I may hear voices of truth thou sendest clear; and while the wave-notes fall on my ear, everything false will disappear. Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see. Open my ears, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

3. Open my mouth and let me bear gladly the warm truth everywhere; open my heart and let me prepare love with thy children thus to share. Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see. Open my heart, illumine me, Spirit divine!

MYSTERY BOX                  

HYMN                       Come, Share the Lord           TFWS #2269              

1. We gather here in Jesus’ name, his love is burning in our hearts like living flame; for through the loving Son the Father makes us one: Come, take the bread; come, drink the wine; come, share the Lord.

Pastoral, SILENT, and Lord’s Prayer                   Pastor Donnie Sturgill

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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever.

Scripture Reading                   Mark 15:22-38; Luke 17:33            CLM Twinkle Gordon

Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take.

It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” And with him they crucified two rebels, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!” In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.

When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.” And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it.

Prayer for illumination

Leader: may the words of my mouth,
People: and the meditations of all of our hearts
All: be acceptable in your sight, o lord our rock and our redeemer.
Psalm 19:14

Message                  The Gift of Emptiness                  Rev. David Petty

COMMUNION

Offertory            Sanctuary Choir

Prayer of Thanks & Dedication               Rev. David Petty

*Doxology           Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow            UMH #94

Praise god, from whom all blessings flow; praise god, all creatures here below: alleluia! Alleluia!  Praise god, the source of all our gifts! Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts! Praise the spirit, holy spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

*Hymn         Lord Dismiss Us With Thy Blessing           UMH #671    WORDS: Attr. to John Fawcett, 1773

1. Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing; fill our hearts with joy and peace; let us each, thy love possessing, triumph in redeeming grace. O refresh us, O refresh us, traveling through this wilderness.

2. Thanks we give and adoration for thy gospel’s joyful sound. May the fruits of thy salvation in our hearts and lives abound; ever faithful, ever faithful to the truth may we be found.

*Benediction                  Rev. David Petty

Postlude               Stephanie Shorden
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