God Loves First

We held virtual worship on Sunday, March 14, 2021 at 10:00AM! You can watch a recording on Facebook by clicking here, or you may watch below.

WELCOME

CALL TO WORSHIP
Before we were born,
Before we took our first breath,
Before the week started,
Before the year started,
Before we said, “I love you,”
Before we said, “I’m sorry,”
Before we figured out who we really are,
Before we figured out who we want to be,
Before it all—
God loved us.
Unconditionally and freely,
Fully and honestly—
God loved us.
Again and again, this is where our story begins.
Let us worship God!

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of love, We forget the beginning of the story— That we were made from love, to be love, to give love. Instead of rooting our narrative in the goodness refrain of creation,
We skip ahead and find our worth at the fall, With Cain and Abel, lost in the wilderness.
We forget that first there was you, and you are love. We forget that out of that love you created us. We forget that from the very first day, you loved first. We forget, because a love like that doesn’t make sense to us. Forgive our low self-esteem.
Forgive our resistance to love ourselves. Forgive our hesitation to trust that even we could be made good. And forgive our tendency to pass that doubt on—from generation to generation. Write a new beginning for us that roots our confidence in your unrelenting love. With hope we pray, again and again. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Family of faith, no matter what we do, where we go, or what we tell ourselves— God is love, and God is loving us.
Again and again, we are claimed, held, forgiven, and cared for. In the name of the Lover, the Beloved, and Love itself—thanks be to God. Amen!

YOUNG PEOPLE’S MESSAGE Danielle Sturgeon & family

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
God of the here and now—
We have heard the words,
“For God so loved the world
That he gave his only son,” Time and time again.
We have read them on billboards,
Heard them in worship,
And seen them on signs.
And yet we know, There is a difference between
Hearing those words
In passing And truly, deeply listening.
We long to listen, God. We long to hear your truth.
We long to know your love.
Open our hearts and minds.
We are listening.

GOSPEL John 3:1-9, 16-17
A certain Pharisee named Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin, came to Jesus at night. “Rabbi,” he said, “we know you are a teacher come from God, for no one can perform the signs and wonders you do, unless by the power of God.”

Jesus gave Nicodemus this answer: “The truth of the matter is, unless one is born from above, one cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said, “How can an adult be born a second time? I cannot go back into my mother’s womb to be born again!”

Jesus replied: “The truth of the matter is, no one can enter God’s kingdom without being born of water and the Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh; what is born of the Spirit is Spirit. So do not be surprised when I tell you that you must be born from above.

The wind blows where it will. You hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

“How can this be possible?” asked Nicodemus.

For God so loved the world as to give the Only Begotten, that whoever has faith in him may not die, but have eternal life. God sent the Chosen One into the world not to condemn the world, but that through the Only Begotten the world might be saved.

REFLECTION God Loves First Barb & Mitchell

AGAIN & AGAIN: God Loves First Sally Jablonski

MUSIC Fantasia on “O How I Love Jesus” Music & photos by Kathryn Parker

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
O God,
We believe You are love—
Unconditional, constant love.
We believe this love exists for all,
Choosing each and every one of us,
Day after day, Again and again and again.
We believe that Your love is like a river.
Rivers cannot help but flow toward the sea;
Your love cannot help but move toward us.
We are swimming in it.
We believe that You loved first.
We believe that You breathed life into dust.
We believe that You said, “This is good,”
And because we believe that You loved first,
We strive to build lives that reflect Your love.
May we begin again here. Amen.

SHARING PRAYERS & LORD’S PRAYER

ANNOUNCEMENTS

LENT BENEDICTION
As you leave this space,
May your mouth speak of God’s goodness.
May your arms hold those in need.
May your feet walk toward justice.
May your heart trust its worth.
May your soul dance in God’s grace.
And may this be your rhythm—
Again and again and again,
Until God’s promised day.
In the name of the Lover, the Beloved, and Love itself,
Go with courage, go with heart, go in peace.
POSTLUDE I Am Thine, O Lord music & photos
by Kathryn Parker