EMMANUEL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 1306 Michigan Street · Oshkosh, WI · Phone: 235-8340 Email: office@emmanueloshkosh.org www.emmanueloshkosh.org Second Wednesday of Lent February 21, 2018 9:00am and 7:00pm Worship + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Emmanuel – “God with us.” It’s more than the name of our church . . .It’s a statement of faith and a reminder of God’s promise. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + PRELUDE “God So Loved the World” - John Stainer OPENING SCRIPTURE John 3:14-18 (pg. 864) *CALL TO WORSHIP Wherever two or more are gathered together in Jesus’ name, he promises to be there in the midst of them. COME CREATOR; COME SAVIOR; COME SPIRIT. FILL THIS TIME WITH YOUR PRESENCE. In the sure and confident hope that our Lord is present in this place we worship in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. *HYMN “God Loved the World” (4 vs) READING Exodus 3 and 4 (selected verses) (pg. 44) LITANY Periods of failure come into the lives of everyone. With the glorious exception of Jesus, every hero of the Bible had their times of failure as well. ADAM AND EVE ATE THE FRUIT. Abraham and Sarah laughed at God. MOSES MURDERED A MAN. King David had an affair. SOLOMON WORSHIPPED FALSE GODS. Jonah refused to obey and ran away from the work of the Lord. PETER DENIED THE LORD. Thomas doubted the promise and the testimony. PAUL PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS. The list could go on and on. All the heroes of yesterday had their areas of weakness. BUT GOD STRENGTHENED THEM IN THEIR WEAKNESS, AND WAS ABLE TO USE THEM ACCORDING TO HIS GOOD AND GRACIOUS WILL. It can happen in a moment. A bad decision or an action we shouldn’t have taken, A MOMENT OF FEAR THAT LED TO AN IMPULSE THAT WAS WRONG, AND FAILURE INVADES OUR LIFE. It can happen when things are going great, OR IT COULD HAPPEN GRADUALLY, THE RESULT OF A SERIES OF EVENTS THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE. Failure invades all of our lives at one time or another. SOME FAILURES ARE MINOR AND ARE OVERCOME QUICKLY. Others are devastating not only in their effect on us, BUT IN THEIR EFFECT ON OTHERS. Yet to those who repent, a gracious God offers full and free forgiveness. GOD STRENGTHENS US IN OUR WEAKNESS, AND IS ABLE TO USE US ACCORDING TO HIS GOOD AND GRACIOUS WILL. READING Numbers 20:2-13, 21:4-9 (pg. 121) MEDITATION Moses: God’s Will And My Inadequacy OFFERING “Rock of Ages” - Gordon Young OFFERING RESPONSE “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” (4th verse) *PRAYER OF DEDICATION *CLOSING HYMN “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” #276 (3 vs) *BENEDICTION BENEDICTION RESPONSE “Go with Us Lord” (Lenten version) (1 vs) POSTLUDE “Be Ever Near Me Lord” - Alexander Schreiner * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Music copied with permission under license #L17031 OneLicense. Worship leaders: Minister: Rev. Annette Wolf Music Director: Mary Bruce-Dinkins Media Coordinator: Jeff Pommerening Director of Photography: Cory Schultz Chime Choir: Lisa Keuler Hearing Loop installed • Switch Hearing Aid to Telecoil
