Spiro First United Methodist Church

Main and Broadway Church: 918.962.2538

PO Box 427 Parsonage: 918.962.5445
Spiro, Oklahoma 74959 Pastor’s Cell: 918.839.7568

Welcome
Serving the Community, Transforming Lives, Since 1899
Our Mission is To Know Christ and Make Him Known

March 7, 2010

Third Sunday in Lent

Theme: Strength for Struggles
 ORDER OF WORSHIP
† Please stand as you are able.

W elcome members, friends, guests, sisters and brothers in Christ! Whether this is
your first time or you’ve been here many times before, thank you for joining us
in worship this morning!
May today’s ministry offer you the opportunity to grow spiritually, uplift and encourage
you as we share together in fellowship. May your burdens be lifted, may you feel
comforted, and as the lord reveals His plan and purpose in your lives, may you be
inspired and encouraged to become all He wants you to become.
Please be sure to complete the attendance pads as they are passed, and relax, you’re
among friends, family, and community at First United Methodist Church of Spiro.
God bless you and keep you - may His light continue to shine upon you.
PRELUDE TO WORSHIP
“Lift Every Voice and Sing” # 519 UMH
Entrance of the Christ Light
CALL TO WORSHIP
From Psalm 68 (# 792 UMH) Worship Leader
Let God arise, let God’s enemies be scattered; let those who hate God flee!
As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before fire, let the
wicked perish before God!
But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy!
Sing to God, sing praises to God’s name; lift up a song to the One who rides upon the
clouds; exult before the One whose name is Lord!
In the holy habitation, God is father of orphans and protector of widows.
God gives the desolate a home to swell in, and leads out the prisoners to prosperity;
but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
O God, when you went forth before your people, when you marched through the
wilderness,
 The earth quaked; the heavens poured down water, at the presence of God, the God
of Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad; you restored your heritage as it
languished;
Your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the
needy.
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord.
O Rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens; God’s voice goes forth, a mighty voice.
Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies.
Wondrous is God in the sanctuary, the God of Israel, who gives power and strength
to the people.
† OPENING HYMN
“I’ll Fly Away” # Insert
† OPENING PRAYER
(in unison) Pastor
O God, your Son was baptized and tempted as we are.
Guide us through this season, that we may not avoid struggle,
but open ourselves to blessing, through the cleansing depths of repentance and
the heaven-rending words of the Spirit. Amen.
† DECLARING OUR FAITH
“The Apostle’s Creed” # 881 UMH
I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and
buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth
at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to
judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the
forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
 † Response “Gloria Patri” (Glory Be to the Father) # 70 UMH
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,
World without end Amen. Amen.
PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST AND FELLOWSHIP
OFFERING
“Of All the Spirit’s Gifts to Me” # 336 UMH
† DOXOLOGY “Praise God from Who all Blessings Flow” # 95 UMH
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all creatures here below.
Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
OLD TESTAMENT READING
Isaiah 55:1-9 Liturgist
This is the word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE Pastor
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
(Quiet prayer and mediation – feel free to kneel at your seat or the altar if desired)
PASTORAL PRAYER
THE LORD’S PRAYER (in unison)
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. AMEN.
PRAYER RESPONSE
“Come Into My Heart O Lord Jesus” (2 Times) # Insert
† HYMN OF PREPARATION
“A Charge to Keep I Have” # 413 UMH
NEW TESTAMENT READING
1 Corinthians 10:1-13 Liturgist
This is the word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
ANTHEM Dennis and Rhonda
GOSPEL LESSON
Luke 13:1-9 Pastor
PROCLAMATION “Strength for Struggles”
HOLY COMMUNION
(Minister)
All who truly and earnestly repent of your sins, and are in love and charity with your
neighbors, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and
walking from henceforth in His Holy ways; are invited to draw near with faith and take His
Holy Sacrament to your comfort; and make confession to Almighty God:
(People)
Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all
men ; We acknowledge we have failed thee. From time to time we commit sin by
thought, word, and deed, against You. We do earnestly repent and are sorry for
our misdoings. Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father ; for thy Son, our Lord
Jesus Christ's sake, forgive us all that is past ; and grant that we may hereafter
serve and please You in newness of life, to the honor and glory of thy name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Minister)
Almighty God and Heavenly Father, who of thy great mercy hast promised forgiveness of
sins to all them that with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto thee; have mercy upon
us ; pardon and deliver us from all our sins, confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, and
bring us to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(People)
Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom
no secrets are hid cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy
Spirit, that we may perfectly love Thee, and worthily magnify thy Holy Name,
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Minister)
It is right, and our duty, that we should at all times and in all places, give thanks unto thee,
Lord. Therefore, with Angels and Arch-Angels, and with all the company of heaven, we
laud and magnify thy glorious Name, evermore praising thee, and saying:
(People)
Holy, holy, holy. Lord God of Hosts, heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Glory
be to thee, Lord most high. Amen.
(Minister)
We do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own
righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to
gather up the crumbs under thy table.
But thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy; Grant us, therefore,
gracious Lord, so to eat and at Your Table, that our sinful souls and bodies may be made
clean by Christ’s death, and washed through his most precious blood, and that we may
evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen.
Heavenly Father, who of thy tender mercy gave thy only Son Jesus Christ to suffer death
upon the cross for our redemption; who made there a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice,
oblation and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world : and did institute, and in his holy
Gospel command us to continue a perpetual memory of that his precious death, until his
coming again: hear us, merciful Father, and grant that we, receiving these elements of
bread and fruit of the vine, according to Jesus Christ's holy institution in remembrance of
His life death and passion, may be partakers of his most blessed Body and Blood,
 who in the same night that he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given
thanks, he brake it and gave it to his disciples, saying, take eat ; this is my body which
is given for you; Do this in remembrance of me.
Likewise after supper he took the cup; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to
them saying, Drink ye all of this; this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed
for you, and for many, for the remission of sins : this do ye, as often as ye drink it, in
remembrance of me. Amen.
COMMUNION HYMN
“Eat This Bread” # 628 UMH
(Pastor will receive the Sacrament first, then serve the Worship Team around the Altar and
after that, serve the congregation).
† DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING
† POSTLUDE
“Wellspring of Wisdom” # 506 UMH

_______________________________________________________

MINISTRY SERVANTS IN TODAY’S WORSHIP

Ministers All the Members of the Congregation

Pastor Gary Withrow
Worship Leader / Soloist Rhonda Peterson
Liturgist / Bass Guitar David Peterson
Keyboard Kathleen Cameron
Guitar /Keyboard / Violin Lynne Balzer
Autoharp Dorothy Troisdorf

_________________________________________________________

PRAYER CONCERNS
Gayle Huddleston – illness
Jim Cavin’s brother – illness
Doris Clayton – illness
Susan Batton – recovery from injury
Genelle Harlan – recovery from injury
 Spiro Nursing Home Members
George Abrams
Lucille Wilson
Lula Velle Branscum
________________________________________________

THIS WEEK AT FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH SPIRO

Today, March 7th
Lenten Bible Study .................................................................................................................. 6:30 pm
Tuesday, March 9th
Church Council Meets ........................................................................................................... 6:30 pm
Wednesday, March 10th
Prayer Group Meets ............................................................................................................. 2:00 pm
Saturday, March 13th
Worship Team Meets ............................................................................................................ 9:00 am
Suzanna’s Closet ......................................................................................................................... Open
Sunday, March 14th – Fourth Sunday in Lent
Sunday School ....................................................................................................................... 9:45 am
Worship .................................................................................................................................11:10 am
Potluck Dinner after Church ...............................................................................................12:30 pm
Lenten Studies – Chapter 4 .................................................................................................. 6:30 pm
Lectionary Scriptures for Next Week:
Joshua 5:9-12 (Old Testament)
Psalm 32 (Call to Worship)
2 Corinthians 5:16-21 (New Testament)
Luke 15:1-3; 11-32 (Proclamation of the Gospel)
Theme: Outreach: the Heart of God

LOOKING AHEAD
March 17th
UMW Circle Meets .................................................................................................................. 6:30 pm
March 23rd
Sexual Ethics Workshop (Required for Clergy) ................................................ Muskogee All Day
March 28th
Passion / Palm Sunday Beginning of Holy Week
March 30th
Scout Potluck ............................................................................................................................. 6:30 pm
April 1st
Holy Thursday Service ............................................................................................................ 7:00 pm
April 2nd
Good Friday Service .............................................................................................................. 7:00 pm
April 4th
Celebration of the Resurrection
Easter Potluck Dinner

NOTES