Traditional Services

WESLEY METHODIST CHURCH

TRADITIONAL SERVICES

Wesley Sanctuary 7.30am | 9.30am (Live-streamed) | 11.30am | 5.00pm

30 March 2025 | Fourth Sunday in Lent

Confirmation and Reception into Membership (11.30am)

Liturgical Colour: Purple
Lectionary: Josh. 5:9–12, Psalm 32, 2 Cor. 5:16–21; Lk. 15:1–3, 11b–32
Hymns: Come, Christians, Join to Sing (UMH 158); Take Time to Be Holy (UMH 395);
How Clear is Our Vocation, Lord;
Be My Hands and Feet
Sermon: Feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:1-15)

I.  GATHERING

We gather in the Lord’s name weekly to be renewed in our hearts and minds. Our worship of God is a response to his revelation as he reveals his truth to us through Scripture, sermon, prayers and songs.

MEDITATION VERSES

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Psalm 32:8

The LORD’s unfailing love surrounds
the one who trusts in him.
Psalm 32:10 

PREPARATION PRAYERCláudio Carvalhaes, 2020

Loving God, it was said of the Prodigal Son that he “came to his senses.”
Help us to wake up to ourselves, and to You.
Set us free from the illusion of trying to be perfect
so that we might be more fully human.
Help us not to chase after an imaginary life,
and to find satisfaction in our real lives.
And turn us away from our self-rejection
so that we might notice Your arms open in welcome. Amen.

PRELUDE

GREETING

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

ALL:
God, we admit that we are prone to try to hide our sins;
to keep our mouths shut and hope we are not found out.
But there is no place to hide from you.
Our silence only makes us sick in body and spirit.
But you delight in forgiving us and in covering our sin.
You are glad when we confess our failings and our needs.
Hide us, O God, from trouble;
teach us the way we should go.
Deliver us from our own stubbornness,
and draw us near, we pray.
Amen. 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

CALL TO WORSHIP *adapted from Dr. Lisa Hancock, 2024

When we struggle to obey your teachings, and fail to do what you say,
God, your steadfast love surrounds us.
When we let fear hold us back from speaking the truth,
God, your steadfast love surrounds us.
When we open our hearts to you and tell you our sadness, our sin, our joys, and questions,
God, your steadfast love surrounds us.
When our stubborn hearts encounter the grace that helps us trust and obey you joyfully,
God, your steadfast love surrounds us today and every day. 
Thanks be to God! Amen.

OPENING HYMN *
Come, Christians, Join to Sing UMH 158

RESPONSIVE SCRIPTURE READING2 Corinthians 5:16–21 

PRAYER HYMN
Take Time to Be Holy UMH 395

SILENT PRAYER

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE 

THE LORD’S PRAYER (WESLEY TULUS)

MUSICAL INTERLUDE

II.   SERMON – SEVEN SIGNS SERIES (4 of 7)       

III.   WE RESPOND IN SHARING AND GIVING

We respond to God’s Word through the sharing of peace, participating in and praying for the programs and initiatives of the church, as we seek to grow in our discipleship journey, offering time, money, and gifts where help is needed as God’s stewards.

Welcome

Sharing of God's Peace *
Shalom to You   UMH 666

Family News

Offertory Prayer

Tithes and Gifts to God

Doxology * 
A Lenten Doxology
Text: G. W. Dub Shepherd, 2006
Music (OLD 100th): Attr. to Louis Bourgeois, 1551

Praise God throughout these forty days.
Praise Christ, our Lord, whom God did raise.
And praise the Spirit who imparts
God’s love in Christ into our hearts.
Amen.

IV.   SENDING FORTH

Having been renewed in our hearts and minds, we are to go forth into the world as Christ’s ambassadors in the ministry of reconciliation.

CLOSING HYMN * 
Be My Hands and Feet

BENEDICTION *

POSTLUDE

Prayer Ministry at the Altar
If you need someone to pray with you, please proceed to the inner rails of the altar area. If you wish to pray alone, please use the outer rails.

* Congregation may stand.