THE PEOPLE OF CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH GATHER
THE WORSHIP MARCH 15, 2015
OF
GOD
FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT
11:00 A.M.
We are an ecumenical, multi-racial, multi-ethnic Christian body that reaches out to the world with the Good News of Jesus Christ. To that end we strive to be welcoming, responsive, trusting and prayerful in everything we do. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
By grace we have been saved! We bring nothing— it’s all God’s doing, a gift! Ephesians 2:8
I DO NOT AT ALL UNDERSTAND THE MYSTERY OF GRACE—only that it meets us where we are, but does not leave us where it found us. — Anne Lamott, Traveling Mercies
G ATHERING FOR WORSHIP PRELUDE During the Prelude, prepare for worship by centering your heart with this prayer adapted from Scotland’s Iona Community:
Sarabande, from Suite No. 3 J.S. Bach (1685-1750) Margaret Dixon, viola
Bring, merciful God, new life where we are worn and tired, new love where we have turned hard-hearted, forgiveness where we have been wounded, joy and freedom where we have been bound—and, in all things, bring grace. Amen. LIGHTING THE ALTAR CANDLES
Sarah Settels, Acolyte
WELCOME
Reverend Glaze
CHORAL CALL TO WORSHIP
Lent Prose Mode V Sanctuary Choir
PROCESSION, HYMN 205
Behold the Love, the Grace of God
HAMBURG
LITANY OF ADORATION AND PRAISE
Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 Zain Shariff, Cantor
Refrain. Give thanks to God who hears our cries and saves in troubled days with wondrous works to humankind that call for highest praise. Receive our thanks and praise, O Beloved, for you are good and kind. Your mercy and grace always have been ours. You have borne the awful cost of our rescue, gathering us from our wandering and redeeming us from despair and death. With the sound of your gentle voice, storms cease—without and within. There have been times when we felt like strangers in this world, wanderers lost in a trackless desert with no place to call home. Weak from hunger and dry from thirst, we felt our lives fading away. We cried out and you snatched us from danger and brought us to your home where you fed us with delight and quenched our thirst with joy! Therefore, forever we’ll sing your praise. Refrain. Congregation standing; la congregación se pone de pie. Congregational responses in bold. Audio enhancement devices available for use during worship. Please ask an usher for assistance. Respuestas congregacionales en negrita. Para Biblias en español o traducción del servicio en español, por favor hablar con un ujier.
MORNING PRAYER
Marili Alvarado
O God, our Beloved, there isn’t a time or place where we have not known your love. For those moments when we are anxious about the present and despair for the future, we pray you would give us remembrances of those times when, despite trouble and danger, fear and worry, we were held in your mercy and sustained by your grace. And, in memory’s embrace may we renew our confidence that in Christ we are never defeated, never abandoned, never alone. In our birthing rooms and on our deathbeds, and in all the places between, you have been our God. Amen. PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
Marili Alvarado
La paz del Señor sea contigo. Y contigo también. The peace of the Lord be with you. And also with you. CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE
Make Us One MAKE US ONE
Make us one, Lord, make us one; Holy Spirit, make us one. Let your love flow so the world will know we are one in you. A TIME WITH CHILDREN AND BLESSING
Amy Sullivan
People of God, what is your prayer for these children? Our prayer is that they grow up to be like Jesus—strong and brave, full of grace and truth! And, that we will help them. MUSICAL MEDITATION
Bourees I and II, from Suite No. 3 J.S. Bach Margaret Dixon, viola
L ISTENING FOR THE W ORD OF G OD HEBREW LESSON
Numbers/Números 21:4-9 Reverend Palacios 4Después partieron del monte de Hor, camino del Mar Rojo, para rodear la tierra de Edom; y se desanimó el pueblo por el camino. 5Y habló el pueblo contra Dios y contra Moisés: ¿Por qué nos hiciste subir de Egipto para que muramos en este desierto? Pues no hay pan ni agua, y nuestra alma tiene fastidio de este pan tan liviano. 6Y Jehová envió entre el pueblo serpientes ardientes, que mordían al pueblo; y murió mucho pueblo de Israel. 7Entonces el pueblo vino a Moisés y dijo: Hemos pecado por haber hablado contra Jehová, y contra ti; ruega a Jehová que quite de nosotros estas serpientes. Y Moisés oró por el pueblo. 8Y Jehová dijo a Moisés: Hazte una serpiente ardiente, y ponla sobre una asta; y cualquiera que fuere mordido y mirare a ella, vivirá. 9Y Moisés hizo una serpiente de bronce, y la puso sobre una asta; y cuando alguna serpiente mordía a alguno, miraba a la serpiente de bronce, y vivía. 4 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. 5The people spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.’ 6Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. 7The people came to Moses and said, ‘We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us.’ So Moses prayed for the people. 8And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look
at it and live.’ 9So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live. EPISTLE LESSON
Ephesians/Efesios 2:1-10 Pastor Erica 1You were dead through the trespasses and sins 2in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. 3All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us 5even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. 8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— 9not the result of works, so that no one may boast. 10For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. 1Y él os dio vida a vosotros, cuando estabais muertos en vuestros delitos y pecados, 2en los cuales anduvisteis en otro tiempo, siguiendo la corriente de este mundo, conforme al príncipe de la potestad del aire, el espíritu que ahora opera en los hijos de desobediencia, 3entre los cuales también todos nosotros vivimos en otro tiempo en los deseos de nuestra carne, haciendo la voluntad de la carne y de los pensamientos, y éramos por naturaleza hijos de ira, lo mismo que los demás. 4Pero Dios, que es rico en misericordia, por su gran amor con que nos amó, 5aun estando nosotros muertos en pecados, nos dio vida juntamente con Cristo (por gracia sois salvos), 6y juntamente con él nos resucitó, y asimismo nos hizo sentar en los lugares celestiales con Cristo Jesús, 7para mostrar en los siglos venideros las abundantes riquezas de su gracia en su bondad para con nosotros en Cristo Jesús. 8Porque por gracia sois salvos por medio de la fe; y esto no de vosotros, pues es don de Dios; 9no por obras, para que nadie se gloríe. 10Porque somos hechura suya, creados en Cristo Jesús para buenas obras, las cuales Dios preparó de antemano para que anduviésemos en ellas.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ Leo Nestor (b. 1948) Zain Shariff, Cantor
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. God so loved the world that God gave God’s only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. – John 3 GOSPEL LESSON
John/Juan 3:14-21 Reverend Glaze 14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may
not be exposed. 21But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.’ 14Y como Moisés levantó la serpiente en el desierto, así es necesario que el Hijo del Hombre sea levantado, 15para que todo aquel que en él cree, no se pierda, mas tenga vida eterna. De tal manera amó Dios al mundo 16Porque de tal manera amó Dios al mundo, que ha dado a su Hijo unigénito, para que todo aquel que en él cree, no se pierda, mas tenga vida eterna. 17Porque no envió Dios a su Hijo al mundo para condenar al mundo, sino para que el mundo sea salvo por él. 18El que en él cree, no es condenado; pero el que no cree, ya ha sido condenado, porque no ha creído en el nombre del unigénito Hijo de Dios. 19Y esta es la condenación: que la luz vino al mundo, y los hombres amaron más las tinieblas que la luz, porque sus obras eran malas. 20Porque todo aquel que hace lo malo, aborrece la luz y no viene a la luz, para que sus obras no sean reprendidas. 21Mas el que practica la verdad viene a la luz, para que sea manifiesto que sus obras son hechas en Dios. This is the Gospel of Christ. Thanks be to God. GOSPEL HYMN 652 We sing verses 1 and 3, Spanish then English.
En el Principio / In the Beginning PRINCIPIO
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION O God, is it really true? When it comes to your love and grace, does it really not matter whether we’re good or bad, faithful or faithless, cowardly or brave? Send now your Spirit to give witness that the only thing that matters is that Christ died for all—that it is all by grace, a gift. Amen. SERMON
Grace Alone! The Reverend Dr. Joseph E. Glaze
MUSICAL REFLECTION
Keevin Lewis
G IVING AND S ERVING OFFERING OUR LENTEN CONFESSION
Reverend Palacios
Always merciful God, your love for us, revealed in Jesus our brother and friend, is full and free, your grace without limit or condition. Yet, though we know this we act as if there are requirements to be met, and, if not met, there will a cut-off when you will say “no more mercy, no more grace, no more hope for you.” Forgive us, O God, for thinking your love is so small, so like ours. Forgive us for thinking that anyone can be beyond your love’s power to redeem and to save, to welcome into your home, in mercy and by your grace. And, if we ever take your love for granted, and not for the unbelievable, undeserved gift it is, forgive us for that, as well. WORDS OF ASSURANCE
from John 3:16-17 Reverend Palacios Friends, hear what the Gospel promises: “This is how much God loves this world—God gave us God’s Child. The Child was not sent to condemn the world, to point out how bad it is, but to save it. And that salvation comes not by anything we do. The Child has done all that is needed. Just believe, trust the Child, and live!” Yes, Jesus has done it all. In love and by grace we have been set free! Thanks be to God!
INVITATION TO GIVE AND TO SERVE
Reverend Palacios
MUSICAL OFFERING
Allegro, from Duet No. 2 in C Major, Op. 8 Ignaz Pleyel (1757-1831) Margaret Dixon and Tomás Fajardo, violas
HYMN 48 We sing in 2-part canon, left to right, as directed. We conclude by singing the Amen together.
Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow TALLIS’ CANON
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow Praise Christ, all creatures here below Praise Holy Spirit evermore One God, triune, whom we adore. Amen. PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Pastor Erica
OFFERING OUR WITNESS
Pastor Erica
Let us state together the truth God’s people have come to trust. Today’s witness is about salvation by grace alone. We know this to be the good news: We are made right with God not by accident of birth, by doing all the right things, or by reciting ancient creeds. No, thank God! We don’t, and can’t, earn God’s love. It’s all by grace, by what Jesus did for us all on the cross. It’s all God’s doing, a gift—and, not just for some, but for everyone! And God has given us the joyful task of sharing this good news with others—and, not just when they’re all cleaned up and acceptable to us, but just as they are. For when God looks on us, it isn’t to focus on our weakness or sin. When God looks on us, God sees only a child whom God deeply and unconditionally loves. This is the good news we share: through the grace of Jesus Christ we are at peace, at peace with God, and at peace with each other. (Ephesians 2:4-10; Titus 3:4-7; 2 Corinthians 5:16)
B ECOMING D ISCIPLES INVITATION TO DISCIPLESHIP During the singing, we invite you to come forward if you wish to make a public commitment to follow Jesus or to express interest in joining this community of faith. HYMN 595
Be Thou My Vision SLANE
AFFIRMING GOD’S CALL We give thanks that you have been guided by God to this moment. As a community of faith we pledge to love each other and to work together to grow into the fullness of Christ. BENEDICTION
Breastplate of St. Patrick Reverend Glaze
I arise today through God’s strength to pilot me— God’s eyes to look before me, God’s wisdom to guide me, God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to protect me from all who shall wish me ill, afar and a-near, alone and in a multitude, against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul. Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ to shield me, Christ in the heart of every one who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every one who speaks of me. I arise today.
During the season of Lent, we hear no Postlude at the conclusion of worship; rather, we exit silently in a spirit of contemplation. Following worship join us in Woodward Hall, left as you exit the Sanctuary, for refreshments and a time of fellowship. Visitors, we look forward to meeting you! +++++ Make Us One. Words and Music: Carol Cymbala, ©1991 Word Music, Inc. and Carol Joy Music c/o Integrated Copyright Group. Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow, Chalice Hymnal No. 48. Words: Thomas Ken, 1674, alt. Words reprinted under CCLI #430459 and OneLicense.net #A-719662. Unless otherwise noted, all printed prayers and litanies are by Reverend Glaze.
Lectionary passages for March 22, Fifth Sunday in Lent, are Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 51:1-12 or 119:9-16; Hebrews 5:5-10; John 12:20-33. REMEMBER IN PRAYER Carmen Angdisen; Nardita (Edith) Angdisen; Teddi Angelov, Liubov Russell’s friend; Ashley Becker in the loss of her grandmother; Maria Bensussen, Ryan Harvey’s grandmother; Sara Bermúdez, Lorena Pereira’s mother; Cristina Chacón; Roberta Clyburn, Janice Glover’s sister; Megan DeWitt, Cheryl Branham’s friend; Brenda Fahey; Radost Fortunova, Liubov Russell’s sister; Gail Ousley Gipson, Ben and Natalie Barrens Rogers’ friend; family of José Gonzalez in El Salvador; Jenny Goon; Janet Grove; Berniece and Bill Harward; Rena Jirack; Lucy Johnson, Jackie Wright’s grandmother; Will Short, former Calvary member; Lynne Mayfield, Jay Mayfield’s mother; Robin Myers and family; Al Nielsen; Armando Pacheco, Amy Dale’s friend; Amelia Powell, Andrea Powell’s mother; Rochelle Powell, Eva Powell’s grandmother; Paul Rice; Joe Stout, Holly Miller’s brother-in-law; Victoria Sulerzyski, Ellen Sulerzyski’s sister-in-law; Lisa Tette; Doris Vermilya; Earl and Jenna Wright, Isaac Wright’s parents. Pray also for racial reconciliation and justice everywhere. Congratulations to David Grise and Gina Underwood on the adoption of baby Ila, born January 17, 2014, joined David and Gina’s family September 29, 2014. TODAY ORGAN INSIGHTS, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING WORSHIP. After the Benediction, all are invited to gather down front in the Sanctuary, near the organ. Today’s Organ Insights features Irving Lawless, Curator of the Calvary Organ, leading us in a brief conversation on the history of our instrument. Join us as we get to know the Calvary Organ! And as always, you are invited to become a Calvary Organ Donor— thanks for supporting the Calvary Organ Fund with your gift of any amount at any time. DIRECTORY PHOTOS DURING COFFEE HOUR. Calvary is updating our directory to include a picture of you! Karla Fahey is available to take a snap shot of you during Coffee Hour over the next few Sundays. Photos will be made in family groups and individually. We’ll also ask you to confirm your contact info. Contact Paul in the office or Karla for more details. Be sure to participate in this important project! FESTIVAL CHOIR. Calling all singers in the Calvary Community: Join us for Festival Choir and sing with us in worship on Easter Day! We rehearse Sunday afternoons in Music Suite, March 15 and 22, 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.; Thursday evenings in Sanctuary, March 19 at 7:30 pm and April 2 at 8:00 p.m., after Maundy Thursday worship. Contact Cheryl Branham. CALVARY BOARD meets today, 12:30-2:00 p.m. in Butler Hall. MARCH CANNED GOODS DRIVE. Calvary kids are collecting green non-perishable canned goods for the food bank in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. Skip the green eggs and ham and bring a green canned good during the entire month of March to support friends in need!
LENTEN OPPORTUNITIES WEDNESDAY LENTEN LECTIONARY LUNCHES! Interested in deeper conversation with the Lectionary texts during Lent? Come to Lectionary Lunch each Wednesday in the Calvary Library, 12:15-12:45 p.m. for open conversation about the week's lectionary texts. Can't make it? Feel free to call in, 1-857-232-0159 with code 999215. Contact Pastor Elijah. PRAYERS FOR PEACE, MARCH 22. Join Pastor Edgar in the Chapel at 5:00 p.m. This time of prayer will honor the 35th Anniversary of the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero. The topic is “The water spring of life.” In El Salvador there is a struggle being waged to ensure that the water is not privatized. Come and pray with us for the right to water as a common good and gift of God. We hope you will come! If you would like more information, please contact the Pastor Edgar. PALM/PASSION SUNDAY, MARCH 29. Calvary Children’s Choir leads in worship as we wave palm branches and sing Hosannas! After worship, Calvary Presents Reflections on the Passion, 2:15 p.m. in Chapel. Free community concert features Calvary Soloists in collaboration with Ensemble 2015, conducted by Tomás Fajardo. EASTER LILY ORDER FORMS are available in Narthex or church office. Order lilies online; see Donations page of our website. Lilies are $12 each; deadline for ordering is Monday, March 30. MAUNDY THURSDAY, APRIL 2. Soup supper at 6:30 p.m., worship with communion at 7:15 p.m., Chapel. GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 3. Tenebrae service of darkness and remembrance, 7:30 p.m. in Sanctuary. EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 5. Invite friends and family to celebrate Easter at Calvary! All are invited to Latino Community breakfast at 9:30 a.m. in Woodward Hall. Festival Choir leads in worship at 11:00 a.m. After worship, potluck lunch in Woodward Hall—a Calvary tradition!
C HURCH S TAFF Cheryl Branham Joseph Glaze Saw Ler Htoo Al Jeter Erica Lea Edgar Palacios Paul Rosstead Elijah Zehyoue
Director of Music (cbranham@calvarydc.org, ext. 136) Pastor during the Interim (jglaze@calvarydc.org, ext. 121) Pastor, Calvary Burmese Church (lerhtoo@hotmail.com) Supervisor of Maintenance (ajeter@calvarydc.org, ext. 128) Pastoral Resident (elea@calvarydc.org, ext. 142) Associate Pastor (epalacios@calvarydc.org, ext. 103) Church Administrator (prosstead@calvarydc.org, ext. 127) Pastoral Resident (ezehyoue@calvarydc.org, ext. 133)
Marili Alvarado
Deacon of the Week (marilialvarado414@gmail.com)
ANNOUNCEMENTS LATEST HAPPENINGS weekly e-mail newsletter is back! Sign up on the Calvary website by clicking “sign up for updates” at the bottom of the home page. CALVARY’S CALENDAR OF EVENTS. Visit www.calvarydc.org/events/ for a current listing, or stop by the church office to pick up a complete listing of Sunday School classes and Small Group programs. SUNDAY SCHOOL will continue a study of Brian McLaren’s We Make the Road By Walking this spring. Come to Butler Hall Sunday mornings, 9:45-10:45 a.m., for prayer and conversation centered on the Calvary community and Bible texts related to the liturgical year. Contact Pastor Erica. VISITOR WELCOME TABLE Volunteer during coffee hour! This opportunity requires little time, but makes a real difference in the life of our church. Give just 15-20 minutes after worship on the Sundays you volunteer. Contact Jay Mayfield, mayfieldjay@gmail.com, or Pastor Erica for more information. THEOLOGY ON DRAFT meets each Tuesday evening in Butler Hall to reflect on events of the week, in our lives, the church, and the world. Bring your own dinner at 6:30 p.m. and catch up with others before our discussion at 7:00 p.m. Drinks are provided. Contact Pastor Elijah. Q&A WITH RABBI SARAH TASMAN. Interested in interfaith conversation? Want ideas on how to be a better neighbor with the Jewish community? Come Wednesday, March 18, 6:30-7:30 p.m. in Butler Hall for conversation with Rabbi Sarah Tasman! Rabbi Tasman serves as part time Senior Jewish Educator at The University of Maryland Hillel and teaches Jewish Mindfulness at Adas Israel. She was ordained by the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College in 2012. Contact Pastor Erica. NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE HOURS. Join Pastor Erica in Falls Church on Thursday, March 19, 1:303:30 p.m. (come & go) at Ireland’s Four Provinces (105 W. Broad St.). Each Thursday, Pastor Erica is available in locations around the city for conversation, pastoral care, whatever—come by & say hi! FMMC JOHANSEN INTERNATIONAL STRING COMPETITION. Drop by Woodward Hall this week, Thursday through Saturday, March 19-21, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., to hear young string players from around the world, ages 13–17, as they perform for the panel of judges. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear amazing music from some very gifted young artists! Free admission. ZUMBA meets on Friday evenings, 6:00-7:00 p.m.; $5 per person and scholarships available. Contact Katie Harvey, katherine.s.harvey@gmail.com. MID-ATLANTIC COOPERATIVE BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP ANNUAL MEETING will be Saturday, March 21 from 10:00 a.m.-2 p.m. at Calvary Hill Baptist Church in Fairfax, VA. For more information, contact Trisha Miller Manarin (Trisha.MACBF@gmail.com) or Lauren Hovis (laurenhovis@gmail.com). THEATRE LAB OPPORTUNITY. Register by April 1 to receive a 10% Calvary discount for Spring Break Camp (April 13-17) and Summer Camps (June 22-August 21) for school age children. Visit www.theatrelab.org or call 202-824-0449 for more information. ALLIANCE OF BAPTISTS ANNUAL GATHERING, Northside Drive Baptist Church in Atlanta, April 1719. Interested in riding in a van? (Depart Thursday, April 16 and return Sunday, April 19) Email Carol Blythe, blythe-goodman@comcast.net. This year’s theme: We've A Story to Hear from the Nations. We’ll hear from ministry partners about racial and social justice for all persons, about drones, homelessness, the death penalty, education, classism, hunger, poverty, abuse of all kinds. We’ve a Story to Hear—a story of God’s love and light. You’re invited to be a part of that story! SAVE THE DATE: ANNUAL CROP WALK, Saturday, May 16. Contact Carol Blythe.
C ALVARY 755 Eighth Street NW Washington DC 20001
B APTIST C HURCH 202.347.8355 www.calvarydc.org