April 6, 2025
Fifth Sunday in Lent (Purple)
Prayer Focus: Extravagant Love
Welcome to worship at Central!
In the name of Jesus Christ, welcome to worship at Central where it is our mission to follow Jesus by loving God and loving our neighbors. Our clergy, Rev. Thomas Smith, Rev. Dr. Ann Kovan, and Rev. Meg Jiunnies, are grateful you’ve chosen to make Central a part of your day! If it is your first time worshiping with us, please fill out a Connect Card and bring it to the Welcome Center where you will receive a gift from the church. Once again, welcome!
Sermon Note
Mary anointing Jesus’ feet is an act of extravagant worship and love. It also foreshadows Jesus’ upcoming death and the opposition to his ministry and message. Mary’s actions point us to Jesus, emphasizing the central role he should have in the lives of his disciples.
Midweek Lenten Service
This Wednesday, April 9 at 12:00 PM in the sanctuary, our Midweek Lenten Speaker will be Rev. Brent “Rusty” Crimm. Rusty is a Licensed Local Pastor in the South Carolina Annual Conference, currently serving as Pastor of Lamar United Methodist Church. Since 2019, he has served various churches across the Pee Dee, including multi-point charges and station churches. A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Rusty is a former middle school band director with a B.A. in Music Education from the University of Louisville and an M.A. in Practical Theology from Pfeiffer University. He has served as Disaster Response Coordinator for the Hartsville District as well as a Safe Sanctuaries and Forward Focus trainer, and is a member of the Conference Committee on Nominations. This summer, he will be commissioned as a Provisional Deacon and begin his new role as Associate Pastor at Central UMC.
Music Note
Our anthem today, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, is one of the most frequently performed and popular anthems in the church music repertoire. Composer Gilbert M. Martin uses the familiar hymn tune HAMBURG in a simple yet effective setting to convey the powerful text. Mr. Martin was born in Southbridge, Massachusetts, in 1941, and now lives in Dayton, Ohio. He received a B. Mus. from Westminster Choir College, Princeton, N.J., where he was honored as a distinguished composer and graduate. His output includes over 300 published works, and he has received 21 yearly ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) Awards.
PARISH CONCERNS
(The service of worship begins. The prelude is offered for the entire congregation. Quiet meditation and private prayer are encouraged.)
OPENING VOLUNTARY ...............................................................................................
Healey Willan
Chorale Prelude on a Melody by Orlando Gibbons
*CHIMING OF THE HOUR
(*All who are able are asked to stand.)
*GREETING
Leader: Praise the Lord who has done great things for us.
People: Let our tongues shout for joy.
Leader: God will turn our tears into shouts of joy.
People: We rejoice in the Lord’s abundance!
*HYMN IN PROCESSION 297 ............................................................................... ST. CHRISTOPHER
Beneath the Cross of Jesus
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH 881 ..................................................................................... Apostles’ Creed
*GLORIA PATRI 71 ........................................................................................................... GREATOREX
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Glory Be to the Father
Purifying God, we grow comfortable with the way things are in our lives, in the church, and in the world. We do not always welcome the new life you offer in Christ, for you overturn our notions of power and protocol. Sure of our own righteousness, we are critical of others. Wanting to control our assets, we hoard the gifts you give us. Forgive us, we pray, for seeking our gain at the expense of others. Help us bend our lives toward your own life of self-giving and sacrifice. Fill us, our homes and church, the whole world, with the abundant love of Christ until all are made new. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.
(All offer prayers of confession in silence.)
KYRIE ELEISON (Lord, Have Mercy) (sung three times) .................................................
ASSURANCE OF PARDON RITUAL OF FRIENDSHIP
CHILDREN’S CHURCH DISMISSAL
(Children in 3K - 1st grade are now dismissed for Children’s Church and may be picked up in room #145 or #147 after the service.)
PROCLAMATION
God’s Word is Shared
ANTHEM ....................................................................................................................
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Gilbert M. Martin
When I survey the wondrous cross on which the prince of glory died, my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ, my God! All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood. See, from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down! Did e ’ er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown? Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small; love, so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all! Amen!
SCRIPTURE LESSON ..........................................................................................................
John 12:1-8
Leader: The Word of the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God!
SERMON ..................................................................................................................
Who Would Do That?
Series: Who’s Who In Lent PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Rev. Thomas Smith
OFFERTORY SOLO ........................................................................................................
Michael Larkin
Wondrous Love
What wondrous love is this, O my soul! O my soul! What wondrous love is this, O my soul! What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss to lay aside his crown, for my soul, for my soul, to lay aside his crown for my soul. To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing. To God and to the Lamb, I will sing. to God and to the Lamb, who is the great I AM, while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing. While millions join the theme, I will sing! And when from death I'm free, I'll sing on, I'll sing on; and when from death I'm free, I'll sing and joyful be, and through eternity, I'll sing on, I'll sing on, and through eternity I'll sing on.
*DOXOLOGY 95 ......................................................................................................................
OLD 100th
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow
*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
*COMMUNION HYMN 301 ................................................................................... NEAR THE CROSS Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross CELEBRATION OF HOLY COMMUNION 12 THE LORD’S PRAYER GIVING THE BREAD AND THE CUP HYMNS DURING COMMUNION (sung by all)
Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle HYMN 294 .............................................................................................................. MARTYRDOM
Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed PRAYER FOLLOWING COMMUNION *HYMN 172 ...............................................................................................................................
My Jesus, I Love Thee *BENEDICTION
Assisting in Worship
Liturgist ................................................................................................................ Rev. Meg Bryce Jiunnies
Organist/Choir Director ....................................................................................................... Dr. Don Grice
Organist /Choir Accompanist ....................................................................................... Beverly Hazelwood
Soloist ....................................................................................................................................... Ashlei Jones Communion Servers ........................................................................................... Jim Peterson, Rick Knight Acolyte.................................................................................................................................. Coleman Jones Crucifer
BEDS MINISTRY
Maree Cherry .................................................................................................................... by Gale & Dick Dixon, Ann Orr
Susan Senseney .............................................................................................................................. by Nelda & Andy Fowler DISCRETIONARY FUND
Maree Cherry .................................................................................................................................................. by Florie Ervin MUSIC MINISTRY
Susan Senseney ............................................................................................................................................ by Cynde White GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET
Viva Grantham Gamble ........................................................................................................................... by Terry Grantham
Maree Cherry ............................................................................................................. by Anne Hanna, William McCollum
Susan Senseney ............................................................................................................................... by Alice & Webb Jones
BEDS MINISTRY
Art Justice ........ by Betty Gail & Reamer King, Frances & Will King, Lori & Jeff Payne, Pearl Jones/Rosa Sanders Circle MUSIC MINISTRY
Bill & Beverly Hazelwood .................................................................................................. by Frances & Laurence McIntosh YOUTH MINISTRY
Caden Taylor .............................................................................................................................. by Rebecca & Chris Taylor IN HONOR OF