Order of Worship for the Third Sunday in Lent, March 3rd, 2024 - A Sign of the Covenant: The Law

Call to Worship - Since we are all at home, you are invited to light a candle to welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit)

It’s About Time by John Croslin and The Reivers - El Dorado

Welcome - Stephen Folds, Creative Director

Indescribable by Laura Story and Jesse Reeves - El Dorado

Passing of the Peace: Through the act of passing the peace of Christ, we offer our sincere desire to love our neighbor.
You are invited to greet one another in the live stream chat on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. 

Lenten Practice of Praying the Lord’s Prayer at Noon Pacific Time
Each day during Lent, we will go live on Facebook at (or just prior to) noon to pray the Lord’s Prayer together with any who might want to join.

2024 CAL-PAC UMC Lent Prayer Calendar

Embark on a spiritual journey this Lenten season with our prayer calendar, dedicated to uplifting those struggling with physical and spiritual hunger. Join us in daily reflection and prayer as we extend compassion and support to those facing challenges in their rhythms of life. Together, let's create a powerful wave of positive energy, practicing being with Jesus, becoming like Jesus, and doing what Jesus did. May our collective prayers bring healing and blessing, and inspire us to consider specific ways we can serve our communities: PDFs available in English | Spanish | Chinese | Japanese | Korean | Tagalog | Vietnamese

COMMUNITY RESOURCES:

Assistance Navigating Healthcare Systems for Those Who Are Uninsured or Underinsured

Southern California Healthcare Outreach (SCHO) is a student organization at the USC working towards expanding healthcare coverage serving mostly uninsured & underinsured populations in LA. 

Some of their members have become Certified Enrollment Counselors, allowing them to use the Covered California platform to enroll people in certain public health insurance programs. 

They provided us with a Medi-Cal and CHIP (insurance for children) Handout. They can also be reached at schealthcareoutreach@gmail.com

Skip Election Day lines by voting early!

Early voting is available at select locations throughout LA County starting today. 

Find a location near you: locator.lavote.gov/locations

The Seasonal Winter Shelter Program (SWSP) is now in effect!

Contact 2-1-1 LA County (dial 2-1-1) or 1-800-548-6047 . SWSP is available until March 31, 2024. These shelters help to keep our unhoused neighbors safe and warm during the coldest months in our region. lahsa.org/winter-shelter

Free Tax Prep from LA County

Tax season is starting, and you could qualify for more than $11,000 in refunds regardless of your immigration status. At FreeTaxPrepLA.org, you can learn more about the tax refunds available and get support from IRS-certified tax preparers who can help you file for free.

Under the state of emergency declared to help the housing crisis, LA County is creating more job opportunities and making the application process easier than ever.

Learn more at homeless.lacounty.gov/emergency

Access to internet service is crucial.

The FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program provides a $30 dollar monthly benefit for internet service. Find out how you can get your home connected at: Getconnectedlosangeles.lacity.org.

CALL TO PRAYER: If I Was A Bird by Jessica Ray Landgon of Mission House - El Dorado

Joys and Concerns: Prayers of the People We believe that the best way to bear our burdens is to share them with one another. You welcome to share your joys and concerns so that our community can hold these things in our hearts as we lift them to God together. 

You are invited to share your prayers in the Facebook Live Chat, or on the YouTube Live chat.

Old Testament Reading: Exodus 20:1-17 NRSV The Ten Commandments

Then God spoke all these words,

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; 3 you shall have no other gods before[a] me.

4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me 6 but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation[b] of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 “You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.

8 “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work. 10 But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and consecrated it.

12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

13 “You shall not murder.[c]

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

15 “You shall not steal.

16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female slave, ox, donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Gospel Reading: John 2:13-22 NRSV Jesus Cleanses the Temple

The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves and the money changers seated at their tables. 15 Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, with the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 18 The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking of the temple of his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
All: Thanks be to God! 

Sermon: A Sign Of The Covenant: The Law - Rev. Dr. Mandy Sloan McDow

HOLY COMMUNION

Invitation to the Table: As we understand the Body of Christ to be inclusive, we understand God’s table of grace and fellowship can extend into our homes. As you’re able, bring your own elements to this time. Bread, Juice, Coffee, Muffins… the Body of Christ is comprised of wonder and mystery. Today, we celebrate that God can reach us where we are, even if we are not together.

The Great Mystery of our Faith
All: Christ has died
Christ is risen. 
Christ will come again.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

And now, with the confidence of the children of God, let us pray:

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,
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.

MUSIC DURING OFFERING AND COMMUNION:

Goodness of God by Jennifer Johnson - El Dorado

Benediction Remember:
God is with you,
God is for you, 
God refuses to be God without you. 
And may all of God’s people say: Amen!

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