Sunday, March 26th, 2023 Worship Service 

Link to Live Stream

PRELUDE

WELCOME

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Holy God, by your Word and Spirit, come and transform your church to be a living sign of your love for the world — where the poor are filled with good things, the dividing walls are broken down, and the dead are raised to new life; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

  HYMN 351 - All Who Love and Serve Your City

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Merciful God, we confess that we have wandered from your way of truth and life.  You call us to share all that we have and work together so everyone can experience some good, but we often decide to keep for ourselves what we can. That is easier than helping others.  You showed us how important it is to care for others when you helped anyone who approached you, but we are often too busy to notice or listen for the cries for help around us.  It is easier to help on our own terms and in our own time.  Jesus, please forgive us.  Help us proclaim your abundant love and radical hospitality by caring for others with everyone we’ve got and everything we are.  May our kindness be contagious, so all the world may know of your goodness.  Humbly we pray.  Amen.

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS & SHARING OF GOD'S PEACE

May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, and also with you.

INVITATION TO OFFERING

Anthem - Whoever Welcomes You by Larry E. Schultz

Dedication - Lenten Doxology

CHILDREN'S MESSAGE

And Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me," All: "And do not stop them!"

SPECIAL MUSIC - Hymn to the Robin composed by Charlie Mackesy and Isobel Waller-Bridge, played on the piano by Searcy Stewart

SCRIPTURE LESSON Matthew 25: 31-45

31 “At the appointed time the Promised One will come in glory, escorted by all the angels of heaven, and will sit upon the royal throne, 32 with all the nations assembled below. Then the Promised One will separate them from one another, as a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats. 33 The sheep will be placed on the right hand, the goats on the left. 34 “The ruler will say to those on the right, ‘Come, you blessed of my Abba God! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world! 35 For I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me; 36 naked and you clothed me. I was ill and you comforted me; in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 Then these just ones will ask, ‘When did we see you hungry and feed you, or see you thirsty and give you drink? 38 When did we see you as a stranger and invite you in, or clothe you in your nakedness? 39 When did we see you ill or in prison and come to visit you?’ 40 The ruler will answer them, ‘The truth is, every time you did this for the least of my sisters or brothers, you did it for me.’ 41 “Then the ruler will say to those on the left, ‘Out of my sight, you accursed ones! Into that everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and the fallen angels! 42 I was hungry and you gave me no food; I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. 43 I was a stranger and you gave me no welcome; naked and you gave me no clothing. I was ill and in prison and you did not come to visit me.’ 44 Then they in turn will ask, ‘When did we see you hungry or thirsty, or homeless or naked, or ill or in prison, and not take care of you?’ 45 The answer will come, ‘The truth is, as often as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me.’

This is the Word of the Lord, thanks be to God.

SERMON

MOMENT FOR SILENT REFLECTION

HYMN - Build a Longer Table

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE, Concluding with the Lord's Prayer

HYMN 69 - Here I Am Lord

CHARGE & BENEDICTION 

POSTLUDE 

---

For live chat and our weekly bulletin, watch with us at npchickory.online.church/.​

We give thanks for our wonderful volunteers who provide worship leadership as liturgists, leading our children’s message, and running the audio and video equipment for our services.

Copyright Permissions. 

Portions of this morning’s liturgy are adapted from or inspired by the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s Matthew 25 initiative worship resources, Marcia McFee and Worship Design Studio, Darkwood Brew.

Permission to stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License A-711930. All rights reserved.