Order of Worship — March 19, 2023

Broadway Disciples United Church

The Welcome

Prelude — Open the Eyes of My Heart (instrumental only)

Call to Worship — based on Joel 2:12-14 (NIV)

Leader: 12 “Even now,” declares the Lord,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
Rend your heart and not your garments.
Return to the Lord your God,

Congregation: For God is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.
14 Who knows? He may turn and relent
and leave behind a blessing—
grain offerings and drink offerings
for the Lord our God.

The Invocation

Opening Hymn — God in the Darkness (MV #17)

God id the darkness, God beyond our knowing,
Patient Creator, seed in secret growing,
Rock of the living water ever flowing,
Come and renew us

God in the darkness, God in all our grieving,

Friend of our tears, Companion never-leaving,
Drawing us past the limits of believing,
Come and renew us

God in the darkness, God of holy dreaming,

Giver of hope and pledge of our redeeming,
Spirit of truth, our memory and meaning,
Come and renew us

Prayer of Confession
A Moment of Silence & Reflection

Assurance of Pardon (Pastor)

The United Church of Canada — Affirmation of Faith

Pastoral Prayer

Passing and Sharing of Peace

Children’s Time (Pastor)

Old Testament Reading

1 Samuel 16:4-13 (NIV)

4 So Samuel did what the Lord said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled
at his coming, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 5 And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to
sacrifice to the Lord. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he conse-
crated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice. 6 So it was, when they came, that he
looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!” 7 But the Lord said to
Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him.
For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord
looks at the heart.” 8 So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said,
“Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said,
“Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before
Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 And Samuel said to
Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there
he is, keeping the sheep.”

And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.”
12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And
the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and
anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that
day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

Responsive Reading of Psalm 23 (NKJV)

Leader: 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Congregation: 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

Leader: 3 He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

Congregation: 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Leader: 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

All: 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

Reading of the Gospel: John 9:17-41 (NIV)

17 Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes
he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.”

18 They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for
the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind?
How is it that now he can see?”

20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But
how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will
speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who
already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out
of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the
truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”
25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but
now I see!”

26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it
again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”

28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of
Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where
he comes from.”

30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he
opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person
who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this
man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they
threw him out.

35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in
the Son of Man?” 36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”

37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those
who see will become blind.”

40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”

41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can
see, your guilt remains.

Anthem —

The Sermon — “TO SEE IN THE SPIRIT” (Pastor)

The Offertory

Offertory Music (Oh Lord, You’re Beautiful) — Is it possible for someone to sing this song? If
not, may I request Hannah to just play this in the piano; for reference, please check out the ver-
sion of Chris Tomlin and Steffany Gretzinger in Spotify

Oh, Lord, You're beautiful

Your face is all I seek
For when Your eyes are on this child
Your grace abounds to me
Oh, Lord, You're beautiful
Your face is all I seek
For when Your eyes are on this child
Your grace abounds to me

I wanna to take Your word and shine it all around

But first help me to just to live it, Lord
And when I'm doing well
Help me to never seek a crown
For my reward is giving glory to You

Oh, Lord, please light the fire

That once burnt bright and clear
Replace the lamp of my first love
That burns with holy fear
I wanna take Your word
And shine it all around
But first, help me just to live it, Lord
And when I'm doing well
Help me to never seek a crown
For my reward is giving glory to You

Oh, Lord, You're beautiful

Your face is all I seek
For when Your eyes are on this child
Your grace abounds to me

Doxology

Communion Hymn

Communion Meditation and Prayer (Elder)

Words of Institution (Pastor)

Breaking of Bread
Sharing of Cup

Prayer of Thanksgiving (Pastor)

Closing Song — Lead Me, Lord

(If I may request the choir to lead in the singing of this song. As a guide, you can listen to the
version of Basil Valdez on Spotify)

Lead me Lord
Lead me by the hand
And make me face the rising sun
Comfort through all the pain
That life may bring
There's no other hope
That I can lean upon
Lead me Lord,
Lead me all my life

Walk by me Walk by me
Across the lonely road of everyday
Take my arms and let your hand
Show me the way
Show the way to live inside your love
Lead me Lord, all my life

*You are my light

You're the lamp upon my feet
All the time, my Lord, I need you there
You are my life
I cannot live alone
Let me stay, by your guiding love
All through my life
Lead me Lord

Lead me Lord,
Even though at times
I'd rather go along my way
Help me take the right direction
Take your road
Lead me Lord
And never leave my side
All my days, all my life

Repeat 2X

All through my days

Lead me, O Lord
All my life…

Closing Prayer (Pastor)

The Lord’s Prayer

Benediction

Church News and Announcements

Postlude