THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT

Order of Worship March 11, 2007

(*Stand, as you are able)

Ringing of the Tower Bell

GATHERING FOR WORSHIP

(Please register your attendance by signing the pew register)

Announcements

Prelude The God of Abraham Praise Penny Rodriguez

*Call to Worship

L: We come to give thanks to the God of another chance.

P: Thank God for the ability to start over again.

L: We relinquish our self-reliant ways and offer our worship to the God who keeps covenant with us despite ourselves.

P: O come let us adore him, Christ our Lord.

*Introit

*Hymn The God of Abraham Praise No. 116

Opening Prayer

Creator God, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you as one in a dry and weary land where there is no water. We have tried to make it on our own this past week and have failed miserably. We know that your steadfast love is better than life, so we come and ask you to forgive the sin in us. We lift our hands in surrender and offer repentance. Hear us, we pray, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Joy and Concerns for Prayer

Sacrament of Baptism (insert)

Young People’s Message

Pastoral Prayer & Lord’s Prayer

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; and 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.

Anthem Wash Me Throughly Samuel Sebastian Wesley

Old Testament Lesson Isaiah 55:1-2; 6-9 (p. 685)

L: May the Lord add a blessing to The Word.

Gospel Lesson Luke 13:6-9 (p. 76)

L: This is the Word of the Lord.

P: Thanks be to God.

Response Walls Mark Our Bound’ries (insert)

RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD

Sermon “Superficial Cover-Ups” Rev. John Walker

Offertory Andante in E-flat Samuel S. Wesley

*Doxology No. 95

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise God, all creatures here below;

Praise God above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

*Prayer of Dedication

*Hymn Make Me a Captive, Lord No. 421

*Benediction

Postlude Fugue in e minor, BWV 548 J. S. Bach

Please sit and enjoy the postlude.

† † † † † †

THE ALTAR FLOWERS are given by

George and Sharon Lewerenz in loving memory of

Alice Lewerenz (George’s sister).

If you are a guest today, we are delighted to have you worship with us. Please sign the pew register and stop by our Hospitality Center in the Narthex. Large print hymnals are available in the Church Office.

Acolyte............................................................................ Conor Jackman

Crucifer........................................................................... Timmy Higgins

Liturgist.............................................................................. Richard Rice

Greeters........................................................... Tom & Virginia Bickford

Patricia Gursky, Meg Baker

Sound...................................................................................... Stu Foster

Ushers.................................. Sandra Price, Sue Roberts, Larry Solomon

Mike Walker, John Scheirer

Pastor Deacon/Minister of Ed. & Yth.

Rev. Karin W. Walker Rev. Richard L. Buckingham

Minister of Visitation Director of Music

Rev. John C. Walker Mr. N. Thomas Pedersen

Pastoral Counselor Organist

Mrs. Mandi Mader Mr. Marvin Mills

Church Phone: (301) 933-7933; FAX Phone: (301) 933-4418

Home Page: http://www.stpaulsk.org;

E-mail: stpaulsunited@verizon.net

Rev. Karin W. Walker’s e-mail: revkarin@comcast.net

Rev. John C. Walker’s e-mail: friartuck4@verizon.net

We invite you to observe a holy Lent by worshipping each Sunday and during Holy Week as we reflect on the theme of the masks that we wear which prevent us from walking closely with Christ. Be it fear or self-righteousness, privilege or guilt, there are barriers which hinder our ability to love Jesus. Come and listen, pray and reflect, so that those masks might be laid at the foot of the cross of Jesus. Be prepared to make yourself vulnerable because it is in our nakedness before God that we feel God’s sheltering and unconditional love. Each week during Lent the children will begin worship in the Sanctuary. Following the Young People’s Message they will go to Sunday School. The two-year old class will begin each week in their classroom. No Sunday School for grades 6 thru 12 on March 18 and April 1.

Activities for the Week of March 11

Sunday 3/11/07 Daylight Savings Time Begins!

Epistle Articles due today

9:00 a.m. Worship with Communion – Sanctuary

10:15 a.m. Worship (Family Church) - Sanctuary

Opportunity to share/reflect on Pastor Karin’s leaving. –

after 10:15 service TODAY.

10:15 a.m. Sunday School – Classrooms

11:30 a.m. Play Rehearsal – Room 211 & Sanctuary

6:30 p.m. Youth Recreation – Multipurpose Room

7:00 p.m. UMYF – Multipurpose Room Area

Monday 3/12/07

9:30 a.m. Church History Workshop – Room 112, Library & Room 115

10:00 a.m. “Stretchersize” – Octagon

10:30 a.m. Staff Meeting – Conference Room

7:15 p.m. Confirmation Class – Room 115

7:30 p.m. BSA #439 – Multipurpose Room

7:30 p.m. Lay Leadership Committee - Library

7:30 p.m. Spanish for Everyone! – Room 119

Tuesday 3/13/07

10:00 a.m. Prayer Lift - Chapel

10:45 a.m. Bible Study – Library

11:30 a.m. Friendship Club – Heavener Hall

1:00 p.m. Women’s Study Group – Conference Room

7:15 p.m. “Jesus in the Gospels” – Room 115

7:15 p.m. Handbell Rehearsal – Room 109

Wednesday 3/14/07

6:00 p.m. Children’s Choir Rehearsal – Room 211

6:45 p.m. Children’s Choir Dinner – Heavener Hall

7:00 p.m. Youth Choir Rehearsal – Room 211

9:00 p.m. Men’s Bible Study – Peter Chatfield’s home

Thursday 3/15/07

9:30 a.m. Church History Workshop – Room 112, Library & Room 115

7:15 p.m. Confirmation Class – Room 115

8:00 p.m. Sanctuary Choir – Room 211

Saturday 3/17/07

9:00 a.m. Variety Show Rehearsal – Heavener Hall

Sunday 3/18/07

9:00 a.m. Worship with Communion – Sanctuary

10:15 a.m. Worship - Sanctuary

10:15 a.m. Sunday School – Classrooms

11:30 a.m. Play Rehearsal – Room 211 & Sanctuary

1:00 p.m. Variety Show Rehearsal – Heavener Hall

7:00 p.m. Variety Show – Heavener Hall

MULCH MADNESS II: Return of the Mulch – At $4 per bag (3 cubic feet), no tax, and delivered to your house, St. Paul’s has a great deal on shredded hardwood mulch. Orders can be placed today after church. Mulch will be delivered to residents in the 20895,20896 zip codes, anywhere in Parkwood and in the 20815 zip code north of Jones Bridge Road between March 21 and 25, or may be picked up at the church on March 24 by those living outside the delivery area.

EASTER LILY ORDERS – Today we will begin taking orders for Easter lilies that will adorn our Sanctuary on Easer Sunday, April 8. Lily orders will be taken after each service today and March 18 & 25. Each plant costs $9 and may be given in memory or honor of someone special. The deadline for placing orders is Sunday, March 25.

Christian Peace Witness for Iraq. Some members of our congregation are planning to attend an ecumenical worship service at the National Cathedral on Friday, March 16, 6:30 p.m. A candlelight procession to the White House and a prayer vigil will follow. Please call the church office (301-933-7933) if you plan to join the St. Paul’s group so we can arrage a car pool. Departure time: 5:30 p.m. For more information about the day’s events, log on to: www.christianpeacewitness.org. The Justice & Compassion Ministry is also planning other ways to gather together as a faith community during Lent and commit to the fullness of the Gospel vision of peace, justice and wholeness. For more information, call Jon Melegrito (301-933-5239) or e-mail jonmele@aolc.om

“Celebrating the Third Place.” On Sunday, April 15, at 11:30 a.m., Mike McCurry and David Stegmaier will lead a study of Ray Oldenburg’s book. It’s a collection of inspiring sorties about the “Great Good Places at the Heart of Our Communities….where the magical combination of comfort, familiarity, and good company transform an ordinary hangout into our special third place.” The book is available at Amazon.com.

Bishop’s Day -- Washington West District. Laity have an opportunity for conversation with Bishop Schol at Epworth UMC in Gaithersburg on Tuesday, March 20^th, 7:30 p.m.

The Heart of Christianity by Marcus Borg, class starts March 19^th. Monday nights, 7 p.m., Tuesday afternoons, 1 p.m. Sign up in the Church Office. Study together a book that offers questioning Christians a way to keep the faith without shutting down the search for truth. Taught by Rev. Don Maxam.

BREAD!! Are you looking for a way to show someone you care? St. Paul’s UMC is starting a bread charity that is part of a national movement called “Spread the Bread”. We will be using the Heavener Hall kitchen once a week to bake bread. The bread then will be delivered to individuals who are having a tough time (such as someone who has lost a parent, someone recovering from surgery, etc.) and, on a rotating basis, to groups who would appreciate it, such as nursing homes, Children’s Inn at NIH, etc. The bread will be wrapped as a gift and include a note expressing our care. If you know a person or a group who would appreciate a loaf or loaves of bread, please fill out the short form in the church office. Questions? Please feel free to contact Jenny Smith at 301-946-3804 or jenny.kensington@verizon.net.

Worship attendance last Sunday: 426

Sunday School attendance last Sunday: 119

Daniel Schuler, a senior at Walter Johnson High School and a member of St. Paul’s, is offering free tutoring services to students in elementary and middle school as a community service project. He can be reached at 301-896-0011 or email viper200@aol.com.

St. Paul’s

United Methodist Church

10401 Armory Ave., Kensington, Maryland 20895

THE PURPOSE of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church

is to invite and welcome all:

— To worship God

— To grow as disciples of Jesus Christ

— To love and support one another

— To do justice and serve

compassionately in the world

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses.” Acts 1:8a