Our guest speaker today is Rev. Renny Domske.

Choir         # 300                    
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
 
Call to Worship:      “ from Psalms 26”
Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have led a blameless life.
I have trusted on the Lord without wavering.
     Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart;
     for Your love is ever before my eyes and my mind.
I walk continually in Your truth.
I do not sit with deceitful men or consort with hypocrites.
      I love the house where You live, O Lord.
      I love the place where Your glory dwells.
I proclaim aloud Your praise and go to Your altar.
I do not hesitate in telling of all Your wonderful deeds.
     My feet stand on level ground;
     in the great assembly I will praise the Lord.

* Hymn    “Standing on the Promises”                # 838
 
Prayer of Confession    (unison)
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, it is Your will that we should love You with heart, soul, mind, and strength, and our neighbor
as ourselves. We continually fail. We confess that our affections continually turn away from You; from purity to lust, from freedom
to slavery, from compassion to indifference, from fullness to
emptiness. Have mercy on us. Order our lives by Your holy word, and make Your commandments the joy of our hearts.  Forgive our selfish ways and turn our hearts toward You.
 
* Time of silent prayer
*Assurance Of Pardon
Response – Gloria Patri  (page 581)
Passing the Peace
 
The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
        And also with you!
 
Children’s Chat
Prayer for illumination
 
Scripture reading:
                   Philippians 4: 10-13, 19-20 Diana Donaldson
                   Matthew  16: 21 - 28            
 
 Sermon:   “ It’s Easier to Tell God What To Do”
 
*Hymn           “Jesus Call Us”                                        # 720
*Apostles Creed (copy next to prayer list)
 
Presentation of our tithes and offering
Offertory
*Doxology (page 606)
*Prayer of Dedication
 
Concerns and Celebrations
Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer
 
*Hymn   “Beneath the Cross of Jesus”                     # 216
*Benediction
Choir        # 450
* Postlude

​BIRTHDAYS : Bob Fisher, Ed Caffrey
ANNIVERSARYS: Butch & Cindy Ward
Bryan & Cheryl Bell
Doug & Marilyn Ward
SYMPATHYS: To the Family of Linda Stough
To the Family of Donald Casto (Uncle of Don Herschell)
To the Families of Justin Crawford and Nevaeh Sheets
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Remember our food Collection. And Jesus said, “You give them something to eat.” Please
let Betty Fisher know of anyone within the Community that may be in need at this time.

Anyone who wants to join our church choir may do so by coming to church during Sunday School hours. Rehearsal starts at 10:45 downstairs. All are welcome to join the choir.

This Saturday, March 25, is our second clean up day. We will meet here at the church at
9:30.

​The Lenten service is at Grove UP Church today.
The service is at 4 pm with Dr. Renny Domske preaching.
Ruling Elder Diana Smith, liturgist
Judas Iscariot, John 13: 21 - 30

CONTINUING PRAYER LIST
Melissa Pedigo, Aaron Blake, Chuck Dicks, Tim Knabenshue, Frank Huffman, Tom Westfall, Elaine Belcascro, Sandy Stone, Matt Petrola, Nancy Hepinger, Sarah Wilson, Bill Poland, Carl Weber, Jimmy Svetz, Haley Diedier Bedillion, Fred Wilkinson, Evelyn Wood, Brandon Bell, Ricci Amos, Nancy Diaz, Gianna Perry, Tiffany Cipoletti, Diane Anderson, Jim Durila, Tim Taylor, Suzy Smith, Ed Horne, Helen Provenzano, Jean Westfall, Lori Doxtator Walker, Ruth Buterbaugh, Carol Knabenshue Richard Wagner, Ed Caffrey, Jeff Durila, Ron Westfall, Taylor Shrontz Kopacko, Heather Waltz Simpson, Joyce Nichols, Richard Ward, Donna West, John O’Hara, Judy Clutter Donaldson, Bob Fisher’s co-worker Vincent, Susan Paul, Kathy Durila

Good Morning!
Happy Easter!

When we met in person, we shared our joys and concerns together. Take some time to think over your last week. What joys and concerns do you have? If you would like, you can share those as a comment so that the rest of us can pray as well. When you're ready, use the prayer below (from Woman's Day) to get started.

Lord, we lift our hearts to you. As the dawn breaks, may we carry the unity we share into every moment knowing that we are one with the risen Christ.
Lord, we lift our eyes to you. As the sun rises, may this moment stay with us, reminding us to look for the beautiful colors of promise in your word.
Lord, we lift our prayers to you. As the dew air falls, may we breathe this morning in and know that like the earth, you sustain us, keep us and work within us always.
And so, we lift our voices to you. We celebrate the greatest day in history, when Jesus rose from death, defeated darkness and bathed the world in stunning resurrection light. May we ever live to praise you!

​Amen.

Today's lesson is on Isaiah 53:4-11. The devotional reading is Philippians 2:1-11. 

If you have any thoughts or observations on the scripture passages from today, you can share them in the comments.

Our benediction this week is from the Complete Jewish Bible.

Next week's lesson will be on Ezra 10:1-12.

All of the information normally found in our bulletin is below the video. Simply click on "Read More" to load the rest of the bulletin. You can use this to follow the service, as well as to pray our unison prayers. All joys and concerns that we know, as well as our continuing prayer list is within the Joys and Concerns. Announcements can be found at the bottom of this service.
​

Hymn: Away in a Manger
 
Call to Worship
​Come, and open your hearts to this season of Advent. Light the candles and hear the carols. Rest in the joy that comes with this time of year. Come and open your lives to the light of the world. We are walking toward Bethlehem and listening every step of the way for the announcement that we have found favor with God.

Call to Confession
It is in our confession that we realize our desires for God and our hope for God’s mercy. It is in admitting the truth of our lives that we take the first step toward wholeness and healing. So let us make our confession this day.
 
Prayer of Confession
Loving God it is true that we do not see Your vision for life. We get stuck in the old patterns of life and can't see beyond our bad habits and limited hope. We do not look deep enough to see You in the midst of difficulty. We do not recognize You in our longing for someone or something to take away the emptiness. Help each of us to find that deep love that is offered to us by the child in the manger. 

Time of Personal Reflection
 
Assurance of Pardon
In Christ there is no east or west,
In him no south or north,
But one great fellowship of love throughout the whole wide earth.
In Jesus Christ, there is new life.
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
 
Hymn: Hark the Herald Angels Sing
 
Apostle's Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
      maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
      who was conceived by the Holy Ghost
      and born of the virgin Mary.
      Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
      was crucified, dead and buried.
      On the third day he arose from the dead.
      He ascended into heaven
      and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty.
      From thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
      the holy catholic church,
      the communion of saints,
      the forgiveness of sins,
      the resurrection of the body,
      and the life everlasting. Amen.
 
Children's Sermon
 
Prayer of Illumination
 
Scripture Lesson
​Philippians 4:4-9

Sermon: We Are All Made for Joy
 
Hymn: What Child is This Who Laid to Rest
 
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Lift up your hearts
We lift them up to the Lord
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
It is right to give God thanks and praise
 
Church Joys and Concerns
If you have a joy or concern to share that is not listed below, and you feel comfortable doing so, you may share it in the comments.
 
Birthdays
Dec.   13 Nicole King, Sam Jackson
14 Sue Gregg, Addison Miklic
15 Susie Cummings
16 Lynn Kalich, Dan Kalich
18  Buc Walther, Brian Bell, Jean Westfall

Anniversaries
​Dec 15 Bill and Carol Stough
18 Mike and Debbie Durila. (50 yrs.)
          
Announcements:  This year we will not be able to have our traditional Sunday School Christmas program. Instead, we will be having a virtual program on Sunday, December 20. Since we have been apart for almost nine months, we would like to share Christmas greetings and memories. 

You could take a family picture in front of your tree or in the snow, or anywhere else that seems good to you, and include a short Christmas greeting. If you have pictures or videos from past Christmases at North Buffalo that you would like to share, please send those as well.

All pictures and messages should be sent to the church email:  north.buffalo.church@gmail.com  Please send these in by December 16.

SYMPATHY: The Family of Carolyn Grimes

 We added Debbie Kelley to our prayer list this week and Rick McFeeley will be going to Allegheny General for another operation on his knee to clean out the infection.  His father, Dick McFeeley fell and is in Senior Care.  Daron Wood is back in the hospital.  Seth Cummings (3 yrs. old) will be having dental surgery at Children’s Hospital on 12/31, his father Dave has had multiple surgeries on his arm and will be off work 6 months.     

Continued prayers for Roma Grose, Ruth Hampe, Susan Schively, Jimmy Davis, Judy Donaldson, Margo Johnson, Melissa Pedigo, Aaron Blake, Lisa Phillips, Mickey Gubitti, Chip Rogers, Dixie Avoila, Virginia Coffield,  Dennis McWreath, Chuck Warlow, Chuck Dicks, Randy Moore, Margaret Knabenshue, Janet Schively, Mary Ann Durila, Patty Nagey, Dr. Craig Fox, Karen Eisiminger, Kelley Gump, Mary Ann McFeeley, Ed Horne, DonnaWest, June and Keith McGill, Dianna Donaldson, Chuck Montecello, April Hincy, 3 yr. old Hayden Dijean, Glenn Miles, Dave Cummings, Ken Jackson, Doug Ward,  Mark Knabenshue, Rick McFeeley, Dick McFeeley, Ricky Amos, Deron Wood, Susan Alberti, Bryan Dunn, Dana Wilson, Marge McWreath and Marlene Huffman.   


Pastoral Prayer and the Lord's Prayer
 
Hymn: The First Noel
 
Charge and Benediction
​

We're so glad you joined us today! If you need anything during this time, please contact Pastor Gary or a session member. If you have any requests for our prayer chain, please contact Linda Miller. If you need food from our food pantry or have questions about the Mitten Tree, please contact Becky Phillips.

All of the information normally found in our bulletin is below the video. Simply click on "Read More" to load the rest of the bulletin. You can use this to follow the service, as well as to pray our unison prayers. All joys and concerns that we know, as well as our continuing prayer list is within the Joys and Concerns. Announcements can be found at the bottom of this service.

Hymn: Just a Closer Walk with Thee
 
Call to Worship
​The God of creations calls us together. We come into the presence of the one who created us. God is not finished with us. There is more than we can be. We offer ourselves to the one who takes us from glory into glory. We give up our old ways to walk in the new path of God.

Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
​1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.