(Image: “Jesus Heals Two Blind Men”, 9th Century Mosaic, Basilica of Ravenna, Italy,)
©Order of Worship for Sunday March 08, 2026
Third Sunday in Lent
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Prelude: “Blessed Is He Who comes in God’s Name”.Greg D.
Words: John Thornburg, Music: Jane Marshall © 2003 Abingdon Press, admin. By The Copyright Company.
Coming of the Light:
Greetings:……………………………………………………Lusi R.
Announcements:…………………………………………Lorri B.
Call to Worship:…………………………………………..Elizabeth B.
All glory be unto You, Lord.
All glory we give to You.
All honor, we give unto You, Lord.
All glory, all honor, all praise.
We give them unto You. (Text: Michael Kenneth Ross)
Opening Prayer:………..Psalm 95……………………Elizabeth B.
O come, let us sing to the Lord;
Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into God’s presence with thanksgiving;
Let us make a joyful noise with songs of praise!
For the Lord is a great God,
And a great Ruler above all gods,
in whose hands are the depths of the earth
and also the heights of the mountains.
The sea belongs to God who made it,
and the dry land, because God formed it.
O come, let us worship and bow down,
let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
For the Lord is our God,
we are the people of God’s pasture,
the sheep of god’s hand.
Hear the voice of the Lord today!
Harden not your hearts, as at Meribah,
when your forebears tested me,
and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.
For forty years I loathed that generation
and said, “They are a people who err in heart,
therefore I swore in my anger
that they should not enter my rest. Amen.
Opening Hymns: “Open the Eyes of My Heart” #3008 W&S
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, open the eyes
of my heart: I want to see you, I want to see
you. Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, open
the eyes of my heart; I want to see you,
I want to see you. To see you high and
lifted up, shining in the light of your glory.
Pour out your power and love as we sing.
Holy, holy, holy.
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, open the eyes
Of my heart: I want to see you, I want to see
you. Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, open the eyes of my heart; I want to see you,
I want to see you. To see you high and
lifted up, shining in the light of your glory.
Pour out your power and love as we sing.
Holy, holy, holy.
To see you high and lifted up, shining in
the light of your glory. Pour out your power
and love as we sing. Holy, holy, holy.
Holy, holy, holy. Holy, holy, holy.
Holy, holy, holy. I want to see you.
Holy, holy, holy. Holy, holy, holy.
Holy, holy, holy. I want to see you.
“Open Our Eyes” #2086 TFWS
Words: Bob Cull Music: Bob Cull ©1976
Maranatha! Music, admin. By the Copyright Co.
Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus,
to reach out and touch him, and say that
we love him.
Open our ears, Lord, and help us to
listen. Open our eyes, Lord, we want
to see Jesus.
Passing of the Peace:…………………………….Elizabeth B.
Let us offer signs of reconciliation and peace to one another.
Gloria Patri:…….“Glory Be to the Father”…….#71 UMH
Words: Lesser Doxology, 3rd-4th century
Music: Henry W. Greatorex, 1851
Glory be to the Father
and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, to
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen. Amen.
Giving of our Tithes and Offerings:………………………..Lusi R.
AFUMC Giving link: https://aventferryumc.org/give/
Offertory:…“Chopin E minor Nocturne”/”To Mock Your Reign, O Dearest Lord”. ………………………………Greg D.
Words: Fred Pratt Green, 1972. Music: English melody; arr. By Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906. This arr. By Greg D.
“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” (The Doxology) #95
The United Methodist Hymnal
Words by Thomas Ken, 1674
Music attributed to Louis Bourgeois, 1551
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Prayer After Receiving:………………………………….Lusi R.
The Prayers of the People:……………………………..Lusi R.
Anthem:…………..“Bow Down Your Ear”…………..Choir
Words: Psalm 86 Music: Aaron David Miller, © 2005 Augsburg Fortress.
Gospel Lesson: ……….Matthew 9:27-31……………Elizabeth B.
As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you have faith that I can do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith, let it be done to you.” And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, “See that no one knows of this.” But they went away and spread the news about him through all of that district.
Hymn of Preparation:“Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior” #351 UMH
Words: Fanny Crosby, 1868 Music: William H. Doane, 1870
1. Pass me not, O gentle Savior, hear my humble cry;
while on others thou art calling, do not pass me by.
Refrain
Savior, Savior, hear my humble cry;
while on others thou art calling, do not pass me by.
2. Let me at thy throne of mercy find a sweet relief,
kneeling there in deep contrition; help my unbelief.
Refrain
Savior, Savior, hear my humble cry;
While on others thou art calling, do not pass me by.
3. Trusting only in thy merit, would I seek thy face;
heal my wounded, broken spirit, save me by thy grace.
Refrain
Savior, Savior, hear my humble cry;
While on others thou art calling, do not pass me by.
4. Thou the spring of all my comfort, more than life to me,
whom have I on earth beside thee? Whom in heaven but thee?
Refrain
Savior, Savior, hear my humble cry;
While on others thou art calling, do not pass me by.
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Sunday March 8th Worship Service