Gathering Music – Drumming
Nelson Ngongo
Call to Worship
Doreen Mhlandhla
Leader: Welcome pilgrims on the way to the cross.
All: We are learning to follow Jesus.
Leader: On this Lenten journey, where do we find God’s presence among us?
All: One thing we know: God calls us to witness extraordinary love in ordinary moments.
Leader: On this Lenten journey, how does God’s presence work among us?
All: One thing we know: God uses the messy and mundane to heal and restore us to one another.
Leader: On this Lenten journey, what does God’s presence do in our midst?
All: One thing we know: God opens us to recognize presence, sustenance, and abundance where the world perceives isolation and lack.
Leader: Pilgrims on the way, come let us worship God!
All: We come to worship God as we learn to live inside out! Amen.
(Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Director of Worship Arts, 8-22)
Solo
“Nara Ekele Mo (What shall I render)”
Marcel Okito
Opening Prayer
Faith Gitonga
Lord God, we approach you this afternoon with thanksgiving for the gift of life. It is in your nature to love and care for your creation, and in that, you, God, invites us to continue to love one another and be just to all of creation. Therefore, we seek wisdom from you to be instruments to accomplish your greater mission of love, peace, and justice to the world, and all humanity. May we be fair and treat others as we would want to be done to us. We pray this in Christ’s name.
Amen!
Scripture Reading
1 Samuel 16:7 and Ecclesiastes 3:11 New International Version (NIV)
1st reading: 1 Samuel 16:7
Fortunate Danje
Reading in Shona Language:
Asi Jehova akatii kuna Samueri;,’Rega kurarira chiso chake kana munhu wake nokuti ndamuramba.Jehovha haatarisi zvinhu zvinoonekwa. nevanhu .Munhu anotaurisa zviri kunze asi Jehova anotaurisa pamwoyo.
2nd reading: Ecclesiastes 3:11
Jb Hatungimana
Reading in Kirundi Language
Ikintu cose yakiremye ari ciza mugihe caco: kandi yashizeivyiyumviro vy’ ibihoraho mu mitima yabo, nah’ umuntuadashobora guserangura igikorwa Imana yakoze uhereyekw’itanguriro ugashitsa kw’iherezo.
English Language:
Henry Anyomi
1 Samuel 16:7 New International Version (NIV)
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Ecclesiastes 3:11 New International Version (NIV)
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
Leader: The Word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
AfriSCaD Choir
Sermon
“Discovering and Acknowledging the Beauty of God in Humanity”
Domingos Francisco Fernando
Musical Response
Sacrament of Holy Communion
Kenneth Ngwa (assisted by Guylain Yumba and Esther Inuwa)
God be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is right, and a good and joyful thing,
always and everywhere to give thanks to you,
Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth.
You formed us in your image
and breathed into us the breath of life.
When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast.
You spoke to us through your prophets, who looked for that day
when justice shall roll down like waters
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream,
when nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore.
And so,
with your people on earth
and all the company of heaven
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
(Singing)
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna in the highest.
Holy are you, and blessed is your child, Jesus Christ.
On the night in which Jesus gave himself up for us,
he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread,
gave it to his disciples, and said:
“Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.”
When the supper was over, Jesus took the cup,
gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:
“Drink from this, all of you;
this is my cup of the new covenant,
poured out for you and for many
for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it,
in remembrance of me.”
And so,
in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a holy and living sacrifice,
in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
(Singing)
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna in the highest.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,
and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,
that we may be for the world the body of Christ,
redeemed by his love.
By your Spirit make us one with Christ,
one with each other,
and one in ministry to all the world.
(Singing)
Amen, Amen, Amen.
Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna in the highest.
Blessing
Domingos Francisco Fernando
Sending Song
“For the Beauty of the Earth”
- For the beauty of the earth,
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies;
Refrain: Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise. - For the beauty of each hour
of the day and of the night,
hill and vale, and tree and flower,
sun and moon, and stars of light; (Refrain) - For the joy of ear and eye,
for the heart and mind’s delight,
for the mystic harmony
linking sense to sound and sight; (Refrain) - For the joy of human love,
partner, sibling, parent, child,
friends on earth and friends above,
for all gentle thoughts and mild; (Refrain) - For thyself, best Gift Divine,
to the world so freely given,
for that great, great love of thine,
peace on earth, and joy in heaven: (Refrain)
Drew Theo Chapel 