A Pharisee named Nicodemus makes a visit to Jesus by night. It doesn’t go as we expect.
Join us this morning for worship with the Lord’s Supper in our beautiful sanctuary, or here, online, if you are at home or on the road. You are invited! Come, be a fly on the wall, for one of the most important conversations Jesus ever has.
Conversations at Night
2nd Sunday in Lent
Psalm 121; John 3:1-17
Union Presbyterian Church
March 5, 2023
Sharing the Light of Christ, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Liturgist: Carlton Sackett Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube
Prelude Chris Bartlette
“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” Joel Raney
©2003, Hope Publishing Company, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
Welcome Rev. Pat Raube
Call to Worship Carlton Sackett
For forty days and nights the rain fell,
and the waters covered the earth.
Lead us, O Lord, from death to life.
For forty years the people wandered,
seeking the land of God’s promise.
Lead us, O Lord, from death to life.
Moses spent forty days on the mountain,
learning the commandments of God.
Lead us, O Lord, from death to life.
Elijah traveled forty days in the wilderness,
to hear the voice of God in the silence.
Lead us, O Lord, from death to life.
Jonah cried out to the people of Nineveh,
Repent, or in forty days you will perish.
Lead us, O Lord, from death to life.
Jesus fasted and prayed for forty days,
and was tested by the Tempter.
Lead us, O Lord, from death to life.
Hymn #462 PH “Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies” (Public Domain)
Christ, whose glory fills the skies,
Christ, the true, the only Light,
Sun of Righteousness, arise,
Triumph o’er the shades of night;
Dayspring from on high, be near;
Day-star, in my heart appear.
Dark and cheerless is the morn
Unaccompanied by Thee;
Joyless is the day’s return
Till Thy mercy’s beams I see,
Till they inward light impart,
Cheer my eyes and warm my heart.
Visit then this soul of mine;
Pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
Fill me, Radiancy divine;
Scatter all my unbelief;
More and more Thyself display,
Shining to the perfect day.
Call to New Life
Prayer for Wholeness and Peace
God of mercy, you came among us in Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost. We know that we have strayed from you and turned aside from your way. We are misled by pride, for we see ourselves as great when we are small. We have failed in love, neglected justice, and ignored your truth. Have mercy, O God, and heal our hearts and lives. Return us to the paths of righteousness through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
Words of Assurance
With the whole church:
We affirm that we are made in God’s image,
befriended by Christ, and empowered by the Spirit.
With people everywhere:
We affirm God’s goodness at the heart of humanity,
planted more deeply than all that is wrong.
With all creation:
We celebrate the miracle and wonder of life and the unfolding purposes of God, forever at work in ourselves and the world. Thanks be to God. Amen!
Sharing of the Peace
May the peace of God be with you.
And also with you.
Let us offer one another a sign of God’s peace.
Scripture (Responsive) Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills—
from where is my help to come?
My help comes from the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth.
The Lord will not let your foot be moved;
nor will the one who watches over you fall asleep.
Behold, the keeper of Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun will not strike you by day
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will preserve you from all evil,
and will keep your life.
The Lord will watch over your going out and your coming in,
from this time forth forevermore.
Time For Young Disciples Rev. Pat Raube
Music: “He Came Down,” Jane Holstein
©2001, Hope Publishing Company, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
Scripture John 3:1-17
Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with that person.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen, yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:
Thanks be to God!
Sermon “Conversations at Night”
Affirmation of Faith From the Confession of 1967, Section 9.15
God’s sovereign love is a mystery beyond the reach of the human mind.
Human thought ascribes to God superlatives of power, wisdom, and
goodness. But God reveals divine love in Jesus Christ by showing power
in the form of a servant, wisdom in the folly of the cross, and goodness
in receiving sinful people. The power of God’s love in Christ to transform
the world discloses that the Redeemer is the Lord and Creator who
made all things to serve the purpose of God’s love.
ANTHEM “How Deep the Father’s Love For Us,” Stuart Townend Choir
©2012, Hope Publishing Company, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
1~How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That he should give his only Son
To make a wretch his treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss.
The Father turns his face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.
How high, how wide,
How deep the Father’s love for us.
2~Behold the man upon the cross,
My sin upon his shoulders.
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life.
I know that it is finished.
How pure, how strong,
How deep the Father’s love for us.
3~ I will not boast in anything:
No gifts, no power, no wisdom.
But I will boast in Jesus Christ:
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from his reward?
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart:
His wounds have paid my ransom.
How high, how wide,
How pure, how strong.
How deep the Father’s love for us.
MINUTE FOR MISSION One Great Hour of Sharing Cabaret Peg Corwin
The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper/ Prayers of the People
The Invitation
The Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
…Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with choirs of angels
and all the faithful of every time and place,
who forever sing to the glory of your name:
Sanctus “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord,” Joseph Roff
©1980, GIA Publications, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He who comes
In the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest,
Hosanna in the highest.
The Words of Institution
Christ is the bread of life:
When we eat this bread and drink this cup,
we proclaim the saving life and death of our risen Lord
until he comes in glory.
The Holy Spirit
Prayers of the People
The 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
The Communion
Music during Communion:
“We Meet as Friends at Table,” Brian Wren, Hal H. Hopson
©1996, Hope Publishing Company, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
Prayer After Communion
Eternal God, as you fed your people in the wilderness with unexpected food, so you feed us at this table with a simple loaf and cup. Here you transform us, by the working of your wondrous love. Now send us out to be Christ’s body in your broken and beautiful world, to bear your good news of hope and joy for all. Amen.
Hymn #372 PH “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian” (Public Domain)
Lord, I want to be a Christian in-a my heart, in-a my heart,
Lord, I want to be a Christian in-a my heart.
In-a my heart, in-a my heart,
Lord, I want to be a Christian in-a my heart.
Lord, I want to be more loving in-a my heart, in-a my heart,
Lord, I want to be more loving in-a my heart,
In-a my heart, in-a my heart,
Lord, I want to be more loving in-a my heart.
Lord, I want to be more holy in-a my heart, in-a my heart,
Lord, I want to be more holy in-a my heart.
In-a my heart, in-a my heart,
Lord, I want to be more holy in-a my heart.
Lord, I want to be like Jesus in-a my heart, in-a my heart,
Lord, I want to be like Jesus in-a my heart.
In-a my heart, in-a my heart,
Lord, I want to be like Jesus in-a my heart
Benediction
Postlude Chris Bartlette
“Doxology,” Mark Hayes
©1990, Word Music, Inc.
Used with permission, CCLI License #CSPL068847
Where an * is indicated, please rise in body and/or in spirit.
“W & R” ~ the red Worship and Rejoice hymnal.
“PH” ~ the blue Presbyterian Hymnal
Portions of this liturgy are adapted from the PCUSA Book of Common Worship.