CCLI Number: 2880734
March 22, 2026
Words of Welcome Rev. John Hill
Centering Music “Surely the Presence of the Lord” (UMH #328)
Surely the presence
of the Lord is in this place;
I can feel his mighty power
and his grace.
I can hear the brush of angels’ wings,
I see glory on each face;
surely the presence
of the Lord is in this place.
Call to Worship (from Isaiah 1) Rev. Chelsey Hedglin
Hear, O heavens, and listen, O earth, for the LORD has spoken:
Wash yourselves and make yourselves clean.
Remove your evil deeds from before God’s eyes.
Cease to do evil; learn to do good.
Seek justice; rescue the oppressed.
Defend the orphan; plead for the widow.
Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow.
Though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool.
Opening Hymn “When Morning Gilds the Skies” (UMH #185)
When morning gilds the skies
my heart awakening cries:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Alike at work and prayer,
to Jesus I repair:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
The night becomes as day
when from the heart we say:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
The powers of darkness fear
when this sweet chant they hear:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let all the earth around
ring joyous with the sound:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
In heaven’s eternal bliss
the loveliest strain is this:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this, while life is mine,
my canticle divine:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this th’eternal song
through all the ages long:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Opening Prayer (Book of Worship #335) Rev. Chelsey Hedglin
Everlasting God,
because of your tender mercy toward all people,
you sent your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ,
to take upon himself our flesh,
and to suffer death upon the cross,
that all should follow the example of his great humility.
Mercifully grant that we may follow the example of his patience
and also be made partakers of his resurrection;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Children’s Moment Rev. John Hill
Prayer of Confession (Book of Worship #482) Rev. Chelsey Hedglin
Lord Jesus Christ, you are the way of peace.
Come into the brokenness of our lives and our land
with your healing love.
Help us to be willing to bow before you in true repentance,
and to bow to one another in real forgiveness.
By the fire of your Holy Spirit, melt our hard hearts
and consume the pride and prejudice which separate us.
Fill us, O Lord, with your perfect love, which casts out our fear,
and bind us together in that unity
which you share with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Silent Confession
Words of Assurance Rev. Chelsey Hedglin
Hear the Good News: Christ died for us while we were yet sinners. That proves God’s love toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
Glory to God. Amen.
Passing the Peace
Hymn “What Wondrous Love Is This” (UMH #292)
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,
what wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul.
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,
what wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, that caused the lord of life
to lay aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,
to lay aside his crown for my soul.
To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing,
to God and to the Lamb, I will sing.
To God and to the Lamb who is the great I AM,
while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
while millions join the theme I will sing.
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free I’ll sing and joyful be,
and through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
and through eternity I’ll sing on.
Prayer for Illumination Rev. Chelsey Hedglin
Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that, as the Scriptures are read and your Word proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today. Amen.
Scripture Reading (Mark 15:33-39) Rev. Chelsey Hedglin
When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.” And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion who stood facing him saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”
Response to the Scripture Reading Rev. Chelsey Hedglin
For the Word of God we hear in scripture,
for the Word of God we encounter among us,
and for the Word of God at work within us,
Thanks be to God.
Sermon “Seven Last Words: Word of Abandonment” Rev. John Hill
Musical Reflection
Pastoral Prayer Rev. Chelsey Hedglin
The Lord’s Prayer
Invitation to Offer Tithes and Gifts
https://onrealm.org/CrievewoodUMC/Give
Offertory
Doxology (UMH #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.
Invitation to Discipleship
Closing Hymn “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” (UMH #286)
O sacred Head, now wounded,
with grief and shame weighed down,
now scornfully surrounded
with thorns, thine only crown:
how pale thou art with anguish,
with sore abuse and scorn!
How does that visage languish
which once was bright as morn!
What thou, my Lord, has suffered
was all for sinners’ gain;
mine, mine was the transgression,
but thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior!
‘Tis I deserve thy place;
look on me with thy favor,
vouchsafe to me thy grace.
What language shall I borrow
to thank thee, dearest friend,
for this thy dying sorrow,
thy pity without end?
O make me thine forever;
and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
outlive my love for thee.
Benediction Rev. John Hill
Benediction Song “O How He Loves You and Me” (TFWS #2108, verse 1)
O how he loves you and me!
O how he loves you and me!
He gave his life. What more could he give?
O, how he loves you;
O, how he loves me;
O, how he loves you and me.