THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT
March 23, 2025 | 8:30 & 11:00am
GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME
Prelude
Courante, from Suite in C Major (8:30am)
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Chorale Preludes No. 3, Op. 103 from Imitating old masters (11:00am)
Mikael Tariverdiev (1931-1996)
Welcome
Rev. Dr. Jason Hays
Executive Minister
*Call to Worship (Psalm 27:1)
Leader: The Lord is my light and my salvation;
People: Whom shall I fear?
Leader: The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
People: Of whom shall I be afraid?
Leader: Come, seek God in this holy space.
All: Let us praise God‘s name together.
Gathering Hymn 165 The Glory of These Forty Days, Verse 3
*Corporate Confession (Unison)
Merciful God,
As we journey through Lent,
grant us the courage to speak truth
of our beauty and our brokenness.
Remind us that we bear your image,
and forgive us when we forget,
hungering for what does not satisfy,
clinging to what does not give life,
ignoring those who need our love.
In your mercy,
renew us, repair us, resurrect us.
Amen.
*Assurance of God’s Love
*Response What Wondrous Love Is This
*Passing of the Peace
*Hymn
53 O God, Who Gives Us Life (Noel)
LISTENING FOR GOD’S WORD
Word to the Children
When the music begins, children are invited to gather on the chancel steps as we sing, “This is where children belong, part of our family, part of our song. Be with us, pray with us, help us grow strong: this is where children belong.” Please note the 11:00am service is livestreamed and your child’s image may appear on the video.
Anthem
Etude No. 22 (8:30am)
David Popper (1843-1913)
Ave Verum Corpus (11:00am)
Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
Prayer for Illumination (Unison)
Lord, may your Holy Word
be for us the seed of new possibilities
that blossoms in ways we cannot yet imagine.
Amen.
Scripture Lesson
Exodus 3:1-15 (Pew Bible Old Testament Page 46)
Response to Reading
Leader: Listen to the voice of the Spirit speaking to the Church.
People: Thanks be to God.
Sermon
A Holy Inconvenient God
Rev. Clover Reuter Beal, Co-Pastor
Moment for Reflection
Musical Reflection
Prelude, from Suite in C Major (8:30am)
Johann Sebastian Bach
Create in Me, O God, a Pure Heart (11:00am)
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
RESPONDING TO GOD’S GRACE
Offering Ourselves and Our Gifts Sandy Prouty, Minister of Children & Families
Making a financial gift makes Montview’s programs and ministries possible, including this worship service. You are invited to give generously at www.montview.org/giving or by texting a dollar amount to 720.452.6449. Offering boxes are stationed at the exit for cash and checks. We’re grateful for your support.
All are invited to sign and pass the Friendship Pad and greet each other by name.
*Prayer of Dedication (Unison)
God, you have so greatly loved us, long sought us, and mercifully redeemed us. Give us grace that in everything, we may yield ourselves, our wills and our works, a continual thank offering to you. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
*Response 223 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, Verse 4
Prayers of the People and The Lord’s Prayer (Unison)
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.
*Closing Hymn
450 Be Thou My Vision (Slane)
Blessing of Prayer Shawls and Quilts (Unison)
May God’s grace be upon these shawls and quilts…
warming, comforting, enfolding and embracing.
May these shawls and quilts be a safe haven…
a sacred place of security and well-being…
sustaining and embracing in good times
as well as difficult ones.
May those who receive these shawls and quilts
be cradled in hope, kept in joy,
graced with peace,
and wrapped in love.
The Prayer Shawls that are blessed at today’s service will be available in the Commons afterwards if you know someone in need of healing.
SENDING IN GOD’S LOVE
*Charge and Benediction
*Benediction Response (11:00am)
Kyrie
Plainsong
Postlude
Prelude in D minor, BuxWV 140
Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
MINISTRY HIGHLIGHT: PRAYER SHAWL KNITTERS AND QUILTERS
Montview’s Prayer Shawl Knitters create warm and cozy prayer shawls that are available for the pastors and the congregation to distribute to anyone in need of comfort and healing. Visit their tables in the Commons following today’s worship services. Contact: magreath@ecentral.com. The Quilters encourage and support each other while collaborating on beautiful quilts throughout the year. Visit the Quilt Show in the Reception Room below the sanctuary from March 23–March 30. Contact: brookesewcreative@gmail.com.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Prophetic and Poetic Imagination
Today, March 23: “Poetry in the Prophets” with Tod Linafelt, Ph.D. Dr. Linafelt is a professor of biblical literature at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. In this session, he will offer a brief introduction to the workings of biblical Hebrew poetry, with a focus on the use of poetry and poetic art in the oracles of the prophets.
Agape Latte
April 6 | 5-7:00pm (Miller Center)
COME BE A PART of Agape Latte, Montview Youth’s coffeehouse-style concert and fundraiser! Enjoy performances, chili, and a
silent auction with amazing items. With a goal of raising $12,000, all proceeds support youth summer trips.
Rooted in Light: A Spring Concert of Renewal
April 27 | 4:00pm (Sanctuary)
Montview’s Westminster Choir and Orchestra presents Rooted In Light, a Spring Concert performance of Aaron Copland’s
Appalachian Spring and Morten Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna on April 27 at 4:00pm. Both works uniquely explore themes of love, faith and deeply rooted renewal. Admission is free.
WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS
Preacher: Rev. Clover Reuter Beal
Liturgists: Rev. Dr. Jason Hays and Sandy Prouty
Organ: Yinying Luo
Cello: Alexander Peterson (8:30am)
Guest Conductor: Mary Louise Burke (11:00am)
Reader: Rob Mathes (8:30am)
Reader: Youth (11:00am)
Sound: Cate Thieme
Video: John Goerner
Chorus: Westminster Choir (11:00am)
PARISH NEWS
Prayer Tree
Jolene Cranston; Bryn Dunham, mourning the death of her mother; The family of Chris Dillon, mourning Chris’ death; Dick Getzinger, brother of Nancy Getzinger; Mark Haynes; Jay Henry, family of Mary Jo Bush; Joe Hickman; Tony Johnson; The loved ones of Carol Mielke, mourning her death; Eden Murphy; Mac Murphy; The Myers Family, friends of Kate Reinemund; Michael Prouty, son of Sandy Prouty; Katie Shaw and family, mourning the death of John Shaw; Julie Spear, sister-in-law of Linda Goerner; The George Turi Family, relatives of Aimee Sanders; Mary Grace Wake; Jewel Wegs; Margaret Wehner; Debi and Len Zeer, parents of Janelle Case
Deaths
March 19 | John Shaw
March 17 | Chris Dillon
March 4 | Carol Mielke
Flower Dedication
The flowers in the chancel today are given to the glory of God by Barbara and Peter Hulac to celebrate the 340th birthday of Johann Sebastian Bach. Soli Deo Gloria.
TODAY AT MONTVIEW
8:00am-12:30pm
Childcare – Ages Birth-7
Location: Preschool Floor
Enter via the Commons past Heritage Center to the Education wing.
8:30am
Worship Service
Location: Sanctuary
8:45am
Youth Bells (Grades 3-8)
Location: Room 206B
9:30am
The Prophetic and Poetic Imagination: Poetry in the Prophets
Tod Linafelt, Ph.D.
Location: Miller Chapel
Bel Canto Choir (Grades K-5)
Location: Room 205
Assembly: Choir Alternative Fellowship (Grades K-5)
Location: Room 204B
Sunday School (Preschool)
Location: Room 112
JAM in the AM (Grades 6-8)
Location: Cellar
MOB in the Morning (Grades 9-12)
Location: Cellar Back Room
10:00am
Sunday School (Grades K-5)
Location: Second Floor
11:00am
Worship Service
Location: Sanctuary
ABOUT THIS SERVICE
Assistive listening devices are available in the sound booth in the back of the sanctuary.
Restrooms are available in the Commons. An all-gender restroom is available on the lower level across from Youth Cellar.
Childcare is available for ages Birth-7 on the Preschool floor.
Please note that the 11:00am worship service will be livestreamed to several social media platforms and your image may appear on the livestream video.
FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN
We are so glad your family is worshiping with us today. We also know that sometimes children tire of being in worship. We have a space for those times directly below the sanctuary. You can follow the service on a large screen there while your children enjoy toys, books and space. The greeters can direct you!
MONTVIEW BOULEVARD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1980 Dahlia Street, Denver, CO 80220
303.355.1651 | www.montview.org