We Welcome You!

Order of Service for Sunday, March 1, 2026, 10:30 AM

Prelude (Kathleen Jones)

Welcome and Call to Worship 

Hymn: “To God Be the Glory” (Presbyterian Hymnal #485)

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Assurance of Pardon

Song of Praise: “Halle, Halle, Hallelujah” (Lift Up Your Hearts #28)

We Greet One Another

Scripture Readings:

Genesis 12:1-4a (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. 

John 3:1-17 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 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.”3 Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” 4 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?” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ 8 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.” 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 

11 “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. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

16 “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.

17 “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.

Sermon: “Crossing a Threshold: Encountering God” (Rev. Cathy Witte)

Hymn: “More Love to Thee, O Christ” (Presbyterian Hymnal #359)

A Time of Prayer

Answers to Prayer and Prayer Requests

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession

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.

Offertory 

Doxology 

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.

Celebration of the Lord’s Supper

Invitation to the Table

Choir Anthem: “Draw Near,” by Sheldon Curry (directed by Carol Fassbender)

   Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

   Communion

    Prayer

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: “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” (Presbyterian Hymnal #281)

Benediction

Postlude (Kathleen Jones)

Today: Coffee hour in Fellowship Hall after worship

This week:   

Monday, March 2  Prayer in the Lounge at 3:00 PM

Thursday, March 5    Choir practice in the Choir Room at 7:00 PM 

Sunday, March 8  Class in the Lounge at 9:15 AM 

Worship in the Sanctuary at 10:30 AM, followed by coffee hour in Fellowship Hall

Today, we welcome Rev. Cathy Witte back to Westminster. Cathy, a retired member of our Presbytery, is good friend of our pastor and our church, whom we’re happy to have with us today.