Watchword for the Week
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.
(Psalm 130:5)
(Moravian Daily Texts 2022)

 

Today’s worship team:

Ministers: Duty elder:	Rev. Dr. Anja Stuckenberger Justus Masa
Reader:	Heinrich Ohlendorf
Kids’ Church: Annegret Stüwe
Organist:	Sebastian Stüwe

Watchword for the Week

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.
(Psalm 130:5)

(Moravian Daily Texts 2022)

ORGAN PRELUDE

WELCOME and CALL to WORSHIP

Hymn 87                                                   Psalm 130

We watch and wait for You, God our maker
Bring hope

We watch and wait for You, Lord Jesus Christ
Bring love

We watch and wait for You, Spirit of God
Breathe life.

Hymn 484                   Great God, your love has called

PRAYER of CONFESSION and FORGIVENESS

There will be a moment for personal contemplation before we hear words of forgiveness.

Most merciful God, we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves.
We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.

For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us.
Forgive us, renew us, and lead us,
so that we may delight in your will
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your holy name.
Amen.

ASSURANCE of PARDON

Hymn 600               Spirit of God, unseen as the wind

 

 

SHARING GOD’S PEACE

Children’s TiME
with a contribution from the ECC Children’s Choir
(after that children may join the Kids’ Church program)

Hymn 730                              From the falter of breath

SCRIPTURE READINGS &

Ezekiel 37:1-14                                         OT p.   839

The word of God: Thanks be to God!

Sermon                   “Stench, a signature of  transformation and wonder”

Hymn 539                       I want Jesus to walk with me

ANNOUNCEMENTS                   (see Notices overleaf)

Hymn 619+620                       Spirit of the Living God
(People come forward with their offerings)

PRAYERS for OTHERS

Response:  God of hope,
breathe Your life and peace

The LORD’S PRAYER Hymn 652 Second Form (b)
(Please pray in your own preferred language / version.)

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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hymn 795                           Take, oh, take me as I am

BLESSING

“The church season of Lent commemorates the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert and enduring temptation. It serves us to reflect on all that separates us from God. It is a season meant for repentance – for a turning around. Lent has a positive spin! Thus, be of good hope in your Lenten practices.”

May you know the presence of God our keeper
with us by day and by night,
with us in our coming and going,
with us all from this time on and forevermore.
In the name of + Jesus Christ

Threefold Amen (No. 819)

ORGAN POSTLUDE

 

 

Notices

• All are welcome in this place. It’s good you’re here! To receive news of upcoming events, please share your name and email or address with today’s minister or duty elder.
• Today’s worship team:
  Ministers: Dr. Anja Stuckenberger
   Duty elder:      Justus Masa
   Reader:           Heinrich Ohlendorf
   Kids’ Church: Annegret Stüwe
   Organist:         Sebastian Stüwe
• Next Sunday is Palm Sunday and we will have a guest preacher in our service. Rev. Birgit Weinbrenner will lead us in service.
• Please note the ECC services in the forthcoming Holy week:
  Maundy Thursday 7 p.m.
  Good Friday 12.30 p.m.
  Easter Sunday 12.30 p.m.
• The offering basket is the congregation’s main source of income. Please give generously.
• The WCC Ecumenical Prayer Cycle this week focuses on Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia (https://tinyurl.com/prayercycle)
• In April the second edition of Intercultural Bible studies will start, exploring the Book of Ruth. First meeting is on April 20 at 7.30 p.m. at the ESG, Querenburger Höhe in the Unicenter. For further details, please, talk to Pastor Anja or Pastor Emmanuel.

Ø  The Kirchencafé is open for us today till 3 o’clock for tea, coffee, and fellowship. Please help leave everything clean and tidy! Thank you!

 

English-speaking Christian Congregation

Bochum, Germany

26 March 2023

5th Sunday in Lent

 “Pax intrantibus, salus exeuntibus”
“On entering, peace – on departure, blessing”
(Pauluskirche Bochum – Porch Inscription 1655)

Worship every Sunday at 12.30

Ecumenical   International   English-language