Sunday Devotional for March 22, 2026 - the Fifth Sunday of Lent

March 22, 2026 Fifth Sunday of Lent The musical prelude invites us to become quiet and reverent in God’s house. SILENT MEDITATION: “If Jesus had simply commanded, ‘Come out,’ without specifically adding the name ‘Lazarus,’ then all the dead in the world would have come forth from their graves at that moment.” – George Klinger (Salem UCC) PRELUDE ANNOUNCEMENTS CALL TO WORSHIP Pastor: Everything seems dead. People: There is no life anywhere. Pastor: Our hopes have perished. People: We see no future. Pastor: Send the power of your spirit upon us. People: Breathe new life into us. Pastor: We wait for your transforming love. People: We hope. We trust. And we wait for you. Amen. *HYMN OF PRAISE: Great Is the Lord PROFESSION OF FAITH We believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and God Incarnate. He is the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Jesus, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in him will receive eternal life. And because of Jesus, we will rise again in the resurrection on the last day. PRAYER OF INVOCATION CALL TO CONFESSION PRAYER OF CONFESSION We cry to you, O God. It is so easy to be overwhelmed with all that is going on. It is so hard to see any hope. Everywhere we look, we see struggles and loss. We feel that we have failed. But where we see death, you breathe new life. Where we see failure, your forgiving love changes everything. You alone, O God, have the power to bring forth new life, new hope, and new beginnings. Forgive our discouragement and impatience. Be with us as we wait for you. Teach us to place our trust in your faithful love. Amen. SILENCE FOR REFLECTION AND CONFESSION ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE SHOW & TELL MOMENT *HYMN: Breathe on Me, Breath of God *PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE *OUR LORD’S PRAYER (debts and debtors) READING OF THE SCRIPTURES Ezekiel 37:1–14 John 11:1–45 MESSAGE: Raising Us Up (Please note that our offering plates are located inside both entrances of our church. We don’t pass the plates during the service; instead, we encourage you to place your offering in the plate as you enter. You can also place your offering in the plate after the service.) BLESSING OF THE OFFERING OFFERTORY RESPONSE (sung) We Give Thee But Thine Own We give Thee but Thine own, Whate’er the gift may be; All that we have is Thine alone, A trust, O Lord, from Thee. Amen. PRAYER OF DEDICATION *HYMN OF DEDICATION: Wonderful Grace of Jesus THE COMMISSION BENEDICTION CLOSING RESPONSE Blessed Redeemer, verse 1 Up Calv’ry’s mountain, one dreadful morn, Walked Christ my Savior, weary and worn; Facing for sinners death on the cross, That he might save them from endless loss. Blessed Redeemer, precious Redeemer! Seems now I see him on Calvary’s tree, Wounded and bleeding, for sinners pleading – Blind and unheeding – dying for me! POSTLUDE Thoughts for Reflection: 1. Is there an area in your life that needs resurrection, something that seems hopeless? 2. Our God is a God of hope and life, so perhaps there is some new thing happening that you haven’t seen yet? 3. In practical terms, how would you encourage or help someone else who is going through a time of discouragement or loss? Lent and Easter at St. Paul’s and Salem Our two churches will gather together at St. Paul’s for our Maundy Thursday service with Communion on April 2, 7pm. For Easter Sunday, April 5, there will be the following services: 6am sunrise service & breakfast at Keith & Pam Crum’s pavilion in Carsonville; 8am church service at Salem; and 10am service at St. Paul’s.