Trinity St. Andrew’s United Church
Order of Worship
Sunday, March 15th 2026
4th Sunday of Lent
Prelude
Welcome & Telling Our Story
Gathering to Worship God
Lighting of the Christ Candle
Friends, before we light the Christ candle, let us remember this: Even in places of grief, even at the edge of the tomb, Christ is present. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Not only someday, but even now. So as this shines brightly among us, may it remind us that no darkness and no sorrow can overcome the life God brings.
Introit Make a Joyful Noise (Psalm 100, chorus x2) VU 820
Make a joyful noise all the earth!
Worship your God with gladness.
Make a joyful noise all the earth!
Come to the place with a song!
Call to Worship
Come, people of God. Come from places of joy and from places of sorrow. Come with your questions, your hopes, and your prayers. Jesus calls us out of the places that bind us. Jesus calls us into life. When the world feels heavy and hope feels buried, God is still at work. So come and worship the One who brings life. Come and worship the One who calls us by name. Let us worship God as we sing #44 in More Voices: Shadow and Substance.
Hymn Shadow and Substance MV 44
- Shadow and substance, wonder and mystery,
spell-binding spinner of atoms and earth;
soul of the cosmos, person and energy,
source of our being, we sing of your worth.
- We are your image, formed in community,
sisters and brothers of Adam and Eve.
You gave us colour, custom and history;
Teach us to honour what others receive.
- Naming the nameless Spirit of unity,
scanning the heavens for signs of your care;
God of the ages, give us humility;
guide us to mystical union in prayer.
Gathering Prayer & Assurance of Grace
Loving God, you meet us in every part of life. You meet us in laughter and celebration, and you meet us in tears and grief. You are not afraid of our sorrow, and you do not turn away from our questions. So gather us now in your presence. Quiet our hearts, open our spirits, and draw us close to you. As we worship, remind us again that your love is stronger than fear, stronger than despair, even stronger than death itself. And friends, hear this good news: Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Not grief. Not doubt. Not even the darkest valley. In Christ, we are held, we are loved, and we are never alone. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Time for the Young & Young at Heart
Hymn Jesus, Teacher, Brave and Bold VU 605
- Jesus, teacher, brave and bold,
let us serve you, young and old.
Let us faith-filled workers be,
all around, your wisdom see.
Let us play and dance and sing,
your goodness find in everything.
- Jesus, friend, so strong and true,
show us good, brave work to do.
Show us those who need a friend,
all things broken help us to mend.
Free our minds and stretch our care,
teach us to serve you everywhere.
Blessed at Table & Font
Thanksgiving & Offering
Everything we have is a gift from God: our lives, our time, our abilities, and our resources. And in gratitude, we share what we have so that God’s love may be known in this community and in the world beyond these walls. So let us give generously, trusting that God continues to bring life and hope through us. Let us receive the offering. As we sing together verse 1 of #559, Come, O Fount of Every Blessing.
Hymn: Come, O Fount of Every Blessing VU 559
Come, O Fount of every blessing,
tune my heart to sing your grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing
call for songs of endless praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount; I’m fixed upon it,
mount of God’s unfailing love.
Prayers of the People & The Lord’s Prayer
Let us pray.
God of life, we come to you with hearts that carry many things. Some of us come with joy and gratitude today. Some come tired. Some come worried for those we love. And some come carrying grief that feels very close to the surface. You know every story we bring into this room. Just as Jesus stood beside Mary and Martha in their sorrow, stand with all who grieve today. Comfort those who mourn. Strengthen those who feel overwhelmed. Bring hope to those who feel like they are standing at the edge of the tomb.
God of compassion, we pray for those who are sick, for those waiting for answers, for those living with pain or uncertainty. We pray for those who feel trapped by fear, loneliness, or despair. Call them, O God, into new life and freedom.
We pray for our community, for our neighbours, and for all who long for peace and justice in this world. Help us to be people who carry your light into dark places, people who speak words of hope, and people who help loosen the things that bind others. And in all things, remind us that your life is always stronger than death, and your love is always deeper than despair. So we pray together the words Jesus taught us: Our Father…
Listening for God
Hymn: Come to My Heart VU 661
- Come to my heart, Lord Jesus;
teach me to walk in your way.
Come to my heart, Lord Jesus;
come to my heart today.
Give me the peace and joy
that only you can bring.
Come to my heart, Lord Jesus;
give me a song to sing.
- Fill me with love, Lord Jesus;
teach me to walk in your way.
Fill me with love, Lord Jesus;
fill me with love today.
Give me the peace and joy
that only you can bring.
Fill me with love, Lord Jesus;
give me a song to sing.
- Answer my prayer, Lord Jesus;
teach me to walk in your way.
Answer my prayer, Lord Jesus;
Answer my prayer today.
Give me the peace and joy
that only you can bring.
Answer my prayer, Lord Jesus;
give me a song to sing.
Scripture John 11:1-11, 38-43 Barbara Moogk
Sermon
Anthem
Sent into God’s World
Hymn: We Shall Go Out with Hope of Resurrection VU 586
- We shall go out with hope of resurrection;
we shall go out, from strength to strength go on;
we shall go out and tell our stories boldly;
tales of a love that will not let us go.
We’ll sing our songs of wrongs that can be righted;
we’ll dream our dreams of hurts that can be healed;
we’ll weave a cloth of all the world united
within the vision of new life in Christ.
- We’ll give a voice to those who have not spoken;
we’ll find the worlds for whose lips are sealed;
we’ll make the tunes for those who sing no longer,
expressive love alive in every heart.
We’ll share our joy with those who still are weeping,
raise hymns of strength for hearts that break in grief,
we’ll leap and dance the resurrection story,
including all in circles of our love.
Sending Forth
Friends, go now into the week ahead. And when life feels heavy, when hope feels buried, remember this: Christ still calls people out of the tomb. So go in the love of God, go in the grace of Christ, and go in the power of the Holy Spirit, trusting that new life is always possible. Amen.
Sung Blessing: Amen, amen, amen , amen! VU 973
Postlude
