Sacrifice | 03/21/2021 First Congregational Church of Long Beach 10:AM PDT Worship Service

Join us the 5th Sunday of Lent on March 21, 2021 at 10:00am PDT. for online worship service with FCCLB, a liberal, Open & Affirming and unabashedly progressive church located at 241 Cedar Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802.
ORDER OF WORSHIP HIGHLIGHTS
SERMON: “Sacrifice” – Rev. Larssen
Featured Scripture and Contemporary Reading
Scripture: John 12:2-33
There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”
When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.
The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord—
The King of Israel!”
Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written:
“Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion.
Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”
His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him. So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify. It was also because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him. The Pharisees then said to one another, “You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!”
Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.
“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.
The Contemporary Reading is from: A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving
Featured songs:
Introit: Listening for Wisdom :poem by Tina Datsko de Sánchez; music by Curtis Heard performed by Sanctuary Choir
Anthem:TBA
Special Music:TBA
Featured Hymns:
Hymn #223, What Wondrous Love Is This
Hymn Blessed Assurance with lyrics by Tina Datsko De Sanchez
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FCCLB MISSION To be a visible and prophetic presence in the church and in the world, To steadfastly proclaim the radically inclusive love of God, To be open to, and celebrate differences; to honor thinking for oneself, To faithfully work for the inclusion of, and justice for all people, regardless of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, race or national origin, or any particular element of a person's total humanity,