February 23, 2025

A Message of Love for the Whole World

Prelude:

 You Can Tell the World

Music: traditional Spiritual

Arranged by Margaret Bonds

Donald Jones, soloist

Cathedral of Hope Orchestra

African American Spiritual
Arranged by Margaret Bonds
© 1946 Mutual Music Society, Inc.

Call to Worship

Cathedral of Hope, we come today striving to become a

community that shares God’s message of love with the world:

A love that is offered to all unconditionally,

A love that feeds the hungry and welcomes the stranger,

And a love that shines through us,

allowing us to be the face of Christ in all we do and say.

So rise, Church, in body or spirit. Sing to our merciful God!

**Processional Hymn:

O for a World

O for a world where everyone respects each other’s ways,

Where love is lived and all is done with justice and with praise.

O for a world where goods are shared and misery relieved,

Where truth is spoken, children spared, equality achieved.

We welcome one world family and struggle with each choice

That open us to unity and gives our vision voice.

The poor are rich, the weak are strong, the foolish ones are wise.

Tell all who mourn outcasts belong, who perishes will rise.

O for a world preparing for God’s glorious reign of peace,

Where time and tears will be no more, and all but love will cease.

Words: Miriam Therese Winter © 1987 Medical Mission Sisters
Music: C.G. Gläser, 1828, adapted by Lowell Mason

Welcome and the Life of the Church

**Exchange of the Peace

Epistle Lesson: Romans 12:9-13

Our Epistle Lesson is from the twelfth chapter of Paul’s Letter to the Romans. Hear these words:

Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically. Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful. When God's children are in need, be the one to help them out.

May God bless the hearing of these ancient words. Amen.

**Gradual

Into My Heart

Into my heart, into my heart, 
come into my heart, Lord Jesus;
Come in today, come in to stay, 
come into my heart, Lord Jesus.

** Into my heart, into my heart, 
come into my heart, Lord Jesus;
Come in today, come in to stay,
come into my heart, Lord Jesus.

Words and Music by Harry D. Clarke, 1924

**Gospel Lesson: John 3:16-1          

One: God be with you.

All: And also with you.

One: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John.

All: Glory to you, O God.

Yes, God so loved the world as to give the Only Begotten One, that whoever believes may not die, but have eternal life. God sent the Only Begotten One into the world not to condemn the world, but that through this One the world might be saved.

One: This is the Gospel of Hope.

All: Praise to you, Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit.

**Gloria

Glory to God  

Glory to God in the highest, and to all creation, peace!

O God Almighty, we thank you and give praise to you for your glory.

Jesus Christ, Lamb of God, you take away our sin;

for you alone are the Holy One; you alone are Most High.

To Jesus Christ, at God’s right hand, and Holy Spirit, evermore

Be blessing and honor and glory; be all blessing and honor and glory.

Amen, Amen, Amen!

Words adapted from the Latin Mass by Danny Ray

Music: Danny Ray

©1985 Danny Ray

Sermon

A Message of Love for the Whole World

Offering Call

Offertory

A World of Difference

Words and Music by Babbie Mason and Cheryl Rogers

Arranged by Don Wyrtzen

Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra

Somewhere in the world a child is wanting,

an aching heart is lonely, a voice is waiting to be heard.

Somewhere in the night a soul is seeking,

a dreamer is believing the future will get brighter.

Only God can make a dream come true.

So let God reach the world with me and you.

We can make a world of difference.

With the love of God we can change the world.

We can shine that light that overcomes the darkness.

Spreading hope across the land, heart to heart and hand to hand,

we can make a world of difference with the love of God.

In God’s eyes there is no color,

then we can love each other and learn to give ourselves away.

Because we have a faith in common,

there’s hope for each tomorrow, forgetting all our yesterdays.

We’ve come too far just to see through each other,

now, we must see each other through;

I want to help to see you through!

We can make a world of difference.

With the love of God we can change the world.

We can shine that light that overcomes the darkness.

Spreading hope across the land, heart to heart and hand to hand,

we can make a world of difference with the love of God.

Love can tear down the walls that separate us, love can set every prisoner free.

God’s love can settle any confrontation, heal on nations.

We can make a world of difference.

With the love of God we can change the world.

We can shine that light that overcomes the darkness.

Spreading hope across the land, heart to heart and hand to hand,

we can make a world of difference with the love of God.

Words and Music: Babbie Mason and Cheryl Rogers
Arranged by Don Wyrtzen
© 1991, arr. © 1992 Word Music/Word Inc.



Communion

Words of Institution

Prayer of Consecration

Invitation

Music during Communion

I Have Loved You

Solo: I have loved you with an everlasting love,
I have called you and you are mine.
I have loved you with an everlasting love,
I have called you and you are mine.

All: I have loved you with an everlasting love,
I have called you and you are mine.
I have loved you with an everlasting love,
I have called you and you are mine.

Solo: Seek the face of the Lord and long for God:
God will fill you with light and with peace. (Refrain)

Solo: Seek the face of the Lord and long for God:
God will fill you with joy and with hope. (Refrain)

Words and Music: Michael Joncas 
© 1979 Oregon Catholic Press Publications

The Power of Your Love

Lord, I come to you. Let my heart be changed, renewed,
flowing from the grace that I found in you.
Lord, I’ve come to know the weaknesses I see in me
will be stripped away by the pow’r of your love.

Hold me close, let your love surround me.
Bring me near, draw me to your side.
And as I wait, I’ll rise up like the eagle.
And I will soar with you, your Spirit leads me on in the pow’r of your love.

Lord, unveil my eyes. Let me see you face to face,
the knowledge of your love as you live in me.
Lord, renew my mind as your will unfold in my life,
in living every day by the power of your love.

Hold me close, let your love surround me.
Bring me near, draw me to your side.
And as I wait, I’ll rise up like the eagle.

And I will soar with you, your Spirit leads me on in the pow’r of your love.
And I will soar with you, your Spirit leads me on in the pow’r of your love.
And I will soar with you, your Spirit leads me on in the pow’r of your love.

Words and Music: Geoff Bullock
© 1992 Word Music/Maranatha! Music

It Is Well with My Soul

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll:

**Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
"It is well, it is well with my soul."
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Words: Horatio Gates Spafford, 1873
Music: Philip P. Bliss, 1876

**Prayer of Thanksgiving

**Recessional:

We All Are One in Mission

We all are one in mission, we all are one in call,

our varied gifts united by Christ, the Lord of all.

A single, great commission compels us from above

to plan to work together that all may know Christ’s love.

We all are called for service to witness in God’s name.

Our ministries are different, our purpose is the same:

to touch the lives of others by God’s surprising grace,

so people of all nations may feel God’s warm embrace.

Now let us be united and let our song be heard.

Now let us be a vessel for God’s redeeming word.

We all are one in mission, we all are one in call,

our varied gifts united by Christ, the Lord of all.

Words: Rusty Edwards

© 1986 Hope Publishing Company
Music: Finnish folk melody

**Benediction

Postlude for Dismissal

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