Fourth Sunday of Lent
March 19, 2023

Sources of Information for Today's Online Service
This page has links to information used or encountered in preparing this online service.

Topics for Today
Wikipedia is a frequent source
for information in these articles.

Season of Lent
Lent from wikipedia.org
What about Fasting?
40 Days of Lent: Find your own spiritual path

Season of Spring
Springtime
Equinox
March or Vernal Equinox

Bethel Worship Planning Documents
2023 Monthly Worship Calendar
2023 RCL 2 page Summary
Bethel Weekly Worship Planning worksheet
2023 Annual Program Planning worksheet

Guidance from UMC Discipleship Ministries

Weekly Worship Planning Series
This is the fifth of a 6 session Worship Series from the Discipleship Ministries.
The graphics at the top of this page list the topics for the weeks of the Series.
(Click on another graphic to see that session's resource page)

Note: This material from UDM is not the basis for today's message
but is provided here for your personal study and reflection.

Worship Series: "Learning to Live Inside Out"
from umcdiscipleship.org
Lent is a bi-directional season. Or at least it should be. That isn’t how we usually experience the season, however. Too often, we see the Lenten journey simply as a journey inward. While that is a great start or an important component to a powerful Lenten experience, it can’t be the whole story. Examining your soul is more than just looking inward; it is also considering the state of your soul as it walks about in the world. This isn’t new. Historically, the church has talked about the spiritual disciplines in two directions. Like the great commandment, these two sides of the same coin cannot ultimately be separated. That is why this series is about doing both – looking inward and moving outward. We are learning to live inside out.

This Service's Theme: "In the Presence"
Liturgical Resources
Do you know what it is like to be chosen? Well, you do because you were. Our texts this week are about being chosen by God. Most of us don’t think that we were chosen, certainly not to be king like David. But surely, we chose the jobs that we do and the hobbies that we pursue and the service that we perform, didn’t we? Well, yes. But God chose too. And not just in the past tense, God is still choosing.
Worship Planning Notes
Preaching Notes

Lectionary Scriptures:
1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41
Suggested Hymns . Music Notes . DM Accompaniments

Sources of Music for the following hymns are:
- UMH CD.....UDM - DM Accompaniment..... MM/DD/YY - Recorded Service

Hymns Considered For this week: