Pine River United Methodist Church
March 8, 2026 10:30 a.m.
*please stand if you are able
SPECIAL MUSIC: “I Love to Tell the Story” Jody Wilson & Dic Danielson
RINGING OF THE BELL
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND JOYS AND CONCERNS
*HYMN #144 This Is My Father’s World
*Call to Worship
Leader: In this season of Lent, we make our way to cross,
All: We remember the steps that led Christ there: betrayal and fear, but also trust in God, and love for humanity.
Leader: In this season of Lent, as we make our way to the cross, we strive to follow Christ’s example: to admit betrayal and fear that are part of life,
All: To embrace full trust in God and deep love for humanity.
So, may we make our journey alongside Jesus and worship God with song and praise!
*HYMN #261 Lord of the Dance
*Unison Prayer
Merciful God,
save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
Forgive us our sins and fill us with the joy and peace of your salvation.
So strengthen us with your Spirit during this Lenten season
that we may put our whole trust in you as confidently as Jesus did.
This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen
HYMN #361 Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
:
Leviticus 16:6-10, 15-22
6 “Aaron shall offer the bull as a purification offering for himself and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. 7 He shall take the two goats and set them before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting, 8 and Aaron shall cast lots on the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for Azazel. 9 Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the Lord and offer it as a purification offering, 10 but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.
15 “He shall slaughter the goat of the purification offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the curtain and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it upon the cover and before the cover. 16 Thus he shall make atonement for the sanctuary, because of the uncleannesses of the Israelites and because of their transgressions, all their sins, and so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which remains with them in the midst of their uncleanness. 17 No one shall be in the tent of meeting from the time he enters to make atonement in the sanctuary until he comes out and has made atonement for himself and for his house and for all the assembly of Israel. 18 Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the Lord and make atonement on its behalf and shall take some of the blood of the bull and of the blood of the goat and put it on each of the horns of the altar. 19 He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times and cleanse it and sanctify it from the uncleannesses of the Israelites.
20 “When he has finished atoning for the holy place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall present the live goat. 21 Then Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities of the Israelites, and all their transgressions, all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat and sending it away into the wilderness by means of someone designated for the task. 22 The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to a barren region, and the goat shall be set free in the wilderness.
Psalm 32:1-7
1 Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
2 Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 While I kept silent, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
6 Therefore let all who are faithful
offer prayer to you;
at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters
shall not reach them.
7 You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with glad cries of deliverance.
Matthew 27:11-22
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
Barabbas or Jesus?
15 Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Jesus Barabbas. 17 So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. 19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.” 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” All of them said, “Let him be crucified!”
Leader: The word of God for the people of God.
People: Praise be to God.
MESSAGE “An Unlikely Freedom” Pastor Jen Matthees
SPECIAL MUSIC: “Where Could I Go” Jody and Dic
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
SILENT PRAYER
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
*HYMN #357 Just As I Am, Without One Plea vs. 1-2, 5-6
*BENEDICTION
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Tuesday, March 10: 4:30 p.m. Ad Council Meeting
Wednesday, March 11: Lent Study – An Unlikely Lent
Supper at 5:45pm
Study at 6:30pm
Sunday, March 15: 10:00 a.m. Coffee Fellowship
10:30 a.m. Worship
*Easter Lily order sheet on back table. Lilies are $14.00.
Offering plate is in back of the church.
March Mission: Pine River Area Food Shelf
Church Office Hours:
Tuesday 8:00 – Noon, 1:00 –3:00 p.m.
Wednesday and Friday 8:00 – 12:30 p.m
For prayer requests please contact the church office: prmethodist@gmail.com OR 218-587-4091.
The beginning of each month we will be starting a new prayer list. If you want continued prayers for a loved one, please contact church office.
GOD HEARS AND ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS
Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”
And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Psalm 32:5 NLT
*Our services can now be viewed on YouTube during worship service or at any other time of the day or week. There may be a delay in the streaming so be patient and the service WILL begin. Copy and Paste the link below to watch our Services.
https://www.youtube.com/@pineriverunitedmethodist2574/streams