CALL TO WORSHIP:
L.  Wherever you are, God Says,
P.  Welcome home!
L.  Wherever you have been, God says to you,
P.  Welcome home!
L.  Whatever you have done, God says to you,
P.  Welcome home!
L.  In the midst of temptation, anxiety, or confusion, God says to you,
P.  Welcome home!
L.  Whether you feel you deserve it or not, God says to you,
P.  Welcome home!
L.  Come, let us worship God.

Hymn: “Let Us Build a House”  MV 1
1.  Let us build a house where love can dwell and all can safely live,
a place where saints and children tell how hearts learn to forgive.
Built of hopes and dreams and visions, rock of faith and vault of grace;
here the love of Christ shall end divisions:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

2.  Let us build a house where prophets speak, and words are strong and true,
where all God's children dare to seek to dream God's reign anew.
Here the cross shall stand as witness and as symbol of God's grace;
here as one we claim the faith of Jesus;
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

3.  Let us build a house where love is found in water, wine and wheat;
a banquet hall on holy ground, where peace and justice meet.
Here the love of God, through Jesus, is revealed in time and space;
as we share in Christ the feast that frees us:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

4.  Let us build a house where hands will reach beyond the wood and stone
to heal and strengthen, serve and teach, and live the Word they've known.
Here the outcast and the stranger bear the image of God's face;
let us bring an end to fear and danger:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

 Prayer of Approach:  (in unison)
God of creation, you care for each and every one of your creations, from the land and air to the birds, animals, marine life, and the ones you have created in your own image, humankind. When we hurt, you hold us. When we are alone, you come to us. When we are lost, you welcome us home. We gather now to remember with thanksgiving these gifts of grace. We ask you to touch our hearts and open our spirits to your word as we receive your call to action now. Amen.

 Theme Time:  “Letters to God”:

 Hymn:“Give to Us Laughter”   VU 624
1.  Give to us laughter, O Source of our life.
Laughter can banish so much of our strife.
Laughter and love give us wholeness and health.
Laughter and love are the coin of true wealth.

2.  Give to us laughter as sign of deep joy;
let us in laughing find Christian employ,
joining with stars and with bright northern lights,
laughing and praising and sharing delights.'

3.  Why do we worry that we will lose face?
Why act like king for the whole human race?
Often in family, and often with friend,
laughing at pride causes anguish to end.

4.  Even in sorrow and hours of grief,
laughter with tears brings most healing relief.
God, give us laughter, and God, give us peace,
joys of your presence among us increase.

 Old Testament Reading:
Joshua 5: 9 - 12
9 The LORD told Joshua, “It was a disgrace for my people to be slaves in Egypt, but now I have taken away that disgrace.” So the Israelites named the place Gilgal,[a] and it still has that name.
10 Israel continued to camp at Gilgal in the desert near Jericho, and on the fourteenth day of the same month,[b] they celebrated Passover.
11-12 The next day, God stopped sending the Israelites manna[c] to eat each morning, and they started eating food grown in the land of Canaan. They ate roasted grain[d] and thin bread[e] made of the barley they had gathered from nearby fields.

 Epistle Reading:
2 Corinthians 5: 16 - 21
16 We are careful not to judge people by what they seem to be, though we once judged Christ in this way. 17 Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. 18 God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others.
19 What we mean is that God was in Christ, offering peace and forgiveness to the people of this world. And he has given us the work of sharing his message about peace. 20 We were sent to speak for Christ, and God is begging you to listen to our message. We speak for Christ and sincerely ask you to make peace with God. 21 Christ never sinned! But God treated him as a sinner, so Christ could make us acceptable to God.

Psalm Reading  Psalm 32:  1 - 8  page 759 VU
Refrain:  “Be glad in God you righteous. Rejoice, O saints, rejoice ”

Blessed are those whose offences are forgiven,
whose sin has been put away.
     Blessed are those to whom God imputes no guilt,
     and in whose spirit there is no deceit.  Refrain

When I kept silence, my body wasted away,
while I groaned all the day long.
     For your hand was heavy upon me day and night;
     my strength dried up as in a summer drought.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you, my guilt I did not hide.
     I said: 'I will confess my sins to God';
     and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Therefore let all the faithful pray to you in time of trouble;
     when great floodwater rises, it shall not come near them.
You are a hiding place for me, you will preserve me from trouble;
     you will surround me with shouts of deliverance.  Refrain

I will teach you, and guide you in the way you should go.
     I will keep you under my eye and instruct you.
Be not like a horse or mule, without understanding,
     whose course must be checked with bit and bridle.
Many pains are in store for the wicked,
     but whoever trusts in God, is surrounded by steadfast love.   Refrain

 Hymn:  “Come To My Heart” VU 661
1.  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.

2.  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.

3.  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.

Gospel Reading:
Luke 15: 11b - 32
Two Sons
11 Jesus told them yet another story:
Once a man had two sons. 12 The younger son said to his father, “Give me my share of the property.” So the father divided his property between his two sons.
13 Not long after that, the younger son packed up everything he owned and left for a foreign country, where he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 He had spent everything, when a bad famine spread through that whole land. Soon he had nothing to eat.
15 He went to work for a man in that country, and the man sent him out to take care of his pigs.[a] 16 He would have been glad to eat what the pigs were eating,[b] but no one gave him a thing. 17 Finally, he came to his senses and said, “My father's workers have plenty to eat, and here I am, starving to death! 18 I will go to my father and say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against God in heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer good enough to be called your son. Treat me like one of your workers.' ”
20 The younger son got up and started back to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt sorry for him. He ran to his son and hugged and kissed him.
21 The son said, “Father, I have sinned against God in heaven and against you. I am no longer good enough to be called your son.”
22 But his father said to the servants, “Hurry and bring the best clothes and put them on him. Give him a ring for his finger and sandals[c] for his feet. 23 Get the best calf and prepare it, so we can eat and celebrate. 24 This son of mine was dead, but has now come back to life. He was lost and has now been found.” And they began to celebrate.
25 The older son had been out in the field. But when he came near the house, he heard the music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants over and asked, “What's going on here?”
27 The servant answered, “Your brother has come home safe and sound, and your father ordered us to kill the best calf.” 28 The older brother got so angry that he would not even go into the house.
His father came out and begged him to go in. 29 But he said to his father, “For years I have worked for you like a slave and have always obeyed you. But you have never even given me a little goat, so that I could give a dinner for my friends. 30 This other son of yours wasted your money on prostitutes. And now that he has come home, you ordered the best calf to be killed for a feast.”
31 His father replied, “My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we should be glad and celebrate! Your brother was dead, but he is now alive. He was lost and has now been found.”

SERMON: “The Journey Home”

 Hymn: “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” VU 670
1.  Precious Lord, take my hand,
lead me on, let me stand,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
through the storm, through the night,
lead me on to the light:
take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.

2.  When my way grows drear,
precious Lord, linger near,
when my life is almost gone,
hear my cry, hear my call,
hold my hand lest I fall:
take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.

3.  When the darkness appears,
and the night draws near,
and the day is past and gone,
at the river I stand,
guide my feet, hold my hand:
take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.

Offering and Offertory Hymn: VU 540
Grant us, God, the grace of giving,
with a spirit large and free.
That ourselves and all our living
we may offer faithfully.

Prayer of Dedication: (in unison)
Bless these gifts, generous Gog, that they may be used to find your children - children who wander in hunger, children who long to come home. Through our gifts, may all who wander set off for home, and may we celebrate and rejoice in their homecoming.  Amen.

Prayers of the People and the Lord's Prayer: VU 960

20. Hymn:  MV 135 “Called By the Earth and Sky”
Refrain:  Called by the earth and sky,
promise of hope held high.
This is our sacred living trust,
treasure of life sanctified,
called by earth and sky

. (Last time ONLY)   called by earth and sky, called by earth and sky.

1.  Precious these waters, endless seas, deep ocean's dream, waters of healing, rivers of rain, the wash of love again.  Refrain

2.  Precious this gift, the air we breathe; wind born and free. Breath of the Spirit, blow through this place, our gathering and our grace.  Refrain

3.  Precious these mountains, ancient sands; vast fragile land. Seeds of our wakening, rooted and strong, Creation's faithful song.  Refrain

4.  Precious the fire that lights our way, bright dawning day. Fire of passion, sorrows undone, our faith and justice one.  Refrain

Commissioning and Benediction:

Three Fold Amen

Next Sunday:  Fifth Sunday in Lent
        April 6, 2025:
         Isaiah 43:16-21;  Psalm 126;
         Philippians 3:4b-14;  John 12:1-8.

1. THURSDAY, March 27, 2025   “THIRD AVENUE UNITED CHURCH YOUTH GROUP”   7:00 - 8:00 PM.  Logie hall GYM  Ages 9 - 13 yrs  To Register Contact Kaileigh at: kaileighhargreaves@gmail.com


2. SUNDAY, March 30, 2025  “Fourth Sunday in Lent”  Linda Emberley  “The Journey Home”  ALL ARE WELCOME!


3. TUESDAY, April 1, 2025  BIBLE STUDY  10:00 AM  Board Room  


4. TUESDAY, April 1, 2025  HANDBELL PRACTICE  6:30 PM.  Choir Room  We always welcome new members.  If you enjoy music please join us.


5. THURSDAY, April 3, 2025   “THIRD AVENUE UNITED CHURCH YOUTH GROUP”   7:00 - 8:00 PM.  Logie hall GYM  Ages 9 - 13 yrs  To Register Contact Kaileigh at: kaileighhargreaves@gmail.com


6. SUNDAY, April 6, 2025  “Fifth Sunday in Lent”  Rev. Jo-Ann Hills  “REFLECTIONS!”  ALL ARE WELCOME!


7. SUNDAY, April 20, 2025  “SUNDAY BRUNCH”   11:30 AM - 1:00 PM   ALL ARE WELCOME!