March 22, 2026

WE GATHER IN AWE AND PRAISE

PRELUDE                                      "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross"                   arr. Robert Hobby

INTROIT                            "O Worship the Lord"                                      Robert McCutchan

WELCOME                                                               Rev. Karen Chakoian

One: This is the day that the Lord has made

All: Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

*CALL TO WORSHIP

One:  Come, you who are weary of pretending time is unlimited.

            Come, you who have felt the fragility of life.

All:    This is a place where we do not look away.

One:  We gather in this house where resurrection is proclaimed,

All:     where death is not the final word,

            where love is poured out in extravagance.

One:  Come. Breathe in the fragrance of love.

All:     Let us worship God.

*HYMN 415                           “Come, Ye Sinner, Poor and Needy”                                                   RESTORATION

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION                                                  Mary Rebekah Fortman      

Generous God, we confess that we go wide when we could go deep. We fill our days triaging the urgent and miss the precious. We have turned from people we love because it felt like too much, or because we didn't know what to say, or because their vulnerability reminded us of our own. We have hoarded what we were meant to pour out. Forgive us, God.

A time for Silent confession is kept

Precious Lord, Give us the courage to be present, to stop moving long enough to notice the love that fills the room, to let what is real reach us. In your mercy, meet us here. Amen.

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON                                                          

*RESPONSE OF PARDON 851 “Come, Bring Your Burdens to God”      Woza Nomthwalo Wakho

*PASSING OF THE PEACE                                                                  

One:   The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,

All:      And also with you.

WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD

GODLY PLAY

  Congregation: May God be with you there   

    Children: May God be with you here.                

CHILDREN’S RECESSIONAL 188       “Jesus Loves Me” vs. 1

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION                                                                

SCRIPTURE       John 12: 1-8    CEB

Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, home of Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.  Lazarus and his sisters hosted a dinner for him. Martha served and Lazarus was among those who joined him at the table. Then Mary took an extraordinary amount, almost three-quarters of a pound, of very expensive perfume made of pure nard. She anointed Jesus’ feet with it, then wiped his feet dry with her hair. The house was filled with the aroma of the perfume. Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), complained,  “This perfume was worth a year’s wages.  Why wasn’t it sold and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He carried the money bag and would take what was in it.)

Then Jesus said, “Leave her alone. This perfume was to be used in preparation for my burial, and this is how she has used it.   You will always have the poor among you, but you won’t always have me.”

SERMON                                                                          Rev. Karen Chakoian 

WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

*HYMN  201                                    “A Prophet Woman Broke a Jar”                         HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE  followed by the Lord’s Prayer using debts and debtors.

TIME OF OFFERING   online giving is available at  www. indianolapres.org/give

OFFERTORY             Interlude on "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross"                 arr. John Dixon

*OFFERTORY RESPONSE  698           “Take, O Take Me as I Am”                              TAKE ME AS I AM

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION 

Precious Lord, We share what we have out of love. Use it to anoint the least of these until all the world is filled with the fragrance of your goodness. Amen

*HYMN 835                        “Just a Closer Walk with Thee”                                   CLOSER WALK

TIME OF COMMUNITY SHARING

CHARGE & BENEDICTION

CHORAL RESPONSE        "The Lord Bless You and Keep You"                           James D. Wetzel 

POSTLUDE                      Postlude on "What Wondrous Love is This"                                       arr. John Dixon

  Acknowledgments: Unless otherwise indicated, all texts and music are printed and broadcast under OneLicense.net license #A-702452