McPhail Weblog Mar 7th 2021

McPhail Baptist Church

Mar 7th 2021

Prelude: “When I Survey The Wondrous Cross”(arr. Paul Fey)

Hymn: “Lift High The Cross”

A Prayer of Thanksgiving

O God, on this Sunday in Lent in which we turn our eyes toward the cross, we are filled with gratitude for Jesus Christ and for all He means to us and to our world.

We thank You for the birth of Christ—for His incarnation in human flesh, for His ability to speak our language and to experience our pain and our temptations.

We thank You for the life of Christ—for the example of His actions, for the wisdom of His words, for His understanding of the human predicament, for His expressions of compassion.

We thank You for the death of Christ—for His willingness to sacrifice Himself freely, for the costly measures He took to save us from ourselves.

We thank You for the resurrection of Christ—for the assurance He gives of our own resurrection and for the promise of eternal life. Amen.

Special Music: "Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour"

Laura Monchuk and Ernie Cox

Scripture Reading:

Mark 15:21-32 (NRSV)

The Crucifixion of Jesus

21 They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. 22 Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). 23 And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take.

25 It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left. 29 Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.

Hymn: “The Old Rugged Cross”