Second Presbyterian Church + Portsmouth, OH 

Sun, March 15, 2020 

Rev. Allison T. Bauer, Pastor 

Dr. Stan Workman, Director of Music 

Download the complete bulletin here.

In this podcast ... 

THE WORD PROCLAIMED 

Prayer of Illumination 

Old Testament reading  Exodus 17:1-7 

The Psalter  Psalm 95 

The Epistle reading  Romans 5:1-11 

The Anthem "Come to the Water"  (John Foley/Lynda Hassleler) 

Oh let all who thirst 

Let them come to the water. 

And let all who have nothing, 

Let them come to the Lord. 

Without money, without price, 

Why should you pay the price, 

Except for the Lord? 

And let all who seek, 

Let them come to the water. 

And let all who have nothing, 

Let them come to the Lord. 

Without money, without strife, 

Why should you spend your life, 

Except for the Lord? 

And let all who toil, 

Let them come to the water. 

And let all who are weary, 

Let them come to the Lord. 

All who labor without rest, 

How can your soul find rest, 

Except for the Lord? 

And let all the poor, 

Let them come to the water. 

Bring the ones who are laden, 

Bring them all to the Lord. 

Bring the children without might. 

Easy the load and light, 

Come to the Lord. 

The Gospel reading  John 4:5-42 

The Sermon "Unwanted Sabbath" 

RESPONDING TO THE WORD 

Hymn: "Jesus, Lover of My Soul" 

Affirmation of Faith - The Apostles' Creed 

Prayers of the People & the Lord's Prayer 

Stewardship Invitation

The Offertory

Doxology 

Prayer of Dedication 

CARRYING FORTH THE WORD 

Hymn: "Come, Thou Fount" 

Benediction: "Pandemic" (a poem by Rev. Lynn Ungar)

What if you thought of it

as the Jews consider the Sabbath—

the most sacred of times?

Cease from travel.

Cease from buying and selling.

Give up, just for now,

on trying to make the world

different than it is.

Sing. Pray. Touch only those

to whom you commit your life.

Center down.

 

And when your body has become still,

reach out with your heart.

Know that we are connected

in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.

(You could hardly deny it now.)

Know that our lives

are in one another’s hands.

(Surely, that has come clear.)

Do not reach out your hands.

Reach out your heart.

Reach out your words.

Reach out all the tendrils

of compassion that move, invisibly,

where we cannot touch.

 

Promise this world your love–

for better or for worse,

in sickness and in health,

so long as we all shall live.

 

–Lynn Ungar 3/11/20

Benediction response "God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again" 

The Postlude