Home Worship for Sunday February 21 2021

Staying home is a form of loving your neighbor. Think about it, you may be staying home for your own health but in reality you then become less of a carrier to others that you might come in contact with. We hope you will feel close to God who is near even if we are far apart. May God Bless you and Keep you.


If you are in a high risk category, it is highly recommended that you remain safe as much as possible. Caregivers and family members are encouraged to do the same, so as to not jeopardize their loved ones. If you are not comfortable attending socially distanced activities, please stay home and stay in touch!

Prelude: How Firm a Foundation

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Call to Worship - Saint Thomas Aquinas

Give us, O Lord,

steadfast hearts, which no unworthy thought can drag downward,

unconquered hearts, which no tribulation can wear out,

upright hearts, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside.

Bestow upon us also, O Lord our God,

understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you,

and a faithfulness that may finally embrace you;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


(SAINT THOMAS, ITALY, 13TH CENT., ALT.)

O Love Divine, What Hast Thou Done UMH #287

1. O Love divine, what has thou done! The immortal God hath died for me!

The Father's coeternal Son bore all my sins upon the tree.

The immortal God hath died for me! My Lord, my Love, is crucified!


2. Is crucified for me and you, to bring us rebels back to God.

Believe, believe the record true, ye all are bought with Jesus' blood.

Pardon for all flows from his side: My Lord, my Love, is crucified!


3. Behold him, all ye that pass by, the bleeding Prince of life and peace!

Come, sinners, see your Savior die, and say, "Was ever grief like his?"

Come, feel with me his blood applied: My Lord, my Love, is crucified!


Words: Charles Wesley (1742). Tune Name: SELENA Composer: Isaac B. Woodbury (1850). (c) 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House. Used by permission. 

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A Time for Prayer

Take a few moments. Think and remember the blessings of this past week. Think of the joys, the concerns. Think of those things concerning you and your family, your neighbors and friends. Think of the needs and concerns for our community, church and state/country. Perhaps write these things down in your journal. Then center yourself in an attitude of prayer, peace and calm. Speak with the Lord about these things. Remember our courageous health care workers, first responders and caregivers. Remember those dealing with sickness or distress. Remember those who are lost, hungry or anxious; depressed, in mourning or bereft.


When you are ready... finish your time of prayer by praying the words just below:

Days of Lent Prayer

Loving God, sometimes the toils of life seem more than we can bear, sorrows run deep, and there is uncertainty all around. Help us to acknowledge our fears and anxieties for what they are and hear your invitation to “Come. Follow. Rest.” Grant us courage to walk the lonesome days of Lent assured of your presence and trusting that even the darkest day is followed by the glowing hope of tomorrow’s sun. Amen.



- Park Ave UMC Prayer of the Month Feb 2021.

Message: "Looking for God"

Pastor Emily Denmark-McGee

Love is the Way Series


God is holding us in God's hand, if you are looking for God, look to love.


Scripture Romans 8:35-39 (NRSV)


35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.” 

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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Our Offering and Offering Prayer

Giving is a part of our worship to God. Partner with us as we share God’s hope and healing to our community and beyond. Contribute here: Oceanview Give. Thank you for helping show Christ real and relevant to the world.


Pray with us our Offering Prayer: Righteous God, we mark these early days in the Lenten journey with reminders of your covenant with your people. In your judgement, you sent upon creation the great flood – yet you saved a faithful remnant. You followed with a covenant not to use the flood again. As we prepare to offer our gifts to you, we are reminded that we have been spared from judgment by the one, your son, our Savior, who took on our guilt and bore our judgement. May gratitude for his sacrifice move us to offer not only money, but our whole being. In Christ, we pray. Amen. (Genesis 9:8-17)

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Revised Common Lectionary

Further Readings for the First Sunday in Lent, February 21, 2021 from The Revised Common Lectionary, Year B.


1st Reading: Genesis 9:8-17

Psalm: Psalm 25:1-10

2nd Reading: 1 Peter 3:18-22

Gospel: Mark 1:9-15


https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/