Liturgy of grief & remembrance

First Sunday of Lent

February 21, 2021

A WORD ABOUT TODAY’S SERVICE

Today is the first Sunday of Lent, which is a season of reflection—a time we remember our own frailty and the death of Christ in the weeks leading up to Easter. It's a season we enter into as a church family with intention, a time when we can name our grief and sorrows in light of the larger story of Jesus.

This year we have experienced many kinds of loss, including deaths in our church family. We haven't been able to gather and mourn our losses together in our normal ways, but we believe it's important we have space to grieve and to remember well. Our worship today is such a time, and we have woven it into our regular morning worship because lament and mourning are just as much a part of our life together as any other spiritual practice.

Throughout the worship service this morning you will hear words of remembrance in honor of Ed Enriquez, Harold Lane, Bob Maase, and Tom Harris—four beloved members of our congregation whose legacies have shaped us in so many meaningful ways. Whether you are listening from home, in the church parking garage, or somewhere else remotely, we invite you to share in this time of worship and remembrance as we honor the lives of these friends who are so dear to us.

If you aren't able to listen live at 10:30AM, we will post a recorded version of the service later today for you to listen to. You will hear various voices from our community, and we pray that you are lifted in spirit and encouraged by the sounds of the family of FBCP both near and far.

Less without you,

Pastor John Jay and this beautiful community of FBCP

You can give here! ❤️

CLICK HERE TO get the follow-along sheet

pages of remembrance

We have compiled words of remembrance in honor of Ed, Harold, Bob, and Tom. We invite you to spend time reading the memories shared by friends of FBCP and to praise God for all the ways these four individuals touched the lives of this congregation. If you would like to contribute something to these pages, please email lindsay@fbcpasadena.com.

Share your prayers

There are a few options for sharing your prayers and gratitudes. Below is a form that will be shared with our team. We also have a prayer wall on this site where we publicly share these prayers with our community. If you wish for your prayer/gratitude to stay private, no problem—just let us know in the form. And if you need to grab a phone call with someone from our Prayer Team, there is a button for that, too.

Prayers and Gratitudes

Name

First Name

Last Name

Your prayer request

Share with us how we can pray for you. You can also share a gratitude because we all love to hear that too!

How would you like us to share this prayer?

We want to know how widely to share this prayer. There is value in having the larger community praying with and for you, but you might wish for this prayer to stay more confidential. Just let us know.

Email

Make sure it is one you check so we can reach out to find you.

Cell Phone

Not required or anything. Only if you want to share it so we can stay in touch.

(###)

###

####

Do you want to receive text updates?

By default, we will not add you without permission. But it's some good stuff we are sharing, and I hope you are finding it helpful and grounding.

Would you like to speak to someone on our prayer team?

Yes, please.

Lyrics*

It is Well with My Soul

Horatio Gates Spafford | Philip Paul Bliss

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
”It is well, it is well with my soul.”

Tho' Satan should buffet, tho' trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

It is well (It is well)
With my soul (With my soul)
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

My sin, O, the bliss of this glorious tho't!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O, my soul!

And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Thomas Obediah Chisholm | William Marion Runyan

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not,
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be

Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide.
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.

Be Still My Soul

Jane Laurie Borthwick | Jean Sibelius | Kathrina Amalia von Schlegel

Lyrics for Offertory

Be still my soul the Lord is on thy side
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain
Leave to thy God to order and provide
In ev’ry change He faithful will remain
Be still my soul thy best thy heav’nly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end

Be still my soul thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past
Thy hope thy confidence let nothing shake
All now mysterious shall be bright at last
Be still my soul the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below

Be still my soul when dearest friends depart
And all is darkened in the vale of tears
Then shalt thou better know His love His heart
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears
Be still my soul thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away

Be still my soul the hour is hast'ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord
When disappointment grief and fear are gone
Sorrow forgot love's purest joys restored
Be still my soul when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last

Be still my soul begin the song of praise
On earth believing to thy Lord on high
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways
So shall He view thee with a well-pleased eye
Be still my soul the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Charles Crozat Converse | Joseph Medlicott Scriven

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
In His arms He'll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

Amazing Grace

John Newton

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we'd first begun.

Ain’t Got Time to Die

Hall Johnson

Lord, I keep so busy praisin’ my Jesus
Keep so busy praisin’ my Jesus
Keep so busy praisin’ my Jesus
Ain’t got time to die

‘Cause when I’m healin’ de sick (I’m praisin’ my Jesus)
When I’m healin’ de sick (I’m praisin’ my Jesus)
When I’m healin’ de sick (I’m praisin’ my Jesus)
Ain’t got time to die

‘Cause it takes all o’ ma time (To praise my Jesus)
All o’ ma time
To praise my Lord
If I don’t praise Him de rocks gonter cry out
Glory an’ honor
Glory an’ honor
Ain’t got time to die

Lord, I keep so busy workin’ fer de Kingdom
Keep so busy workin’ fer de Kingdom
Keep so busy workin’ fer de Kingdom
Ain’t got time to die
‘Cause when I’m feedin de po’ (I’m workin’ fer de Kingdom)
When I’m feedin de po’ (I’m workin’ fer de Kingdom)
When I’m feedin de po’ (I’m workin’ fer de Kingdom)
Ain’t got time to die

Lord, I keep so busy servin’ my Master
Keep so busy servin’ my Master
Keep so busy servin’ my Master
Ain’t got time to die
‘Cause when I’m givin’ my all (I’m servin’ my Master)
When I’m givin’ my all (I’m servin’ my Master)
When I’m givin’ my all (I’m servin’ my Master)
Ain’t got time to die

Now won’t you get outta ma way (To praise my Jesus)
Outta ma way

Credits

What a wonderful group of friends we had for this special liturgy and time of remembrance. Mary welcomed us into the service. For the movement for Ed Enriquez, Cynthia read the scripture passage while Vivian, Ismael, and Ken offered remembrances. Bill Goddard then led us in a time of prayer. For the movement for Harold Lane, Bunny read the scripture passage while Dave, Cindie, and Isabell offered remembrances. The song “Great is Thy Faithfulness” was taken from Harold's retirement service and features Paul on the organ. Next Dan ushered us into a time of giving while Paul provided our offertory. For the movement for Bob Maase, Lindsay read the scripture passage while Jeannette and Temna offered remembrances. John Jay then provided the homily. For the movement for Tom Harris, Tom Jr. read the scripture passage while Steve Hasper and Mark offered remembrances. John Jay and Leslie were our live music makers and were joined virtually, and across the sands of time, by Bill and Dave & The 1994 Chancel Choir. Leslie oversaw the production while Harriet worked her technical magic to mix this collaborative worship experience. Corrie created the artwork for our memorial program.