Bulletin – February 21, 2021 – Lent 1
Approach
Lighting the Christ Candle
Turning his face towards Jerusalem, Jesus sets out on a new way and we are challenged to journey with him. It was not long ago that we were witness to the transfigured Christ, the glory of God shining around Jesus, illuminating God’s beloved once again. But although it was only a short time ago, it can seem like forever. God calls us to a new way also. We have been living a new reality and it seems like time has moved so quickly, yet in some ways it seems like forever. What do we need to do in order to move forward? Jesus, God’s beloved, has set his face towards Jerusalem. We know what is coming, don’t we? Are we willing to travel with Jesus, leaving behind the past that burdens us, looking to the future that challenges us? As the days lengthen, light lasts longer. We extinguish a candle knowing that on this new path there will be dark days ahead.
Sung Response:
You shall be the path that guides us,
You the light that in us burns;
Shining deep within all people,
Yours the love that we must learn,
For our hearts shall wander restless
Till they safe to you return;
Finding you in one another,
We shall all your face discern.
Call to Worship
One: Jesus comes along side us and calls us by name.
All: “Come, follow me.”
One: A simple call. A hard call.
All: Because following requires leaving.
One: And we look around to see who else Jesus could be talking to.
All: And we look around to see the trappings of the life we know.
One: It’s hard to leave our lives, to leave our past behind and to truly follow.
All: But we have come this far, to this place together, where we can listen and be transformed.
Hymn – “Come Join the Sacred Journey”
Come join the sacred journey as pilgrims on the road.
Our purpose sets our story, our faith will bear our load.
When love’s the destination, let footprints that we leave
Show Christ as our companion and hope in threads we weave.
In paths we take by chance or missteps we can’t foresee,
Our lives are rounded answers that face infinity.
With hose who also travel, we share our joys or grief.
When plans seem to unravel, friends offer us relief.
In unexpected places, God quietly appears.
Light seeps through broken spaces to counteract our fears.
‘Mid chaos or rejection, grace enters in each day,
To give to us direction and guide us on our way.
Prayer of Approach
We came to you this day singing our praises to you. We come to you this morning offering your words and our prayers.
You want us to bring our whole selves before, to come to you with all that we are this day. You call us in love to come and to be your people. Holy God, we confess that we do not trust you fully. Sometimes the words that we say are just words, with no meaning. We put our hope in worldly gain and in human promises and find ourselves defeated and lost when things fall apart. You have given us a love more fully than anything we could experience in this world, but we do not seek it, we do not hold on to it, and we look to our own means of assurance and security.
Forgive us. Call us back to you that we may put our trust in you and not be afraid as you call us to follow in this new path, as you call us to follow Jesus on this Lenten journey towards Jerusalem. We ask this in the name of Jesus, who loves us and offers us forgiveness, grace, and mercy. Amen.
Words of Assurance
Sung Response:
How deep the peace, the confidence, of those whose wrongs are forgiven.
How deep the peace, the confidence, of those whose hearts are healed.
Time for All Ages
The Word
Scripture Reading: Genesis 9:8-17
8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 “As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. 11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12 God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”
Scripture Reading: Mark 1:9-15
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
12 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God!
Hymn – “To the Desert Jesus Came”
To the desert Jesus came, to wrestle and to seek God’s way.
Sun and moon rose high above to watch him as he’d fast and pray.
Together through the valley, the tempter led him around.
Together through the valley, so Jesus answers found.
Like the Hebrews long ago who ventured through the desert sand,
Did he find a round of faith, where streams of living waters ran?
Together through the valley, so shall we make our way.
Together through the valley, we’ll walk for forty days.
In the desert we may find the mystery of who we are,
Following a faithful God, so very close and yet so far.
Together through the valley, we’ll gather our dreams in prayer,
Together through the valley, and find God’s presence there.
From the ashes to the hill, we’ll travel on our Lenten road.
Hand in hand we’ll cross this sand, and share each other’s heavy load.
Together through the valley, we’ll watch the changing sky.
Together through the valley, as Easter’s dawn draws nigh.
Meditation – “To Leave the Past”
Anthem – “Pilgrims”
The Response
Prayer
One: Eternal God, you are the maker of us all, and we are your creation, people formed in your image, as individuals, as community; formed and fed and furnished with understanding of who you are and of who and whose we are.
We worship you today in recognition of your calling, of your communicating, of your caring to invite us to share in your creative and healing work. We are here because we have heard you speak in us and through others. Help us, dear Lord, to ever respond to you and your invitation to your grace…We pray in your name.
All: Lord hear our prayer…
One: God of all our moments, of our days and our nights, you speak and you act in the world around us, not only to call all people to you, but also to direct and guide us in the way of healing and wholeness. Awaken us Lord, to hear what you would say to us. Help us to open our ears, our eyes, and our hearts to your presence. Help us to know when it is your voice we are hearing and when it is our prejudices and desires to which we are paying heed…We pray in your name.
All: Lord hear our prayer…
One: Lord, we pray that your church may rise up with renewed commitment in answer to your call, that your people may be instruments of your grace and love…We pray in your name.
All: Lord hear our prayer…
One: We pray for those who consider themselves inadequate and dismiss or avoid your calling in their lives. Give them a new vision, a vision in which you are their strength and their hope…We pray in your name.
All: Lord hear our prayer…
One: We pray for those who, in answering your call, must leave the known for the unknown, the oasis for the desert, the comfortable for the uncertain. Grant them courage and steadfast faith…We pray in your name.
All: Lord hear our prayer…
One: We pray too, today, O Lord, for those in want and need—for those of us and of the larger community who suffer in body or in soul. We remember before you those in this community whom we hope feel your presence with them…We pray in your name.
All: Lord hear our prayer…
One: Loving Father and Mother, bless us all with an abundant faith, a fruitful ministry, a joyful life. Bless us and all those who gather together to continue the work of Jesus, who came to heal, save, and deliver us all, and who taught us to pray as one family, saying…
All: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Hymn – “Spirit of God, Be Our Breath”
Spirit God: be our breath be our song.
Blow through us, bringing strength to move on.
Our world seems inward, defensive, withdrawn…
Spirit God, be our song.
Patient God: soothe our pride, calm our fear.
Comfort us. When we know you are near
We grow more certain, our vision is clear.
Patient God, calm our fear.
Loving God: be our voice, be our prayer.
Reaching out, joining hands as we share,
We seek your guidance through friendship and care.
Loving God, be our prayer.
Spirit God: be our breath, be our song.
Blow through us, bringing strength to move on.
Through change, through challenge, we’ll greet the new dawn.
Spirit God, be our song.
Benediction
May you depart knowing the invitation of God, to move
from comfort to insecurity
from what we know to what we have yet to discover
from where we have been to where we have yet to go
from safety to a place of risk.
Go in the name of Jesus, our Christ, who said ‘follow me’ without saying where he was going, just promising transformation and relationship. Go out this week knowing that you are following the path of Jesus. Amen.
Sung Response:
May the Christ who walks on wounded feet
Travel with you all your journey through.
May you see Christ’s face in all you meet
And may all you meet see Christ’s face in you.
