Bulletin – February 28, 2021 – Lent 2

Second Sunday in Lent

Approach

Lenten Candle Liturgy

We have been challenged to journey with Christ this Lent. It is a journey that many of us might think we already know, but what if God calls us to a new way, a way that is unfamiliar? On this way we might be able, at times, to clearly see the way forward. Other times, on this journey, the way forward might be shrouded, it might be just beyond our sight, and yet God continues to call us to follow, Jesus continues to ask us to come along. How can we continue to move forward on this path when we can’t see where we are going? How can we continue to trust when the future is yet unknown? But that is what God is asking of us, isn’t it, to continue on this journey even when it is a difficult path to follow? As the days lengthen, the 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:   Lent calls us to journey, this and every day, following Jesus wherever he leads us.
All:     Lent calls us to journey: to the place where God covenants with us, to receive the new names we are given.

One:   Lent calls us to worship together, to tell future generations the good news.
All:     Lent calls us to practice justice, to bring God’s hope to all people.

One:   Lent calls us to faithful living, to trust the One who gives us life.
All:     Lent calls each of us to take up our cross, to trust the One who bears it with us.

One:   Lent calls us to journey with God.
All:     Let us worship God, who walks with us, this and every day.

Hymn – “He’s Always Been Faithful to Me/Great is Thy Faithfulness”

(Praise team intro)

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, ever to me!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth.
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow –
Wondrous the portion thy blessings provide.

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, ever to me!

(Praise Team ending)

Prayer of Approach

Long before the change of name, before the first signs of new life showed the beginning of promises fulfilled, you asked Abram to make his home among foreigners, and share the blessing that was to come. And now, O God, you ask the same faith of us: the faith to count ourselves among the least, to find our place alongside the poor and broken; the faith to trust in your mercy and your promises, and to share what we have received; the faith to wait expectantly for your reign of justice and equity, together with those who most need its gifts.

Yet we struggle. We like our lives the way they are right now. We are comfortable in the status quo. There are many times when we don’t want to change and so we don’t hear your call. There are many times when we don’t want to wait, we want everything now.

You call us to be your people, but we find it easier to be people of this world, rather than people of your world. Teach us to be children of Abram, teach us to hear your call in our lives once again, teach us to be those who share the blessings we enjoy, the blessings that you have given to us, with the world. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Time for All Ages

The Word

Scripture Reading:          Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16

¹ When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. ² And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous.” ³ Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, ⁴ “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. ⁵ No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. ⁶ I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. ⁷ I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.

Scripture Reading:          Mark 8:31-38

³¹Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. ³²He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ³³But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

³⁴He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ³⁵For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. ³⁶For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? ³⁷Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? ³⁸Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God!

Song – “For Those Tears I Died”

You said you’d come and share all my sorrows,
You said you’d be there for all my tomorrows.
I came so close to sending you away.
But just like you promised,
You came there to stay
I just had to pray.

And Jesus said,
“Come to the waters, stand by my side.
I know you are thirsty, you won’t be denied.
I felt every tear drop when in darkness you cried;
And I strove to remind you that for those tears I died.”

Jesus, I give you my heart and my soul,
I know that without you I’d never be whole.
Saviour, you opened all the right doors.
And I thank you and praise you from earth’s humble shores.
Take me, I’m yours.

And Jesus said,
“Come to the waters, stand by my side.
I know you are thirsty, you won’t be denied.
I felt every tear drop when in darkness you cried;
And I strove to remind you that for those tears I died.”

Meditation – “To Trust, Even When it is Difficult”

Song – “Trust in You”

The Response

Prayer

One:   Gracious and Loving God: we pray for all those who are faced with temptations or trials that seem too great for them. Keep all your people strong in the face of temptation, teach us all to rely on you at dark times in our lives, and let your Word be our strength. Bless those in positions of leadership so that they can lead wisely and with justice, and so that they may resist all temptation to abuse your power. Lord in your mercy:

All:     hear our prayer.

 One:   We pray for young and those whose faith is fragile, that they may be strengthened against the temptation of unbelief. Help us to support each other at moments of weakness and give us the strength to stand strong for others. Helps us to stand up for peace, mercy, justice, not only for ourselves, but for others in the world. Help us to work to break down the walls that separate and marginalize. Lord in your mercy:

All:     hear our prayer.

 One:   Stand by all those who are hungry or homeless, that they may not be tempted to despair. Keep those who are struggling with illness strong in their faith, so that they can lean on you through the tough times ahead. We especially pray for your healing hand over…Lord in your mercy:

All:     hear our prayer.

 One:   Loving God, receive the prayers that we offer this day. Hear us as we continue to pray in the words that Jesus taught us.

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 – “God Will Make a Way”

God will make a way when there seems to be no way,
He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me.
He will be my guide, hold me closely to His side,
With love and strength for each new day,
He will make a way. He will make a way.

By a roadway in the wilderness He’ll lead me.
Rivers in the desert will I see.
Heaven and earth will fade,
But His word will still remain.
And He will do something new today…

Benediction

Our help comes from God, the Creator of heaven and earth.
Even though the road may be hard, the way difficult, God will not let your stumble or fall;
The One who watches over you never tires and never sleeps.
So go from this place in peace and confidence, for you do not go alone, know that as you go, God goes with you.
So go with God, sharing God’s gifts with the world. 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.