Welcome

Opening Litany[1]:
Here, at the outer limits of Lent, we are called to journey:
to the paper-thin edges which cut us
to the soul;
to the workplaces which weary us;
to the people who confuse us;
to the faith which threatens us.

Here, at the corner of Steadfast Love and Faithfulness,
we are called to wait:
when our clenched stomachs awaken us;
in the moments of unbearable sorrow;
with the angels who would carry us.

Here, where time is fulfilled, where God’s Kingdom is as near to us as our neighbor, we begin Lent:
with the Beloved,
whose tears wash away our fears,
with the God who will not let go
of our hands.

Confession and Forgiveness:
Blessed be the holy Trinity, + One God, whose voice is upon the waters, whose mercy is poured out upon all people, whose goodness cascades over all creation.
Amen.

Let us confess our sin, trusting in the abundant grace of God.

Silence is kept for reflection.

Holy God,
you search and know us.  You are acquainted with all our ways.  We confess that our hearts are burdened by sin – our own sins and the broken systems that bind us.  We turn inward, failing to follow your outward way of love.  We distrust those who are not like us.  We exploit the earth and its resources and fail to consider generations to come.  Forgive us, gracious God, for all we have done and left undone.  Even before the words are on our tongues, you know them; receive them in our divine mercy.  Amen.

How vast is God’s grace! Through the power and promise of + Christ Jesus, our sins are washed away and we are claimed as God’s own beloved. Indeed, we are forgiven. In the wake of God’s forgiveness, we are called to be the beloved community living out Christ’s justice and the Spirit’s reconciling peace.
Amen.

Prayer of the Day:
Let us pray.
Holy God, heavenly Father, in the waters of the flood you saved the chosen, and in the wilderness of temptation you protected your Son from sin. Renew us in the gift of baptism. May your holy angels be with us, that the wicked foe may have no power over us, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

First Reading: Genesis 9:8-7
⁸Then 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, ¹⁰and 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. ¹¹I 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.” ¹²God 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: ¹³I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. ¹⁴When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, ¹⁵I 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. ¹⁶When 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.” ¹⁷God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Gospel: Mark 1:9-14

This is the Holy Gospel according to Mark, the 1st chapter.
Glory to you, O Lord.

⁹In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰And 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. ¹¹And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

¹²And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. ¹³He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.

¹⁴Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, ¹⁵and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

Children’s Sermon

Sermon

Hymn of the Day

Apostle’s Creed:
Let us confess our faith using the Apostle’s Creed:
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
            creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.*
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayers of Intercession:
Guided by Christ made known to the nations, let us offer our prayers for the church, the world, and all people in need.

Prayers continue with each petition ending:

. . . let us pray.
Have mercy, O God.

Merciful God, hear the prayers of your people, spoken or silent, for the sake of the one who dwells among us, your Son, Jesus Christ our Savior.
Amen.

Sharing of the Peace

Announcements

Offering
https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/468062

Sending Litany[2]:
Lent calls us to journey, this and every day,
following Jesus wherever he leads us.
Lent calls us to journey:
to the place where God covenants with us,
to receive the new names we are given.

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

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

Lent calls us to journey with God.
Let us go with God, who walks with us,
this and every day.

Lord’s Prayer:
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us saying:
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.

Benediction:
You are what God made you to be:
Created in Christ Jesus for good works,
Chosen as holy and beloved,
Freed to serve your neighbor.

God bless you + that you may be a blessing, in the name of the holy and life-giving Trinity.
Amen.

Dismissal:
Go in peace. Share the good news.
Thanks be to God!

 

Prayer Requests:
Darv Krouse, Brenda Krouse, Glen Van Dyke, Gladys Fawcett,  family and friends of Pete Shearer, Tom Burns, Megan Brodsky, family and friends of Bob Berger, Shirley Hauck-Troxell, Ryan Caris, family and friends of Frank Danowsky, Gretchen Becker, Deb Fern, Kay Keister, Annette Baker, Courtney Price, Cami Zimmerman, Helen Barsh,  Jamie, Matt Koch, Bob Keifer, Peg Swinehart.

 

Portions reprinted from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, copyright 2006.  Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress, license #SBL09796L.  Music reprinted from the ELW, by permission of OneLicense, license #A712349.  Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.   Used by permission.

 

[1] Adapted from Rev. Thom Shuman and posted on Lectionary Liturgies. http://lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.ca/

[2] Adapted from Thom Shuman, and posted on Lectionary Liturgies. http://lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.ca/