Sunday, February 14, 2021 – recording
First Sunday in Lent
Welcome and
Announcements
Gathering Hymn: “In the Cross of Christ I
Glory” LBW # 104, vs 1 – 4
Confession & Forgiveness
Greeting & Kyrie
Prayer of the Day
First Reading, Genesis 22:1-18
Psalm # 25:1-10
Second Reading, James 1:12-18
Holy Gospel, Mark 1:9-15
Sermon
Hymn of the Day: “My Faith Looks Up to Thee”
LBW # 479, vs 1 - 4
Apostle’s Creed
Prayers of the Church
The Lord’s Prayer
Blessing
Dismissal
Sending Hymn: “He Leadeth Me: Oh,
Blessed Thought!” - LBW # 501, vs 1 - 4
Postlude
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(Congregational
responses are in bold print)
The community of
faith comes together in worship to praise God and be nurtured by His Word and
Sacrament. As the prelude begins, prepare to worship, use opportunities during
the service to practice silence, to focus upon God, and to offer prayer.
Welcome and
Announcements Pastor
John
Gathering Hymn “In the Cross of Christ
I Glory” LBW # 104, vs 1 – 4
In the cross of Christ I glory, Tow'ring o'er the wrecks of time. All the light of sacred
story Gathers round its head sublime.
When the woes of life o'ertake me, Hopes deceive, and fears annoy, Never shall the cross forsake me; Lo, it glows with peace
and joy.
When the sun of bliss is beaming Light
and love upon my way, From the cross the radiance streaming Adds more luster to
the day.
Bane and blessing, pain
and pleasure, By the cross are sanctified; Peace is there that knows no
measure, Joys that through all time abide.
Confession & Forgiveness (Pastor)
Blessed be the
holy Trinity, one God, who brings us out of captivity into freedom, out of the
wilderness into the promised land, out of death into life. Amen.
Let us confess
our sin in the presence of God and of one another…(silence
is kept for reflection)
Holy God, holy
and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.
For
self-centered living, and for failing to walk with humility and gentleness: Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal,
have mercy on us.
For longing to
have what is not ours, and for hearts that are not at rest with ourselves: Holy
God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have
mercy on us.
For misuse of
human relationships, and for unwillingness to see the image of God in others: Holy
God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have
mercy on us.
For jealousies
that divide families and nations, and for rivalries that create strife and
warfare: Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and
immortal, have mercy on us.
For reluctance
in sharing the gifts of God, and for carelessness with the fruits of creation: Holy
God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have
mercy on us.
For hurtful
words that condemn, and for angry deeds that harm: Holy God, holy and
mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.
For idleness
in witnessing to Jesus Christ, and for squandering the gifts of love and grace:
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have
mercy on us.
In the mercy
of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God
forgives us all our sins. Through the Holy Spirit God cleanses us and gives us
the power to proclaim the mighty acts of the one who called us out of darkness
into his marvelous light. As a called and ordained minister of the church of
Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness
of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.
Greeting (Pastor)
The immeasurable grace of Christ Jesus, the rich mercy of God,
and the unity of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you.
Kyrie (Worship
Assistant)
In peace, let us pray
to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For the peace from above, and for our
salvation, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For the peace
of the whole world, for the well-being of the church of God, and for the unity
of all, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For this holy house, and for all
who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord. Lord,
have mercy. Help,
save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord. Amen.
Prayer of the Day (Pastor)
First
Reading: Genesis
22:1-18 (Worship Assistant)
1After these
things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”
2He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go
to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the
mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3So Abraham rose early in the
morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his
son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the
place of which God had told him. 4On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5Then
Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will
go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6And Abraham took
the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his
hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them
together. 7And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he
said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where
is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8Abraham said, “God will provide
for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So
they went both of them together. 9When they came to the place of
which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in
order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10Then
Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11But
the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”
And he said, “Here I am.” 12He said, “Do not lay your hand on the
boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have
not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a
ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and
offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14So Abraham
called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this
day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” 15And the
angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16and
said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this
and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17I will surely bless
you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as
the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of
his enemies, 18and in your offspring shall all the nations of the
earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” This
is the word of the Lord, thanks be to God.
Psalm: Psalm #25:1-10-read responsively (Worship Assistant)
The psalmist proclaimed
his full trust in the Lord, saying it was to him and him alone that he lifted up his soul.
Those who wait for the Lord will not be put to shame. Our waiting for God to
act is never in vain; we simply are not privy to God’s plans even though we
trust in him for our salvation and steadfast love.
To you, O
Lord, I lift up my soul; my God, I put my trust in you; let me not be
humiliated, nor let my enemies triumph over me.
Let none
who look to you be put to shame; let the treacherous be disappointed in their
schemes.
Show me your
ways, O Lord, and teach me your paths.
Lead me in
your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; in you have I
trusted all the day long.
Remember, O
Lord, your compassion and love, for they are from everlasting.
Remember
not the sins of my youth and my transgressions; remember me according to your
love and for the sake of your goodness, O Lord.
Gracious and
upright is the Lord; therefore he teaches sinners in
his way.
He guides
the humble in doing right and teaches his way to the lowly.
All the paths
of the Lord are love and faithfulness to those who keep his covenant and his
testimonies.
For your
name’s sake, O Lord, forgive my sin, for it is great.
Second Reading: James 1:12-18 (Worship Assistant)
St. James reminded his readers that it is a great
blessing to withstand trials for the faith. When a person holds fast amid
trials, he or she will receive the crown of life. This is the promise of the
Lord of love. God is not a tempter — he brings us forth through trials with
truth and encouragement.
12Blessed is
the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has
promised to those who love him. 13Let no one say when he is tempted,
“I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he
himself tempts no one. 14But each person is tempted when he is lured
and enticed by his own desire. 15Then desire when it has conceived
gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. 16Do
not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17Every good gift and every
perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom
there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18Of his own will he
brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits
of his creatures. This is the Word of God,
word of life, thanks be to God.
Holy Gospel: Mark 1:9-15 (Pastor)
The Holy
Gospel according to St. Mark, the 1st Chapter. Glory to you, O
Lord.
As soon as
Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River, the Spirit drove him into the wilderness
— that place of trial and temptation, and even death. Angels tended to him and
animals kept him company. Immediately following this, he began his public
ministry; meanwhile, John was arrested and put in jail for his preaching.
9In those days
Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And
when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn
open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11And a voice
came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” 12The
Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13And he was
in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild
animals, and the angels were ministering to him. 14Now after John
was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15and
saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and
believe in the gospel.” This is the gospel of the Lord, praise to you, O
Christ.
Sermon Pastor
John
Hymn of the Day “My Faith Looks Up to
Thee” LBW #
479, vs 1 – 4
My faith looks up to thee, Thou Lamb of
Calvary, Savior divine! Now hear me while I pray, Take
all my guilt away, Oh, let me from this day Be wholly thine!
May thy rich grace impart Strength to my
fainting heart, My zeal inspire; As thou hast died for
me, Oh, may my love to thee Pure, warm, and changeless be, A living fire!
While life’s dark maze I tread And griefs around me spread, Be thou my guide; Bid darkness
turn to day, Wipe sorrow’s tears away, Nor let me ever stray From thee aside.
When ends life’s transient dream, When death’s cold, sullen stream Shall o'er me roll; Blest
Savior, then, in love Fear and distrust remove; Oh, bear me safe above, A
ransomed soul!
Apostles' Creed (Pastor & Congregation)
God has made us his people through our Baptism into Christ. Living
together in trust and hope, we confess our faith:
I believe in God
the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus
Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord. He was
conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary. He
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and
was buried. He descended into hell. On
the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He
will come again 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 the Church (Pastor
& WA)
(P): We cry to you for
help, O God, praying for the church, the world, and all those who are in need. A
brief silence.
(W): Gracious
Father, we know we can thank you in times of trial, for you are with us. Let us
remember, it is through tough times that our faith is refined in you as we grow
more and more dependent on Christ. Grant us the wisdom to hear your Word and be
guided by your light. Help us to accept our wrong doings and confess them when
we fall short. Give us hope as we hear your gracious word of forgiveness. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
(W): Merciful
Lord, we pray for our neighbors in this world, that we may learn to love them
as you first loved us. Let us seek to understand their needs, so we may fulfill
your call to servant leadership. Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us, so we may
bring glory to your holy name as we serve others. Let us be courageous in
difficult times, always keeping our eyes focused on you. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
(W): Father God, we pray for those who have families near
and far, but who are divided by thought, word, or deed. May you guide them to
forgiveness just as you have first forgiven us. Let us be mindful of Christ’s journey to the cross during this Lenten season as a
reminder of your steadfast love and forgiveness for your people. Lord
in your mercy, hear our prayer.
(W): Lord,
Almighty Healer, we pray for comfort, health, and protection for those who are
sick and weak, who suffer and mourn, and who are spiritually lost and alone.
Grant healing according to your will and peace to all who are struggling. Bless
all health care workers and care givers as they minister to others with grace
and patience. Lord in your mercy, hear
our prayer.
(P):
Now is the acceptable time to offer our prayers to you, God of grace and truth.
Receive them in your mercy, and grant us all that we need, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer (Pastor)
Let us pray the prayer our Savior taught us…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.
Blessing (Pastor)
The Lord bless you and
keep you. The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon
you with favor and give you peace. Amen.
Dismissal (Worship
Assistant)
Go in peace. Christ is
with you. Thanks be to God.
Sending Hymn “He leadeth Me: Oh, Blessed Thought!” LBW # 315, vs 1 - 4
He leadeth me: O, blessed thought! Oh, words with heav'nly comfort fraught! Whate'er I do, where'er I be, still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me!
(Refrain):
He leadeth me, he leadeth me, By his own hand he leadeth me. His faithful
foll'wer I would be, For by his hand he leadeth me.
Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom, Sometimes where Eden's
bowers bloom, By waters calm, o'er troubled sea, Still 'tis God's hand that
leadeth me. (Refrain)
Lord, I would clasp thy hand in mine, Nor
ever murmur nor repine; Content, whatever lot I see, Since 'tis my God that leadeth
me. (Refrain)
And when my task on earth is done, When
by thy grace the vict'ry's won, E'en death's cold
wave I will not flee, Since God through Jordan leadeth me. (Refrain)
Postlude Mark Hurley