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Sunday Morning Worship
Pam Smith
Pam Smith
Sunday, February 21, 2021
Notes
Playlist

Order of Worship
Sunday, February 21, 2021
First Sunday in Lent

Prelude

Introduction to the day
On Ash Wednesday the church began its journey toward baptismal immersion in the death and resurrection of Christ. This year, the Sundays in Lent lead us to focus on five covenants God makes in the Hebrew Scriptures and to use them as lenses through which to view baptism. First Peter connects the way God saved Noah’s family in the flood with the way God saves us through the water of baptism. The baptismal covenant is made with us individually, but the new life we are given in baptism is for the sake of the whole world.

In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Hymn    O Lord, Throughout these Forty Days     ELW  319

Confession and Forgiveness
Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, who forgives all our sin, whose mercy endures forever.
Amen.

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Gracious God,
have mercy on us. We confess that we have turned from you and given ourselves into the power of sin. We are truly sorry and humbly repent. In your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things we have done and things we have failed to do. Turn us again to you, and uphold us by your Spirit, so that we may live and serve you in newness of life through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin, and made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved. In the name of + Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Almighty God strengthen you with power through the Holy Spirit that Christ may live in your hearts through faith. Amen.

Prayer of the Day
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 9:8-17
Today’s reading is the conclusion to the flood story. Because of human sin, God destroys the earth by flood, saving only Noah, his family, and the animals on the ark. Yet divine destruction gives way to divine commitment. As in the first creation, God blesses humanity and establishes a covenant with all creatures.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Psalm 25:1-10
Your paths, O Lord, are steadfast love and faithfulness. (Ps. 25:10)

1To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
 2O my God, in you I trust;
 do not let me be put to shame;
 do not let my enemies exult over me.
 3Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
 let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
 4Make me to know your ways, O LORD;
 teach me your paths.
 5Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
 for you are the God of my salvation;
 for you I wait all day long.
 6Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love,
 for they have been from of old.
 7Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
 according to your steadfast love remember me,
 for your goodness' sake, O LORD!
 8Good and upright is the LORD;
 therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
 9He leads the humble in what is right,
 and teaches the humble his way.
 10All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,
 for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

Second Reading     1 Peter 3:18-22
As God acted through Christ’s suffering and death to bring us to God, so God acts through baptism to save us from a sinful existence. This spiritual cleansing marks our new life in Christ.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Gospel     Mark 1:9-15
The Spirit that comes upon Jesus at his baptism sustains him when he is tested by Satan so that he might proclaim the good news of God’s reign.

The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon 

Apostles’ 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 the People
Relying on the promises of God, we pray boldly for the church, the world, and all in need.

A brief silence.

In Jesus your realm has come near to us in every place and time. Give your church throughout the world a spirit of humility and repentance; teach us to trust always in the good news of your salvation. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

You have made a covenant of mercy with every living creature. Protect all the earth’s creatures from destruction. Empower the work of biologists, conservationists, and science educators. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

All your paths are steadfast love and faithfulness. Direct the words and actions of leaders in our community and throughout the world, that they may maintain justice for the lowly. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Even in the wilderness you are with us. Walk alongside migrants and refugees crossing dangerous lands. Tend to those whose lives feel desolate. Give healing and strength to all who suffer, particularly Alena, Jenna, Marilyn, Jerod & Julia, Nick, Julie, Jean, Marcella, Michael, Anne, JoAnn, Sandy, Beth, Johnny, Lorry & Allen, Betty, Dione, Theresa, Dottie, Tim, Henry, Mary, Greg, Ann Joyce, Barbara, & Shelby. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

In the covenant of baptism you claim us as beloved children. Nurture us in our baptismal identity and teach us to live within it for the sake of others. Strengthen this congregation’s ministries of care and concern. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

In baptism you join us to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We praise you for all those who have died trusting in your faithfulness. Bring us with them to the fullness of your reign. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

We entrust ourselves and all our prayers to you, O faithful God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.


The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven,
    hallowed be your name,
    your kingdom come,
    your will be done,
        on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
    as we forgive those
        who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
    and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
    and the glory are yours,
    now and forever. Amen.

Offering Prayer
Faithful God, you walk beside us in the desert and wilderness places and you care for us with tender mercy and steadfast love. May our lives, our time, and our treasure be an offering reflecting your love for the world through Jesus.
Amen.

Hymn     Guide Me Ever, Great Redeemer (vs. 1, 3)       ELW 618

Benediction

Postlude


O Lord, throughout These Forty Days  Text: based on Claudia F. Hernaman, 1838-1898; para. Gilbert E. Doan Jr., b. 1930;  Music: A. Davisson, Kentucky Harmony, 1816; arr. Theodore A. Beck, 1929-2003; Text © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress.  Music Arr. © Concordia Publishing House.  Both Text and Music Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274.  All rights reserved.

Guide Me Ever, Great Redeemer  Text: William Williams, 1717-1791, tr. William Williams and Peter Williams, 1722-1796, alt.; Music: John Hughes, 1873-1932.  Public domain.