1st Sunday of LentCALL TO WORSHIP P: People of the covenant: God does not remember us according to our sins and transgressions. C: God remembers us according to God’s own steadfast love! P: The God of our salvation teaches us right paths and leads us in truth. C: All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness; we put our trust in God. CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS P: God’s bow has been hung in the clouds—a unilateral disarmament in spite of our sin. God remains faithful to the covenant of steadfast love, even when we are unfaithful. Without fear, then, we confess our sins. Silence for Reflection P: God of mercy, C: we begin this Lenten season in confession. We do not live according to your ways, but according to our own. We condone violence, participate in systems of injustice, and use power to our own advantage at the expense of others. Forgive us, we pray, when we are tempted to follow paths other than those you set before us. Teach us your commandments; help us to turn from evil in its many guises, and turn us toward your kingdom drawing near. In your love, remember us, we pray, and be for us, once more and always, an ark of safety and new life. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen. P: As Noah and his family were brought safely through the flood onto dry ground, so in baptismal waters we are brought from death into new life in Christ. Jesus Christ +, who is at the right hand of God, forgives us and reconciles us and all things in heaven and on earth. C: Thanks be to God for this good news! HYMN “Bless Now, O God, the Journey” PRAYER OF THE DAY P: Loving God, you have made covenant with us and with every living creature. We give thanks for the sign of the rainbow, for it reminds you and us of your promise: that the flood of destruction will not be the last word. We thank you, too, for the waters of baptism, the sign that we are raised as children of the covenant; through Jesus Christ our Lord. And we thank you for the sign of the dove, the promise of your Holy Spirit. Hovering over the dawn of creation, descending upon your beloved Son, your Spirit also hovers over and descends upon us. With the whole creation, we give you all glory and honor. In your triune name we pray. C: Amen. Hebrew Bible Reading: Genesis 9:8-17 8God 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.” SERMON Rev. Lori E.L. Kitzing HYMN “Thy Holy Wings” PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION Steadfast God, thank you for sheltering us in the storms of life. Thank you for ministering to us through angels seen and unseen in times that test us. Thank you for claiming us as a people beloved forever. Because of your great love and care for us, we trust you in our brightest joys and deepest needs. We rejoice when dark clouds of trouble are overtaken by the light of your presence and new possibilities, when things settle down after a time of tossing about, when the great storm is over, and when the promise of resurrection life takes hold in us with sure and certain hope. Hear our prayers, we ask, for the deep needs of the world. In places of violence and warfare, give us the courage to lay down our weapons of death and promote life and well-being instead. In places of drought and fire, bring rains that make the earth colorful and verdant again. In places where the waters overtake their boundaries, allow the overflowing chaos to recede. Loving God, in life and in death, we belong to you. So in the midst of life, we entrust ourselves to your care. We are bold to ask for help when we are confused, lost, or afraid. We are eager to ask for healing for our bodies and minds, whether wounded, ill, or recovering. And we are unceasing in our prayers for those we love who are far from us physically, emotionally, or spiritually. In the midst of death and grief, even though we are weary, we return again and again, praying for comfort, for an easing of the pain that comes from loss, and for the light of your presence to pierce the present darkness. We pray especially for Julie, Karla, Stephanie, Cammie, Nancy, Beverly, Micala, Murlene, Eileen, and Brian. As the heavens were torn open at Jesus’ baptism, and the curtain in the temple was torn at his crucifixion so now tear open anything that divides us from you or hides your presence in our lives or in the church. We desire to hear your voice of love, to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and to see you clearly. Lead us to serve others faithfully as disciples of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. C: Amen. LENT OFFERING PRAYER Financial gifts can be sent to the church P: God our provider, you have not fed us with bread alone, but with words of grace and life. Bless us and these your gifts, which we receive from your bounty, through Jesus Christ our Lord. C: Amen. LORD’S PRAYER Sung by Paul Zach BENEDICTION P: May the blessing of God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, uphold you on the way. C: Amen. HYMN “O Lord, Throughout These Forty Days” CHARGE P: Go And...Have the Conversation! So that you can better love God and your neighbor. C: Thanks be to God. Printed by permission oneliscense.net A-717495
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AuthorRev. Lori E.L. Kitzing Archives
April 2024
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