First Sunday in Lent
Sunday, February 21, 2021
PRELUDE
“Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley”
[American Folk Song, arr. by Fred Bock]
Rebecca Nelson, Piano
WELCOME FROM THE PULPIT
OPENING PRAYER
Evia Briggs Moore, Liturgist
Leader: Creator and Sovereign, our world and our lives are full of threat.
People: We return to you today to be reminded that you do not abandon us to the hard realities of our lives.
Leader: You are the one who saves us.
People: You are the one who teaches us your life-giving ways.
Leader: You are the one who instills courage within us to walk your path.
People: Enter our hearts and lives for your powerful purposes, in the name of our brother Jesus and the soaring Spirit. Amen.
HYMN
“I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” The Faith We Sing #2129
[Anonymous]
I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus,
I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back
The world behind me, the cross before me…
Though none go with me, still I will follow…
CHILDREN’S TIME
Alan Cook
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE…PASTORAL PRAYER…THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our God in heaven, your name is holy. Your kindom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today the food we need; forgive us our failings as we forgive those who have failed us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kindom and the power and the glory forever….Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Evia Briggs Moore
Genesis 9:8-17
Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, “As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and 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. I 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.” God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between you and me and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations. I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I 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. When 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.” God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”
Mark 1:9-15
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And 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. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts, and angels waited on him. Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
RESPONSE TO THE READING
“In the Midst of New Dimensions” verse 1 The Faith We Sing #2238
[Julian Rush]
In the midst of new dimensions, in the face of changing ways,
who will lead the pilgrim peoples wandering their separate ways?
God of rainbow, fiery pillar, leading where the eagles soar,
we your peoples, ours the journey, now and ever, now and ever, now and evermore.
SERMON
“All God’s Creatures”
Jan Everhart Hartliff, Pastor
WORSHIP WITH TITHES AND OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY
“Aria”
[Dale Wood]
Rebecca Nelson, Organ
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
HYMN
“Thy Holy Wings, O Savior” UMH #502
[Caroline V. Sandell-Berg; Swedish folk tune]
Thy holy wings, O Savior, spread gently over me,
and let me rest securely through good and ill in thee.
O be my strength and portion, my rock and hiding place,
and let my every moment be lived within thy grace.
BENEDICTION
SONG OF SENDING FORTH
“Shalom to You” UMH #666
Shalom to you now, shalom my friends.
May God’s full mercies bless you my friends.
In all your living, and all your loving,
Christ be your shalom, Christ be your shalom.