THEME: Spring to Life - Lent as a Garden of Spiritual Growth, Week 1
NOTES:As we begin our Lenten journey with a gardening metaphor in mind as our master image, one particular garden springs to mind. Remember the Garden of Eden? The decision to listen to God and obey, or to hear God and knowingly disobey....that makes all the difference. As we ponder the garden of our spiritual lives together this Lent, it's time to get the soil ready in our garden plot. What will we clear from the ground before we start digging? What will we need to remove? As we build up the soil, what is missing? What do we need to add? What may we be tempted to add that we don't really need? These questions are as crucial to the growth of our relationship with God as they are to preparing the ground to grow a crop. As children of God and followers of Christ, we have access to forgiveness - the process by which the unhealthy and unholy choices we have made can be transformed, when we release them and let go of their often tantalizing by-products. We turn today to Jesus' own response to temptation and the Psalmist's instruction on the process of forgiveness to enlighten our own faith.
Scripture:
Psalm 32 & Matthew 4:1-11
Psalm 32
Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
2 Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 While I kept silence, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
6 Therefore let all who are faithful
offer prayer to you;
at a time of distress,
the rush of mighty waters
shall not reach them.
7 You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. Selah
8 I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
9 Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle,
else it will not stay near you.
10 Many are the torments of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
Matthew 4:1-11
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,
‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
and ‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; 9 and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.’”
11 Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.
8:30 am Order of Service
We Gather in God's Presence
Welcome
Prelude
Lighting the Christ Candles
Praise Hymn "This is the Day" Red Chalice Hymnal, number 286
Call to Worship
Leader: After he was baptized by John, Jesus went by himself to the wilderness where he was tempted.
People: Forty days in the desert, Jesus was tempted
to become self-serving, spectacular, and powerful.
Leader: Today, we begin to journey with Jesus through the season of Lent,
which brings us to face some of our own weaknesses and temptations.
People: Let us worship God and walk the journey together,
seeking the spirit as our guide and companion along the way.
— copyright © Chris Heckert, and posted on his website, Heckert Resources...which doesn't seem to exist anymore. His new blog (I think!) is at Chris Heckert Blog http://chrisheckertblog.com/
Invocation
God, you know our hearts. You have knitted our inmost being and you know our deepest desires, fears and worries. Help us to journey during this Lenten season into a new awareness of your presence in our lives. Save us from our own temptations, so that we may more freely follow you.
Amen
— copyright © Chris Heckert, and posted on his website, Heckert Resources...which doesn't seem to exist anymore. His new blog (I think!) is at Chris Heckert Blog http://chrisheckertblog.com/
We Contemplate God's Word
Scripture
Sermon
We Come to the Lord's Table
Invitation to the Table
Communion Hymn, "As the Deer" Celebration Hymnal, Page 548, All THree Verses
Elder's Prayer
Words of Institution
The Lord's Supper with instrumental meditation
Prayer of Thanksgiving
We Pray Together
Joys & Concerns
Prayer Hymn, "Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley" Red Chalice Hymnal Number 211, all three verses.
Praying Together
Loving Lord,
at the beginning of this Lenten season,
we are met with the challenge of handing over
every bit of our lives that do not come from You.
To rid ourselves of what clutters our lives,
and all that distracts us from the simple truth
of Your love for us.
Your prophets have called us to change the way we worship—
to make internal sacrifices instead of external ones.
To seek justice, and love kindness,
and walk humbly with You
each and every one of our days.
As we choose something symbolic to give up or take on during this Lenten season,
empower us all to let go of living in ways that disconnect us from You,
for every one of our steps is like a circle around Your temple.
Perhaps this Lent, we can give up our way
and give ourselves to Your way for us.
So, lead and guide us on this Lenten way.
May we walk with Jesus toward the hill just outside of Jerusalem.
May we like Him take up our cross and follow,
spending each moment of our lives living responsively to You,
just as Christ Himself did.
For that is the faithful way. Amen.
We Go Forth into the World
Challenge for Discipleship
Discipleship Hymn, "Surely Goodness and Mercy, Celebration Hymnal, Page number 691 verses 2 and 3
Blessing
10:40 am Order of Service
We Gather in God's Presence
Welcome
Prelude
Call to Worship
Leader: After he was baptized by John, Jesus went by himself to the wilderness where he was tempted.
People: Forty days in the desert, Jesus was tempted
to become self-serving, spectacular, and powerful.
Leader: Today, we begin to journey with Jesus through the season of Lent,
which brings us to face some of our own weaknesses and temptations.
People: Let us worship God and walk the journey together,
seeking the spirit as our guide and companion along the way.
— copyright © Chris Heckert, and posted on his website, Heckert Resources...which doesn't seem to exist anymore. His new blog (I think!) is at Chris Heckert Blog http://chrisheckertblog.com/
Praise Hymn "This is the Day" Red Chalice Hymnal, number 286
Lighting of the Candles
Invocation
God, you know our hearts. You have knitted our inmost being and you know our deepest desires, fears and worries. Help us to journey during this Lenten season into a new awareness of your presence in our lives. Save us from our own temptations, so that we may more freely follow you.
Amen
— copyright © Chris Heckert, and posted on his website, Heckert Resources...which doesn't seem to exist anymore. His new blog (I think!) is at Chris Heckert Blog http://chrisheckertblog.com/
Passing of the Peace
Children's Song
We Contemplate God's Word
Scripture
Sermon
We Come to the Lord's Table
Invitation to the Table
Communion Hymn, "As the Deer" Celebration Hymnal, Page 548, All THree Verses
Words of Institution
The Lord's Supper with instrumental meditation
Prayer of Thanksgiving
We Pray Together
Joys & Concerns
Prayer Hymn, "Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley" Red Chalice Hymnal Number 211, all three verses.
Praying Together
Loving Lord,
at the beginning of this Lenten season,
we are met with the challenge of handing over
every bit of our lives that do not come from You.
To rid ourselves of what clutters our lives,
and all that distracts us from the simple truth
of Your love for us.
Your prophets have called us to change the way we worship—
to make internal sacrifices instead of external ones.
To seek justice, and love kindness,
and walk humbly with You
each and every one of our days.
As we choose something symbolic to give up or take on during this Lenten season,empower us all to let go of living in ways that disconnect us from You,
for every one of our steps is like a circle around Your temple.
Perhaps this Lent, we can give up our way
and give ourselves to Your way for us.
So, lead and guide us on this Lenten way.
May we walk with Jesus toward the hill just outside of Jerusalem.
May we like Him take up our cross and follow,
spending each moment of our lives living responsively to You,
just as Christ Himself did.
For that is the faithful way. Amen.
We Go Forth into the World
Challenge for Discipleship
Discipleship Hymn, "Surely Goodness and Mercy, Celebration Hymnal, Page number 691 verses 2 and 3
Blessing
Closing Hymn
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