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March 4, 2023 – Second Sunday in Lent

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This bulletin includes the order of service for the Season of Lent. The items in bold italics are intended for audience response.

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‏‏‎Lessons: Verna F
‎‏‏‏‏‎‎Psalm: Lisa D
Prayers of the People: Hank A

FLOWERS:‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ Jennifer Susan Kent by Ruth Angelo

Opening Hymn

See hymn board.

Opening Sentence, Prayer and Kyrie

Bless God, who forgives all our sins.

God’s mercy endures through everything.

God of growth and transformation, you promise us abundant new life. Teach us to welcome the discomfort and challenge of growth as part of the meaning of picking up our cross to follow you. Help us to carry our share of the world’s burden so all may know your liberating love. Amen.

(Silent Reflection)

For the times we prize selfish ends over the well-being of others.

Lord, have mercy.

For the ways in which we treat others as less than ourselves, based on what we see instead of seeing through the eyes of Christ.

Christ, have mercy.

For the ways in which fear, anger, and prejudice get in the way of love.

Lord, have mercy.

Confession of Sin

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and one another, that we may turn towards God and begin our effort towards repentance.

Holy God, have mercy on us and forgive us. We have set our customs above your law and have placed our faith in authorities other than you. We have insisted on our own comfort to the neglect and indifference of our neighbors. We have acted to preserve our own self-interest in the face of suffering. We have lacked creativity and compassion when envisioning solutions to the challenges many of your children face.

We are sorry. We humbly repent. Grant us the gift of hearts that grieve injustice, greed, hatred, and fear. Make us steadfast in faith and give us the courage to follow you, carrying our cross. Amen.

Hear the promise of God, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist: you are saved by faith and your sin is forgiven. Through God’s love, mercy, and justice, and by God’s choosing, you have been set free from sin. Now, with renewed hearts, let us serve others and honor the world God made, knowing the good news we have received is for all people. Amen.

Collect of the Day

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

The Ministry of the Word

Old Testament

A reading from the book of Genesis 12:1-4a

1Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

4So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him.

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Psalm: Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills; * from where is my help to come?
My help comes from the Lord, * the maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved * and he who watches over you will not fall asleep.
Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel * shall neither slumber nor sleep;
The Lord himself watches over you; * the Lord is your shade at your right hand,
So that the sun shall not strike you by day, * nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; * it is he who shall keep you safe.
The Lord shall watch over your going out and your coming in, * from this time forth for evermore.

Epistle: 

A reading from the book of Romans 4:1-5, 13-17

1What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? 2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” 4Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. 5But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness. 13For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith.14If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation. 16For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us,

17as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”) —in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Gospel

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John 3:1-17.
Glory to you, Lord Christ.

1Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.2He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” 3Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” 4Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” 5Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ 8The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”10Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 11“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 12If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon

The Prayers

A Contemporary Creed

We believe in one God, the Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
Source of all life and all love.
We believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son,
Fully God, fully human,
Savior of the world,
The risen King of kings.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
The very breath and power of God,
Sustainer of our life in Christ.
We believe in the church, Christ’s body,
God’s family for the spiritually homeless,
Called to be Love and Light,
To pursue justice and show mercy,
To proclaim the Good News of Christ,
To work for the common good of humanity.
Amen.

Prayers of the People

At this time of great crisis for so many of your children and for our precious planet, we come to you God, imploring your help and inspiration.

In Lent, we remember how Jesus went into the desert for 40 days to pray.  We pray that during this Lent we, too, take the time to look into our own values and our relationship with God. We pray to the Lord​.

Lord, hear our prayer.

We are all tempted to do wrong from time to time. We pray that we, like Jesus, have the strength to resist temptation and to do what is right. We pray to the Lord​.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, Loving Father, we pray for the people of Ukraine and others afflicted by violence, for  those suffering or afraid, for the wounded and the refugee. Be close to them and protect them. We pray to the Lord​.

Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray for world leaders, that compassion, strength and wisdom guide them in their decision making. We pray to the Lord​.

Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray for the better-off nations of the world, that in this and every moment of need, they may reach out in solidarity to their brothers and sisters. We pray to the Lord​.

Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray for this beautiful Earth, that an unstoppable movement arise in a spirit of determination to protect it.  We pray to the Lord.

Lord hear our prayer.

We bow our heads, close our eyes, and remember our own personal intentions, for those who have asked for our prayers, for those sick or suffering, for those that we now name silently or aloud. (Silence) We pray to the Lord​.

Lord hear our prayer.

We remember those who have died – those whom we love, all those we do not know but who are precious in God’s sight, and those that we now name silently or aloud. (Silence)  We pray to the Lord.

Lord hear our prayer.

We pray, Lord, that these our prayers, joined with those of people around the world, help guide those waging war on people and planet alike bring an end to this meaningless destruction and restore peace. We make these prayers through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

The Peace

Announcements

The Holy Communion

Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God.   Ephesians 5:2

During the Offertory, a hymn, psalm, or anthem may be sung.

Doxology

(Words: Isaac Watts (1674-1748), para. of Psalm 117; Music: Old 100th, melody from Pseaumes octante trois de David, 1551, alt.; harm. after Louis Bourgeois (1510?-1561?); Licensed for Use: CCLI Copyright License 20716203; CCLI Streaming License 20716210

Representatives of the congregation bring the people’s offerings of bread and wine, and money or other gifts, to the deacon or celebrant. The people stand while the offerings are presented and placed on the Altar.

The Great Thanksgiving

God is here
All is not lost
May our hearts be open
And able to receive
Let us give thanks for grace unending
That our world might one day be restored

We lift up our praise to you, Holy God of justice, who has promised to restore the beautiful Earth in which power is returned to those to whom it has been denied. God, who sent your son Jesus Christ to call for repentance from sin and proclaim freedom to the oppressed, in these forty days lead us into the desert of accountability. As Christ rejected The Deceiver while in the desert, call us to reject the demons of our time, cleansing the spirits of individualism and defensiveness, perfectionism and fear. Help us grow in wisdom and compassion that we may be the Body of Christ made whole once again. When we hide in our own comfort, challenge us. When we hoard power, humble us. When we see only one way, open before us new paths leading towards peace rooted in equity. As we prepare for the Easter feast, let us be joyful that you have prepared a seat for your whole human family and for all Creation at your table, calling us to join with angels and saints of every race and culture, praising you and saying:

Holy, holy, holy God, giver of gospel and law, heaven and earth reflect your beautiful diversity.

We adore you God. Blessed is the Savior who comes to bring the Holy Advocate into our world.

We adore you God.

God, our creator, you gave your only child to model for us the giving up of earthly power, radical love of neighbor, and sharing of all possessions, even giving up life and breath in the name of love.

On the night he was betrayed, our Savior took bread, and gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to the disciples saying “Take; eat; this is my body given over to you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 

After supper, he took the cup and when he had given thanks, he shared freely, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.

With this bread, strengthen us for the Lenten journey of self-reflection, repentance, and Atonement. 

With this wine, fill us with the fire to follow your call to deny ourselves and pick up our cross, the struggles we ourselves must face.

Knowing Jesus came to proclaim Good News to the poor and to free the oppressed, surrendering life for our salvation, we remember Jesus’ sacrificial passion. We proclaim his resurrection and the defeat of death. We live into the hope that he will return to restore our divided and unbalanced world. 

Send now, we pray, the breath of Your Wisdom to permeate these gifts of bread and wine, that we may take into ourselves the Holy Spirit who is truth and conviction.

Through, with, and in Jesus, unified in the Holy Spirit, our gratitude and praise are yours, O God, now and forever. 

Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

And now, in the words that Jesus taught us, we pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven. hallowed be thy name. Thy Kindgom 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. Lead us not into temptation, and deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Breaking of the Bread

Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast.
These are the gifts of God for you, the people of God.

The congregation receives communion.

(AT THE COMMUNION: We encounter the Real Presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in this Sacrament of Holy Communion. All who desire a closer relationship with God are encouraged to come forward: for a Blessing or, if you are baptized, for the Bread and Wine. NOTE: Until all restrictions have been lifted, only the bread is offered for communion.)

(Please form a distanced line in the aisle and come forward to receive from the priest.)

Prayer after Communion

Holy God, through your death, we are fed with the bread of life. Let us follow your way to the cross, to be for others a sign of your compassion and life. As you have fed us, let us go out to be part of feeding the world. Amen.

Blessing

May God lead you to openness that grants understanding. May God guide you to accountability that begins restoration. May God inspire you to transforming love that celebrates all people and all creation.

Closing Hymn

Dismissal

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Credits

Disrupt Worship Project, adapted by Fletcher Harper https://www.disruptworshipproject.com/lent-2021-christ-have-mercy/ 

Contemporary Creed – https://brandonacox.com/modern-creed/Prayers of the People – https://acireland.ie/prayers-of-the-faithful-4-2-2/

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