1 Lent '24

CALL TO WORSHIP - PSALM 25:1–10

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.

My God, I put my trust in you; let me not be put to shame,

nor let my enemies triumph over me.

Let none who look to you be put to shame;

rather let those be put to shame who are treacherous.

Show me your ways, O LORD, and teach me your paths.

Lead me in your truth and teach me,

for you are the God of my salvation;

in you have I trusted all the day long.

Remember, O LORD, your compassion and love, for they are from everlasting.

Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions;

remember me according to your steadfast love

and for the sake of your goodness, O LORD.

You are gracious and upright, O LORD;

therefore you teach sinners in your way.

You lead the lowly in justice and teach the lowly your way.

All your paths, O LORD, are steadfast love and faithfulness

to those who keep your covenant and your testimonies.

GATHERING SONG “On Eagles Wings” #787

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

God in whom alone we find rest, we confess that we often turn from the gifts of identity, purpose, and meaning that you would give us.

Instead of serving others, we serve ourselves.

Instead of being motivated by love, we are motivated by fear.

Instead of seeking wisdom, we seek possessions.

Instead of working for peace, we work for security.

Instead of seeking our good in you, we look to so many other places, trading your abundant

and enduring love for the shiny things of this world.

Draw us back to you, O God, and remind us that all that we have and need we find in

relationship with you and with each other. This we pray in the name of Jesus, who

came as one of us, tempted as we are, yet without forsaking trust in you.

In the name of Jesus, who suffered temptation and prevailed, who was crucified on the cross and raised on the third day, hear the word of the Gospel: you are a beloved child of God, forgiven, redeemed, renewed, and called to lives of wholeness and life. Therefore depart this place in peace to serve your neighbor in love.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray. 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.

THE FIRST LESSON: Genesis 9:8-17

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 me and you 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."

Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.

THE SECOND LESSON: 1 Peter 3:18-22

Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you--not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.

THE GOSPEL FOR THE DAY: Mark 1:9-15

The holy gospel according to Saint Mark. Glory to you, O Lord.

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 forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the 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." The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON “The Spirit Drove Him" Pastor Phil Wold

HYMN OF THE DAY “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” #504

THE 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 INTERCESSION

THE SIGN OF PEACE IS SHARED

The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.

THE OFFERING AND OFFERING PRAYER

Let us pray. Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things. Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts: our selves, our time, and our possessions. Use us, and what we have gathered, in feeding the world with your love, through the one who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

THE LORD'S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom 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;

and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen

BLESSING

SENDING SONG “My God How Wonderful Thou Art” #863

SENDING

Go in peace. Share the good news. Thanks be to God.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.