First Sunday in Lent
Sunday, February 21
10 am Online Worship Service
Click HERE for 2/21 Service Bulletin
Click HERE for 2/21 Online Announcements
On Ash Wednesday the church began its journey toward baptismal immersion in the death and resurrection of Christ. This year, the Sundays in Lent lead us to focus on five covenants God makes in the Hebrew Scriptures and to use them as lenses through which to view baptism. First Peter connects the way God saved Noah’s family in the flood with the way God saves us through the water of baptism. The baptismal covenant is made with us individually, but the new life we are given in baptism is for the sake of the whole world.
PRELUDE
WELCOME/ANNOUNCEMENTS
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
KYRIE – Setting 3 ELW pages 138-139
CONFESSION
Most merciful God, we confess to you, and to one another, that we have sinned by our own fault in thought, word and deed; by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart, and mind and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not forgiven others, as we have been forgiven.
Have mercy on us, Lord.
We have been deaf to your call to serve as Christ served us. We have not been true to the mind of Christ. We have grieved the Holy Spirit.
Have mercy on us, Lord.
FORGIVENESS
God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. -- John 3:17
Dear friends, in today’s reading from First Peter we will hear: “Christ suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God…. And baptism 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.” Therefore, through the suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ + your sins are forgiven!
Thanks be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.
HYMN 319, O Lord, throughout These Forty Days, Vs 1-2
1 O Lord, throughout these forty days you prayed and kept the fast;
inspire repentance for our sin, and free us from our past.
2 You strove with Satan, and you won; your faithfulness endured;
lend us your nerve, your skill, and trust in God's eternal word.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
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.
OFFERING Like Noah who gave God offerings after the ark was again on dry ground (Genesis 8), we also give to God what God has first given us: ourselves, our time, our possessions, signs of God’s gracious love. O God, receive these offerings, for the sake of him who offered himself for us. Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
FIRST READING: Genesis 9:8-17
God 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.”
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE – Pastor Dave
SECOND READING: 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, 19in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20who 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. 21And 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, 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION HYMN 517, “Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word”, Vs 1
1 Lord, keep us steadfast in your word;
curb those who by deceit or sword
would wrest the kingdom from your Son
and bring to naught all he has done.
Text: Martin Luther, 1483-1546; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1827-1878, alt.; Music: J. Klug, Geistliche Lieder, 1543
GOSPEL: Mark 1:9-15
The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the 1st Chapter
Glory to you, O Lord
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And 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. 11And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” 12And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. 14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15and 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 – Pastor Dave
HYMN 504, “A Mighty Fortress If Our God”
1 A mighty fortress is our God, a sword and shield victorious;
he breaks the cruel oppressor's rod and wins salvation glorious.
The old satanic foe has sworn to work us woe!
With craft and dreadful might he arms himself to fight. On earth he has no equal.
2 No strength of ours can match his might! We would be lost, rejected.
But now a champion comes to fight, whom God himself elected.
You ask who this may be? The Lord of hosts is he!
Christ Jesus, mighty Lord, God's only Son, adored. He holds the field victorious.
3 Though hordes of devils fill the land all threat'ning to devour us,
we tremble not, unmoved we stand; they cannot overpow'r us.
Let this world's tyrant rage; in battle we'll engage!
His might is doomed to fail; God's judgment must prevail! One little word subdues him.
4 God's Word forever shall abide, no thanks to foes, who fear it;
for God himself fights by our side with weapons of the Spirit.
Were they to take our house, goods, honor, child, or spouse,
though life be wrenched away, they cannot win the day. The kingdom's ours forever!
Text and Music: Martin Luther, 1483-1546; tr. Lutheran Book of Worship; Text © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress.
Duplication in any form prohibited without permission or valid license from copyright administrator.
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
Relying on the promises of God, we pray boldly for the church, the world, and all in need.
A brief silence.
In Jesus your realm has come near to us in every place and time. Give your church throughout the world a spirit of humility and repentance; teach us to trust always in the good news of your salvation. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
You have made a covenant of mercy with every living creature. Protect all the earth’s creatures from destruction. Empower the work of biologists, conservationists, and science educators. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
All your paths are steadfast love and faithfulness. Direct the words and actions of leaders in our community and throughout the world, that they may maintain justice for the lowly. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
Even in the wilderness you are with us. Walk alongside migrants and refugees crossing dangerous lands. Tend to those whose lives feel desolate. Give healing and strength to all who suffer especially Jim, Liz, Sharon, Michelle, Sandie, Liam, Brent, Dan, Gail, Judy, Charlie, Dawn, Andrew and others whom we now name and remember . . .
Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
In the covenant of baptism you claim us as beloved children. Nurture us in our baptismal identity and teach us to live within it for the sake of others. Strengthen this congregation’s ministries of care and concern especially as we reach out to one another and share alms with various non-profit ministries around us. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
In baptism you join us to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We praise you for all those who have died trusting in your faithfulness. Bring us with them to the fullness of your reign. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
We entrust ourselves and all our prayers to you, O faithful God, through Jesus Christ our Lord who taught us to pray:
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
HYMN 319, “O Lord, throughout These Forty Days”, Vs 3-4
3 Though parched and hungry, yet you prayed and fixed your mind above;
so teach us to deny ourselves that we may know God's love.
4 Be with us through this season, Lord, and all our earthly days,
that when the final Easter dawns, we join in heaven's praise.
Text: based on Claudia F. Hernaman, 1838-1898; para. Gilbert E. Doan Jr., b. 1930; Music: A. Davisson, Kentucky Harmony, 1816; arr. Theodore A. Beck, 1929-2003; Text © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress; Arr. © Concordia Publishing House;
Duplication in any form prohibited without permission or valid license from copyright administrator.
BLESSING
You are what God made you to be: created in Christ Jesus for good works, chosen as holy and beloved, freed to serve your neighbor. God bless you that you may be a blessing, in the name of the holy and life-giving Trinity – Father, Son +, and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Go in peace. Share the good news.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE
PRELUDE
WELCOME/ANNOUNCEMENTS
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
KYRIE – Setting 3 ELW pages 138-139
CONFESSION
Most merciful God, we confess to you, and to one another, that we have sinned by our own fault in thought, word and deed; by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart, and mind and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not forgiven others, as we have been forgiven.
Have mercy on us, Lord.
We have been deaf to your call to serve as Christ served us. We have not been true to the mind of Christ. We have grieved the Holy Spirit.
Have mercy on us, Lord.
FORGIVENESS
God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. -- John 3:17
Dear friends, in today’s reading from First Peter we will hear: “Christ suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God…. And baptism 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.” Therefore, through the suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ + your sins are forgiven!
Thanks be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.
HYMN 319, O Lord, throughout These Forty Days, Vs 1-2
1 O Lord, throughout these forty days you prayed and kept the fast;
inspire repentance for our sin, and free us from our past.
2 You strove with Satan, and you won; your faithfulness endured;
lend us your nerve, your skill, and trust in God's eternal word.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
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.
OFFERING Like Noah who gave God offerings after the ark was again on dry ground (Genesis 8), we also give to God what God has first given us: ourselves, our time, our possessions, signs of God’s gracious love. O God, receive these offerings, for the sake of him who offered himself for us. Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
FIRST READING: Genesis 9:8-17
God 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.”
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE – Pastor Dave
SECOND READING: 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, 19in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20who 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. 21And 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, 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION HYMN 517, “Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word”, Vs 1
1 Lord, keep us steadfast in your word;
curb those who by deceit or sword
would wrest the kingdom from your Son
and bring to naught all he has done.
Text: Martin Luther, 1483-1546; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1827-1878, alt.; Music: J. Klug, Geistliche Lieder, 1543
GOSPEL: Mark 1:9-15
The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the 1st Chapter
Glory to you, O Lord
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And 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. 11And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” 12And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. 14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15and 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 – Pastor Dave
HYMN 504, “A Mighty Fortress If Our God”
1 A mighty fortress is our God, a sword and shield victorious;
he breaks the cruel oppressor's rod and wins salvation glorious.
The old satanic foe has sworn to work us woe!
With craft and dreadful might he arms himself to fight. On earth he has no equal.
2 No strength of ours can match his might! We would be lost, rejected.
But now a champion comes to fight, whom God himself elected.
You ask who this may be? The Lord of hosts is he!
Christ Jesus, mighty Lord, God's only Son, adored. He holds the field victorious.
3 Though hordes of devils fill the land all threat'ning to devour us,
we tremble not, unmoved we stand; they cannot overpow'r us.
Let this world's tyrant rage; in battle we'll engage!
His might is doomed to fail; God's judgment must prevail! One little word subdues him.
4 God's Word forever shall abide, no thanks to foes, who fear it;
for God himself fights by our side with weapons of the Spirit.
Were they to take our house, goods, honor, child, or spouse,
though life be wrenched away, they cannot win the day. The kingdom's ours forever!
Text and Music: Martin Luther, 1483-1546; tr. Lutheran Book of Worship; Text © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress.
Duplication in any form prohibited without permission or valid license from copyright administrator.
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
Relying on the promises of God, we pray boldly for the church, the world, and all in need.
A brief silence.
In Jesus your realm has come near to us in every place and time. Give your church throughout the world a spirit of humility and repentance; teach us to trust always in the good news of your salvation. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
You have made a covenant of mercy with every living creature. Protect all the earth’s creatures from destruction. Empower the work of biologists, conservationists, and science educators. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
All your paths are steadfast love and faithfulness. Direct the words and actions of leaders in our community and throughout the world, that they may maintain justice for the lowly. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
Even in the wilderness you are with us. Walk alongside migrants and refugees crossing dangerous lands. Tend to those whose lives feel desolate. Give healing and strength to all who suffer especially Jim, Liz, Sharon, Michelle, Sandie, Liam, Brent, Dan, Gail, Judy, Charlie, Dawn, Andrew and others whom we now name and remember . . .
Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
In the covenant of baptism you claim us as beloved children. Nurture us in our baptismal identity and teach us to live within it for the sake of others. Strengthen this congregation’s ministries of care and concern especially as we reach out to one another and share alms with various non-profit ministries around us. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
In baptism you join us to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We praise you for all those who have died trusting in your faithfulness. Bring us with them to the fullness of your reign. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
We entrust ourselves and all our prayers to you, O faithful God, through Jesus Christ our Lord who taught us to pray:
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
HYMN 319, “O Lord, throughout These Forty Days”, Vs 3-4
3 Though parched and hungry, yet you prayed and fixed your mind above;
so teach us to deny ourselves that we may know God's love.
4 Be with us through this season, Lord, and all our earthly days,
that when the final Easter dawns, we join in heaven's praise.
Text: based on Claudia F. Hernaman, 1838-1898; para. Gilbert E. Doan Jr., b. 1930; Music: A. Davisson, Kentucky Harmony, 1816; arr. Theodore A. Beck, 1929-2003; Text © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress; Arr. © Concordia Publishing House;
Duplication in any form prohibited without permission or valid license from copyright administrator.
BLESSING
You are what God made you to be: created in Christ Jesus for good works, chosen as holy and beloved, freed to serve your neighbor. God bless you that you may be a blessing, in the name of the holy and life-giving Trinity – Father, Son +, and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Go in peace. Share the good news.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE
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St. Mark's Lutheran Church
454 Fieldstone Road Mooresville, NC 28115 Phone: 704-664-5474 Office@saintmarkslutheran.com Weekend Service Times Sunday: 8:30am, 11:00am |
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