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Prelude “Psalm Prelude–Set 2, No. 2” and “Master Tallis’ Testament”
Herbert Howells
Greetings and Announcements Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
This is the day the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
An Act of Praise
*Westminster Chimes
*Invitation to Worship Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
We begin with the words, “Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open . . .” but that is not exactly a comfortable place, and so we rush on.
Yet, our hearts are open, because You are our maker; our hearts are restless until they rest in You.
In this time, in this right now, reclaim, renew, recreate us,
That we might be Yours again, in worship and in work, in word and in deed.
*Hymn #618 “O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High” deo gracias
O love, how deep, how broad, how high!
It fills the heart with ecstasy,
That God, the Son of God, should take
Our mortal form for mortals’ sake.
He sent no angel to our race
Of higher or of lower place,
But wore the robe of human frame
Himself, and to this lost world came.
For us he was baptized, and bore
His holy fast, and hungered sore;
For us temptations sharp he knew;
For us the tempter overthrew.
For us he prayed, for us he taught,
For us his daily works he wrought,
By words, by signs, and actions, thus
Still seeking not himself, but us.
For us to wickedness betrayed,
Scourged, mocked, in purple robe arrayed,
He bore the shameful cross and death;
For us at length gave up his breath.
For us he rose from death again,
For us he went on high to reign,
For us he sent his Spirit here
To guide, to strengthen, and to cheer.
To him whose boundless love has won
Salvation for us through his Son,
To God the Father, glory be
Both now and through eternity.
*Invitation to Confession Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
Your thoughts are not our thoughts, Gracious God,
nor are your ways the same as our ways.
Even those we see as most unlovely, you see as beloved,
while we carefully watch them to catch their flaws.
Invite us again to be freed from our fears and comparisons
to receive your embrace of Love.
*Silent Prayer
*Unison Prayer of Confession
Our fears bind us, Holy One. Because we fear so deeply our vulnerability we clutch at power, even though we know this is not the way to You. Even though we know our clenching of power injures others and destroys Your creation. Even though our hold on power gives us no real satisfaction. Forgive us for what has gone wrong, repair in us what we have squandered, reveal to us what is good and lovely and true. Nourish us with Your holy food once again. Help us to recognize and live into your unflagging Love.
*Assurance of Forgiveness
From Psalm 32, Psalms for Praying by Nan Merrill
Dwelling in the heart of the Beloved, we are free from distress, free to live creatively. This is very good news indeed!
Thanks be to God! Amen.
*The Passing of the Peace
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
An Act of Proclamation
The Scripture Reading Genesis 2: 15-17, 3:1-7 (p. 2), Matthew 4:1-11 (p.3)
Rev. Eileen Parfrey
Genesis 2: 15-17
The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.’
Genesis 3: 1-7
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God say, “You shall not eat from any tree in the garden”?’ The woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; but God said, “You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.”’ But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.
Matthew 4: 1-11
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But he answered, ‘It is written,
“One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”’
Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 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.”’
Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”’
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour; and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! for it is written,
“Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”’
Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Moments with Children Rev. Eileen Parfrey
Anthem “Are Ye Able?” arr. Matthew Compton
Westminster Concert Bells
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.” Matthew 16:24
Sermon “There Are Only Three Sins” Rev. Eileen Parfrey
A Moment for Silent Reflection
An Act of Response
*Hymn #166 “Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days” st. flavian
Lord, who throughout these forty days
for us didst fast and pray,
teach us with Thee to mourn our sins
and close by Thee to stay.
As Thou with Satan didst contend,
and didst the vict’ry win,
O give us strength in Thee to fight,
in Thee to conquer sin.
As Thou didst hunger bear, and thirst,
so teach us, gracious Lord,
to die to self, and chiefly live
by Thy most holy word.
And through these days of penitence,
and through Thy passion-tide,
yes, evermore in life and death,
Jesus, with us abide.
Abide with us, that so, this life
of suff’ring over past,
an Easter of unending joy
we may attain at last.
Sharing Joys & Concerns Rev. Junha Kim
(At the conclusion of spoken joys, let us pray together, “Thanks be to you, O God.”
For concerns, let us make them our own by praying, “Lord, hear our prayer.”)
Pastoral Prayer and 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
Community Moment Café Justo Update Café Justo Team
Offering Ourselves and Our Gifts
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Offertory Anthem “There Is a Fountain” Linda R. Lamb
Westminster Concert Bells
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. Ephesians 1:7
*Doxology – Hymn #606
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
-OR-
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host;
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*Hymn #761 “Called as Partners in Christ’s Service” beecher
Called as partners in Christ’s service, called to ministries of grace,
we respond with deep commitment fresh new lines of faith to trace.
May we learn the art of sharing, side by side and friend with friend,
equal partners in our caring to fulfill God’s chosen end.
Christ’s example, Christ’s inspiring, Christ’s dear call to work and worth,
let us follow, never faltering, reconciling folk on earth.
Men and women, richer, poorer, all God’s people, young and old,
blending human skills together gracious gifts from God unfold.
Thus new patterns for Christ’s mission, in a small or global sense,
help us bear each other’s burdens, breaking down each wall or fence.
Words of comfort, words of vision, words of challenge, said with care,
bring new power and strength for action, make us colleagues, free and fair.
So God grants us for tomorrow ways to order human life
that surround each person’s sorrow with a calm that conquers strife.
Make us partners in our living, our compassion to increase,
messengers of faith, thus giving hope and confidence and peace.
*Benediction Rev. Eileen Parfrey
*Postlude “Chorale and Finale from Sonata 6 in d minor” Felix Mendelssohn
(You may be seated for the postlude or you may depart.)