Worship for the First Sunday in Lent

February 21, 2021

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we continue to worship physically apart and spiritually together through Zoom and livestreaming on Facebook and YouTube. Prepare for worship with a small bowl of water, bread, and wine.

Gathering

Welcome to Worship

We hear the Lenten Acclamation on the chimes as we prepare for worship.

Confession and Forgiveness

Have some water handy and dip your hand in the water as you make the sign of the cross, recalling that you are joined to Christ in baptism, sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.

Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God,
the keeper of the covenant,
the source of steadfast love,
our rock and our redeemer.

Amen.

God hears us when we cry, and draws us close in Jesus Christ.
Let us return to the one who is full of compassion.

Silence is kept for reflection.

Fountain of living water,
pour out your mercy over us.
Our sin is heavy, and we long to be free.
Rebuild what we have ruined
and mend what we have torn.
Wash us in your cleansing flood.
Make us alive in the Spirit
to follow in the way of Jesus,
as healers and restorers of the world you so love.
Amen.

Beloved, God’s word never fails.
The promise rests on grace:
by the saving love of Jesus Christ,
the wisdom and power of God,
your sins are ☩ forgiven, and God remembers them no more.
Journey in the way of Jesus.
Amen.

Gathering Song – ACS 1075– “O God, We Call”

Greeting

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.

Prayer of the Day

Let us pray,

Silent prayer.

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

Word

First Reading – Genesis 9:8-17

A reading from Genesis.

8God 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.”

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

Psalm 25:1-10

Refrain – Sing twice at the beginning and once at the

Your paths, O Lord, are steadfast love and faithfulness.

1To | you, O Lord,
 I lift | up my soul.
2My God, I put my trust in you; let me not be | put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph | over me.
3Let none who look to you be | put to shame;
 rather let those be put to shame | who are treacherous.
4Show me your | ways, O Lord,
and teach | me your paths. ℟

5Lead me in your | truth and teach me,
 for you are the God of my salvation; in you have I trusted all | the day long.
6Remember, O Lord, your compas- | sion and love,
for they are from | everlasting.
7Remember not the sins of my youth and | my transgressions;
 remember me according to your steadfast love
 and for the sake of your good- | ness, O Lord.
8You are gracious and up- | right, O Lord;
therefore you teach sinners | in your way. ℟

9You lead the low- | ly in justice
 and teach the low- | ly your way.
10All your paths, O Lord, are steadfast | love and faithfulness
 to those who keep your covenant and your
| testimonies. ℟

Second Reading – 1 Peter 3:18-22

A reading from 1 Peter

3Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. 6For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

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

Lenten Acclamation

We welcome the Gospel with the Lenten Accalmation

Let your steadfast love come to us, O Lord.
Save us as you promised; we will trust your word.

Gospel – Mark 1:9-15

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

9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And just as Jesus 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 Jesus 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 dominion of God has come near, repent, and believe in the good news.”

The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

Homily

Hymn of the Day –ELW 331 – “As the Deer Runs to the River”

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 into hell.
          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.

Blessing of Hymnals and Presentation of Gifts

Prayers of Intercession

All are invited to unmute your Zoom and join in the prayers. Please respond to each petition with “Your mercy is great.”

Peace

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

Meal

Announcements

Offertory –ELW 186 – “Create in Me a Clean Heart”

Offering Prayer

Faithful God,
you walk beside us in desert places,
and you meet us in our hunger with bread from heaven.
Accompany us in this meal,
that we may pass over from death to life
with Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

Great Thanksgiving

All are encouraged to turn off mute on Zoom so that we all hear the responses.

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,
that we should at all times and in all places
give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God,
through our Savior Jesus Christ.
You call your people to cleanse their hearts
and prepare with joy for the paschal feast,
that, renewed in the gift of baptism,
we may come to the fullness of your grace.
And so, with all the choirs of angels,
with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Holy God,
         our living Water and our merciful Guide,
         together with rivers and seas, wells and springs
         we bless and magnify you.
You led your people Israel through the desert,
         and provided them water from the rock.
We praise you for Christ, our Rock and our Water,
         who joined us in our desert,
         pouring out his life for the world.

In the night in which he was betrayed,
         our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
         broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
         Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
         Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying:
         This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
         shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
         Do this for the remembrance of me.
Remembering, therefore,
         his life, death, and resurrection,
         we await your salvation for all this thirsty world,
         as we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Pour out your Spirit on this holy food
and on all the baptized gathered for this feast:
wash away our sin,
that we may be revived for our journey by the love of Christ.
Through him all glory and honor is yours,
Almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit,
in your holy Church,
both now and forever.
Amen

Lord’s Prayer

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.

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.

Invitation to the Table

These are indeed the gifts of God for you, the very much beloved people of God. Taste and see that God is good.

Communion

All distribute to one another saying:

The body of Christ, given for you.
The blood of Christ, shed for you.

Blessing at the Table

May the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in eternal life.

Prayer after communion

God of steadfast love,
at this table you gather your people
into one body for the sake of the world.
Send us in the power of your Spirit,
that our lives bear witness to the love that has made us new
in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen

Sending

Sending of Communion

Gracious God, as we gather as one body this day and feast at your table, our assembly is incomplete for there are many unable to join us today. We long for the day when we are reunited as one body around a common table and we pray that you extend our gathering into homes and campsites, yards and porches, and strengthen all who hear your Word and feast at your table with the abiding presence of your son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen

Blessing

The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy.
The Lord look upon you with favor and ☩ give you peace.

Amen.

Sending Song – ELW 326
“Bless Now, O God, the Journey”

Dismissal

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

We hear “When it seems the day will end” on the chimes as we depart, recalling God’s presence in our lives always.

Join us on Zoom for Coffee Hour and Storytime.

Liturgy from Evangelical Lutheran Worship and Sundays and Seasons © Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission under Augsburg Fortress Annual Liturgies License SBT002156. Music is used by permission under OneLicense.net # A-715196.

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