Welcome to Worship
We gather to worship, we go out to serve.
GATHERING AROUND THE WORD
* Those who are able, please stand.
Tolling of the Bell
Welcome and Announcements
Visitors, fill out the connection card in the pew so we can send you a note
Opening Prayer Becky Yaeckel
Holy God, as this day surrounds us like a garden with a thousand trees, give us enough knowledge to obey your commandments, and to choose the fruit that gives life: the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
Prelude Christopher Bunch
*Call to Worship (Unison) Becky Yaeckel
Open our eyes, Creator God, that we may see your presence in all that has life. Amen
*Hymn God of Compassion, in Mercy Befriend Us #436
Prayer for New Beginnings (Unison) Becky Yaeckel
Wild God of wilderness, as we devote these forty days to you, reconnect us to your goodness that is deepest within us. Give us courage through your abundant grace to follow where you will lead us, trusting in your presence to walk with us. Amen.
*Passing of the Peace (Responsive)
The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
*Congregational Response In My Life #468 v.1,4
In my life, Lord, be glorified; be glorified.
In my life, Lord, be glorified today,
In your world, Lord, be glorified; be glorified.
In your world, Lord, be glorified today.
HEARING THE WORD
Prayer for Illumination Becky Yaeckel
O Lord, may the words of your mouth be our daily bread, and may the leading of your Spirit become our way; in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Gospel Reading Matthew 4:1-11
Leader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.
Word in Music The Serpent Thomas Pavlechko
Old Testament Reading Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7
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.”
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.
Leader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.
Sermon Rev. Jeff Sockwell
RESPONDING TO THE WORD
*Hymn You, Lord, Are Both Lamb and Shepherd #274
*Affirmation of Faith (Unison ) APOSTLES CREED
I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; 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 / Lord’s Prayer
With all the faithful, let us pray to the Lord, who is our hiding place in times of trouble, who surrounds us with glad cries of deliverance.
We pray for all who are hungry—
whether hungry for power and glory or hungry for a simple meal. Show the mighty that you alone can satisfy their deepest need, and feed the poor from the abundance of your good creation.
We pray for the church in times of trial—
whether tested by tempestuous change or tempted by safety of the status quo. Give us peace when anger and fear threaten to divide us, and challenge us when we are too comfortable in this world.
We pray for leaders in high places—
whether determined to help those who suffer or distant from the cries of the oppressed. Open their eyes to see your saving power at work, and open their ears to hear your prophets’ calls for justice.
Invitation to the Offering
Invitation to the Sacrament of Communion
Words of Institution
Sharing of the Sacrament
Prayer after Communion
*Doxology #606
Prayer of Dedication
WE GO OUT TO SERVE
*Hymn Lord, Who throughout These Forty Days #166
*Blessing
May the steadfast love of God surround you throughout these forty days and lead you in the way of love.
Postlude Christopher Bunch