Home Church Lent 1 February 21, 2021, Rev. Karen Hollis

Home Church Lent 1 February 21, 2021, Rev. Karen Hollis

We acknowledge these lands upon which we worship are the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation.

Preparing the Space Around Us

Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here! Welcome if you are gathering on zoom or if you are worshipping at home with the bulletin. We are one community and all part of the body of Christ. I invite you to prepare the space around you

so that for the next hour you can be fully in this worship experience, not to keep out the realities of the world, rather to focus us in the midst of it all on God. If you need to go and get something or shift something around you, feel free. During this season of Lent we will be exploring the theme: Living Faith. In this unprecedented season, we are invited to consider the dynamic nature of our faith and see where we might deepen in this season. This week we are exploring God's faithfulness to us.

Preparing the Space within Us

Let us prepare now the space within us for a time of worship. I invite

you to sit quietly, perhaps with feet on the floor, taking a couple of deep breaths and bring yourself into this moment. Open yourself to the presence of God who is with us and within us . . . as you intentionally open yourself to God, open yourself also to what you need from this time of worship.

Greeting
One:    The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,

            and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

All:      And also with you    

Call to Worship    Psalm 25

One:    To you, O Lord, we lift up our souls.

All:      O God, in you we trust. Make us know your ways, teach us your paths.

One:    Lead us in truth and teach us, for you are the God of our salvation.

All:      All the paths of God are steadfast love and faithfulness.

Opening Prayer  Read the prayer slowly.  James G Kirk

Your paths are straight and true, O God; they guide us even when we can’t see the way ahead. By your mercy you instruct us on the ways of love and faithfulness. Upheld by your covenant and enlightened by your testimony, we live securely in your goodness and truth. Hear us now as we lift our souls in praise to you. In Christ Jesus we pray, Amen.

Hymn: Breathe on Me, Breath of God    VU #382

1 Breathe on me, breath of God,

fill me with life anew,

that I may love what thou dost love,

and do what thou wouldst do.

2 Breathe on me, breath of God,

until my heart is pure,

until my will is one with thine,

to do and to endure.

3 Breathe on me, Breath of God,

till I am wholly thine,

until this earthly part of me

glows with thy fire divine.

4 Breathe on me, Breath of God,

so shall I never die;

but live with thee the perfect life

of thine eternity.

Prayer of Confession    by Walter Brueggemann

One:    We long for you, O God, and we are here. In this moment, in this    space, and we thank you that you are here with us.

All:      You know us, God; we do not have to pretend with you.

One:    In the silence of your love, we bring to you the things that trouble    us, that harm us, that make us feel ashamed or afraid, that we     have not been able to say aloud.

Silent prayer of confession

One:    God have mercy on us

All:      Christ have mercy on us

One:    God have mercy on us

Silence

Assurance of Grace

God’s covenant with us assures us that whenever we turn away or distance or cut ourselves off from God, we always have a home in God to return to. God’s faithfulness and love for us is eternal. Thanks be to God!

Peace of Christ

Let us share with each other the peace Christ offers this day and all days.

            One: The Peace of Christ be with you!

            All:   And also with you!

First Reading: Genesis 9:8-17   Don Moser

Then 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.’

Psalm 25:1-10      (Translation Robert Alter)  Harold Jenner

To you, O Lord, I lift up my heart.

O my God, in you I trust;

   let me not be shamed,

   let my enemies not gloat over me.

Yes, let all who hope in You be not shamed.

   Let the treacherous be shamed, empty-handed.

Your ways, O Lord, inform me,

   Your paths, instruct me.

Lead me in your truth, and instruct me,

   for you are the God of my rescue;

   In You do I hope every day.

Recall Your mercies, O Lord,

   and Your kindness – they are forever.

My youth’s offenses and my crimes recall not;

   In Your kindness, recall me God.

   for the sake of Your goodness, O Lord.

Good and upright is the Lord;

   therefore he guides offenders on the way.

He leads the lowly in justice

   and teaches the lowly His way.

All the Lord’s paths are kindness and truth

   for the keepers of His pact and His precepts.

Gospel Reading    Harold Jenner    

One:    God be with you.          

All:      And also with you

One:    The Good News of Jesus Christ according to Mark

All:      Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Mark 1:9-15 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 for 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.’

One: This is the Gospel of Christ;

All:   Praise be to Jesus Christ

Reflection:    God’s Faithfulness   (see attached)                 

Silent Reflection

Apostle’s Creed: Let us affirm our faith . . .

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 the People  Paddy Waymark (see attached)

One:    God of us all

All:      Hear Our Prayers

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours

now and for ever. Amen.

Offering  Corinne Carlson

Let us pray . . .                                               

Sunday by Sunday, season by season and year by year, we gather before you in worship, O God. This rhythm forms and shapes us, lifts us up, helps us make meaning of the stuff of our lives, and inspires us to serve in your name. We give thanks for fellow worshippers and companions on the journey of faith. Thank you for drawing us in and sending us out to be of service. Amen.

Hymn: O God Our Help in Ages Past  VU #806

1 O God, our help in ages past,

our hope for years to come,

our shelter from the stormy blast,

and our eternal home:

2 under the shadow of thy throne

thy saints have dwelt secure;

sufficient is thine arm alone,

and our defence is sure

3 Before the hills in order stood,

or earth received its frame,

from everlasting thou art God,

to endless years the same.

5 Time like an ever-rolling stream

soon bears us all away;

we fly forgotten, as a dream

dies at the opening day.

Blessing   Iona Community

If you are with another person, you’re invited to bless each other, taking every other line.

One:      The Creator’s blessing be yours on your road, on your journey, guiding you, cherishing you.

male:     The Son’s blessing be yours, wine and water, bread and stories, feeding you, challenging you.

female: The Spirit’s blessing be yours, wind and fire, joy and wisdom, comforting you, disturbing you.

All:        The Angel’s blessing be yours, on your house, on your living, guarding you, encouraging you. Let us walk together, a community on a journey, sustained in God’s blessing. Amen!

One:      Let us go now in peace to love and serve the Lord.

All:        Thanks be to God!

Thank you

 

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