Second Sunday in Lent, March 1st, 2026

Words for Worship
words of response are in bold & italics
Gathering
As we gather to worship on this second Sunday of Lent, we take up the season’s invitation to fully open our hearts to the Word and love of God.
To fully enter into the Lenten journey is to become aware of what separates us from the Holy to whom we belong, that we may be drawn into the very heart of all that is Holy. To be drawn ever closer to the Holy is to love God, ourselves, and others, that we may honour the divine image imprinted on all our hearts by which we are transformed.
Call to Worship
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Sprit, be with you all.
And also with you.
Your Spirit prompts our seeking, guiding us to make us holy,
May your Holy Spirit transform our fears into love of ourselves, and others, and all the world;
through Jesus Christ, in whom we are born anew. Amen
Lighting of Candle United Church Gatherings Resource
We light the Christ Candle fully aware of our vulnerability and need.
The light of Christ’s love breaks in to fill our lives with love. Come, light of Christ, come into our lives, make us one in heart and mind. (candle is lit)
Acknowledgement of the Land
We prayerfully acknowledge with thanksgiving that we gather on the unceded territories of the Snuneymuxw people. Gracious God, help us to seek a new relationship with the first peoples here, one based in honour and respect. Amen.
Hymn: Jesus, Stand Among Us (2x) VU #396
1Jesus, stand among us
in your risen power;
let this time of worship
be a hallowed hour.
2Breathe the Holy Spirit
into every heart;
bid the fears and sorrows
from each soul depart.
3Thus with quickened footsteps
we'll pursue our way,
watching for the dawning
of the eternal day.
Prayer of Forgiveness Sanctified Art
Family of Faith,
we wish to love others as God loves us,
but that work is easier said than done.
We lose our way.
We become distracted.
We grow fearful.
Holy God,
your grace is freely and abundantly given.
We pray to be transformed by your love.
Prayer for Illumination and Grace Sanctified Art
We are seen.
We are forgiven.
We are always invited to try again.
Thanks be to God for this unending and transformative love.
Peace of Christ
May the peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
Let us share the peace of Christ with one another.
Prayer Before the Reading of Scripture Episcopal Church
God draws near to us through holy scripture. Let us be prepared to be inspired by His word.
We open our ears to hear, and our hearts and minds to receive the Word of God.
Psalm 121: 1-8 (with sung refrain) VU #844
Refrain:
Our help is in the name of our God who made heaven and earth.
I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where will I look for help?
My help comes from God, who has made heaven and earth.
God will not let your foot stumble;
the One who protects Israel will not slumber.
The One who protects you will neither slumber nor sleep. R
It is God who protects you,
your defence at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
God will protect you from all evil,
God will protect your life.
God will protect your going and coming,
now and forever. R
Scripture: Genesis 12:1-4a (NRSV) Reader: Don Moser The Call of Abram Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
This is the Word of God
Thanks be to God.
Gospel Reading Reader: Don Moser
As is your custom, please stand or sit for the reading of the gospel.
God be with you.
And also with you.
The Good News of Jesus the Christ according to John.
Glory to you, Christ Jesus.
John 3:1-17 (NRSV) Nicodemus Visits Jesus Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with that person.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or
where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen, yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him.
This is the Gospel of Christ.
Thanks be to God
Word: Transforming Love of God
Hymn of Response: God, Make Us Servants of Your Peace VU #676
1God, make us servants of your peace:
where there is hate, may we sow love;
where there is hurt, may we forgive;
where there is strife, may we make one.
2Where all is doubt, may we sow faith;
where all is gloom, may we sow hope;
where all is night, may we sow light;
where all is tears, may we sow joy.
3Jesus, our Lord, may we not seek
to be consoled, but to console,
nor look to understanding hearts,
but look for hearts to understand.
4May we not look for love's return,
but seek to love unselfishly,
for in our giving we receive,
and in forgiving are forgiven.
5Dying, we live, and are reborn
through death's dark night to endless day;
Lord, make us servants of your peace,
to wake at last in heaven's light.
We Affirm Our Faith Contemporary Anglican Liturgy
Love the Lord your God
with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no greater commandment than these.
This we believe.
That it is central to the mission of Christ
to participate, by word and action,
in the struggles of the poor and marginalized for justice,
to share justly the earth’s land and resources,
to rejoice in the diversity of human culture,
to preserve human life in all its beauty and frailty,
to accompany the uprooted and to welcome the stranger,
and to witness to the love of God for all people of the earth.
This we believe.
That we are called to fulfill the mission of Christ by opening ourselves to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.
To this we are committed, for the love of God in the way of Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Life & Work of the Church
Prayers of the People Susan Brockley
Loving God,
Hear our Prayers.
The Lord’s Prayer (sung response)
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.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.
Offering (offering will now be gathered)
Prayer United Church of Canada
Loving God, grant us the grace of giving with a spirit large and free, that ourselves and all our living we may offer faithfully.
Hymn: God Be With You Till We Meet Again VU #422
1God be with you till we meet again;
loving counsels guide, uphold you,
with a shepherd's care enfold you;
God be with you till we meet again.
Refrain:
Till we meet, till we meet,
till we meet at Jesus' feet;
till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.
2God be with you till we meet again;
unseen wings protecting hide you,
daily manna still provide you;
God be with you till we meet again. [Refrain]
3God be with you till we meet again;
when life's perils thick confound you,
put unfailing arms around you;
God be with you till we meet again. [Refrain]
4God be with you till we meet again;
keep love's banner floating o'er you,
smite death's threatening wave before you;
God be with you till we meet again. [Refrain]
Blessing & Sending
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace through the power of the Holy Spirit. Go from this place seeking Christ in all people.
We go to love and serve our neighbours as ourselves.
Postlude
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