Order of Worship

This is the day that the Lord has made

Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Announcements and Life Together

Call to Worship

We have entered the season of Lent, a time to examine our hearts and our lives

and journey with Christ through the suffering of the world.

Let us lift up our souls to our merciful God

and humble ourselves in God’s service.

God has marked us as beloved dust

and called us together to worship.

Prayer of Praise

O Lord our God, we give you thanks for the mercy you so freely offer us through the grace of our baptism—

safe passage through the sea, justice rolling down like water, deliverance from sin and death forever.

By the power of your Holy Spirit, poured out upon us in baptism, teach us to love and serve you faithfully and reconcile us to you and to one another as members of one, living body; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession

In the season of Lent, O God, we say lofty words about renewing our spiritual disciplines,

journeying with you to the cross, or denying ourselves material wants for the good of the soul.

Forgive us, O God, if our actions are in vain: if we are concerned with the good of the soul

rather than the good of your people; if we have twisted this season of penitence

into a reason for praise or judgment; if we are so preoccupied with the sins of the world

that we cannot recognize and confess the sins of our own lives.

Forgive us, O God, and wash us in your mercy. 

Forgive us, O God, and free us to try again.

Assurance of Grace

Hear the good news; God has claimed us as Gods own before we were even born. 

We are washed in the waters of Gods promises and in Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.

Thanks be to God!

Children's Message

Prayer of Illumination

First Scripture Reading

Mark 1:9-15 (NRSV)

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 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.”

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Second Scripture Reading

Genesis 9:8-17 (NRSV)

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.”

Sermon

'Creation Covenant' 

Rev. Kim Smith-Stanley

Prayers of the People

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.

Offering and Doxology

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Benediction

Let all God’s people say…

Amen.

Passing of the Peace