Dear friends,
THIS SUNDAY the Rev. Linda Faith Chalk will be leading us in worship.
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME: Be sure to turn your clocks forward one hour before heading to bed tonight otherwise you are liable to miss the service. Daylight savings time begins at 2 AM on Sunday.
HOW FIRM IS YOUR FAITH? On this first Sunday in Lent our gospel Luke’s account of Jesus being “led by the Spirit into the wilderness.” He entered the wilderness Luke tells us, full of the Holy Spirit. From the Mount of Transfiguration of last Sunday, we find our Lord in the desert. Satan comes to tempt him… how? First of all, to use his power for the wrong reasons. Satan does not question who Jesus is but he does use the occasion to try to get Jesus to question who He is… to misuse his power. The second temptation is to gain popularity by performance and then the third temptation comes when Satan tries to tempt him to idolatry. Satan has misunderstood humankind and therefore misunderstood Jesus’ need. To be sure, Satan sees that Jesus is hungry. What he does not understand is that there is another type of hunger. It is the hunger for righteousness. Jesus is feeding himself on the Word of God. Satan also turns to the word of God quoting Scripture but Jesus responds again with the word of God. The Psalmist reminds us of the power of God’s word and that we, as Jesus’ followers, as we call on him… “11 … he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” After these temptations we are told that Satan departs for “an opportune time.” The sermon title makes an acclamation: This is an opportune time! Why would we even want to consider this… because we have all of the resources of heaven at our disposal, because that is what God has done and is doing for us… how firm is your faith? May this Lenten season provide you with an even deeper realization of God’s great love and mercy for all of us.
THE FOODBANK urgently requires bags for deliveries. If you have any spare shopping bags, plastic or reusable, would you consider donating them to the Foodbank? Your assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you and God bless. Linda Smith – for the ECS Foodbank.
Order of Service
Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 497: “Forty days and forty nights”
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Time
Hymn 625: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God” (vs 1 & 3 en français)
Responsive Reading: Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
Gloria Patri
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Luke 4:1-13
Sermon: “This is an opportune time!”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn 57: “On Eagle’s Wings”
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 647: “Lead us, heavenly Father lead us”
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude