Dear friends,
We are blessed in our lessons for this Sunday. Isaiah reminds us in huge terms of the goodness and greatness of God and his invitation to come… we bring only ourselves. He spreads before us his goodness but he equally reminds us that his ways are not our ways… his thoughts are not our thoughts. He only desires our good… it is his heart, for us, that shines through in these verses. The Psalmist again reminds us of the goodness of God. It seems fairly clear that the first 8 verses that lift up the poet’s confidence in God, his delight in the presence of God in his sanctuary, his taking cover under the shadow of God’s wings (lovely image) is a prelude to the final verses that detail why all of this is such a good and comforting thing. As we turn to the New Testament, Paul reminds us that Jesus suffered temptation but he did not give in, he did not sin and although we are sinners saved by grace he provides, by his death and resurrection, the way through. The gospel leaves us asking the question as to “why bad things happen to good people?” Jesus uses this as a teaching moment to cause one to look at the way God is at work in our lives, he never gives up on us. The season of Lent gives us the occasion to examine ourselves as we draw near to him. He invites us, we receive that invitation.
Order of Service
Prelude
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 671: “I heard the voice of Jesus say” (vs 1 & 3 en français)
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession
Declaration of Grace
The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Time
Hymn 190: “You thirsty ones”
Responsive Reading: Psalm 63:1-8
Gloria Patri
Isaiah 55:1-13 (en français BFC – English on the screen)
1 Corinthians 10 – selected verses
Luke 13:1-9
Sermon: “It’s not always going to be like this”
Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed
Hymn: “God, you call us to the waters“
Offering and Offertory
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 670: “Amazing Grace” (vs 3, 4 & 5 en français)
Benediction
Go now in peace
Postlude