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SUNDAY
February 21, 2021
First Sunday in Lent
PRELUDE “Steal Away” Spiritual
Arr. Gilbert M. Martin
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
UNISON CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: We come to worship the God that walks with us through every challenge.
People: We come to remember what Jesus did when he was faced with the wilderness.
Leader: When Israel wandered through the wilderness, she was not alone, God was there!
People: If we are walking through the wilderness, we are not alone, God is with us!
All: We come today to worship our God, who gives us strength for every journey, and courage for every test!
OPENING HYMN #366 “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”
Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven, to earth come down,
Fix in us thy humble dwelling; all they faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion; pure, unbounded love thou art;
Visit us with thy salvation; enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit into every troubled breast;
Let us all in thee inherit; let us find the promised rest.
Take away the love of sinning; Alpha and Omega be;
end of faith as its beginning, set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty, to deliver; let us all thy life receive;
Suddenly return, and never, nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as thy hosts above,
Pray and praise thee without ceasing, glory in thy perfect love.
UNISON PRAYER CONFESSING OUR NEED FOR GOD’S GRACE
God of trackless desert, whose Son walked untamed in league with beasts and spirits, whose kingdom is not distant but breaking in among us:
Give us time and space to find a new identity to let go of control and walk the pilgrim way; through Jesus Christ, the good news of salvation. Amen.
(Moment of Silence)
SONG OF RENEWAL #646 “Sing Out My Soul”
Sing out my soul. Sing out, my soul.
Sing out and glorify the Lord who sets us free.
Sing out my soul. Sing out my soul.
Sing out and glorify the Lord God!
CELEBRATION OF GOD’S GRACE
God invites all of us into a new space of trust, of letting go, of deepening faith. This path is open to us all. Thanks be to God! Amen.
SPECIAL MUSIC “Precious Lord, Take my Hand” Spiritual
Lyle Swallow, Soloist Arr. George N. Allen
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Leader: God in your Grace,
People: Hear our prayer.
PASTORAL PRAYER
THE LORD’S PRAYER
SCRIPTURES: Psalm 15
Luke 10:25-42
RESPONSE
Reader: The word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION, from Psalm 19 - responsively
Pastor: May the words of my mouth
People: And the meditations of our hearts
Be acceptable in Your sight, O God,
Our rock and our redeemer. Amen
SERMON “The Good Samaritan” Pastor Barbara Barkley
Moment for quiet reflection
HYMN OF RESPONSE #451 “Open My Eyes That I May See”
Open my eyes that I may see glimpses of truth thou hast for me.
Place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee, ready my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes; illumine me, Spirit divine!
Open my ears that I may hear voices of truth thou sendest clear.
And while the wave notes fall on my ear, everything false will disappear.
Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my ears; illumine me, Spirit divine!
Open my mouth, and let me bear gladly the warm truth everywhere.
Open my heart, and let me prepare love with they children thus to share.
Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my heart; illumine me, Spirit divine.
OFFERTORY “Balm in Gilead” Spiritual
Arr. Harry T. Burleigh
UNISON PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
On this the first Sunday of Lent, we give you thanks for the challenges you give us that allow us to become more faithful, more loving, more whole. We thank you for community, for relationships, and for times to worship and serve you with all our beings. Thank you for this day and for each day that we have breath. Amen.
CLOSING HYMN #203 “Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love”
Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love;
show us how to serve the neighbors we have from you.
Kneels at the feet of his friends, silently washes their feet,
Master who acts as a slave to them.
Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love;
show us how to serve the neighbors we have from you.
Neighbors are wealthy and poor, varied in color and race:
Neighbors are near us and far away.
Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love;
show us how to serve the neighbors we have from you.
These are the ones we should serve; these are the ones we should love;
All these are neighbors to us and you.
Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love;
show us how to serve the neighbors we have from you.
Loving puts us on our knees, willing to wash others’ feet;
This is the way we should live like you.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE “We Are Climbing Jacob’s Ladder” Spiritual
Arr. Gordon Young