Worship Service February 21, 2021

1st Sunday of Lent
Worship Leader: Shauna Meek

Resources Used: Whole People of God

Let us worship together as we read! You can follow along with the service which will be livestreamed on Facebook at 10AM Sunday morning.  

For those who are not on Facebook, we will be posting the video onto our YouTube channel early in the week.

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
A warm welcome to all who worship together today, in person or online.  

CALL TO WORSHIP:
One: Come, let us share the Lenten journey together.
Let us open ourselves to God’s presence.
All: To you, O God, we lift up our hearts.
In you, O God, we trust.
One: Make your ways known to us, we pray.
Teach us to live according to your truth.
All: Show us the paths we should follow.
Lead us in the ways of righteousness.
One: Come, let us share the Lenten journey together.
All: Let us open ourselves to God’s presence.

OPENING PRAYER:
All: God of all our days, you call us to love and serve one another and deepen our relationship with you. As we set off on this Lenten journey together, enliven us with the beauty of your word, unite us in a common purpose, and create in us a burning desire to be your community of blessing for the entire world. Amen.

OPENING HYMN:
Voices United #639 – One More Step Along the World I Go

LENTEN TENEBRAE LITANY:
Lent 1 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
All: O God, we come to worship this morning knowing that we have not done all that you wished us to do. We have not been the people that you wished us to be. We have not lived in the loving ways that Jesus taught us. We forget that our actions can make a difference in our school, job, or neighbourhood. We are sorry that we have let you down, and ask for your forgiveness. Please give us strength to try again. Thank you, God, for listening. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON:
Hear the good news! We are a forgiven people. Through Christ, we are empowered to rise up into the fullness of all we can be. Thanks be to God.

MINUTE FOR MISSION

SCRIPTURE READINGS:
Genesis 9:8–17 Psalm 25 Voices United pg. 752 
        1 Peter 3:18–22 Mark 1:9–15 

REFLECTION:
New Beginnings 

OFFERING INVITATION:

OFFERTORY PRAYER:
All: Jesus Christ has taught us that what we do for the least among us, we do also for him. Let our offering serve to help those who need it most. Amen.

JOYS AND CONCERNS:

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE:
All: O God, we thank you for this time to reflect and renew our lives. We thank you for Jesus & his example of what it means to seek justice, to love mercy, & to walk humbly each day in your love. Guide each step of our journey through Lent as we seek to follow him on the road to Easter & beyond. Keep us focused on what truly matters in our lives. Strengthen us so that we may live up to the promises we have made, the new beginnings we have resolved to undertake. Bless us all on our Lenten journey we pray. Amen.

GOING FORTH SONG:
Voices United #120 – O Jesus I Have Promised

BLESSING/SENDING FORTH:
Let us go forth in joy as a forgiven people, with fresh commitment in our hearts, to make a new beginning for Christ’s sake. And may God bless our Lenten journeys. Amen.