17 Feb BULLETIN – SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2024
WELCOME to MESSIAH & ST. PETER LUTHERAN CHURCHES
Reverend Nancy Brody, Pastor
Greta Wright, Music Director
Sunday, February 18, 2024
First Sunday in Lent
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE
CONFESSION and FORGIVENESS Page 56
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who writes the law upon our hearts so that all people will care for one another. Amen.
Held in God’s mercy, let us confess our sin in the presence of God and each other. Silence is kept for reflection.
Holy God, we confess that we are caught in tangled webs of sin and cannot break ourselves free. We hoard things for ourselves while neighbors suffer. We speak in ways that silence others or remain silent when we should speak up. We keep score in our hearts and let hurt grow into hatred. For these things and other offenses we’ve forgotten or choose not to remember, forgive us, Lord. Amen.
In a flood of grace and out of love for the whole world, God comes near to break every snare of sin, to wash away our wrongs, and restore the promise of life through his Son, Jesus Christ. It is by His authority that I make this declaration: In the name of the [+] Father, Son and Holy Spirit, accept release from guilt and be free from threat or punishment for your every sin. Amen.
ENTRANCE HYMN
How Great Thou Art Back Cover (SSH)
APOSTOLIC GREETING Page 57
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
KYRIE Pages 57-59
🎶In peace let us pray to the Lord.
🎶Lord have mercy.
🎶For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
🎶Lord have mercy.
🎶For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
🎶Lord have mercy.
🎶For this holy house, and for all who offer here and online their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.
🎶Lord have mercy.
🎶Help, save, comfort, and defend us gracious Lord.
🎶Amen.
HYMN OF PRAISE Pages 58-59
🎶Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.
🎶Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father: we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God: You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. You are seated at the right hand of the Father; receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Holy God, heavenly Father, in the waters of the flood you saved the chosen, and in the wilderness of temptation you protected your Son from sin. Renew us in the gift of baptism. May your holy angels be with us, that the wicked foe may have no power over us, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
FIRST READING GENESIS 9:8-17
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.”
PSALM 25:1-10
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
My God, I put my trust in you; let me not be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.
Let none who look to you be put to shame; rather let those be put to shame who are treacherous.
Show me your ways, O Lord, and teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; in you have I trusted all the day long.
Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love, for they are from everlasting.
Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions; remember me according to your steadfast love and for the sake of your goodness, O Lord.
You are gracious and upright, O Lord; therefore, you teach sinners in your way.
You lead the lowly in justice and teach the lowly your way.
All your paths, O Lord, are steadfast love and faithfulness to those who keep your covenant and your testimonies.
HYMN
Amazing Grace #77 (SSH)
SECOND READING 1 PETER 3:18-22
Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Page 63
🎶Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and abounding in steadfast love.
The Holy Gospel according to Saint Mark, the 1st chapter.
🎶Glory to you, oh Lord.
GOSPEL MARK 1:9-15
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.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
🎶Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON
HYMN of the DAY
Faith of Our Fathers #234 (SSH)
PROFESSION of FAITH Apostles’ Creed Page 64
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He decended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
PRAYERS of INTERCESSION
Trusting in God’s promise to reconcile all things, let us pray for the church, the well-being of creation, and a world in need.
God our truth, the ark of your church has room for many expressions of faith. We give thanks for voices that challenge and awaken your people (especially Martin Luther, renewer of the church, whom we commemorate today). Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
God our maker, you remember your covenant with the earth and its inhabitants. Rescue communities and creatures hurting from natural or manmade disasters. Preserve species and habitats endangered by carelessness or disregard. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
God our light, you know our weakness. Free all who govern from the temptations of power. Sustain all who work for human rights in every nation. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
God our help, you care for your beloved children. Comfort all who are grieving, ill, afraid, in pain, or despair. Feed hungry people living in food deserts. Protect any at risk from exploitation and abuse. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
God our home, you gather your people and have brought families together in this place for a century plus many decades. Your Holy Spirit continually calls folks to sanctuaries that you provide. Grant us health and safety as we celebrate longevity. Keep us mindful of those we’re missing: the homebound, hospitalized, convalescing, or traveling (especially those on our prayer list). Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
God our hope, you promise eternal life to your beloved children. We remember with gratitude those who have lived and died in faith, especially beloved family members and ancestors. Grant that we may also dwell with you in everlasting peace. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Continue to accompany us on our journey, God of grace, and receive the prayers of our hearts offered with love and allegiance to you through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
EXCHANGE of PEACE
OFFERING
OFFERATORY
🎶Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with your free Spirit.
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 our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
BENEDICTION Adult Choir
With Joy We Depart
CLOSING HYMN
The Church’s One Foundation #27 (SSH)
DISMISSAL Page 74
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE