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Sunday, March 6, 2022 – 1st Sunday of Lent 

Sentence  We shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Matthew 4.4 

Opening Hymn:  #175 – Forty Days and Forty Nightshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWEYJHxkNfc 

The Gathering of the Community

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.  And also with you. 

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hidden.  Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 Collect (page 286)

Almighty God, whose Son fasted forty days in the wilderness, and was tempted as we are but did not sin, give us grace to discipline ourselves in submission to your Spirit, that as you know our weakness, so we may know your power to save; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  AMEN 

Prayer of Preparation:  God of signs and wonders, who speaks the world into being, speak again your words of life and death.  May your word be ever near us, on our lips, and in our heart.  Transform us as we hear your word this day, that we may respond with faithful praise.  Amen. 

The Proclamation of the Word

1st Reading:  Deuteronomy 26:1-11 (NRSV)

When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, and you possess it, and settle in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the Lordyour God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his name.  You shall go to the priest who is in office at that time, and say to him, ‘Today I declare to the Lord your God that I have come into the land that the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us.’  When the priest takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar of the Lordyour God, you shall make this response before the Lord your God: ‘A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous.  When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labour on us, we cried to the Lord, the God of our ancestors; the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression.  The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.  So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O Lord, have given me.’ You shall set it down before the Lord your God and bow down before the Lord your God.  Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house. 

Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16

1                   He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, * abides under the shadow of the Almighty.

2                   He shall say to the Lord, “You are my refuge and my stronghold, * my God in whom I put my trust.”  

3                   Because you have made the Lord your refuge, * and the Most High your habitation.

4                   There shall no evil happen to you, * neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.

5                   For he shall give his angels charge over you, * to keep you in all your ways.

6                   They shall bear you in their hands, * lest you dash your foot against a stone.

7                   You shall tread upon the lion and adder; * you shall trample the young lion and the serpent under your feet.

8                   Because he is bound to me in love, therefore will I deliver him; * will protect him, because he knows my name.

9                   He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; * am with him in trouble; I will rescue him and bring him to honour.

10              With long life will I satisfy him, * and show him my salvation.  

Gracious God, in times of anxiety and stress, teach us to wait in quietness for your protection and defence, made known to us in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen 

2nd Reading:  Romans 10:8b-13 (NSRV)

‘The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because* if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For one believes  with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.  The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in him will be put to shame.’  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him.  For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’   

Sequence (Gradual) Hymn:  #620 – How sweet the name of Jesus sounds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoPlwPUYWaw 

Gospel Reading:  Luke 4:1-13 (NRSV)

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.’  Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, “One does not live by bread alone.” ’ Then the devil* led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6And the devil* said to him, ‘To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. 7If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.’  Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.” ’ Then the devil* took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you”, and “On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.” ’  Jesus answered him, ‘It is said, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”’ When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.  

SERMON/HOMILY

 The Apostle’s Creed (Page 189)

 Let us confess the faith or our baptism, as we say,

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 descended to the dead.  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 

The Prayers of the People – Litany 14 on page 121

(With confidence and trust let us pray to the Lord, saying, “Lord, have mercy.”)

 For the one holy catholic and apostolic Church throughout the world, we pray to you, Lord. Lord, have mercy. 

For the mission of the Church, that in faithful witness it may preach the gospel to the ends of the earth, we pray to you, Lord.Lord, have mercy. 

For those preparing for baptism and for their teachers and sponsors, we pray to you, Lord.Lord, have mercy. 

For peace in the world, that a spirit of respect and reconciliation may grow among nations and peoples, we pray to you, Lord.Lord, have mercy. 

For the poor, the persecuted, the sick, and all who suffer; for refugees, prisoners, and all in danger; that they may be relieved and protected, we pray to you, Lord.Lord, have mercy. 

For all whom we have injured or offended, we pray to you, Lord.Lord, have mercy. 

For grace to amend our lives and to further the reign of God, we pray to you, Lord.Lord, have mercy. 

The 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 us 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, the power, and the glory, forever and ever.  Amen. 

Our Closing Hymn is #460 – Lord, the light of your love is shininghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rce9UHYZwl4 

Closing Prayer  God our hope, when we are troubled by fear and uncertainty, teach us to commit our lives to your care and to go forward on our pilgrimage, trusting in the knowledge of your love and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. May the grace of God uphold you, the peace of God surround you, the love of God flow from you and the strength of God protect and bring you safely through this day.  Amen. God bless and keep us as we continue the process of opening up our province -  please join us in person or online – all COVID protocols are continuing to be observed (masking, social distancing, staying home if not well and our sanitizing).