The Holy Eucharist
The First Sunday in Lent
February 21, 2021
9:30 a.m.
Holy Spirit Lutheran Church
Lancaster, PA
Welcome to worship. If you are visiting with us, a special welcome. We invite you to return and worship with us as often as you are able. Guest cards are available on the round table in the center of the narthex. Please take one, fill it out and return it to an usher. If you need a large print bulletin, please ask an usher. As you enter the nave, please conclude all conversations and silence all cell phones and other electronic devices, as to fully enter into this time of worship.
Please note the instructions on distancing for the sharing of the peace and receiving Holy Communion.
The Entrance Rite
At the sound of the bell, the assembly stands. The Pastor will begin and the congregation will read responsively.
Psalm 25:1-10
P
In the name of the Father and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C
Amen
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 up right, 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.
The Greeting and Prayer of the Day
P
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C
And also with you.
P
Let us pray. 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.
C
Amen.
Please be seated.
Children’s Message
The children remain at their seat as the pastor share a message with them.
The First Reading
Genesis 9:8-17
A reading from Genesis: 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.”
L
The Word of the Lord
C
Thanks be to God.
The Second Reading
1 Peter 3:18-22
A reading from First Peter: 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.
L
The Word of the Lord
C
Thanks be to God.
The Holy Gospel
Mark 1:9-15
P
The Holy Gospel according to Saint Mark, the first chapter.
C
Glory to you, O Lord.
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.”
P
The Gospel of the Lord.
C
Praise to you, O Christ.
The Sermon
Silence for reflection follows.
Please stand.
Brief Order for Confession and Forgiveness
The assembly sits or kneels for confession.
P
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C
Amen.
P
God hears us and draws us close in Jesus Christ. Let us return to the one who is full of compassion.
Silence is kept for reflection and self-examination.
P
O God, fountain of living water,
C
pour out your mercy over us. Forgive our sin. Wash us in your cleansing flood. Make us alive in the Spirit to follow in the way of Jesus, as healers and restorers of the world you love. Amen.
P
Beloved, God’s word never fails. The promise rests on grace: by the saving love of Jesus Christ. Almighty God have mercy on us, forgives us all our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
C
Amen.
The Prayers of the Church
The assembly remains sitting or kneeling for the prayers.
A
Relying on the promises of God, we pray boldly for the church, the world, and all in need.
After each portion of the prayers:
A
Lord, in your mercy,
C
Hear our prayer.
The prayers conclude:
P
Into your hands Gracious God we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Savior.
C
Amen.
The Sharing of The Peace
P
The peace of Christ be with you always.
C
And also with you.
Without leaving your seat offer a wave to your neighbor, sharing God’s peace, in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Please stand.
Offertory Prayer
A
Let us pray. Faithful God,
C
you walk beside us in desert places, and you meet us in our hunger with bread from heaven. Accompany us in this meal, that we may pass over from death to life with Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
The Great Thanksgiving
P
The Lord be with you.
C
And also with you.
P
Lift up your hearts.
C
We lift them to the Lord.
P
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Eucharistic Prayer
P
O God, Creator of our wilderness world,
O God, Savior of the lost,
O God, Comforter of the sick and suffering,
we give you thanks for your everlasting might;
we glorify you for your covenant of mercy.
For forty days you cleansed the earth with the waters of the flood.
For forty days you illumined Moses with the words of your law.
For forty years you fed your people with manna from heaven.
You became truly human in Jesus our brother.
For forty days, with fasting and prayer, he renounced the power of the devil.
On the night before he died he took bread, and gave thanks,
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
P
We extol his life. Amen.
C
Amen.
P We lament his death. Amen.
C
Amen.
P We celebrate his resurrection. Amen.
C
Amen.
P
Transform us, O God, with your lively Spirit.
Make this food into manna for our journey, the body and blood of your Son.
Grant us with the Ninevites forty days of repentance.
Teach us your words of wisdom and justice.
Renew the whole earth with baptismal grace.
At the last, lead all your pilgrim people through our deserts to your Easter garden.
To you, O God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
be our worship and praise, adoration and thanksgiving,
now and forever. Amen.
C
Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
C
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, and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
The Fraction
P
God’s love is poured out in Christ for you. Come to his table where all are welcomed and fed.
C
Thanks be to God.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.
Please be seated.
The Distribution of Holy Communion
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America practices open table hospitality. Baptized communicants of other Christian denominations, of all ages, are welcome to receive the sacrament. An usher will direct each seating area to come forward to receive the sacrament. Bring your communion cup with you, or take one from the usher. The pastor will drop the host into your hand. Next move to receive the wine from the Assisting Minister. Then take another step to consume the sacrament. As you return to your seat, place the empty cup into the receptacle. Those persons not receiving communion are welcome to come forward to receive a blessing.
Please stand.
Post Communion Blessing
P
The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
C
Amen.
Post Communion Prayer
A
Let us pray. God of steadfast love, at this table you gather your people into one body for the sake of the world. Send us in the power of your Spirit, that our lives bear witness to the love that has made us new in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
C
Amen.
The Blessing
P
Almighty God, the Father and the + Son, and the Holy Spirit bless you now and forever.
C
Amen.
The Dismissal
A
Go in peace. Serve the Lord!
C
Thanks be to God. We will!
Postlude
+++
Readings for next week:
Lent 2
Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
Romans 4:13-25
Mark 8:31-38
PLAN YOUR WORSHIP SCHEDULE FOR LENT
by participating in the mid-week services of Holy Communion
Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.
The Sermon series this season is entitled:
Martyrs, Missionaries, and Renewers
| February 24 | Polycarp | Mark 8:34-38 |
| March 3 | John & Charles Wesley | Mark 10:35-45 |
| March 10 | Harriet Tubman & Sojourner Truth | Psalm 118:5-14 |
| March 17 | Patrick | Luke 24:44-53 |
| March 24 | Oscar Romero | John 12:23-32 |
Holy Week
| March 28 | Sunday of the Passion/Palm Sunday |
| April 1 | The Triduum: Maundy Thursday |
| April 2 | The Triduum: Good Friday |
| April 3 | The Triduum: The Great Vigil of Easter |
| April 4 | Easter Day |
Acknowledgments
Copyright © 2021 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS103416.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Revised Common Lectionary, Copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts, admin Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission.
Eucharistic Prayer from Pray, Praise, and Give Thanks: A Collection of Litanies, Laments, and Thanksgivings at Font and Table by Gail Ramshaw, copyright © 2017 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reproduced by permission.