Worship for Sunday 

21st February 2021

First Sunday in Lent

The Altarat  Aurlandsvangen Church , Sogn, Norway

Organ Prelude:

Hauptwerk V - Lenten Prelude - J. Battisheill (edited by W.C. Carl) Azzio 


Hymn:

How lovely on the Mountains MP249 

Words and music by Leanard E. Smith Jnr.

Sung by James Kilbane


Prayer of Adoration

Yours, Lord is the Glory,
in everything I see,
a country scene,
mountain stream,
sunrise, sunset, rain and snow.
Yours, Lord is the Glory,
wherever I might go.

Yours, Lord is the Glory,
in everything I hear,
a roaring sea,
bumblebee,
laughter, loving, a tender poem. 
Yours, Lord is the Glory,
wherever I might go.

Yours, Lord is the Glory,
in everything I feel,
a special place,
warm embrace,
accepted, helped to become whole.

Faith and worship.com




Prayers of Confession


Together we pray: 


Most merciful God, 

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

we confess that we have sinned 

in thought, word and deed. 

We have not loved you with our whole heart. 

We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. 

In your mercy 

forgive what we have been, 

help us to amend what we are, 

and direct what we shall be; 

that we may do justly, 

love mercy, 

and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen. 



 Almighty God, 

who forgives all who truly repent, 

have mercy upon us, 

pardon and deliver us from all our sins, 

confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, 

and keep us in life eternal; 

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



A Prayer for Church Growth


God of Mission 

Who alone brings growth to your Church,

Send your Holy Spirit to give vision to our planning,

Wisdom to our actions, and power to our witness.

Help our church to grow in numbers, In spiritual commitment to you,

And in service to our local community,

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen



Take a few moments to think about Jesus

teaching his followers how to pray :

The Lord's Prayer  from the Sermon on the Mount

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.


The Apostles Creed

we say together 

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

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,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come 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 Word of God 


Old Testament:  Genesis 9. vv 8-17 


New Testament:   1 Peter 3.  vv 18-22 


Gospel:   Mark 1. vv 9-15 




Homily for First Sunday of Lent

by Revd Stephen Hannam






Intercessions (Prayers for Others)

Let us pray for the Church and the World and let us thank God for his goodness, 

Almighty God, our heavenly Father,  you promised through Jesus Christ your Son, to hear us, when we pray in faith:


Lord God, we bring before you the nations of the world and their peoples.

Look mercifully on your people in the countries of Myanmar  where the military rulers refuse to take notice of the peoples' peaceful uprising against them. May democracy swiftly return to this trouble land.

Lord in Your Mercy - Hear our Prayer

Lord God, we thank you that through all our efforts, the effects of the pandemic are now declining in our country. However, we pray for those who  even now are in hospital fighting for their lives. Given strength, patience and love to those trained medical staff who care for them.

Be with the families and loved ones of those who have died, comfort their sorrow.

Be with all those working in Vaccination centres, whether trained medical staff or volunteers. 

May all your people of whatever race or creed come to believe in the efficacy and the benefits of the vaccines on offer, and in that knowledge come forward to take up the vaccines.

We thank you that your government has given an undertaking to share vaccines which are surplus to UK requirements with other countries, particularly those in the third world who so far have not been able to access vaccines.

Lord in Your Mercy - Hear our Prayer



We pray for those who are close to us in Rastrick and who might be in need of a word of love and hope. In particular we pray for those who are living  or working on Ogden Lane, Ivy Terrace, Stackgarth, Common Terrace, and Vicarage Gardens. We also pray for the children from our schools returning to home study or returning to school, and their hard-pressed parents and their teachers.

Lord in Your Mercy - Hear our Prayer


We pray for those in our Care homes in Rastrick or at home. We pray for those  who are lonely, and those who have seen their world collapse during the Corona virus restrictions and who not know which way to turn. Lift their spirits and bless those who are helping them in any way.

Lord in Your Mercy - Hear our Prayer


We pray for those who are ill and known to us by name................ 

 May your healing grace rest upon them and bring them back to good health.

Lord in Your Mercy - Hear our Prayer


We remember those who have recently died and are now with you. Especially we remember......

Doris Wild and Margaret Beal. 

We thank you for their service to your church and to Christ over the years and we pray that you will comfort their families and friends.  In particular we  pray for Doris' family - Richard, Philippa, Rachel and Matthew.


Lord in Your Mercy - Hear our Prayer

We pray for the Revd Michelle Petch, as she  settles in to her new home in the Vicarage  takes up her post as our Vicar in a few days time. May her calling prove fruitful  and may she be blessed in all she does in your name.

Lord in Your Mercy - Hear our Prayer


And  a prayer for ourselves:

 God, in today’s busy world, it’s so easy to get distracted and off-course. Please help me to keep my priorities in order, so I always give my most important priorities the time, attention and devotion they deserve.

Please align my heart to Yours, so loving and following You is truly my number 1 priority. 

Help me also love my friends and family well, and to be a good steward of the gifts and responsibilities You have placed in my life, without getting distracted by the things You have not.

Please give me a kick in the pants when I need it God. Help me follow You.

Lord in Your Mercy - Hear our Prayer


 We bring all these prayers in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour,

Amen



Hymn:


Forty Days and Forty Nights - George.H. Smyttan

 Tune  Heinlein

sung by engageworhsip.org






Our service ends with the Grace, as we say together:

 

The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

and the Love of God, 

and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit, 

be with us all evermore. Amen. 


Notices:

If you have not seen a copy of our Weekly Newsletter, you can find it on our Newsletter webpage


Organ Postlude

Toccata 'Dorica" BWV 538 J.S.Bach

Landsberg am Lech - Germany - The Siegfried Schmid organ - played by organist Luciano Zecca



.