February 26 – First Sunday of Lent – Abundant Grace

Together with God’s whole Church, we are on a 40-day trek in the wilderness. By His grace alone, we live.

WELCOME

PRELUDE – Choral Prelude Durch Adams Fall – Homilius

*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: Come, people of God, return to the One who gives you life.
All: We approach the One who knows us as we are and loves us fully.
One: This past week, we entered into the season of Lent.
All: God’s Church is going through a ‘wilderness.’
One: Yet this day of worship is an oasis in the desert.
All: Today, we remember temptations which Jesus faced.
One: We also remember the tremendous joys of a disciple’s life!
All: We remember that Jesus is the bread of heaven.
One: We remember that Jesus is the overflowing cup of blessing.
All: We come now, longing to walk more closely with our Savior.

*HYMN – Cleanse Me – #398

Search me, O God, and know my heart today;
Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from ev’ry sin and set me free.

I praise thee, Lord, for cleansing me from sin;
Fulfill Thy Word, and make me pure within.
Fill me with fire where once I burned with shame;
Grant my desire to magnify Thy name.

Lord, take my life and make it wholly Thine;
Fill my poor heart with Thy great love divine.
Take all my will, my passion, self, and pride;
I now surrender; Lord, in me abide.

O Holy Ghost, revival comes from Thee;
Send a revival, Start the work in me.
Thy Word declares Thou wilt supply our need;
For blessings now, O Lor, I humbly plead.

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION
God of mercy, we are listening for your voice in the clamor of a world that scarcely notices this season of self-examination and spiritual devotion. We mistakenly give attention to serpents who are seeking to lure us away from faithfulness to you, Holy God. We delight in forbidden fruits, but then we complain when they turn sour. Patient and Forgiving Savior, lead us through every wilderness of our own creation, so that we may find our way back to you.Teach us, day by day, Christ Jesus. Guide us in your Way of amazing grace and steadfast love. Amen.

*RESPONSE – Into My Heart – #391

Into my heart, into my heart,
Come into my heart, Lord Jesus;
Come in today, come in to stay,
Come into my heart, Lord Jesus.

GOD’S WORD – Romans 5:12-19

SPECIAL MUSIC – Behold the Lamb Medley – arr. Wyrtzen

GOD’S WORD – Matthew 4:1-11

SERMON – Pastor Dan

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Pastor Dan

*HYMN – Amazing Grace – #299

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind but now I see

‘Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear,
And Grace, my fears relieved;
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
We have already come;
‘Tis Grace that brought us safe thus far,
And Grace will lead us home.

When we’ve been there then thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.

*BENEDICTION – Pastor Dan

*POSTLUDE – Was mein Gott will, gescheh alizeit – Kindermann