1st Sunday of Lent

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentence and prayer:

All over the world today, men and women are preparing for Easter – looking forward to receiving the gift of a new start.

Lord God, in every age you call a people to hear your word and to do your will. Renew me in these Lenten days: washed clean of sin, sealed with the Spirit, and sustained by your living bread, may I remain true to my calling and, with the elect, serve you alone. Grant this through Christ, my liberator from sin, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, holy and mighty God for ever and ever.

A Reading from the Old Testament: Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7 (NLT)

Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.

Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made. The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
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The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”

“Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”

“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”

The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 51:3-6, 12-13, 17 (NLT)

For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.

For I was born a sinner — yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.
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Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you.
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The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

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A Reading from the Letters: Romans 5:12, 17-19 (NLT)

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.
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For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

A Reading from the Gospels: Matthew 4:1-11 (NLT)

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.

During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”

But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,

‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,

‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’”

Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”

Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”

“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say,

‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”

Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.

Intercessions:

Gracious God, hear my prayers on behalf of all those in need:

+ For church leaders and servants, especially those who labor in faith under great stress and difficult, even dangerous, circumstances, I pray…. Lord, hear me.

+ For reconciliation in homes and neighborhoods, towns and cities, in my country and in countries throughout the world, I pray…. Lord, hear me.

+ For peace in troubled lands, especially in Ukraine, Syria and the Middle East, I pray…. Lord, hear me.

+ For the hungry, the poor, the homeless, the destitute, and the weakest among us, I pray…. Lord, hear me.

+ For my community, particularly for my friends who are sick and those who care for them, I pray…. Lord, hear me.

+ For those who have died, and those who mourn their loss, that they may dwell in God’s presence now and forever, I pray…. Lord, hear me.

Merciful God, you understand our weaknesses, you know our needs: give us the joy of your help, I ask you, through Christ my Lord. Amen.

Hymn: Just As I Am”

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen