(You can watch the bible readings and sermon here)
At Engadine Uniting we believe all people are created lovingly and wonderfully in the image of God, and we welcome everyone regardless of race, age, ability, sexuality and gender.
As a Christian Community we believe that God reaches out to us in love and acceptance and that our relationships with each other should express love and respect.
Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, wherever you’ve come from, wherever you’re going, whatever is in your heart – you are welcome here.
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Dharawal people the traditional custodians of this land and pay our respects to Elders past and present. The Traditional Custodians who have been and continue to be caretakers of this beautiful part of these lands in this country now called Australia. We shall always endeavour to walk softly, gently and respectfully on this land. We thank them for their patience, courage, faith, spirit and graciousness in caring for the land.
Welcome to everyone on zoom today: we may not be actually seeing you but we acknowledge that you are part of our worship community, meeting here today.
Today is the first Sunday in the season of Lent, a season of preparation and reflection as we journey towards Easter. The liturgical colour for the season of Lent is the colour purple, the colour of royalty. Why is that so? The colour purple represents penitence and preparation because it signifies the feeling of sorrow for our sins in the light of Christ’s passion and death.
The colour purple has also commonly been linked to piety, is referenced in the bible, and has been worn by many religious leaders throughout history. Alice Walker’s celebrated epistolary novel “The Colour Purple (1982) uses the colour to compliment a character’s religious awakening.
While purple had its regal comeback in the 20th Century – worn by George VI in his official portrait, and featuring as the prominent colour used for the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953 – it was also becoming associated with social change.
Specifically, the women’s suffrage movement used the colours purple, green and white in the battle to win the right to vote for women. It would seem that the colour purple continues to be the colour linked with social change.
CALL TO WORSHIP
God calls us to worship. God calls us to life.
God invites us to sing. God calls us to life.
God invites us to pray. God calls us to life.
God invites us to think and talk together. God calls us to life.
God calls us to life today. Amen.
PRAYER OF INVOCATION
God of all truth and wisdom, you invite us to remember that we are always in your presence, that you are always present with us, that you are with us and in and through every moment of our lives now and always. Hold us in your presence that calls us to life. Amen.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of memory and longing, you know the deep recesses of our minds and hearts. You know how we long for what is good and what is pure, how much we desire to live with confidence.
Do not cease in calling us, God of great patience. Forgive us and give us courage. Forgive us and give us persistence. Forgive us and give us grace that we might, even in the smallest of ways, and in the briefest of moments, glimpse the life you long for us to live. Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
Be assured all who hear these words. Be assured all who are the beloved of God. Be assured, all you children of God. You are forgiven. You are forgiven. You are forgiven. Thanks be to God!
Song: Morning has Broken
Prayer:
A psalmist says: ‘God who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.’
And we say, God is Good.
A psalmist says, ‘God is your keeper; your shade at your right hand.’
And we say, How wonderful are your promises.
A psalmist says, ‘The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.’
And we say, what blessings are at your hand.
A psalmist says, ‘God will keep you from all evil; and will keep your life.’
And we say, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Psalm 32
Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.
When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them.
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.
Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him. Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!
Matthew 4:1-11
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[e]”11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Song: Love will be our Lenten Calling
Karen reflects: As we ‘enter’ Lent’s wilderness acknowledging our frailty and the ways which we stray from God’s way, we find Jesus here before u, beside us, in every wilderness we can imagine.
Leanne has suggested that we reflect each Sunday on a specific bible verse or other written word that may speak to us. Perhaps you can relate to the Matthew reading and to being in a wilderness literally or metaphorically speaking. I know I have experienced a wilderness situation may a time. It comes in all different guises.
Lent is traditionally a time of preparation and repentance and a reflection on how we may continue the way to live as Jesus showed us so long ago.
Uniting World “Lent Event” video (3min)
An Advent poem: Frost and Fire
To have the soul of a poet Lord, To have one that feels to the depths.
The gaping wide hole in my soul Lord, The sadness and longing must be for Thee.
It is the wind that all things are fleeting. The colour that only created eye can see
It burns me to the core, in the comings and goings,
The busyness of the world of men with its money and music and material.
And yet I know the desire to consume, to fill, to buy,
to store up, to hoard, to excite, to distract,
to pleasure, to power, to wealth, to honour.
All these futile attempts, To pour earthly water into an everlasting well.
The well within where I am to find Thee, Where Thou will give me living water to drink.
Where the poetry of Thy religion, Will romanticise my soul.
Sermon: John McKinnon
OFFERTORY PRAYER
We bring ourselves to you in service . We bring money, time and food to be shared with others. We ask your blessing on all that we have to offer. Amen.
COMMISSIONING AND BENEDICTION
Lord we acknowledge we are often in the wilderness. May we go out today knowing that when we wander off into the wilderness. You are there to draw us back to life’s path you have set before us. May we be prepared for sacrifices along the way, Amen.
Benediction Song – As You Go by Wesley, Mary and May
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