ST  ANDREW’S CHURCH

 

FEBRUARY  26, 2023                  LENT  ONE

 

Tenebrae  candles  will be lit before the service begins

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

Just as the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness,

the Spirit sends us into places of uncertainty where

we confront our weakness and insecurities.

In the wilderness, we, too, are confronted by our hunger and thirst.

We are tempted to grab at empty promises that offer

an easy way out.

Like Jesus, we are tempted by power and prestige.

Unlike him, we often submit to their glamour.

We wonder whether God is with us.

We wonder whether we can trust God to take care of us.

We can only move forward in faith.

Let us stand on the cliff edge and, like Jesus, dare to trust.

{Written by Jim Goring and the Rev. Ian Fraser (Pointe Claire, Quebec) }

 

HYMN      193  Out of my bondage  sorrow and night

 

PRAYER OF ADORATION

God, our Creator and Companion, Your love is as fresh as the new day, rising like the sun to guide us.  In Jesus Christ, you walk with us to challenge and encourage us, revealing our weakness yet offering us hope. We praise you for such gifts !In this time of worship, open us to the new possibilities you create for the world you love. With the power of the Holy Spirit, energize us to embrace the future, trusting in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.  As e have gathered  before you , we  ask you will hear  our confession saying ….

 

UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION

God our Creator and Companion,

you created us to be your partners in creation,

but we confess we`re not happy being partners.

We prefer to have our own way.

We like to manage the world without your guidance.

We are often tempted to satisfy our own desires

without counting the cost to others,

or to the earth itself. Lord, have mercy on us. AMEN

 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

The Apostle Paul declared our hope, asking the question: “Who is in a position to condemn?” The Answer?  “Only Christ – and Christ died for us; Christ rose for us; Christ reigns in power for us; Christ prays for us.” Trust this Good News. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and set free by God’s generous grace.

 

THE PEACE

 

HYMN      198  I hunger and I thirst

 

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Psalm 32;                      page 869

Romans 5:12-19;         page  1753

 

SERMON

 

I speak in the name of God the Father , Son, and Holy Spirit

 

This past Wednesday the Christian Church began the season of Lent-

a period of 40 days which comes before Easter in the Christian calendar. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, Lent is a season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of the resurrection of Christ

 

Lent comes from the Anglo Saxon word lencten, meaning “lengthen” and refers to the lengthening days of spring. The forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin his ministry.

 

If we had read the gospel for today, we would have recounted Jesus’ temptation  from the devil  to discount all that God  had prepared  him  for. It was a tough  40 days  however  Jesus love for his Father  and the knowledge  of  his ministry ahead strengthened  his sinless life

We don’t like to talk about sin. Especially if it means talking about our own sin. We would much rather talk about injustice, or evil, or the ways in which another’s sin has contributed to our own brokenness  It is painful to feel the shame of not measuring up to what we know we should be .

The word 'sin' has almost disappeared from our vocabulary, but the sense of guilt remains in our hearts and minds.

How do people deal with their sins?

Some admit they have made mistakes, but would rather not think about them. It just makes them feel bad about themselves. Why look to the past? Focus on the future, and try to do better.

Others try to make amends--. Balance the bad with good. What they can’t balance with good deeds—Well, if they are,really really sorry for what they’ve done… they  feel  their pain can pay for their sins.

Other people act like they have won the lottery. They think God’s grace gives them a free pass on sin. “God forgives, you know. We try, but if we mess up with  sin it’s God’s job is to forgive.”   Jesus tells us that sins must be forgiven, and can be forgiven—but we must repent-- we need to  ask for forgiveness. ( Matthew 6:9-15.)  - something we must do.

It is unsettling to recognize that our thoughts, actions, and behaviors hurt others and contribute to the brokenness of our world. Acknowledging where we have fallen short can be brutally disturbing.

According to the psalmist, however, the alternative is not an especially comfortable place either. To keep silent is to let our sin infest and infect our whole being, compromising the goodness and vitality with which we were created.  The psalmist exhorts his audience—don’t be stubborn about this. Don’t think you can be happy without God. Don’t think you will thrive

When we think of sins, we usually think of actions like lying, stealing, swearing,  cheating, breaking a commandment or crossing a line. At a deeper level, they are an offence against a holy and righteous God, who cannot condone evil.

Yet sins are not only wrong things that we do, but also right things that we fail to do. The Episcopal Book of Common Prayer says, “Most merciful God, I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what I have done, and by what I have left undone.” Wrong things that we do are sometimes called “sins of commission,”  Things we should have done but failed to do are “sins of omission.” . There were opportunities to put in a good word or shine for Jesus, and we missed it. We miss the target of our lives by not being all we could be.

Sins of omission can be viewed as debts we owe to God. We owe God our obedience, our best efforts, and our acts of gratitude in worship and service. When we look at what our lives could be, and compare that to what we make of them, we come up short. We are behind with God—more and more each day—and we can’t catch up. We need his forgiveness.

At the beginning of the psalm, the psalmist piles up term upon term to give expression to sin—transgression, sin, iniquity, deceit—four terms used eight different times in five verses.

The psalmist describes it with images of physical depletion, “my bones wasted away … my strength was dried up  (verse 3a, 4b). Sin sucks the life out of the psalmist. The point is that silence about sin, according to the psalmist, can be deadly. It allows sin to fester and spread and ravage like a cancer coursing through the body and mind.

More prominent than the terms for sin are the expansive and wide-ranging terms used to describe forgiveness. The antidote, the psalmist offers, is confession. Not silence. Not covering up. Not ignoring. But going to that uncomfortable place, facing our sin and shame, and admitting them to God. “Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and you forgave the guilt of my sin” (verse 5). The point here is not for the confessor to wallow in their failure  feeling the shame of their wrong-doing. Rather, it is in confessing our sin that we open ourselves up to the miracle of forgiveness. What is astonishing and remarkable in this psalm is not simply the confession of the psalmist, but the attentive ear of God who is ready and eager to forgive.

Confessing our sins is a relationship issue with our Father-God. Unconfessed sin strains our relationship with God. Psalm 32:1-6 says, When I kept silent …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.”

In Romans 5:12-21  Paul reflects on the problem of sin and its answer in God’s grace.  Paul speaks to underscore that God’s grace in Christ is given to unfitting recipients. He portrays the drama of salvation with two main actors. Adam’s disobedience brought sin and death into the world; Christ’s obedience gives righteousness and life to all caught in sin. Paul proclaims the gift of Jesus is God’s response to sin; it unfolds in the midst of  sin to defeat it, and the gift of forgiveness is given despite its recipients’ unworthiness.

Paul is emphasizing the sheer abundance of God’s giving of Christ. -  a  gift given precisely to those who are not worthy of it. Thus, righteousness is the gift given in the gift of Christ’s death and resurrection. The gift is a truly extravagant generosity that leads to eternal life.

Sin by itself does not necessarily determine one’s status before God. After all, according to Paul, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Instead, it is God’s willingness to forgive and our willingness to receive that forgiveness that makes us right before God.

Choose confession and forgiveness over ignoring or hiding sin. Choose relationship with God over autonomy.

The price of God’s forgiveness is forgiving others. If that is how it is, we are all in trouble, for none of us forgives perfectly. God’s forgiveness is not conditional; it is a gift of his grace, not earned or deserved. Paul says in Ephesians 1:7, “In Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”

As we forgive others, we live in God’s kingdom of grace and mercy. If we refuse to forgive, we are in danger of cutting ourselves off from his forgiveness. That is why we pray so regularly, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

Faith has something to offer that is precious beyond words. It is the gift of a loving Lord who is present in all the trials and tribulations of life, It is a gospel of good news of a new life in God's love.

This is what this psalm is all about - forgiveness and the new life that come with it. This is what Jesus is all about - offering forgiveness beyond measure, inviting people to repent, that is, to turn around, and look directly at the love of God and reach out and embrace that love, - live that love and walk in the light of that love all the days of this life, ... and then beyond - to the fullness of life promised here and in the hereafter.

This is the ego-bruising work of Lent. Acknowledging that we are not all that God desires us to be, that we have indeed fallen short, that we too are the reason Christ was nailed to a cross. But it is also to rejoice in the truth that we are forgiven, that in Christ, our sins are covered. In Christ, we are a new creation. So, in the season of Lent, let us be counted among the righteous, those who know that yes, we are sinners, but that in Christ, we are forgiven  AMEN

HYMN      774 God forgave my sin

 

Lent 1

Jesus is at the heart of our faith, in the depth of our souls. He is waiting for us, inviting us to leave ordinary time and follow along with him on the journey that brought him to the Cross. Listen in silence, for Jesus is calling you..     (Silent time.)

 

As we extinguish this light, we acknowledge the darkness and pain of injustice in the world.   (A candle is extinguished.)

 

Let us pray:   All: Loving God, as we journey through this holy season of Lent, give us strength and courage to make the changes that are needed in our lives. Open our hearts and minds to your steadfast presence and help us to put our trust in you. Amen.

 

OFFERING

God has given us so many gifts in Christ and in creation. We offer our gifts in gratitude for the possibilities we enjoy, trusting God to multiply what we bring for goodness’ sake.

 

DOXOLOGY

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise him all creatures here below

Praise him above ye heavenly host.

Praise Father Son and Holy Ghost

 

OFFERTORY PRAYER

Lord God, we offer our gifts in thanksgiving for all the goodness you provide. Bless our gives and our lives so that we become a source of goodness for others, in the name of Christ, our strength and our hope. Amen

 

HOLY COMMUNION

 

The Invitation to the Table

 

Friends in Christ, Lent is not simply a time for temporary self-discipline.

It is time to refashion our relationship with God

and to be refashioned by God’s strength and grace.

This meal is the gift of that strength and grace.

It comes not as a whole loaf and bottle

for each one to take away and relish in private.

It comes in broken pieces and deep sips shared

to remind us there will always be enough for everyone

who seeks a place at this table.

So come, you who have much faith and you who have a little,

you who have been here often

and you who have not been for a long time.

Our Saviour invites all those who trust his grace

to share this feast as a foretaste of his kingdom.

 

Communion Hymn    543 Here, O my Lord v 1-3 (then pause video)

 

The Story of the Last Supper

 

On the night Jesus was betrayed by friends

who thought their intentions good and commitment strong,

Jesus sat at table with those very friends.

While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread,

and after blessing it, he broke it and said,

“Take, eat, this is my body.”

Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them,

saying , “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, poured out for many, for the forgiveness of sins.”        (Matthew 26)

As often as we eat this bread and drink from this cup,

we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes again.

As Jesus gave thanks to God for the gifts of the earth,

so let us give thanks for what we receive from God’s hand.

The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

 

Holy and Mysterious God,

It is right to bring you our thanks and praise

for you are the source of all that is.

You spin the galaxies that twinkle in the night sky.

You give life to fragile creatures shivering in the chill of winter

and offer them hope as the sun stirs new growth deep in the earth.

Your mercy sustains creation day by day

and so we sing in praise of our Lord, first born of all creation:

 

Lord Jesus Christ,

We come to the table to remember the love

which led you to lay down your life for the world.

We remember how you walked the road with those who suffer,

touching those in pain and grief,

giving strength to those in weakness,

welcoming those who had been pushed aside,

standing up to those with callous hearts.

You lived to offer mercy to us all.

You died because we find it so hard to offer mercy to each other.

And so we remember in silence those who need your mercy this day…….

 

Holy Spirit, move among us in kindness now

as we remember what mercy has cost the God of love.

Pour out your grace on the bread we break and the cup we share today.

Let us taste the passion of Jesus Christ baked into this bread

and be moved to act with compassion in his name.

Let us taste the renewing love of Jesus Christ that refreshes us from this cup  and be moved to greet each day with fresh hope.

 

Holy God, Three in One,

Strengthen us by your undying love,

So that we may remember to show mercy to others,

and seek mercy from others,

living unafraid to bear the cost of mercy day by day.

We offer our lives to you in the words Jesus taught us:

 

SHARING THE BREAD AND JUICE

 

Prayer after Communion

 

Lord Jesus Christ, We are so grateful for the gifts you have shared with us,  For we know what they cost you.  Send us out in the strength of the Holy Spirit, Unafraid of what service in your name will cost us, For we would be faithful to you now and always. Amen.

 

Communion Hymn    543 Here, O my Lord--  v  4&5

 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

God of all life and each life, we offer you thanks for all the ways we meet you in our daily lives:

in a word of encouragement, an insight into truth ,an answer to prayer. Thank you for a breath of calm in the midst of stress, and an offer of support when we need it. and moments of rest and relaxation to renew us.  (

Thank you for all these signs that you love us,

understand us and walk with us, Loving God.

Our gratitude for your love reminds us of the need for your mercy in the world.

And so in times of silence we pray for:

The world and the people and places in the news this week

 

Your church and congregations facing new challenges and opportunities for mission

 

Our work places and our community facing many needs and pressures

 

Our family, friends and neighbours, especially those facing hard choices these days

 

And for ourselves, offering to you our own concerns

 

We pray that we may know the Spirit’s blessing blowing in us and through us, so that we may live out what is required of us: to seek justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God.

 

Thank you for your grace that embraces all for whom we pray, O God. In the week ahead, help us notice your hand at work in our lives and in this troubled world. We offer our prayers in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, who taught us to pray together:

 

THE  LORD’S PRAYER

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.  Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

 

HYMN      204  Thou didst leave thy throne

 

BENEDICTION

As we begin our journey through the season of Lent, remember the words of the prophet Micah: What does the Lord require of us? To do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God.

May God’s loving kindness comfort you, God’s justice inspire you, And Jesus walk beside you in humility and hope.

 

CLOSING SONG               209 Verse 1

 

 

O Love that wilt not let me go
I rest my weary soul in thee
I give thee back the life I owe
that in thine ocean depths its flow
may richer, fuller be.