First Sunday in Lent - 21 February 2021
Bede Methodist Circuit Worship Resources -
Lent One
Opening Prayer
We come before you Almighty God, ever mindful that you have called us as your own. Lead us in your truth and teach us your paths of steadfast love and righteousness. Amen.
Hymn: “Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah” Stf 465
Guide me, O thou great Jehovah,
pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
hold me with thy powerful hand:
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
feed me now and evermore;
feed me now and evermore.
Open thou the crystal fountain
whence the healing stream shall flow;
let the fiery, cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through:
strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
be thou still my strength and shield;
be thou still my strength and shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan
bid my anxious fears subside;
death of death, and hell's destruction,
land me safe on Canaan's side:
songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to thee;
I will ever give to thee.
William Williams (1717-1791)
Let us pray together
O Lord we lift up our hearts and minds and bless your holy name. For you have created all things and your glory is seen in the heavens and on the earth. Thank you for your bountiful provision and your love that goes before us. May this time of Lent enable us to walk humbly and be mindful of your covenant with us. Forgive us Lord for the words said and deeds done that have been selfish, inconsiderate, or hurtful to others. We thank you for your mercies that are new to us each day and that wash us clean. In Jesus Name. Amen
Psalm 51
Have mercy on me, O God,
In your constant love;
In the fullness of your mercy
Blot out my offences.
Wash away all my guilt,
And cleanse me from my sin.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a right spirit within me.
Give me the joy of your help again
And strengthen me with a willing spirit.Reading Mark 1:12-13
`And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.’
We enter into the time of Lent when we remember the time Jesus spent in the wilderness before he began his public ministry.
In church history Lent was traditionally a time for people to be prepared for baptism at Easter and those seeking restoration to the Church’s fellowship. It is now also seen as a time for reflection, seeking God, to enter into our wilderness, a time for repentance, healing and restoration.
What do you enjoy about your daily routine? And what frustrates you about it? Can you think of a time when you changed your normal routine? How did that feel?
Do you have routines in your spiritual life – things you do regularly to support it? If so, what do you value about those patterns and practices in your life?
During Lent, as a circuit we are following the guide produced by the Methodist Church entitled -`A Methodist Way of Life.’
This is a resource to help us all respond to the gospel of Christ through a daily rhythm of prayer, worship, service, learning, evangelism.
The rule of life is rather like a trellis allowing a plant to grow and thrive. It helps give structure and space to develop. A rule of life also challenges us to think about aspects of faith that we struggle with. It is all held within a framework of God’s love.
A Methodist Way of Life is an invitation to live for the God who loves us and to express the pattern of Jesus in our daily lives.
Within the Service on Zoom this Sunday I will be sharing experiences Andrew and I encountered when we walked the pilgrimage to Santiago in 2016. It is a journey of 775 km (500miles). On that journey you are invited to carry a small stone with you as you walk. Part of the journey invites you to reflect on the issues in your life you want to let go of. Hurts, regrets, areas where you need to forgive etc.
Three and a half weeks into the pilgrimage you come to the highest point where you lay down your stone. You leave a changed person, and when thoughts come back into your mind you can say no it is gone. That is in the past and you move forward.
During this time of Lent what do you want to let go of? What do you want to take up?
The Methodist Way of Life asks us to commit ourselves to this pattern of living.
( Please see below the commitment card)
In this time of Lent are we willing to allow God to challenge us and to take up a Rule of Life in our journies as disciples of Christ?
A time of prayer
Lord God, we pray for those who find themselves in restricted spaces and unexpected places.
We pray for places affected by climate change,
areas where water is scarce and crops fail,
places where flooding is affecting people’s homes.
We pray for those who are homeless and have lost everything through earthquake or fire.
We pray for those who wait for medical results, for those who are ill in hospital or at home.
For those who have lost their jobs and those who await news about benefits.
We pray for our healthcare workers, nurses and doctors, essential service workers, teachers and police.
For our children whose education has been so badly affected, and parents who are juggling time constraints.
For those who are grieving the loss of loved ones.
For Religious leaders and funeral parlours who minister to the bereaved.
For those who are working on the Vaccine rollout, scientists, government leaders, economists, and medical aid associations.
Breathe new life into your people and all circumstances as we approach Easter. May we always know your presence with us. Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father ……
The prayer for the journey-
Gracious God
Thank you for your extraordinary love shown to us in Jesus.
Help us to live each moment of each day in gratitude, loving those around us and witnessing to the ways of the kingdom.
Refresh us continually in the power of the Holy Spirit to be people of the Way.
Prepared by Rev Jane Carter using materials from Methodist Church Way of Life and worship resources.
