Gathering Music
“Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley” FWS 2112
American Folk Hymn
- Jesus walked this lonesome valley;
he had to walk it by himself.
Oh, nobody else could walk it for him;
he had to walk it by himself. - We must walk this lonesome valley;
we have to walk it by ourselves.
Oh, nobody else can walk it for us;
we have to walk it by ourselves. - You must go and stand your trial;
you have to stand it by yourself.
Oh, nobody else can stand it for you;
you have to stand it by yourself.
Centering Words
Byeol Han
Adapted from Cheryl Lawrie
i just realized
that in my imagination
the wilderness is always somewhere else;
a foreign landscape i actively have to enter
in the act of being faithful.
truthfully,
the wilderness is always where i am
right now
and faith is the courage to stay with it
when i’d rather pretend i am
anywhere else.
Opening Song
“What a Friend We Have in Jesus” UMH 526
Words: Joseph M. Scriven, Music: Charles C. Converse
- What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer. - Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer. - Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he’ll take and shield thee;
thou wilt find a solace there.
Lenten Blessing
Virginie Ilunga
“Into Lent” from Rev. Roddy Hamilton
May the dust of the wilderness hold our footprints
lovingly
shaped as they are by your hurt
for dust remembers
May the journey into wilderness unfold
honestly
for honesty is the gift
your soul recognises as you
May your time in this wilderness
be shaped by space
rather than minutes
so there is time enough for all of you
May the stones in this wilderness
cry out your name loudly
that your spirit recognises the voice
that has been calling you always
And may you know this wilderness
has been expecting you
and you find between the stones
a promise growing
Scripture Reading – Matthew 4:1-11
Tim Emmett-Rardin, T’04
4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was famished. 3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,
‘One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,
‘God will command angels concerning you,’
and ‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ”
7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”
8 Again, the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, 9 and the devil said to Jesus, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written,
‘Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only God.’ ”
11 Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.
Leader: The Word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
Anthem
“Ready for a Change”
Seminary Choir
Words: Jeni Lee Boyden & Rusty Edwards
Music: Mark Miller
Sermon
Angels In the Wilderness
Prof. Mark Miller
Musical Response
“Plowshare Prayer” Spencer LaJoye
Sacrament of Holy Communion
Beth Quick & Prof. Mark Miller
Servers: Andy McClain, T’05, Carolina Alderete
Adapted from M. Jade Kaiser, enfleshed
Leader; The Holy One be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Open your hearts to the One who is Love.
People: We open our hearts to you, O God.
Leader: Let us give thanks to God, who gives us courage.
People: To the One who calls us to lives of service, we give thanks and praise.
Leader: From our beginning, you shaped us to live in service to one another and all the earth. You set us in the garden to co-create life with you. You surrounded us with creatures and creations that depend on our care. Our destinies have always been wrapped up in one another – our individual well-being bound to the well-being of all.
Therefore we join our voices with your people on earth and all the company of the heavens,
singing praise to you,
All: Holy, Holy, Holy One
God of justice and love
Heaven and earth are full of your wonder
Hosanna among us
Leader: Gracious One, we struggle with spirits of fear and greed that tempt us away from your hopes for us. We excuse ourselves from responsibilities to our neighbors. We struggle to believe we have anything to offer to the whole. And at times we knowingly do harm to others for the sake of our own gain.
You know our struggles, O God. And so you sent us Jesus. Jesus lived in service to collective well-being. He sought out those in need of community. He befriended the ones who were isolated. He challenged the structures that destroy.
Through his life, you taught us that the same capacities live in us. We too can choose the way of service to collective life. You have given each of us gifts to play our part.
On the night of his arrest, Jesus shared a meal with his companions.
He took bread, blessed it, broke it, gave it to his disciples and said:
“This is my body which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.”
After the meal, he took the cup, blessed it, and shared it saying:
“This cup that is poured out is the new covenant.”
In remembrance of all you have done to save us,
we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
All: Christ was birthed among us.
Christ was killed among us.
Christ rises again among us.
Leader: Pour out your Spirit on these gifts and make this bread and this cup sustenance for our lenten journey. By your grace, may we experience anew the call you place on our lives to serve one another. In feasting at your table, may our hearts be filled with courage once again to follow Christ, come what may.
All: Amen.
Songs for Communion
“Come To the Table of Grace” – Barbara Hamm, OneLicense #A-729109
Come to the table of grace. (2x)
This is God’s table; it’s not yours or mine.
Come to the table of grace.
Come to the table of peace (2x)
This is God’s table; it’s not yours or mine.
Come to the table of peace.
Come to the table of love. (2x)
This is God’s table; it’s not yours or mine.
Come to the table of love.
Come to the table of joy. (2x)
This is God’s table; it’s not yours or mine.
Come to the table of love.
“They’ll Know We are Christians By Our Love”
Words & Music: Peter Scholtes – OneLicense #A-729109
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
And we pray that all unity will one day be restored.
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land.
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
We will work with each other, we will work side by side;
We will work with each other, we will work side by side;
And we’ll guard human dignity and save human pride.
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
Blessing
Prof. Mark Miller
Sending Song
“Home By Another Road” – OneLicense #A-729109
Words: Lindy Thompson, Music: Mark A. Miller
You taught my heart
What love can be
So I’m headed back home
By another road
I once was bound
But now am free
So I’m headed back home
By another road
The lights are on
The welcome warm
As we’re headed back home
By another road
There’s room for
Every person born
As we’re headed back home
By another road
Join me now, the road is wide
All God’s people, side by side
Where justice will shine
And love abide
We’re headed back home
By another road
Yes, we’re headed back home
By another road.
Still worshipping
we’re on the way
As we’re headed back home
By another road
We’ll hold each other’s
Hearts this day
As we’re headed back home
By another road
Drew Theo Chapel 