Lent | The Hidden Heart (February 21, 2021)
Please participate in the following liturgy, reading aloud all the parts in bold italics.
Welcome & Getting to know the Seidels
Call to Worship
God meets us in the night —
Before the sun rises,
Before the wound heals,
Before there are answers,
Before there is closure.
God meets us at the threshold —
At the edge of the water,
At the beginning of the wilderness,
At the start of something new,
On the edge of faith.
And if God meets us in all those places,
Then surely God meets us in between—
Staying with us through the wilderness.
We are not alone. God is all around.
Let us worship the God of the here and now.
(Prayer by Sarah Are | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org)
Lead Us Back
Falling down upon our knees
Sharing now in common shame
We have sought security
Not the cross that bears Your name
Fences guard our hearts and homes
Comfort sings a siren tune
We’re a valley of dry bones
Lead us back to life in You
Lord, we fall upon our knees
We have shunned the weak and poor
Worshipped beauty, courted kings
And the things their gold affords
Prayed for those we’d like to know
Favor sings a siren tune
We’ve become a talent show
Lead us back to life in You
You have caused the blind to see
We have blinded them again
With our man-made laws and creeds
Eager, ready to condemn
Now we plead before Your throne
Power sings a siren tune
We’ve been throwing heavy stones
Lead us back to life in You
We’re a valley of dry bones
Lead us back to life in You
We’ve become a talent show
Lead us back to life in You
We’ve been throwing heavy stones
Lead us back to life in You
Mark 1:9-15
Jesus is baptized and tempted
About that time, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. While he was coming up out of the water, Jesus saw heaven splitting open and the Spirit, like a dove, coming down on him. And there was a voice from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness.”
At once the Spirit forced Jesus out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among the wild animals, and the angels took care of him.
After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee announcing God’s good news, saying, “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news!”
The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, Lord Christ
The Journey to Jerusalem…
Dust We Come and Shall Return
From dust we’ve come
And dust we are and shall return
Be still my soul
And let it go, just let it go
Glory to God
Glory to God
In the highest
Naked we came and shall return
Into the grave
Be still my soul
Lord, make me whole
Lord, make me whole
Psalm 84:5-7
“Those who put their strength in you are truly happy; pilgrimage is in their hearts. As they pass through the Baca Valley, they make it a spring of water. Yes, the early rain covers it with blessings. They go from strength to strength, until they see the supreme God in Zion.”
…Is a Wilderness Road
Confession
God, help us find our confession,
the truth within us which is hidden from our mind,
the beauty or ugliness we see elsewhere,
but never see in ourselves,
the stowaway which has been smuggled,
into the dark side of the heart.
Lead us into the darkness,
that we may find what lies concealed,
that we may confess it towards the light.
(prayer by Michael Leunig)
The Mystery of Faith, The Great Thanksgiving, The Table
The Lord be with you! And also with you.
Lift up your hearts! We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
On the night he was betrayed, took bread,
and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying,
“This is my body given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way he took the cup saying,
“This cup is the new covenant sealed in my blood, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me.”
Is the Father with us? He is.
Is Christ among us? He is.
Is the Spirit here? He is.
This is our God. Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We are his people. We are redeemed.
Therefore by taking this bread & drinking this cup,
we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Community Life
Spring Gathering Rhythm
- Next Sunday is our final online gathering before we resume meeting in-person, outdoors at Mt. Pisgah’s Upper School Amphitheater.
- We’ll offer a live stream for all who prefer to worship from home.
- Plan to join us on March 7 as we continue our journey through Lent together.
Prepare the Way at Mount Pisgah
- We’re looking for 3-4 volunteers each week to help set up the space at Mount Pisgah for worship.
- Volunteers will arrive at 9:30am to help set up coffee, seating areas, kids packs, and other items for setup. No heavy lifting is required.
- Our hope would be for each person who signs up to only need to volunteer once every few months.
- Sign up now at thepari.sh/host
High School Online Gathering Today
- High School is re-grouping today at 12:30pm at Thrive Alpharetta for the 1st in-person gathering of the Spring season.
- We’ll have pizza and discussion around our Hidden Heart theme for Lent.
The Cross of Christ
All our problems,
We send to the cross of Christ!
All our difficulties,
We send to the cross of Christ!
All the devil’s works,
We send to the cross of Christ!
And all our hopes,
We set on the Risen Christ!
Blessing & Sending
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
