Elements from this morning’s gathering

Call to Worship from Psalm 51

Call:
Have mercy on me, God, according to your faithful love!
Wipe away my wrongdoings according to your great compassion!
Wash me completely clean of my guilt;
purify me from my sin!

Response: 
Create in me a clean heart, oh God;
renew a faithful spirit deep inside me!
Keep me secure in your presence,
keep giving me the gift of your Holy Spirit.

Call:
Restore to me the joy of your healing and saving!
Sustain me with a willing spirit for the journey ahead.

Response:
Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will proclaim your praise.
A broken spirit is the sacrifice I bring you today.
A heart that is honest and humble, oh God,
you will not despise.

Scripture Reading

Readings from Mark 1 and Matthew 4-6

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.

And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’

And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.

—

From that time Jesus began to announce: “Change your hearts and lives! Here comes the kingdom of heaven!”

You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say, every man who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery in his heart.

So if your eye— even your good eye —causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into the fire of gehenna.

And if your hand — even your stronger hand — causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into the fire of gehenna…

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!

Your Father already knows all you want and need, so desire the Kingdom of God above all else, and live right by God and others, and God will give you everything you need.