Friday, February 27, 2009

Worship for Sunday

The Sundays for the next few weeks are the Sundays in Lent. Sundays are in Lent and not of Lent, as other seasons because the tradition of the Church is that Sundays are always a little Easter, no matter when they occur. The 40 days of Lent have never included Sundays. Even in Lent, or especially in Lent, we remember we are people of the Resurrection.

The Old Testament readings for Lent this year focus on Covenants, and this week we look at the Covenant with Noah, in reality, God's covenant with all creation. Our Scripture includes Genesis 9.8-11; the Gospel is Mark 1.12-15, Mark's very brief account of the Temptation and the beginning of Jesus' public ministry; and Psalm 25.

Prayer for the day for the First Sunday in Lent:

Lord God, you have bound yourself to us and to all Creation by eternal covenant. Move us by the Spirit to remember your ways, to resist temptation, and to accept the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit: One God. Amen.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Worship for Sunday

I missed posting last week--at our Conference Ministers' Convocation in beautiful and snowy Lake Junaluska.

This Sunday marks the 6th Sunday after Epiphany. Our readings for this week include 1 Corinthians 9.24-27, where Paul uses the illustration of athletic competetion to discuss the discipline needed in the practice of the Christian faith; Mark 1.40-45, Jesus heals a leper and Psalm 30, to which Eric has attached a response, I Exalt Thee.

Here is a prayer for the day:

Almighty God, in our worship we exalt your name and your faithfulness. Grant that we may run the race of faith with self-control and discipline, in order to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit: One God. Amen.