A Service for the Lord’s Day
February 21, 2021
First Sunday in Lent
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship — Psalm 25:1-5
In you, Lord our God, we put our trust.
We trust in you; do not let us be put to shame,
nor let our enemies triumph over us.
No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame,
but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause.
Show us your ways, Lord, teach us your paths.
Guide us in your truth and teach us,
for you are God our Savior, and our hope is in you all day long.
Prayer of Confession: from Psalm 51
Have mercy on us, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out our transgressions. Wash away all our iniquity and cleanse us from our sin. For surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach us wisdom in the inmost place. Create in us pure hearts, O God, and renew steadfast spirits within us. Do not cast us from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from us. Restore to us the joy of your salvation and grant us a willing spirit, to sustain us. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Hear the good news: Christ our Savior has come! While we were sinners, Jesus was born. Jesus died. Jesus rose in victory. And in him we are forgiven. Thanks be to God! Amen.
Scripture Reading
Sermon – “The Way of Christ: Faith”
In-person services resume this week in our Fellowship Hall. Please wear a face covering, bring a chair to sit in, and practice social distancing while attending. A live-stream of the service is available at the link above. Simply click the link or visit our YouTube page at 11:00am to tune in! The service will also be saved as a video for you to view later if you wish.
Tithes and Offerings
With gratitude for the gospel, we share our time, talents, and resources with the Lord. (You may give financially by visiting www.sylvapres.org/giving, or by dropping a check off at the church or sending one to FPC at P.O. Box 2152, Sylva, NC 28779. Thank you!)
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him all creatures here below!
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts!
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
Affirmation of Faith – from The Heidelberg Catechism
Question: What is true faith?
Response: True faith is not only a sure knowledge by which I hold as true all that God has revealed to us in Scripture; it is also a wholehearted trust, which the Holy Spirit creates in me by the gospel, that God has freely granted, not only to others but to me also, forgiveness of sins, eternal righteousness, and salvation. These are gifts of sheer grace, granted solely by Christ’s merit.
Prayers of the People
God of grace, you led your people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land. As we enter into this season of Lent, we trust that you lead us and watch over our coming and our going both now and forevermore. With gratitude, we ask this morning that you would strengthen and guide us as we do your work in your world. Convict us of our disobedience, and enable us to heed your call in our lives. Open our ears to the cries of the poor. Teach us to seek and to do justice, to stay in the path of understanding, to pursue righteousness and love, and to trust in your faithfulness above everything else. Please hear us as we lift our joys and concerns to you. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
We pray together now as Jesus taught us, saying:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Benediction
May the peace of the risen Lord Christ go with you, wherever he may send you.
May he guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm.
May he bring you home rejoicing at the wonders he has shown you.
May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.