ST. MATTHEW’S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRISTFebruary 21, 2021

First Sunday of Lent“A faithful family reaching out to serve Christ.”

PRELUDE WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS*CALL TO WORSHIP Kyle Strohl

(L) We gather as pilgrims on a journey of faith.(P) We come seeking the awareness of God’s presence as we travel on.(L) We come seeking light for our darkness and strength in our weakness.(P) Shine in our hearts O God, with the light of your love. Walk with us each day so that your presence is known through Jesus the Christ.

*PRAYER OF THE DAY Kyle Strohl

(L) Lord, as we worship and praise you on this first Sunday of Lent, help us to see the beauty of the world you’ve given to us. Help us to notice the blessings all around us. Help us to remember that you are God, and we are not. Help us to trust that somehow you will see us through the painful things in life and bring good from them. Grant us grateful hearts and help us to be living hallelujahs in our world. AMEN.

*OPENING SONG: I Come to the CrossI come to the cross seeking mercy and grace.I come to the cross where You died in my place.Out of my weakness and into Your strength,Jesus, I come to the cross.Your arms are open, You call me by name,You welcome this child that was lost.You paid the price for my guilt and my shame.Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come to the cross. (REPEAT FROM BEGINNING)Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come to the cross.

*CALL TO CONFESSION*PRAYER OF CONFESSION

God of mercy, we begin this Lenten season in confession. We do not live according to your ways, but according to our own.We condone violence, participate in systems of injustice,

and use power to our own advantage at the expense of others.

Forgive us we pray when we are tempted to follow pathsother that those you set before us. Let us walk by your side. Teach us your ways, help us to turn from evil and turn us toward your kingdom.We pray in the name of the crucified one. AMEN.

*KYRIE(L) Lord have mercy upon us. (P) Lord have mercy upon us.(L) Christ have mercy upon us. (P) Christ have mercy upon us.(L) Lord have mercy upon us. (P) Lord have mercy upon us.

*MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER*ASSURANCE OF PARDON*ACT OF PRAISE #734

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

THE CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Staci Gower

THE READING OF SCRIPTURE The Old Testament Lesson: Psalm 95: 1-7a Kyle Strohl

(L) O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! (P) Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! (L) For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. (P) In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. (L) The sea is his, for he made it, and the dry land, which his hands have formed. (P) O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! (L) For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

*The Gloria Tibi: Glory be to thee, O Lord.

*The Gospel: Mark 1: 9-159 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 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. 11 And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

12 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."

*Laus Tibi: Praise be to thee, O Christ. SERMON “Worship and Prayer: A Living Hallelujah” The Rev. Scott Brooks-Cope

*HYMN Knowing You (All I Once Held Dear)All I once held dear, Built my life upon, all this world reveres And wars to own,All I once thought gain I have counted loss, Spent and worthless now Compared to this:

(CHORUS) Knowing You, Jesus, knowing you there is no greater thing.You’re my all, You’re the best, You’re my joy, my righteousness, And I love you Lord.

Now my heart’s desire Is to know You more, to be found in You and known as yours,To possess by faith what I could not earn, all surpassing gift of righteousness. (CHORUS)

Oh, to know the pow’r of Your risen life and to know You in your sufferings,To become like You In your death, my Lord, so with You to live and never die. (CHORUS)

Love You, Lord.

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITHIn life and death, we belong to God. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the

communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve.

We trust in God, whom Jesus called Abba, Father. In sovereign love God created the world good and makes everyone equally in God’s image, male and female, of every race and people, to live as one community. But we rebel against God; we hide from our Creator. Ignoring God’s commandments, we violate the image of God in others and ourselves, accept lies as truth, exploit neighbor and nature, and threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care. We deserve God’s condemnation.

Yet God acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation. In everlasting love, the God of Abraham and Sarah chose a covenant people to bless all families of the earth. Hearing their cry, God delivered the children of Israel from the house of bondage. Loving us still, God makes us heirs with Christ of the covenant. Like a mother who will not forsake her nursing child, like a father who runs to welcome the prodigal home, God is faithful still.

With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. AMEN.

JOYS AND CONCERNS (Concerns may be written down on concern list in narthex before worship.)

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYEROur 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.

*CLOSING HYMN Trust and Obey

When we walk with the Lord In the light of His Word, What a glory He sheds on our way!While we do His good will, He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey.Trust and obey, For there’s no other way To be happy in Jesus, But to trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear, Not a sorrow we share, But our toil He doth richly repay;Not a grief nor a loss, Not a frown nor a cross, But is blest if we trust and obey.Trust and obey, For there’s no other way To be happy in Jesus, But to trust and obey.

But we never can prove The delights of His love Until all on the altar we lay;For the favor He shows And the joy He bestows Are for them who will trust and obey.Trust and obey, For there’s no other way To be happy in Jesus, But to trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet We will sit at His feet, Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;

*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE#287Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,

till all the world adore your sacred name.

Come, Christians follow where our Savior trod, our King victorious, Christ the Son of God.

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim, till all the world adore your sacred name.

*POSTLUDE (*Please stand in body or spirit.)

Matthews United Church of Christ102 Church St, Kunkletown, PA 18058

610-381-2442, stmatts@ptd.netPastor: The Rev. Suzanne Brooks-Cope

Office Manager: Mrs. Rose AraceCoordinator of Spiritual Formation: Mrs. Staci Gower

Council President: Ms. Cheryl DorshimerSunday Worship, 9 AM, Adult Sunday School 10:30 am

Children’s Sunday School is Virtual atwww.stmattsucckunkletown,com

“Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?”—Corrie ten Boom

This Week Ahead

Sunday, February 21 Worship -Sanctuary, 9 am First Sunday of Lent -CIA Class, Stage 10:30 am

Monday, February 22 -Office Open 9am-1 pm Creative Worship Team -Pastor’s Study, 2:30 pm Blood Drive -Social Hall, 1-6 pm

Exercise Group -Gathering Room, 1 pmTuesday, February 23 Confirmation Class - Social Hall, 4 to 6 pmWednesday, February 24 -Office Open 9am-1pm

Exercise Group -Gathering Room, 1 pm Lenten Book Study -Stage/Zoom 6 pm

Friday, February 26 -Office Open 9am-1pm Youth Group -Social Hall, 6-8:30 pm

Sunday, February 28 Worship -Sanctuary, 9 am Second Sunday of Lent -CIA Class, Stage 10:30 am

Prayer Concerns

Joyce Smith, Shirley Borger, McCoy Rapa, Doug Hawk, Dale and Gladys Meixsell, Eliza Dymond, Lois Bohn, Neal Murphy, Eloise and Jack, Lorraine Borger, Janet Gower, Grace Everett,

Randy Cramer, Alton and Lila Kleintop, Gladys Lindenmoyer, Jesse Ziegenfus, Erica Pozza, Rosemarie Stranahan, Shirley Smith, Andrea Holec,

Brayden Wunder, Kim and Trevor Cope, Josh & Kevin Engler, Mae Borger, and the Families of George Keller, Marlena Gilboy, and Anna Mack

Today’s Ushers:Gabrielle Bentley and Shirley Brotzman

Next Week’s Ushers:Jessica Slawter and Cheryl DorshimerThis Week’s Acolyte: Lydia Borger

Next Week’s Acolyte: Ty Borger

Don’t forget to wear a mask at all times when inside the building and to keep 6 feet away from others not in your household! If you are not feeling well or running a fever, please stay home.

The Joyful Noise bucket is on the table as you walk in the sanctuary. During the month of February, it will support the Family Promise of Carbon County which provides shelter and services for homeless families. Please give generously of the spare change in your pockets. Thank You.

The Blood Drive is tomorrow, Feb. 22. If you would like to donate, call Rose first thing tomorrow morning to see if there is an appointment available. Thank you to all who have signed up. Donating blood saves lives!

During the season of Lent Pastors Suzanne and Scott will be leading a sermon series based on the book, The Walk: Five Essential Practices of the Christian Life written by Adam Hamilton. This sermon series will focus on five spiritual practices that are rooted in Jesus’ own walk with God and taught throughout the New Testament. Join us throughout Lent for worship either in person or virtually as we explore the practices of worship, study, serving, giving, and sharing our faith.

This Lent, Pastor Suzanne will be leading a Wednesday Night Bible Study that will include worship and study on Wednesday Nights at 6 pm. The focus of the study will be Dr. Donald McKim’s book, “Living into Lent.” You may join the study in person or on Zoom. This study involves daily devotion which will be the topic for our weekly gatherings. Contact Pastor Suzanne if you want the church to order your book—you may also order it online if you prefer a kindle version. Please sign up by ASAP. The cost for the book is $14.

Blood donors save Lives! Even if you are afraid of needles, will you consider donating? We are sponsoring a blood drive at the church on Monday, Feb. 22 from 1 to 6 pm. Appointments required and Covid19 precautions are in place. Make an appointment at GIVEaPint.org, sponsor code 6849 or by calling Rose at the office. Rules have changed, even if you have had your COVID19 vaccine, you are welcome to donate!

Beware! There have been some phony text messages by hackers to a couple church members supposedly from Pastor Suzanne asking for gift cards to help fellow members. This is phishing. Don’t respond. You could be exposing your information if you do. If you need Pastor Suzanne’s cell number, call the church office.