From Ashes to Glory Pt 1: Children as the Hands of a Loving God

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

With all the faithful, let us pray to the Lord, who is our hiding place in

times of trouble, who surrounds us with glad cries of deliverance.

We pray for all who are hungry

whether hungry for power and glory or hungry for a simple meal.

Show the mighty that you alone can satisfy their deepest need,

and feed the poor from the abundance of your good creation.

We pray for the church in times of trial

whether tested by tempestuous change or tempted by safety of

the status quo. Give us peace when anger and fear threaten to

divide us, and challenge us when we are too comfortable in this

world.

We pray for leaders in high places

whether determined to help those who suffer or distant from the

cries of the oppressed. Open their eyes to see your saving

power at work, and open their ears to hear your prophets ’calls

for justice.

Lord God, instruct us in the way we should go and let your steadfast

love surround us always;

in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

O Lord, may the words of your mouth be our daily bread, and may the leading of your Spirit become our way; in Jesus ’name. Amen.

Romans 5:12-19 12Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned— ¹³ sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. ¹⁴ Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come. ¹⁵ But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. ¹⁶ And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. ¹⁷ If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. ¹⁹ For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Matthew 4:1-11 1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ² He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. ³ The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” ⁴ But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” ⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, ⁶ saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.” ⁷ Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”” ⁸ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; ⁹ and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” ¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’”” ¹¹ Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

Rev. Johan Dodge

Questions for Reflection: Rev. Johan Dodge

How might you grow in faith and draw near to Jesus through the forty

days of Lent? Let Jesus ’three responses to the devil be your guide:

(1) study Scripture (live by the Word of God;

(2) seek reconciliation with God and others; and

(3) be active and intentional about participating in the work of your

congregation.

INVITATION TO THE OFFERING — Virginia Olejnik

As God so freely offers us the gift of life in Jesus Christ, let us

respond with gratitude, offering our lives to God.

We give you thanks and praise, O God, for the free and abundant gift of grace you have given us in Jesus Christ. Let the simple gifts of our lives be a sign of our unending gratitude for your undying love; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

May the steadfast love of God surround you throughout these forty days and into everlasting life. Blessed Be the Tie that Binds Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. Amen.