Lent is the period of 40 days which comes before Easter in the
Christian calendar. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, Lent is a season
of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter. By
observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ's
sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days.
The curious may note that there are, in fact, more than 40 days
from Ash Wednesday to Easter. That’s because Sundays are not
counted - each Sunday being seen as a mini-Easter.
So welcome today to the sound of the church bells from the Old
Parish of Peebles. When they stop, we’ll be singing a great Lenten
hymn - Forty Days and Forty Nights.
The 1st Sunday in Lent
HYMN: Forty days and forty nights
PRAYER
God of wilderness and water,
your Son was baptised and tempted as we are.
Guide us through this season,
that we may not avoid struggle,
but open ourselves to blessing,
through the cleansing depths of repentance
and the heaven-rending words of the Spirit.
Be among us, Lord Jesus, our true and faithful Companion on our earthly
journey. Give us in this time of worship a glimpse of your will for us, and
in this - as in all things - give us a vision of your kingdom, the strength to
proclaim it, and a thirst to see it fulfilled.
THE LORD'S PRAYER
Hymn: The Lord's my Shepherd
LESSON
Mark 1; 9-15
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 forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was
with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the
good news of God,
and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come
near; repent, and believe in the good news."
REFLECTION
HYMN: O for a closer walk with God
PRAYER
Beloved friends, in this season of repentance and healing,
we accept God's invitation to be ever-mindful of the needs of others,
offering our prayers on behalf of God's community in the church and the
world.
So we pray that we may make these 40 days of Lent a special Time full of
Grace.
Time to make the desert journey and renew our way to life.
Time for testing and for changing.
Time to trust the word of God.
Time to recognise holy presence and share in the Lord’s healing work.
Time for forgiveness and for healing and to repent our broken lives.
Time to build God's dwelling with us and proclaim full life for all.
Time to watch and wait with Jesus and to prepare the upper room.
Time to turn our lives again to God and to transform our world with love.
Hear our prayer in this time of Coronavirus - for all those multitudes
around the globe affected, the sick, the bereaved, those suffering long
Covid.
And for ourselves -
Fill us with your strength
to resist the seductions of our foolish desires
and the tempter's vain delights,
that we may walk in obedience and righteousness,
rejoicing in you with an upright heart. Amen.
HYMN: There's a wideness in God's mercy
THE BLESSING and BENEDICTION
May the Holy Spirit,
who leads us into all truth,
speak to you words of pardon and peace.
And the Blessing of God, Father, Son and
Spirit, be with you today, and always.
AMEN
Voluntary
Please go HERE for an important announcement.
And don't forget to look HERE for information on Rev John Smith's Lenten Study group