Longwood Presbyterian Church
February 21, 2021
Prelude & Procession
Announcements/Prayer Requests/Praises:
Opening Prayer, Lord’s Prayer
*Call to Worship: based on Psalm 25
L: In gratefulness this morning, to you, oh Lord, we lift up our souls.
P: Oh Lord, it is in you alone that we put our trust.
L: Lead us in your truth. Teach us, as we wait here for you.
P: You, alone, are the God of our salvation.
L: Guide us on the paths of your steadfast love and faithfulness.
All: Help us to keep your covenant and all your decrees as we worship you.
*Opening Hymn: “I Danced in the Morning” #157
Prayer of Confession: based on Mark 1:
L: Jesus, as we hear today, after your baptism you were sent into the wilderness to be tempted.
P: As we leave here today, we go not into the wilderness, but to our comfortable homes.
L: And yet we are tested as well. We are tested by the world wanting us to follow.
P: We are tested and told that we should fill our hunger, put ourselves first, take the safe path.
L: And we know we often fail the test.
ALL: Forgive us for the times we have failed. Strengthen us for the testing ahead. Let us be followers of you. Amen
Declaration of Forgiveness from Mark 1
Jesus promised, the time is here. The vision will be fulfilled. The Kingdom of God is within our grasp! Know that in the name of Jesus you have been forgiven and be at peace...--Amen
*Gloria Patri
Time for Children -- “How do you make a Rainbow”
Hymn: “Take My Life”…#697.
Prayer for Illumination
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord. Amen.
Reading of the Word: Hear the Word of the Lord:
Genesis 9:8-17, Living Bible
8 Then God told Noah and his sons, 9-11 “I solemnly promise you and your children[a] and the animals you brought with you—all these birds and cattle and wild animals—that I will never again send another flood to destroy the earth. 12 And I seal this promise with this sign: 13 I have placed my rainbow in the clouds as a sign of my promise until the end of time, to you and to all the earth. 14 When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will be seen in the clouds, 15 and I will remember my promise to you and to every being, that never again will the floods come and destroy all life. 16-17 For I will see the rainbow in the cloud and remember my eternal promise to every living being on the earth.”
1 Peter 3:18-22, Living Bible
18 Christ also suffered. He died once for the sins of all us guilty sinners although he himself was innocent of any sin at any time, that he might bring us safely home to God. But though his body died, his spirit lived on, 19 and it was in the spirit that he visited the spirits in prison and preached to them— 20 spirits of those who, long before in the days of Noah, had refused to listen to God, though he waited patiently for them while Noah was building the ark. Yet only eight persons were saved from drowning in that terrible flood. 21 (That, by the way, is what baptism pictures for us: In baptism we show that we have been saved from death and doom by the resurrection of Christ; not because our bodies are washed clean by the water but because in being baptized, we are turning to God and asking him to cleanse our hearts from sin.) 22 And now Christ is in heaven, sitting in the place of honor next to God the Father, with all the angels and powers of heaven bowing before him and obeying him.
……………
L: This is the word of the Lord
P: Thanks be to God
Message: ”The Journey”—J. R. Greer
The Bible verses may seem like they don’t fit together, but they both represent symbols of God’s love for us. In Genesis, we hear God promise Noah and his sons that he will never again send another flood to destroy the earth”, and then God places a rainbow in the clouds as a way to remember this promise.
This is the part of the Bible that the kids know very well. Noah, his family (8 all total), plus 2 each of all the animals that God named, and all on one stinky boat. The Bible tells us that Noah was a just man, and listened to God. So, the arc was built just in time for a flood. And it rains for 40 days and 40 nights.
The time period of 40 days has been used in the Bible many times. Today’s message is in reference to 40 days of constant rain on Noah’s arc. (Genesis 7:4). One can only imagine how much rain that would be today for almost 6 weeks of rain to fall. In the new testament the Bible tells us Noah waited 40 days before releasing a raven to search for dry land (Genesis 8;5-7).
Later in the bible, Jesus spent 40 days and 40 nights in the Judean desert, being tempted by the devil (Mark 1:13). Both Matthew and Luke describe this event also.
And then, we have Lent. In Western Christianity, Lent consists of the 40 days preceding Easter, not counting Sundays (so it’s actually 46 calendar days).
In trying to find more information on the term 40 days in Christianity, I found that in the Hebrew Bible, forty is often used for time periods, forty days or forty years, which separate "two distinct epochs" or memorable dates. This describes the circumstances we study today.
So, when the rains finally stopped and the massive boat found dry land, God made the promise to Noah, and placed a beautiful rainbow in the sky, to remind us of God’s promise.
Rainbows are fun. I remember not long ago, being at Marshall Junction and the rain had just stopped. As we drove through the area, we could see a perfect double rainbow. It almost takes your breath away when you see a sight like this. And to add to its beauty, we know this is a symbol of God’s love, from the times of Noah.
There have been many writers who have commented on the characteristics of rainbows. Andy Grossman writes in “Chasing Rainbows”, “I learned from chasing rainbows, that they are illusive. I was running up this street, then another, and then drove up a road to get a better view, and I never could catch that view I was looking for. It reminded me of life. ‘What are we chasing? Happiness? Security? Wealth?’ In Mark 8:36, Jesus said, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”
I have always felt that there is an unequalled purity about the air when you have a rainbow in sight—especially if you are close to it. A few years ago, Sharon and I were on vacation and in the mountains. A brief rain came and went. When the sun came out, we were so close to a rainbow that we could almost touch it. The air was so clean and pure, I wanted to stay there forever.
So, rainbows are a symbol of God’s love, they are beautiful, but they can be illusive, much like the Holy Spirit.
First Peter reminds us that the spirit was present during Noah’s time, trying to change the hearts of others. This Holy Spirit was present during Christ’s time, in particular, during his baptism. And I believe we can be certain that the Holy Spirit was with us during our baptism, and it continually reminds us that to turn to God and ask him to cleanse our hearts from sin.
According to the United Methodist Church website, the meaning of Lent is, “to be encouraged to find our own method of confronting our sinfulness, remembering our mortality, and giving thanks for the gift of salvation we receive through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ,".
Today is the first Sunday of Lent, the period of time beginning with Ash Wednesday and ending with Easter.
We are encouraged to enter Lent, with the knowledge of Jesus dying on the cross for our personal sins, and to think about our own actions and lives. It may be that this pandemic was our time on a stinky boat. And maybe when this is all over, we can find ourselves firmly planted on ground with a beautiful rainbow in the sky, and with a sense of a new life of following Jesus’ footsteps. In God, we can hope. Amen
*Apostles Creed (Page 35)
*Doxology/Dedication of Offering
*Closing Hymn: “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” #216.
*Benediction/Passing of the Peace
God proclaimed his covenant to Noah and his children and to all who followed. The rainbow was a symbol of hope, of trust in that covenant. This everlasting covenant was fulfilled in Jesus Christ when he came to save the world instead of destroying it. This everlasting covenant is for you and your offspring. Go forth, carry the knowledge that God has made a promise to you and to the world that you serve. Walk in peace with God.
L: May the peace of the Lord be with you.
P: And also with you.
All: Amen
*Hymn: “Amen”
*Please stand if you are able
February 21, 2021
Prelude & Procession
Announcements/Prayer Requests/Praises:
Opening Prayer, Lord’s Prayer
*Call to Worship: based on Psalm 25
L: In gratefulness this morning, to you, oh Lord, we lift up our souls.
P: Oh Lord, it is in you alone that we put our trust.
L: Lead us in your truth. Teach us, as we wait here for you.
P: You, alone, are the God of our salvation.
L: Guide us on the paths of your steadfast love and faithfulness.
All: Help us to keep your covenant and all your decrees as we worship you.
*Opening Hymn: “I Danced in the Morning” #157
Prayer of Confession: based on Mark 1:
L: Jesus, as we hear today, after your baptism you were sent into the wilderness to be tempted.
P: As we leave here today, we go not into the wilderness, but to our comfortable homes.
L: And yet we are tested as well. We are tested by the world wanting us to follow.
P: We are tested and told that we should fill our hunger, put ourselves first, take the safe path.
L: And we know we often fail the test.
ALL: Forgive us for the times we have failed. Strengthen us for the testing ahead. Let us be followers of you. Amen
Declaration of Forgiveness from Mark 1
Jesus promised, the time is here. The vision will be fulfilled. The Kingdom of God is within our grasp! Know that in the name of Jesus you have been forgiven and be at peace...--Amen
*Gloria Patri
Time for Children -- “How do you make a Rainbow”
Hymn: “Take My Life”…#697.
Prayer for Illumination
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord. Amen.
Reading of the Word: Hear the Word of the Lord:
Genesis 9:8-17, Living Bible
8 Then God told Noah and his sons, 9-11 “I solemnly promise you and your children[a] and the animals you brought with you—all these birds and cattle and wild animals—that I will never again send another flood to destroy the earth. 12 And I seal this promise with this sign: 13 I have placed my rainbow in the clouds as a sign of my promise until the end of time, to you and to all the earth. 14 When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will be seen in the clouds, 15 and I will remember my promise to you and to every being, that never again will the floods come and destroy all life. 16-17 For I will see the rainbow in the cloud and remember my eternal promise to every living being on the earth.”
1 Peter 3:18-22, Living Bible
18 Christ also suffered. He died once for the sins of all us guilty sinners although he himself was innocent of any sin at any time, that he might bring us safely home to God. But though his body died, his spirit lived on, 19 and it was in the spirit that he visited the spirits in prison and preached to them— 20 spirits of those who, long before in the days of Noah, had refused to listen to God, though he waited patiently for them while Noah was building the ark. Yet only eight persons were saved from drowning in that terrible flood. 21 (That, by the way, is what baptism pictures for us: In baptism we show that we have been saved from death and doom by the resurrection of Christ; not because our bodies are washed clean by the water but because in being baptized, we are turning to God and asking him to cleanse our hearts from sin.) 22 And now Christ is in heaven, sitting in the place of honor next to God the Father, with all the angels and powers of heaven bowing before him and obeying him.
……………
L: This is the word of the Lord
P: Thanks be to God
Message: ”The Journey”—J. R. Greer
The Bible verses may seem like they don’t fit together, but they both represent symbols of God’s love for us. In Genesis, we hear God promise Noah and his sons that he will never again send another flood to destroy the earth”, and then God places a rainbow in the clouds as a way to remember this promise.
This is the part of the Bible that the kids know very well. Noah, his family (8 all total), plus 2 each of all the animals that God named, and all on one stinky boat. The Bible tells us that Noah was a just man, and listened to God. So, the arc was built just in time for a flood. And it rains for 40 days and 40 nights.
The time period of 40 days has been used in the Bible many times. Today’s message is in reference to 40 days of constant rain on Noah’s arc. (Genesis 7:4). One can only imagine how much rain that would be today for almost 6 weeks of rain to fall. In the new testament the Bible tells us Noah waited 40 days before releasing a raven to search for dry land (Genesis 8;5-7).
Later in the bible, Jesus spent 40 days and 40 nights in the Judean desert, being tempted by the devil (Mark 1:13). Both Matthew and Luke describe this event also.
And then, we have Lent. In Western Christianity, Lent consists of the 40 days preceding Easter, not counting Sundays (so it’s actually 46 calendar days).
In trying to find more information on the term 40 days in Christianity, I found that in the Hebrew Bible, forty is often used for time periods, forty days or forty years, which separate "two distinct epochs" or memorable dates. This describes the circumstances we study today.
So, when the rains finally stopped and the massive boat found dry land, God made the promise to Noah, and placed a beautiful rainbow in the sky, to remind us of God’s promise.
Rainbows are fun. I remember not long ago, being at Marshall Junction and the rain had just stopped. As we drove through the area, we could see a perfect double rainbow. It almost takes your breath away when you see a sight like this. And to add to its beauty, we know this is a symbol of God’s love, from the times of Noah.
There have been many writers who have commented on the characteristics of rainbows. Andy Grossman writes in “Chasing Rainbows”, “I learned from chasing rainbows, that they are illusive. I was running up this street, then another, and then drove up a road to get a better view, and I never could catch that view I was looking for. It reminded me of life. ‘What are we chasing? Happiness? Security? Wealth?’ In Mark 8:36, Jesus said, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”
I have always felt that there is an unequalled purity about the air when you have a rainbow in sight—especially if you are close to it. A few years ago, Sharon and I were on vacation and in the mountains. A brief rain came and went. When the sun came out, we were so close to a rainbow that we could almost touch it. The air was so clean and pure, I wanted to stay there forever.
So, rainbows are a symbol of God’s love, they are beautiful, but they can be illusive, much like the Holy Spirit.
First Peter reminds us that the spirit was present during Noah’s time, trying to change the hearts of others. This Holy Spirit was present during Christ’s time, in particular, during his baptism. And I believe we can be certain that the Holy Spirit was with us during our baptism, and it continually reminds us that to turn to God and ask him to cleanse our hearts from sin.
According to the United Methodist Church website, the meaning of Lent is, “to be encouraged to find our own method of confronting our sinfulness, remembering our mortality, and giving thanks for the gift of salvation we receive through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ,".
Today is the first Sunday of Lent, the period of time beginning with Ash Wednesday and ending with Easter.
We are encouraged to enter Lent, with the knowledge of Jesus dying on the cross for our personal sins, and to think about our own actions and lives. It may be that this pandemic was our time on a stinky boat. And maybe when this is all over, we can find ourselves firmly planted on ground with a beautiful rainbow in the sky, and with a sense of a new life of following Jesus’ footsteps. In God, we can hope. Amen
*Apostles Creed (Page 35)
*Doxology/Dedication of Offering
*Closing Hymn: “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” #216.
*Benediction/Passing of the Peace
God proclaimed his covenant to Noah and his children and to all who followed. The rainbow was a symbol of hope, of trust in that covenant. This everlasting covenant was fulfilled in Jesus Christ when he came to save the world instead of destroying it. This everlasting covenant is for you and your offspring. Go forth, carry the knowledge that God has made a promise to you and to the world that you serve. Walk in peace with God.
L: May the peace of the Lord be with you.
P: And also with you.
All: Amen
*Hymn: “Amen”
*Please stand if you are able