FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF JESUS

Lent is, first of all, about God baptizing us into a life of faithful discipleship.  Lent attests to the power of the cross through word and water, bread and wine to conform the lives of God’s people to the image of Christ. Lent prepares us and leads us to the life-giving cross which ends not in death but resurrection. The tone of this Lenten order of worship—in the midst of its call to turn, repent, and be cleansed of sin— is one of promise and hope. Sunday after Sunday the Scripture Readings reflect God’s promises. These promises are centered in the fact that God sends Jesus not to condemn the world but to invite, seek, heal, and raise those entombed in tradition, culture, sickness, and death. Over and over we will see, hear, touch, and taste, how the impossible difficulties of sin are met with the promise of God’s saving action.

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

WE REMEMBER OUR BAPTISMS, CONFESS OUR FAITHLESSNESS, 

AND HEAR GOD’S FAITHFUL PROMISE OF FORGIVENESS

Pastor: Let us return to our gracious and merciful God,

remembering God’s life-giving promises declared at our baptisms,

and confessing our need for God’s continual healing.

Ever-loving God,

People: through the gift of baptism 

you give new birth to your children

by water and the Spirit.

Yet we seem to remember only that we

come from dust and return to dust.

We forget that we are also born from grace.

We prefer to hide in our darkness,

rather than receive your gracious light and life.

We thirst for all those things and desires that can never satisfy.

We are blind to all the ways you invite us to come and see your goodness.

We wander from your promises and

find ourselves entombed in the ways of death.

We use your gifts to our own ends,

are reluctant to share these gifts with others,

and treat the gifts of your creation with carelessness.

Turn us again, O God.

Renew us.

Forgive us our sin,

and gather us again into your abundant life.

Pastor: A world cut off from God can never hope to be a place of life.

But God is not cut off from us.

God so loved the world that having sent the Son, Jesus,

we are gathered into God’s embrace of forgiveness and abundant 

life.

We are reconciled to God.

Once lost, we are now found.

Once dead in sin we are now alive.

For the sake of Jesus Christ,

I declare to you the good news that

grace, mercy, forgiveness, and peace are yours.

People: Amen.

GATHERING

WE RESPOND TO GOD’S CALL WITH PRAISE AND PRAYER,
AND PREPARE TO HEAR GOD’S WORD OF LIFE

GREETING

Pastor: From our God who loves us with an everlasting love

who brings forth a new creation in Christ,

who leads us by the Spirit in the wilderness,

grace, love and abundant peace be with you all.

People: And also with you

KYRIE                                                                                                                                [click on the link below]                                                 https://youtu.be/b8WdyJHLUgg

Kyrie eleison  Lord have mercy,

Christe eleison  Christ have mercy

Kyrie eleison  Lord have mercy

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Pastor: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Pastor: Let us pray:

People: Lord God, our strength, the struggle between good and evil rages within and around us, and the devil and all the forces that defy you tempt us with empty promises.  Keep us steadfast in your word, and when we fall, raise us again and restore us through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

WORD

THE CHURCH HEARS THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD ACTING
IN THIS AND EVERY TIME AND PLACE

FIRST READING 

Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God say, “You shall not eat from any tree in the garden”?’ The woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; but God said, “You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.” ’ But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. 

SECOND READING  

Romans 5:12-19

Therefore, 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— sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. 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. 

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. And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man’s sin. For the judgement following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. 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. 

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. 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. 

THE GOSPEL

Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the fourth chapter.

People: Glory to you, O Lord.

Matthew 4:1-11                                                                                                                                Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But he answered, ‘It is written,
“One does not live by bread alone,
   but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” ’ 

Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 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.” ’
Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” ’ 

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour; and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! for it is written,
“Worship the Lord your God,
   and serve only him.” ’
Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.  

Pastor: The Gospel of the Lord.

People: Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON

[click on the link below]

HYMN OF THE DAY

“Lead Me, Guide Me”

I am weak and I need Thy strength and power,
To help me over my weakest hour.
Let me through the darkness Thy face to see,
Lead me, oh Lord lead me.

Chorus
Lead me, guide me along the way,
For if you lead me I cannot stray.
Lord, let me walk each day with Thee.
Lead me, oh Lord lead me.

Help me tread in the paths of righteousness.
Be my aid when Satan and sin oppress.
I am putting all my trust in Thee:
Lead me, oh Lord lead me.

Chorus:

I am lost if you take your hand from me,
I am blind without Thy light to see.
Lord just always let me thy servant be,
Lead me, oh Lord lead me.

Chorus

APOSTLES’ CREED

Pastor: Let us confess our faith in the words of the Apostles’ Creed.

All:       I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

              I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord.

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

      and the life everlasting. Amen.

TODAY IN OUR PRAYERS

Bill, Carol, Curtis, and Christine Buchkowsky, Teri Peterson, Wayne Turner, Janet Gregory, Marge McMillan, Kyrie Parimi, Doris Turner, Hilda Anderson, Linda Wolfe, Naomi, Bev Gregory, Dale Robinson, Audrey Hedlin,  Mona Neher, Oma Ywo, Owen Peterson, Helga Halldorsdottir, Evaline Sanders, Wayne Andre, Pat Sarich, Lauren and Brandon Pelletier and baby Grace, the family of Norm Gregory,  the family of baby Mavrick Gallant (Bev Gregory’s great-grandson), the family of Katherine Meger (Joshua Bratvold’s great grandmother), the family of Lois Jenkins (Ann Salmon’s mother), the family of John Beaven (Bev Gregory’s brother), and the family of Carl Rausch.  

We remember the missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada, the children and people buried in unmarked graves at residential schools and First Nation lands, and all those who have suffered the trauma of residential schools, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the people of Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Afghanistan, Yemen, Venezuela, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, the Palestinians and Israelis, Ethiopia and Tigray, Myanmar and the Rohingya Muslim refugees, Lebanon, all at the Mexico/United States border seeking refuge, the 100 million refugees and displaced persons, the people of Haiti suffering from political disasters, the victims and communities in Turkey and Syria devastated by earthquake, the people of New Zealand recovering from a cyclone, those in the United States, Canada, and throughout the world caught up in racism and injustice and the resulting violence, and those throughout the world, in Canada, in our province, and in our community still threatened by the coronavirus and the many omicron variants.

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE OF FAITH

 [The congregational response after each petition is:  “ GRANT US YOUR PEACE.”]

Pastor:  As we journey with Jesus to the cross, the tree of life, witnessing to the transformation of life that comes with faith, repentance and forgiveness, let us pray for the renewal of the Church and the restoration of the whole world to the life of God, saying, “O God, in your compassion” and responding, “Grant us your peace.”

Petitioner: Merciful God, sustain your people by your Spirit working through your Word and sacraments, teach us to live in the covenant of our baptism.  Give us your Word of Life, for we cannot live on bread alone. Deliver us from all that draws us away from you.  Be present in all the struggles of your people that we do not seek to dominate or control, but  persist in honouring you  and in serving others. O God, in your compassion …

Petitioner:   God of new life, renew the creation, so that barren fields and burdened cities may become a blessing to all generations in every place.  Renew all people that the goodness of creation might bear witness to your love for all that is yours.  O God, in your compassion …

Petitioner:   Righteous God, through your cross you open the eyes of the world to the power of injustice, violence, terror, and oppression.  We remember especially  the year long war in Ukraine.  Move the leaders and peoples of the world to see the ways of justice and peace and turn from the temptations of power, hate, cruelty, and greed to bring aid and care to the hungry, poor, and oppressed.  O God, in your compassion …

Pastor:   Comforting God, your grace sustains all whose hearts are broken and you supply every human need.  Bless all who bear doubt, despair, illness, conflict, loss, and grief with your comforting presence.  We remember especially before you ….  Bring them healing and restore their trust in you.  O God, in your compassion …

Petitioner:  God of wisdom, renew your people through our baptism when we seem to be drowning in complacency, fear, doubt, and sin.  Enlighten us to see the power and life of your promises, assure us, and give us faith and courage.  Deepen our care for one another as we reach out to those who are absent or experiencing difficult circumstances.   Empower us to be your light, salt, and the body of Christ in this community. O God in your compassion …  

Petitioner:   Praiseworthy God, you show us how to live in joy and peace.  Lead us all through our times of barrenness and blindness to see that Christ emptied himself in death so that we might know God’s love and mercy for all creation.  O God, in your compassion …

Petitioner:   Sustaining God,  Jesus through his suffering death shows us a new way of love and invites us to love one another as he loves us.  Plant this Word in our hearts, so that in its power and love, our love may not grow cold in your service, nor that we may be tempted to fail, deny, or leave you, but in faith, cling to the cross and its way to life.  O God, in your compassion …

Pastor:  Gracious God, hear us as we pray.  As you have made us and redeemed us, so now sustain us with your hope, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

People:  Amen.

THANKSGIVING

THE COMMUNITY PRAISES GOD FOR THE GRACIOUS GIFTS OF CREATION
AND THE SAVING DEEDS OF JESUS CHRIST

THE GREETING AND SHARING OF PEACE

Pastor: Sisters and brothers, rejoice, encourage one another, live in peace.
God through Christ has given us the gift of reconciliation.

People: Therefore, let us be reconciled to God and to one another.

Pastor: The peace of the Christ be with you always.

People: And also with you.

(If with others greet one another with a gesture of peace, using these or similar words: “Christ’s peace be with you.”)

THE OFFERING

(We worship God with the offering of our selves, our time, our talents, and our possessions.)

OFFERTORY SONG

“Create In Me”

[click on the link below]

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

Let me be like you in all my ways.

Give me your strength,

Teach me your song,

Shelter me in the shadow of your wings.

For we are your righteousness.

If we die to ourselves and live through your death,

We shall be born again to be blessed in your love.

OFFERTORY PRAYER

Pastor: Let us pray.
God our abundant Giver,

People: you provide us with every gift of creation,

and you quench our thirst with living water.

You have not fed us with bread alone,

but with words of grace and life.

Receive these tokens of your goodness to us.

May our lives be bread for the hungry

and streams in the wilderness,

signs of the abundance of your grace

in Jesus Christ.  Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Pastor: Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray:

People: Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

  on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those

  who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours,

now and forever. Amen.

SENDING

ALL RECEIVE THE BLESSING OF GOD, LEAVE IN PEACE,
AND ARE SENT OUT TO SERVE

BENEDICTION

Pastor: God give you the strength to raise up the cross of Christ,

wisdom to follow in the cross of Christ,

and the guidance of the Spirit to carry the cross of Christ

into our world.

People: Amen.

CLOSING HYMN

“The Glory of These Forty Days”

[click on the link below]

The glory of these forty days

we celebrate with songs of praise;

for Christ, through whom all things were made,

himself has fasted and has prayed.

Alone and fasting Moses saw

the loving God who gave the law;

and Elijah, fasting, came 

the steeds and chariots of flame.

So Daniel trained his mystic sight,

delivered from the lions’ might;

and John, the Bridegroom’s friend became,

the herald of Messiah’s name.

Then grant, O God, that we may, too,

return in fast and prayer to you.

Our spirits strengthen with your grace,

and give us joy to see your face.

DISMISSAL

Pastor: Reconciled to God through the life-giving cross of Christ,

let us go out into the world in peace..

People: Thanks be to God.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

TODAY AT KOG

THIS WEEK AT KOG                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           – Thursday, March 2, Bev Gregory is hosting (154 Arrand Crescent)  quilt-making bees every Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.                                                – Thursday, March 2, Bible Study, “A Short History of Grace,”  7:30 p.m. Host needed.  We meet in Pastor Michael’s home, 1010 Duke Street.                                                                                                                                          

COMING UP AT KOG                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     – Sunday March 5, Coffee Social Host needed.                                                                           – Tuesday, March 7, Church Council meeting via Zoom, 7:30 p.m.                                         – Thursday, March 16, Bible Study, “A Short History of Grace,”  7:30 p.m. Host needed.  We meet in Pastor Michael’s home, 1010 Duke Street.                       – Sunday March 19, Annual General Meeting.  Potluck at 5:00 p.m.  Meeting at 5:30, Worship at 7:00                                                                                                – Wednesday, March 22, Women’s Breakfast Out, at 10:00 a.m.                                                                                       – Saturday, March 25, Men’s Breakfast Out at Mulberry’s Restaurant 2326 B Millar           Avenue, 8:30 a.m. 

January, February, and Year-to-Date Budget and Contribution Report for KOG

2023 Budget:  $50,471       Monthly Budget:  $4,260     Weekly Budget:  $971

2022 income/expenses: $8,932.96

December income/expenses: $3,966.32

Weekly contributions for January:  January 1: $470  January 8,15,22:  $640

January 29: $0

Weekly contributions for February:  February 5: $13,050  February 12: $250

Thank you to all who shared their talent, brought baked goods, and/or attended the RESURRECTION/KING OF GLORY MUSICAL TALENT NIGHT

“A Short History of Grace”. This Bible and theology study looks at the ways grace is interpreted from the time of the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament, through St. Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther and to contemporary theologies of liberation. 

Emergency Appeal – Earthquake in Türkiye and Syria: Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR), along with other leading Canadian aid agencies in the Humanitarian Coalition, is appealing for funds to assist those in need in Turkey and Syria affected by the earthquake and to support rescue efforts. Our focus right now is to provide blankets, shelter, life-saving clean water, food and healthcare. Please give what you can by donating at clwr.org/earthquake or by calling 1-800-661-2597 (office hours Mon-Fri, 9 am-4 pm), and pray for all those who are affected.

LENTEN SCHEDULE 

WEEKHOSTPREACHERStart timeWeek #1 (March 1)                      Zion                             Augustana7:30 PMWeek #2 (March 8)                      Augustana King of Glory7:30 PMWeek #3 (March 15)             Resurrection             Good Shepherd7:30 PMWeek #4 (March 22)             Good Shepherd           Zion7:30 PMWeek #5 (March 29)             Redeemer   Resurrection7:30 PM

St. David’s Trinity United Church

IRISH STEW SUPPER

    Saturday, March 18^th

                            Takeaway Meal Tickets: $20

                         (Curbside Pick-up from 3:30-5:00)

Extra dinner rolls and cookies are provided for 

children’s shared meals.

Meal includes 12 oz. beef stew, soda bread, shamrock cookie

 OR: Sit down Meal at 5:30 p.m.:  $25

Sit-down meal also includes 

dessert & coffee, tea, juice

Gluten free options are available.  

You may order your tickets through Interac e-transfer to st.davidstrinityuc@sasktel.net or by cash or cheque during office hours

at 306 978-0707

(catered by Mulberry’s Catering)

St. David’s Trinity United Church

Music, Meditation and Muffins

Join us for 30 minutes of quiet reflection

every Wed. morning at 10:00 a.m.

for the 6 weeks of Lent (starting Feb. 22nd). 

You are invited to stay for coffee to enjoy your muffin following your quiet time,

or you may take it home to enjoy.

Offerings.  

(Please no cash for mail security reasons)

Send your contributions to:  King of Glory Lutheran Church

    3318 Merritt Street

    Saskatoon, SK  S7M 3P6

Thank you for your generosity.