WELCOME AND CONCERNS OF THE CONGREGATION

PRELUDE            “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”               Dan Miller                                                                         

SERVICE FOR LENTEN CANDLES

LITANY – from Psalm 22:24, 26

One: The Lord does not ignore us or hide from us when 

we are troubled. 

All: God hears our every cry. 

One: Whatever we need, God will satisfy. 

All: Therefore, we give God the praise. 

SCRIPTURE AND PRAYER

*HYMN 49            The God of Abraham Praise 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION                                    St. Ambrose         

O Lord, who hast mercy upon all, take away from me my sins, and mercifully kindle in me the fire of thy Holy Spirit. Take away from me the heart of stone, and give me a heart of flesh, a heart to love and adore thee, a heart to delight in thee, to follow and enjoy thee, for Christ’s sake…                   

Silent Prayers of Confession

WORDS OF ASSURANCE 

If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) 

Hear then Christ’s word of grace to us: our sins are forgiven.

Thanks be to God!

*GLORIA PATRI     “Glory Be to the Father”                #581

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION 

SCRIPTURE LESSONS:  Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Mark 8:27-38

SERMON          “Say What?”                     Rev. Barrett Ingram 

Text: [Jesus] asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” Mark 8:27

*HYMN 819          Be Still, My Soul

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH        The Apostles’ Creed              pg. 35

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic* Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.  

PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER 

OFFERTORY ANTHEM   “Take Up Your Cross, the Savior Said”

                                                                     Christopher Treichler        

RECEIVING OF GOD’S TITHES AND OFFERINGS

*DOXOLOGY                                                               Hymn 606       

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

*HYMN 826          Lift High the Cross   

*BENEDICTION  

*POSTLUDE      “Prelude in A Major”                       J. S. Bach

*Those who are able are invited to stand.

 Journey to the Cross and Resurrection

  Today is the second Sunday in Lent, a somber and penitent season when we reflect on the last 40 days of Christ’s ministry on earth: the season for the preparation for the Alleluias of Easter and the risen Christ.

   Each Sunday in Lent we symbolically travel with our Lord on his journey to the cross through descriptive scripture readings and through a symbolic Lenten wreath, crown of thorns, which darkens and dies a little each week representing the diminishing hope and light in Christ’s journey to the cross.

   On Easter, the spent flowers, the darkened candles, and the thorns of the Lenten wreath are replaced by a triumphant Christ candle surrounded by fresh white flowers proclaiming Alleluia! He is risen.