Sunday Celebration at 11 AM Program

Follow Along with our Sunday Celebration Service February 21rst, 2021 11:00AM Announcements

NVUCC Announcements • February 28th: Sunday Service led by Cathy Young• March 7th: Sunday Service with Communion celebrated with Rev Barbara Schwartz• March 14th: Sunday Service led by John Schwartz• Tax Assistance Program starting soon. Call 444-1525 for info.• Program for Youth coming soon! Stay Tuned for more information. We intend for this program to provide tutoring opportunities, wi fi connection for schoolwork and connect children with an authentic spiritual experience that is inclusive, creative and multi-layered.• Sharing Cupboard Project: We recognize that times are hard and people may need a boost. Please consider bringing non perishable food items as well as toiletries for donating to those in need in our community. We would like to place a food cupboard on our front porch for anyone to donate nonperishable foods or hygiene items as well as anyone to take what they need. Suggestions for donations are: peanut butter and jelly, cans of tuna or soup, cereal, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap. Any of us could be in need of a little help– especially during this pandemic. Greeting /welcome to others: You can wave “Hello” or “Peace to You” (Due to Covid concerns, Please stay in your own seats)For Reflection: Our temptations say more about what is going on within us than what is happening around us. That’s why just say no is an overly simplistic understanding of this gospel and an inadequate response to temptation. Temptation is less about a choice and more about our identity and direction in life.Hymn: “Balm in Gilead”

Call to Worship

Following God’s ways is not easy; We are called to step out in faith.We do not know what will happen tomorrow; We are called to put our trust in God.We know that God’s love is always with us;We know that God never abandons us.Come, join together in this time of worship; Come, join together in following Jesus.(Source: Rev Mindi, Rev-o-lution)

Call for Reflection Holy God, we like to claim that your way is mysterious and we are uncertain how to follow. We confess that we don’t want to understand the fast that you choose. You call us to loose the bonds of injustice, to let prisoners free, to break every yoke, to bring the homeless into our house, to feed our neighbors and pray for our enemies. We make it sound like a difficult metaphor so we don’t have to act on your word, because we don’t like to be uncomfortable. Forgive our apathy, our willful ignorance, our false modesty, and our unexamined privilege. Create in us a clean heart, and lead us into a Holy Lent…and beyond, to abundant life for all your creation. (Source: Rev. Teri Peterson, LiturgyLink)

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon

What can sustain us in the days to come, what will nourish us on our Lenten journey?Look, here is all the food we need: God’s Love, God’s Word, God’s Hope.Through the wilderness and into the kingdom of life, we are given daily bread for every day of the journey. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Readings: Genesis 9:8–13;17, Psalm 25:1–10, 1 Peter 3:18-22, Mark 1:9-15

Message: “Survival in the Wilderness” Shared by Cathy Young

Musical Reflection

Prayers of the People Lord in Your Mercy All: Hear our Prayer

Pastoral Prayer: O Great Love, thank you for living and loving in us and through us. May all that we do flow from our deep connection with you and all beings. Help us become a community that vulnerably shares each other’s burdens and the weight of glory. Listen to our hearts’ longings for the healing of our world. Knowing you are hearing us better than we are speaking, we offer these prayers in all the holy names of God, amen. (Source: Fr. Richard Rohr) In your holy names we pray your prayer

–Lord’s Prayer: Our Father-Mother in heaven, hallowed be your name. May your presence be realized here on earth as it is in heaven. May we receive the bread that you provide us. Enable us to know that our sins have been forgiven, just as we forgive those who sin against us. Strengthen us to deal with trials too great to endure. Free us from the grip of all that harms us and others. For your power of Love reigns now and forever. Amen.

INVITATION TO SHARE:Holy God, we offer our gifts to bring healing to the broken, hope to those in despair, light to those in shadows, and grace for all your people. Amen.

Offering Response Lord, we lift your name on high, Lord we love to sing your praises. We’re so glad you’re in our lives. We’re so glad you came to save us. You came from heaven to earth to show the way, from the earth to the cross, our debt to pay, from the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky. Lord, we lift your name on high.

Sending Prayer

Facing a Barren Desert

Today, like Jesus, we may be facing a barren desert We may be tempted to do the wrong thingTo do something selfish, To do something hurtful.Or perhaps we have become lostNot sure which way to turn in our livesThe desert sand gives us no help.In these bleak momentsWe need to reach deep into ourselvesAnd find the sacred sparkThat represents all that is best in usWhich knows who we really areAnd who we can beAnd remind ourselves that we are hereTo share this spirit of live and love with othersTo blossom in the desert, Or the concrete of the cityAnd help others to blossom too.(Source: Roger Courtney, Progressive Christianity)•

Closing Hymn: