First Sunday in Lent - Online Worship - February 21, 2021

Today as we share our Lenten journey, we pray to be alive and anew thanks to the power in God’s grace alone, so we worship, in the name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit.

Amen.

O Lord, in the midst of the congregation, we praise your name. You have delivered our souls. Yet even now, as we come to you, Jesus, we see you are the one who comes so quickly to our aid.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

(silence for reflection)

Most merciful God, we confess that we are bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We come to you, just as we are. Have mercy on us! Save us! Renew us; in God’s grace alone.

vs. 1
Just as I am, without one plea,
But that thy blood was shed for me.
And that thou bidd’st me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

People of God: Trust the Lord will not hide his face from you. In grace you are alive and anew. Jesus saves. Jesus forgives you all your sins. The Lord has named you and claimed you, just as you are. Jesus forever keeps coming to you. Watch for him. He is very close. This is his holy covenant. Return to the Lord with all your heart! Welcome; hold fast; all you receive in grace alone!

vs. 5
Just as I am, thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Almighty and loving God, the battle between good and evil rages within and around our lives. Satan is real, and we are tempted often with deceit and empty promises. Give us the simple power of your Word and grace alone during this Lenten season, to come just as we are, to worship you alone, to believe we are alive and anew. When we do fall, save us once again, forgive us, raise us up, to return to the Lord with all our heart. In the grace of Jesus’ name alone, we pray. Amen.

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, the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

(New Revised Standard Version)

GENESIS 9:8-17; 1 PETER 3:18-22; MARK 1:9-15

Power.  Where do you go to find it?  How do you come upon it?  What part of your life and spirit need it the most?  Power, like other things, is taken for granted until there is a shortage.  We may not think too much about where we get power in our life and spirit until we find ourselves in the middle of a crisis, looking desperately for more power before we run out.  In Mark’s Gospel today, a lot is going on.  Jesus is baptized, driven out into the wilderness to beat Satan, the angels wait on him.  John is arrested.  Jesus announces `the kingdom of God has come near, repent, believe the good news.'  As our Lenten journey continues, let us return to The One who gives us all the power we will ever need, let us trust in the grace of Christ, for we stand, we live, in the power of God’s grace alone!

1. Do you ever feel yourself running out of power?  What robs you of power in your spiritual life?  What steals power from your spirit? 

A. How do you trust the power of God’s grace alone will beat Satan and the wilderness?  Mark 1:12-13

i. The wilderness in its many forms is real; it all takes so much energy from who we are and our spirit.

ii. Satan is real and can have real power over us as well.  Satan works hardest on those who try to make God first.

B. How do you trust power in grace alone to repent?  Mark 1:15

i. Confessing our sins, saying we are sorry, asking for forgiveness takes energy.

ii. Repenting, turning away from what we want more than God takes real power.  

C.       How do you trust power in grace alone to believe?  Mark 1:14-15

i. Believing when believing seems impossible can wear out our spirits.  The uncertainties of the world, wear us down.  We question how much about God is certain.

ii. Do not beat yourself up over this.  Some of the greatest believers got tired, too.  Noah, Moses, David, Peter.

2. Trust and return to the Lord with all your heart!  In God’s grace alone, you have power, power in your spiritual life, power in The Spirit!  

A. The season of Lent can give us power for a new beginning.

B. Repentance gives us power to give us more power.  As we turn away from what leads us away from Christ, we will have more of Christ, and more power in God’s grace alone.  Mark 1:15

C. Covenants give us power - we do not need to do it ourselves.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Mark 1:12-13

i. Receive power in grace alone, in the covenant you have with your God.  We have God, each other, the body of Christ.

ii. God's covenant is forever.  God keeps his half of the covenant, even when we do not, in grace alone. Genesis 9:8-17

D. Baptism gives us power.  Let us return to the One who comes to us forever in Water and Word. 1 Peter 3:18-21; Mark 1:9-11,13

i. Jesus is baptized and then driven out into the wilderness.

ii. Where would we be in the wilderness, if not baptized?

3. Mark 1:14-15 - Celebrate and trust your power in God’s grace alone! The kingdom of God has come near. Believe the good news. The power God gives in Lent, repentance, the covenant, baptism, the cross, and the tomb are more than enough, in God’s grace alone!

Offering is available for our indoor services. Find a Lord of Life with a volunteer bucket to deposit offering in person as you leave worship today. If you find yourself wanting to offer your gifts to Lord of Life, you can do so online using the link below. You can also drop offering at anytime in our secure mailbox at Lord of Life located in the parking lot.

vs. 1
O Lord, throughout these forty days,
You prayed and kept the fast;
Inspire repentance for our sin,
And free us from our past.

vs. 2
You strove with Satan,And you won;
Your faithfulness endured; 
Lend us your nerve, your skill and trust,
In God’s eternal Word.

vs. 4
Be with us through this season, Lord,
And all our earthly days,
That when the final Easter dawns,
We join in heaven’s praise.

... as we pray to you, Jesus,

Renew us in the power of your grace alone.

All these things and whatever else you see we need, grant to us we pray, for into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Holy Communion will take place after the closing Benediction. If you are not worshipping with us in person but would like to receive Communion, we will be offering Drive Through Communion at our building at 16200 Dodd Lane, Lakeville, Minnesota, following our indoor service. Drive Through Communion will be available between 10:15am & 10:30am.

In order to better serve you in this troubling times, the way we receive Communion has changed slightly. You will be offered a self-contained Communion serving. Each capsule has two layers. The first layer is a thin, clear, cellophane layer which reveals the host. Under the second layer you will find the alcohol free juice. Volunteers will be happy to take you waste after you receive Communion.

The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Again after supper, he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us;
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
Forever and ever. Amen.

Friends, return to The Lord your God with all your heart; be alive and anew in God’s grace alone! The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor, and give you his peace. In the name of The Father and of The Son and of The Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Satan, we’re gonna tear your kingdom down.
Satan, we’re gonna tear your kingdom down.
You’ve been building your kingdom all over this world;
Satan, we’re gonna tear your kingdom down.

Satan, we’re gonna pray your kingdom down.
Satan, we’re gonna pray your kingdom down.
You’ve been building your kingdom all over this world;
Satan, we’re gonna pray your kingdom down.

Satan, we’re gonna sing your kingdom down.
Satan, we’re gonna sing your kingdom down.
You’ve been building your kingdom all over this world;
Satan, we’re gonna sing your kingdom down.

Satan, the cross has torn your kingdom down.
Satan, the cross has torn your kingdom down.
You’ve been building your kingdom all over this world;
Satan, the cross has torn your kingdom down.

refrain:
There is none like You, 
No one else can touch my heart like You do;
I could search for all eternity long and find
There is none like You.

(repeat)

vs. 1
Your mercy flows like a river wide
And healing comes from Your hands;
Suffering children are safe in Your arms,
There is none like You.

(refrain)

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Follow us on facebook to watch our services live on Lord of Life LIVE! Watch with us live at 9:30am on Sundays, or rewatch at your own convenience!

Join us next Sunday, February 28, 9:30 a.m., as we share The Second Sunday In Lent, “Purpose In Grace Alone!” Worship to include a Children’s Message and a Sermon from Pastor Jamie! Worship to be 30 minutes, and to conclude with Holy Communion! Join us in-person or via our live stream efforts on our Facebook page.

Throughout the Lenten season, midweek Lenten services will be on our Facebook page under with services accessible beginning each Wednesday morning. Bulletins for midweek services are available via daily devotions and on our Facebook page. If helpful, you can access the bulletins and our Facebook page on our website (lordoflifemn.org).

Please plan to join us for our Annual Meeting at 10:15 a.m., next Sunday, February 28! You can join us in-person or through Zoom or a similar remote virtual experience. This week we will send a dedicated email providing the Annual Report and Zoom details!

As we share worship in this new way, we are seeking volunteers to assist with greeting, ushering, serving communion, live streaming, AV ministry, set up, clean up, worship leaders, and more! You can access details and ways to sign up on our website and Facebook page! Thank you!

Friends, today as always, all who proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, are welcome to God’s table of grace as we share Holy Communion. Communion will be offered to you following the closing song as you exit the sanctuary, as we share pre-packaged single servings of communion, including a wafer and grape juice. Carefully pull back the first tab to expose the host, the body of Christ, given for you; then pull back the second tab to expose the blood of Christ, shed for you! Please ask for assistance or clarification as you are served!

For those sharing their generosity today, we thank you for your faithful giving! Offering is collected in baskets by the ushers as you exit the sanctuary.

For those who are not able to join us for worship, you are invited to receive drive-through communion, available Sundays, 10:15-10:30 a.m. at the front curb near the church entrance.

We hope having the service provided for you in this way, will touch you, comfort you, reassure you, and grace you in some way! If you believe others you know would be blessed to receive this bulletin, the sermon notes, or our live stream links, please forward these to them.

In this time when we are committed to safety and social distancing, please trust we are equally committed to keeping us socially and spiritually connected! On behalf of the Kingdom of God, thank you for the ways you make God and neighbor first!

From everyone on every level of leadership and service, we continue to pray for you and to give thanks to God for each of you! Please contact Pastor Jamie if he can serve you in any way: jamie.thompson@lordoflifemn.org

We pray The Holy Spirit breathes anew on us to be God’s people and to be God’s Church, as together we make known and we trust anew God’s gifts of hope, peace, justice, clarity, calm, and comfort forever break forth in new ways for you and your loved ones, today, and as we share every gift of God’s light, love and grace!

Acknowledgments for today’s service include:

Litany Renewed In Power and Grace Alone In Jesus Christ, written based on Psalm 22. “Prayer of The Day,” “Lord’s Prayer,” “Post-Communion Blessing, Prayer, & Benediction,” based on the LBW. © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship (LBW) and With One Voice Hymnal Supplement © 1995 Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis & Board of Publication, Lutheran Church In America, Philadelphia; and Evangelical Lutheran Worship © 2006 Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis, MN. Used with permission. “What a Beautiful Name” © 2016 Hillsong Music Publishing, CCLI #1380826 “Just as I Am, without One Plea Words & Music Public Domain, CCLI #23206 “O Lord, Throughout These Forty Days” © 1978 Augsburg Fortress, OL #11862 “Satan, We’re Gonna Tear Your Kingdom Down” ©1999 Augsburg Fortress, OL #72593 “There Is None Like You” © 1991 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music, CCLI #674545 All rights reserved. All songs used with permission. CCLI License #1380826 & OneLicense #A-724016.