To Exile & Back

First Sunday of Lent

Bulletin: February 26, 2023

Newsletter: February 19-26, 2023

Scriptures: Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11

Songs:

Introit: Lamb of God (songwriter live, background, contemporary cover)
Amazing Grace (lyrics, video, story, Amazing Grace – My Chains Are Gone)
Lord Who Throughout These Forty Days (choir, with lyrics)
Great is Thy Faithfulness (lyrics; history; Chris Rice)
Response: Jesus Draw Me Ever Nearer (lyrics, Getty video)

Kayely Rich

This week we have entered into Lent, a season to prepare ourselves for the coming of Easter. The church has been full of activity with people gathering on Shrove Tuesday for a meal together and then more people gathering the very next evening for our Ash Wednesday service. Lent is a season of 40 days plus 6 Sundays to prepare our hearts for the realities of Jesus going to the cross, in all its significance. For some, this may be the first opportunity to observe Lent. For others, this may be very familiar.

Each year, as we observe Lent, we are all invited to return to God. We are all invited to draw closer to the heart of our creator, whether it be for the first time or the thousandth time. Throughout the Sundays of Lent, we will look at various Scripture stories that invite us to return to our Lord. This Sunday, we look at how Adam and Eve turned their backs on God and at how Jesus lead our return to God.

To supplement our Sunday services, we are also inviting everyone to join us in reading a short daily devotional by Henri J.M. Nouwen entitled From Fear to Love. If you missed picking up a copy last week, it’s not too late to get a copy this week and join us as we seek to collectively encourage one another to draw closer to the heart of our amazing and loving God.