Sunday Worship in Lent – 21. February 2021

Lent is the period of forty days which comes before Easter in the Christian Calendar. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, Lent is a season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter. By observing Lent, Christians reflect upon Jesus’ self-discipline and withdrawal into the desert for forty days. Lent is marked by a pulling back. Whereas Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus after his death on the cross, Lent recalls the events leading up to and including that crucifixion. The Christian churches of the 21st century use Lent as a time of prayer and reflection. Only a small number of people fast for the whole of Lent, although some maintain the practice on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. And many might surrender time or money to make a difference to those in need. Whatever the sacrifice, it is a reflection only of Jesus’ deprivation in the wilderness and a test of self-discipline. In churches around the world the liturgical colour is purple.
At St Catherine’s during Lent we replace our ‘word-based’ Prayers of Intercession with a world map and pray in stillness for places on it (this year we will focus on the 20 or so nations of origin that are currently part of the Stuttgart-based St Catherine’s church family)
.  The liturgy is observed mostly kneeling rather than standing. Missing for the whole of Lent are the Gloria and any Alleluias, instead what makes an appearance is a summary of the Ten Commandments.
Where there is a choice of liturgy, click on the purple text of your choice for this week in Lent.


Theme: The Beloved

Preparation

Opening

Opening Hymn:

An Opening Prayer:
To you, O Lord, we lift up our hearts, offering worship and praise.
Show us your path.
Teach us to follow.
Guide us in your truth.
For our hope is in you all day long. 
Amen.

The Commandments:
These are always read in full during Lent.
The Commandments from Exodus 20.1-17

OR
From Common Worship

Confession:
There are two on offer here –
A more traditional one taken from Psalm 51

OR
Another more using the imagination

Stillness for reflection
In faith we receive God’s forgiveness and the Spirit’s enabling to change where we need to

Collect for today:
Heavenly Father your Son battled with the powers of darkness and grew closer to you in the desert: help us to use these days to grow in wisdom and prayer that we may witness to your saving love in Jesus Christ our Lord.


Readings

The Bible Reading: Mark 1.9-15

In Mark’s typical style, it is ‘immediately’ after Jesus’ baptism that he is ‘driven’ into the wilderness. The baptism shows God’s affirmation of Jesus as God’s beloved Son. This is in stark contrast to the tough temptations Jesus then faces in the wilderness. But Mark, by placing them in this way, indicates that Jesus’ baptism prepared him not only for his future ministry but also to endure the temptations.

This experience places knowing who he is before what he does. Thinking about our identity, both our own individuality and our identity as a child of God – knowing God, and that we are loved by God – may help us cope with our difficult ‘wilderness’ experiences, whatever their nature might be.

Reflection:

  • What do you see when you look in the mirror?
  • Who or what helps you to feel affirmed?
  • What challenges you about your identity/who you are?

Audio reflection:

Affirmation of Faith for Lent:

There are two on offer here –
A more traditional one taken from St Paul’s letter to the Philippians chapter2

OR
Another more using the imagination – you choose how many of the verses you wish to use week by week




Prayer

Prayers of Intercession:

Our focus countries this week are:

  • Australia
  • Portugal
  • Ghana
  • Syria

The ‘Our Father’
We draw all our prayers together in the words of –
Our Father who art in heaven…
…for ever and ever. Amen.


A sending out prayer:
Creator God, you made us in your image to be your people, wherever we go.
This coming week, whatever we experience, wherever we find ourselves,
help us to know that you are with us –
guiding, revealing and sustaining – always.
Amen. 

Blessing:

Closing Hymn: