Sunday Bulletin | February 21, 2021 | Lent I

Government Street Presbyterian Church Sunday, February 21, 2021 | 10am F i r s t S u n d ay i n L e n t

Wherever you are worshiping today, we pray that the Holy Spirit will speak to you through the scripture, prayers, music, and sermon. We are called to worship by the promises of God in whom we place our faith and trust.

Scripture and Hymn settings can be found on pages 4-9 of the bulletin.

We invite you to reflect on the hymn texts as they are sung, and the Scriptures as they are read.

Gathering Prelude

Aria on a Chaconne

Joel Martinson (b. 1960)

Chiming of the Hour

WESTMINSTER

Welcome

Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar

Call to Worship The God of our salvation teaches us right paths and leads us in truth.

The path of the Lord is steadfast love and faithfulness.

With humility and gratitude, let us worship the Lord.

Hymn 363 Hymn 363—Each stanza of this enthronement text prepares for the final line of the refrain, based on Philippians 4:4. “Lord” is here a title of Christ rather than a reference to the undivided Trinity. The late 18thcentury tune (first used with Psalm 148) captures the mood well.

Rejoice, the Lord Is King!

DARWALL’S 148TH

Prayer of Confession unison God of mercy, we begin this Lenten season in confession.

We do not live according to your ways, but according to our own.

Too often we participate in injustice and use power to our advantage at the expense of others.

—silence—

Forgive us, we pray.

When we are tempted to follow other paths, guide our feet and direct our steps in the way of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

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Hymn

435 — These stanzas,

excerpted from quite a few more, offer a reminder that the model for our dealings with others should be God’s generosity rather than limited human tolerance. The text is effectively set to a broad and sturdy Dutch folk melody, probably from the 17th century.

In the Prayer for Illumination, we ask the Holy Spirit to be present with us as we hear God’s word read and preached. We seek to better understand God’s will so that we can follow Christ more faithfully.

The Children’s Worship Bulletin may be found on pages 10-11 of the bulletin.

Response | Hymn 435

There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy IN BABILONE

There's a wideness in God's mercy, like the wideness of the sea.

There's a kindness in God's justice, which is more than liberty.

There is no place where earth's sorrows are more felt than up in heaven.

There is no place where earth's failings have such kindly judgment given.

P roclaiming the Word Prayer for Illumination

Harris Oswalt

First Reading

Genesis 9:8-16

Children’s Sermon

Rev. Alexandra Hutson

The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven,

as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation,

hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come,

but deliver us from evil.

thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

For thine is the kingdom,

Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts,

and the power, and the glory, forever.

Amen.

Second Reading Scripture Comments can be found on pages 7 and 8 of this bulletin.

Hymn 775— The two equal phrases in each line here suggest that this African American spiritual shares some characteristics of work or field songs that were used to coordinate the efforts of slaves involved in tasks (road clearing, ditch digging, etc.) that needed combined rhythmic strokes.

Sermon

Mark 1:9-15

“Wild Beasts”

Rev. Dr. Cary G. Speaker

Thanksgiving Hymn 775

I Want Jesus to Walk with Me TRADITIONAL SPIRITUAL

Affirmation of Faith unison

Rev. Alexandra Hutson

I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; 2

who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary,

Confessions define what we as a community believe, affirming our beliefs about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and about humanity, the church and the world. The Apostles’ Creed affirms the historical nature of Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ and confirms the Trinitarian nature of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

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 fourth century word “Doxology” is comprised of the Greek words doxa and logos. Doxa means splendor, or grandeur while the word logos means word or speaking.

Doxologies are short hymns of expression of praise to God and are often sung or chanted. Since the early church, doxologies have been a way for Christians to express their love and thankfulness for what God has done in their lives.

the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.

Amen.

Doxology | Hymn 607

Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow OLD HUNDREDTH

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below.

Praise God above ye Heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen!

Hymn 343 —Because dense populations always result in concentrated hardships, this vivid yet timeless evocation of urban need connects to our own day as well as to Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37/Luke 13:34). This tune was the first used with this text and is now customary.

At the conclusion of the service, please leave in a distanced fashion without standing in or blocking the aisles.

Offertory Prayer of Intercession & Thanksgiving

Sending Hymn 343 Benediction Postlude

Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life vs. 1,2,4,6; GERMANY

Rev. Dr. Cary G. Speaker Toccata on ‘Marion’

arr. Albert L. Travis (b. 1940)

Celebrating in Worship Sami Anselmo Jacob Mohr 3

Genesis 9:8-16

Mark 1:9-15

8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons

9 In those days Jesus came from

with him, 9 “As for me, I am establishing

Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by

my

your

John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he

descendants after you, 10 and with every

was coming up out of the water, he saw

living creature that is with you, the birds,

the heavens torn apart and the Spirit

the domestic animals, and every animal

descending like a dove on him. 11 And a

of the earth with you, as many as came

voice came from heaven, “You are my

out of the ark. 11 I establish my covenant

Son, the Beloved; with you I am well

with you, that never again shall all flesh

pleased.”

be cut off by the waters of a flood, and

12 And the Spirit immediately drove him

covenant

with

you

and

never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12 God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant

between

me

and

the

earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant

out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan;

and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the bow is in

the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”

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Scripture Comments Mark 1.9-15 February 21, 2021 Wild Beasts Cary G. Speaker, D.Min.

The reading from Mark for the First Sunday in Lent contains three brief scenes, two of which we have already read. The baptism of Jesus was read on the First Sunday after Epiphany January 10, 2021), the first preaching of Jesus was included in a longer reading on the Third Sunday after Epiphany (January 24, 2021). Today, our attention is focused on verses 12 – 13, the sojourn into the wilderness. Compared to Matthew’s and Luke’s much greater detail in reporting this story, Mark’s interest is in the wilderness more than the temptation.

In verse 10 the Spirit has descended on Jesus like a dove. Now, in verse 12, the Spirit drives Jesus into the wilderness. This verb, which is sometimes softened by translators or commentators, is the same word used later when Jesus casts out demons and when Jesus “threw out” the money changers in the Temple. The intent is to describe real force. When we read this statement, we are puzzled because we read this through our Trinitarian lens. We wonder how the third Person of the Trinity makes decisions for Jesus. Mark does not work with these categories. Mark’s concern is to describe the necessity of Jesus’ going into the wilderness. The wilderness has already served as an important location for John the Baptist. Now Jesus must go there. The theme of a new exodus, partially developed in the context of John the Baptist, is being continued. Israel experienced God in passing through the waters of the Red Sea only to encounter trials and temptations in the wilderness. Jesus, still wet from the Jordan, is plunged into the wilderness.

It is not mere coincidence that Mark ties together the reference to forty days with Jesus’ temptation by Satan. The number forty recalls several important Biblical stories: the time period of the flood (Gn. 7.4, 12,17), the wilderness years of Israel (Ex. 16.35; Deut. 2.7), and the flight of Elijah (1 Kings 19.4-8). In all of these stories the preservation of life in the midst of danger is crucial. The explicit presence of Satan emphasizes the threat implicit in being in the wilderness for forty days. There is also the darker side to Israel’s wilderness experience. Mark’s audience would also recall how Israel often failed the tests and rebelled against God, which led to suffering the wrath of God. Again contrasting the telling of this story by Mark to that of Matthew and Luke, Mark is content with suggesting rather than itemizing the temptations. In fact, the outcome is implied by the story that follows.

The mention of the wild beasts reminds us of other Biblical stories that promise God’s protection, such as Job 5.22-23; Psalm 91.13; Isaiah 11.6-9. That Jesus emerges unscathed from his experience with the wild beasts indicates divine protection. The indirect reference comes in the statement, “and the angels waited on him.” The verb used here, diakonoun, is rendered as serving or ministering. It is highlighted in the story of Jesus’ healing of Peter’s mother-in-law.

It is also important to note that Mark’s description of the angels “waiting on” Jesus is not after the temptation, but during it, while in the contest with Satan.

At the beginning of Mark (1.3-4) the wilderness is a place of divine revelation but in today’s story the wilderness is a place of danger. Later in Mark, the wilderness, having been tamed, becomes a place of retreat from the crowds and from the misunderstandings that press upon Je5

sus (1.35, 45; 6.31-32, 35). We are left wondering, “How does the wilderness sojourn function in the introduction to Mark’s version of the Gospel? Why include this story that suggests that Jesus is even momentarily at risk?”

One reason is that the setting of the wilderness identifies Jesus with John the Baptist. Most important is that the identity of Jesus in this Gospel always puts Jesus at risk. At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus finds himself in conflict that will culminate in the cross. This wilderness sojourn anticipates that danger.

The wilderness sojourn prevents us from leaping to the conclusion that Jesus’ ministry will be one of triumph, exaltation and glory. We already realize that this story is not all heavenly voices and powerful proclamation. Danger lurks at every turn. At the same time, we understand that the dangers that wait for Jesus will not ultimately defeat him. The one who journeys safely with wild beasts, and whom angels feed, will finally triumph.

Even though the church may encourage it, Mark does not encourage his audience to an easy identification with Jesus. It is clear that this evangelist understands that Jesus’ life is distinct from the lives of ordinary folk. The Gospel According to Mark invites us to identify with the disciples, the women around Jesus, or the religious leaders. This wilderness sojourn may be the one exception to that generalization. When we read of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, it seems lifelike and close to home, close to our own experience.

Jesus’ temptation is a preview of the many struggles that will test him during his ministry, struggles that will often involve demons, forces of nature, opposing clergy, and even his own close friends. It is natural, when we read this brief story, to look ahead to the Garden of Gethsemane. Gethsemane was a garden, but for that one night it, too, was a wilderness.

References: Walter Brueggemann, Charles B. Cousar, Beverly R. Gaventa and James D. Newsome, Texts for Preaching: A Lectionary Commentary Based on the NRSV – Year B; 1993.

Fred B. Craddock, John H. Hayes, Carl R. Holladay and Gene M. Tucker, Preaching through the Christian Year: Year B, A Comprehensive Commentary on the Lectionary; 1993.

Copyright© Certificate Hymn settings, scripture, and other materials used by permission.

Government Street Presbyterian Church CCLI# 11115660 Valid thru 10/31/2021 6

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The Sanctuary Flowers are given to the glory of God and with thanksgiving for the Rev. Dr. Cary G. Speaker for his ministry with GSPC and the Presbytery of South Alabama.

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