{"id":1998,"date":"2021-02-21T03:43:53","date_gmt":"2021-02-21T03:43:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/?p=1998"},"modified":"2021-02-21T03:44:00","modified_gmt":"2021-02-21T03:44:00","slug":"worship-for-the-first-sunday-in-lent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/2021\/02\/21\/worship-for-the-first-sunday-in-lent\/","title":{"rendered":"Worship for the First Sunday in Lent"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>First United Methodist Church of Schenectady<br \/>\nWorship for the First Sunday in Lent<\/h1>\n<h2>February 21, 2021<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Page-2-Image-2-1.png\"><br \/>\nPhoto by Zach Long<\/p>\n<h2>Getting Centered<\/h2>\n<p>It may help to center yourself into worship by lighting a candle, as a symbol of God&#8217;s presence with you during the time of worship.  You may also want to pay attention to lighting, the position of your body, and the availability of distractions.<\/p>\n<h3>Breath Prayer<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cAwe-inspirer, we reach for you\u201d<br \/>\n<em>Breath prayers involve breathing in the first phrase, and breathing out the second.<br \/>\nYou may wish to simply pray for a moment before starting, or you may wish to pray while listening to the prelude.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Prelude<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Prelude on a Welsh Hymn Tune \u201cRhosymedre\u201d by Ralph Vaughan Williams<\/strong><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Prelude on a Welsh Hymntune &quot;Rhosymedre&quot; -   Ralph Vaughan Williams\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/tQiIbVil_GU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\nMy song is love unknown, My Savior\u2019s love to me;<br \/>\nLove to the loveless shown, that they might lovely be.<br \/>\nO who am I, that for my sake my Lord should take frail flesh, and die?<\/p>\n<h3>Call to Worship<\/h3>\n<p>One: Breathe deeply, dear one,<br \/>\nlet your body take in air.<br \/>\n<strong>Many: We breathe in, and we breathe out,<br \/>\nand we let go.<\/strong><br \/>\nOne: Breathe deeply, dear one,<br \/>\nlet God&#8217;s presence nurture you.<br \/>\n<strong>Many: We breathe in, and we breathe out,<br \/>\nand God is with us.<\/strong><br \/>\nOne: Soften your grip, dear ones,<br \/>\ntrust God to hold for you.<br \/>\n<strong>Many: We lower our shoulder and<br \/>\nremember God is trustworthy.<\/strong><br \/>\nOne: Prepare, get ready, dear ones,<br \/>\nmake space for hope.<br \/>\n<strong>Many: We acknowledge and loosen our grip on fear,<br \/>\nto let God&#8217;s hope in.<\/strong><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Page-3-Image-3-2.png\"><\/p>\n<h3>Hymn #2237: <em>As a Fire is Meant for Burning<\/em><\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Hymn 2237: As a Fire Is Meant for Burning\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GhlhjeC3IPA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hymnary.org\/page\/fetch\/OC2013\/626\/low\"><\/p>\n<h2>Connecting in Prayer<\/h2>\n<h3>Shared Prayer<\/h3>\n<p><strong><br \/>\nGod of Rain and Rainbows,<br \/>\nYou are with us in the ordinary,<br \/>\nand the wondrous.<br \/>\nYou shower us with the things of life,<br \/>\nand delight us with moments of awe.<br \/>\nIn these long-lasting liminal days,<br \/>\nwhere life is not what was,<br \/>\nnor what it will be,<br \/>\nshow us again the wonder<br \/>\nin the ordinary.<br \/>\nLet us be for others wonder in the ordinary.<br \/>\nAmen<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>Silent Prayer<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Page-4-Image-4-2.png\"><\/p>\n<h3>Pastoral Prayer<\/h3>\n<p><em>Lover of Humanity,<br \/>\nGod of Rainbows,<br \/>\nNo one color, no matter how great, makes a rainbow.<br \/>\nThe arc of color is defined by many colors.<br \/>\nWe are like that. Humans, no matter how great, aren&#8217;t meant to be alone.<br \/>\nWe exist in relationship to each other,<br \/>\nand we ache for each other when we can&#8217;t connect.<br \/>\nAs days upon days of distancing pile up on each other,<br \/>\nthe pain of distance can become overwhelming.<br \/>\nGod who connects us,<br \/>\nbe with those who are struggling most<br \/>\nin each moment<br \/>\nwith the pains of trying to be human<br \/>\nwithout the others they need.<br \/>\nAs we return to the season of Lent,<br \/>\nthe season when life as we knew it stopped last year,<br \/>\nwe remember and we grieve.<br \/>\nWe grieve those we&#8217;ve lost this year,<br \/>\nwe grieve those we&#8217;ve missed this year,<br \/>\nwe grieve the brokenness where once we thought there was strength,<br \/>\nwe grieve the normal we once knew,<br \/>\nwe grieve who we were.<br \/>\nHelp us, Dear One, to allow ourselves space for grief,<br \/>\nand of course space too for wonder.<br \/>\nHelp us hold in tension all the emotions of today<br \/>\n(and tomorrow).<br \/>\nHelp us, Dear One.<br \/>\nAmen<br \/>\n<\/em><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Page-5-Image-5-2.png\"><\/p>\n<h3>The Lord&#8217;s Prayer<\/h3>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Our Father who art in heaven,<br \/>\nHallowed be thy name.<br \/>\nThy kingdom come.<br \/>\nThy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.<br \/>\nGive us this day our daily bread.<br \/>\nAnd forgive us our trespasses,<br \/>\nas we forgive those who trespass against us.<br \/>\nAnd lead us not into temptation,<br \/>\nbut deliver us from evil:<br \/>\nFor thine is the kingdom, and the power,<br \/>\nand the glory, for ever. Amen.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Page-5-Image-5-1.png\"><\/p>\n<h2>Word and Reflection<\/h2>\n<h3>Choir Anthem<\/h3>\n<p><em>Be Still and Know<\/em> by Michael John Trotta<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Be Still and Know, Michael John Trotta\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/c-clkmH1sJE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Scripture: Genesis 9:8-17<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Genesis 9:8-17\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HAkLS-Jw220?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Mission Moment &#8211; Jan Huston<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Virtual Card Party<\/strong><br \/>\nFUMC has 2 Lenten mission projects, plus a photo show, and a suggestion from Pastor Sara to recognize daily gratitudes and challenges. Preparing for Easter will be a meaningful time.<br \/>\nLast Sunday\u2019s mission moment focused on the project related to hunger. Although all church members and friends are encouraged to participate, we hope that this project will be particularly meaningful to children as they think about what hunger is and try to alleviate it<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Page-6-Image-6-2.png\">.<br \/>\nToday I want to share more about the Virtual Card Party in which we can share our concern for refugees and migrants in the Eloy Detention Center near Tucson, AZ. The Casa Mariposa Detention Visitation Program supports detainees who are living, sometimes for years, in very difficult conditions. Asylum seekers waiting for a hearing, people who have overstayed their visas, and others are kept in detention centers across the US. Before the pandemic, volunteers in the Casa Mariposa program visited detainees to provide friendship, books, and small items. They are not able to visit now and ask for cards to help the detainees know that there are people in the U.S. who care about them.<br \/>\nBefore the pandemic, groups had card parties during which they were able to enjoy preparing cards together. Now we are asked to have \u201cvirtual card parties.\u201d Create your own party atmosphere and prepare a few cards to brighten the day of someone who feels forgotten. Put each card in an unsealed envelope with a stamp on the envelope and a small letter on the back indicating what language is used \u2013 E (English), S (Spanish), F (French), E\/S (English and Spanish). No address or return address should be on the envelope. Then put your cards in a larger envelope and mail or deliver them to the church. They will be sent together from the church to the volunteers in Tucson who will complete the process.<br \/>\nMessages should be something like \u201cI\u2019m thinking of you\u201d or \u201cI am praying for you. You are not forgotten.\u201d Not all detainees are Christian so messages should not refer to Easter. ICE does not allow glitter, sequins, bows, stickers, or other pretty decorations on cards. More details as well as suggested messages in Spanish are in the February Spire or can be obtained from Jan Huston. More information about the Casa Mariposa Detention Visitation Program and the Casa Mariposa Community can be found online.<br \/>\n<strong>Although we are not able to have a fun card party together, it is hoped that we will be able to gather a large number of cards to express caring for people who are waiting to learn what will be the next part of their lives.<br \/>\nBoth mission projects will end on Palm Sunday, March 28. If you participate in the flower sale on March 27, you might take your food for SiCM and\/or your cards to church that day. If you need your donations to be picked up at your house, contact Barb Armstrong or Jan Huston.<\/strong><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Page-6-Image-7-1.png\"><\/p>\n<h3>Children&#8217;s Time<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Rainbow Children&#039;s Time\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/C3mNSFExDSk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Passing of the Peace<\/h3>\n<p><em>If you are worshiping with others, please pass the Peace of Christ.<br \/>\nWhether you are alone or with others, please take a moment to find God&#8217;s peace within, and then to share it with the world. You may want to reach out to speak peace to another during this week.<\/em><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Page-7-Image-8.png\"><\/p>\n<h3>Hymn #508: Faith, While Trees are Still in Blossom<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Hymn 508: Faith, While Trees Are Still in Bloom\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gA-jpGdnQ1w?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Scripture Reading &#8211; Mark 1:9-15<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Mark 1:9-15\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/oV3YlxEiyDA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Sermon: &#8220;Rainbow and Rain&#8221; by Rev. Sara Baron<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"&quot;Rainbows and Rain&quot;\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mTFgptXHk4s?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>Responding<\/h2>\n<h3>Offering<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Page-7-Image-8.png\"><br \/>\nPhoto by Alice Nash<br \/>\nIf you wish, you are welcome to use this time to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eservicepayments.com\/cgi-bin\/Vanco_ver3.vps?appver3=3_CMn6vY3gbXWj2GvkW32xVh5LubqSJdgKX6KHFre1VuMdS3Q8kj_eIJXGJN8RG-0gmHZvX_Lw1ha8ZXgn-54Krv7ImQMfM68o70RRXIZtDlvXRu7Icp8meYpri-7vHbdSHJK5fST8PKv5rD7H0pV4u2FYADh6CtWzBcTpjLo9qDxBXK0S3J8MPHZwZCFVXkDJkCUTrur4Wm694FEfvylg==&amp;ver=3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">make a donation to the church online<\/a>, or to put a check in the mail.<br \/>\nThe time of offering is not only about our financial gifts to the church, it is about offering our lives to God and the building of the kindom. This is a time for reflection: What is being asked of us? What is being given to us? What are we able to offer? What do we need?<\/p>\n<h3>Offertory Anthem: \u201cLord, Sanctify Me Wholly\u201d by Jean Pasquet arr. Lyndell Leatherman<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Lord Sanctify Me Wholly (SATB Choir) - by Jean Pasquet and Lyndell Leatherman\" width=\"1140\" height=\"855\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WjCtqDmnp_Q?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Prayer of Presentation<\/h3>\n<p>God of the Rain and the Rainbow,<br \/>\nWe thank you for all the gifts you have given in our lives, past and present.<br \/>\nWe thank you for all the ways we&#8217;re able to contribute to your kindom.<br \/>\nWe ask for your blessing on our gifts, that they may be used with wisdom.<br \/>\nWe ask for your guidance in our community, that we may be faithful stewards<br \/>\nof the gifts given to the kindom.<br \/>\nAmen<\/p>\n<h3>Hymn #500: Spirit Song<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Hymn 347: Spirit Song\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kHxCJqqPHBk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hymnary.org\/hymn\/UMH\/page\/498\"><\/p>\n<h3>Benediction<\/h3>\n<p>As we continue to navigate this storm,<br \/>\nmay we prepare ourselves to find the rainbows.<br \/>\nMay we get ready for God\u2019s hope. Amen<\/p>\n<h3>Postlude<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cPr\u00e9lude a 5 parties\u201d by Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Prelude a 5 Parties - Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pqaKprFr3wg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Page-8-Image-9-1.png\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>First United Methodist Church of Schenectady Worship for the First Sunday in Lent February 21, 2021 Photo by Zach Long &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/2021\/02\/21\/worship-for-the-first-sunday-in-lent\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Worship for the First Sunday in Lent<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1997,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1255],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1998","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-online-worship"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1998","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1998"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1998\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2000,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1998\/revisions\/2000"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1997"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1998"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1998"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1998"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}