South Stormont Pastoral Charge

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’ ”  Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written,      ‘Worship the Lord your God,  and serve only him.’ ”  Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written...

  *Gathering Hymn Open My Eyes, That I May See (#371 VU) Welcome & Land Acknowledgement Lighting the Christ Candle Call to Worship One: Lead us into the Season of Lent, O God; All: help us to reflect on the areas of our lives that call for change. One: Go with us into the Season of Lent, O God; All: strengthen us, as we join our talents with the talents of our faith community. One: Guide us as we begin the Season of Lent, O God. All: Link us to the story of Jesus, that we may learn and find courage through his willingness to brave the toughest trials. One: Challenge us as we encounter the significance of the Season of Lent, O God, All: that we may confront and overcome the powers that oppress, weaken, and destroy. Amen. *David Sparks . Gathering LE  2025. Page 31. Opening Prayer *Opening Hymn As the Sun with Longer Journey (#111 VU) Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison) God, we confess that there is a wanderer in each of us, and that wandering doesn’t always take us ...

German-Jewish philosopher Walter Benjamin once said, "What is aura, actually? A strange weave of space and time: the unique appearance or semblance of distance, no matter how close it may be" ( A Little History of Photography , 1931). He believed that we experience aura in a specific time and place. It feels close, like "here and now," yet distant because it holds a mysterious quality tied to its originality and uniqueness. Let’s look at the Mona Lisa as an example. Today, we can find pictures of it online, but people still travel to the Louvre Museum in Paris to see the real painting. Every day, crowds gather in front of it. Why? Because the original Mona Lisa has a unique presence and historical context that no copy can fully replace. Today’s Gospel reading tells us about Jesus' disciples experiencing his aura on a mountain. They saw his original nature and uniqueness through a mysterious light. The Bible teaches that every person is created in the "image...

*Gathering Hymn Let All Things Now Living (#242 VU) Welcome& Land Acknowledgement Lighting the Christ Candle Call to Worship One: We are a community called by grace. All: We are a community summoned to pray andpraise. One: We are a community commissioned to compassion and mercy. All: We are the Body of Christ. One: Let us worship and live as God’s faithful people. * Frances Flook, Gathering ACE 2024-2025. Page 53. Opening Prayer *Opening Hymn We Have Come at Christ’s Own Bidding(#104 VU) Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison) Loving God, we confess that though we call ourselves your people, we often fail to live as faithful disciples. We speak of making a difference, yet we turn away from the needs of those around us. We claim to care for your creation, but our actions harm the world you have entrusted to us. We say we love our neighbours, yet we overlook those in need of kindness and compassion. Forgive us, O God, and awaken in us a renewed commitm...

“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.   “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merc...

  * Gathering Hymn Let All Things Now Living (#242 VU) Welcome & Land Acknowledgement Lighting the Christ Candle Call to Worship One: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all! All: And also with you. One: Our Lord has called us to worship and now greets us. All: Welcome, Jesus, to our worship today. *Sue Webb . Gathering ACE 2024-2025. Page 46. Opening Prayer *Opening Hymn Come, Let Us Sing of a Wonderful Love (#574 VU) Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison) Merciful One, we are not what we wish we were; we are often only what we desire. We are love, when we love one another. We are strife, when we judge the other as less worthy than ourselves. We are how we consider the other. Help us, O God, to be so much more. More in who we are. More in how we act. More in what we dream. More in how we love. Let us become the more that you intended in your divine image. a time of silent confession) Amen. Words of Assurance One: God is the salvation of the righteous. All: Ou...