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UID:20260923T034451UTC-92195fCkKj@https://messiahofthemountains.org/
DTSTAMP:20260923T034451Z
DESCRIPTION:We are a small church\, but big on Grace. We gather each Sunday
  at 11:00 am for worship by singing hymns\, hearing readings from the bibl
 e\, praying together and a celebration of Holy Communion. Communion is the
  spiritual bread our bodies need to live. All are invited to join us at th
 e Lord's table to be fed by his heavenly food\, There are no strangers in 
 God’s house\, and if you choose to worship with us\, we would be honored b
 y your presence.\nIntroduction\nToday's gospel tells of Jesus’ temptation 
 in the desert. His forty-day fast becomes the basis of our Lenten pilgrima
 ge. In the early church Lent was a time of intense preparation for those t
 o be baptized at the Easter Vigil. This catechetical focus on the meaning 
 of faith is at the heart of our Lenten journey to the baptismal waters of 
 Easter. Hungry for God’s mercy\, we receive the bread of life to nourish u
 s for the days ahead.\n \n \nPrayer of the Day\nLord God\, our strength\, 
 the struggle between good and evil rages within and around us\, and the de
 vil and all the forces that defy you tempt us with empty promises. Keep us
  steadfast in your word\, and when we fall\, raise us again and restore us
  through your Son\, Jesus Christ\, our Savior and Lord\, who lives and rei
 gns with you and the Holy Spirit\, one God\, now and forever.\nAmen.\n \nF
 irst Reading: Genesis 2:15-17\; 3:1-7\nHuman beings were formed with great
  care\, to be in relationship with the creator\, creation\, and one anothe
 r. The serpent’s promise to the first couple that their eyes would be open
 ed led\, ironically\, to the discovery only that they were naked./p>\n \nP
 salm: 32\nMercy embraces those who trust in the Lord. (Ps. 32:10) /p>\n \n
 Second Reading:  \nRomans 5:12-19\nThrough Adam’s disobedience\, humanity 
 came under bondage to sin and death\, from which we cannot free ourselves.
  In Christ’s obedient death\, God graciously showers on us the free gift o
 f liberation and life.\n \nGospel:  \nMatthew 4:1-11\nJesus experiences an
 ew the temptations that Israel faced in the wilderness. As the Son of God\
 , he endures the testing of the evil one.\n1  Jesus was led up by the Spir
 it into the wilderness to be tested by the devil.\n2  He fasted forty days
  and forty nights\, and afterward he was famished.\n3  The tempter came an
 d said to him\, “If you are the Son of God\, command these stones to becom
 e loaves of bread.”\n4  But he answered\, “It is written\,  ‘One does not 
 live by bread alone\,   but by every word that comes from the mouth of God
 .’ ”  \n5  Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the 
 pinnacle of the temple\,\n6  saying to him\, “If you are the Son of God\, 
 throw yourself down\, for it is written\,  ‘He will command his angels con
 cerning you\,’   and ‘On their hands they will bear you up\,  so that you 
 will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ”\n7  Jesus said to him\, “Again
  it is written\, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”  \n8  Again
 \, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingd
 oms of the world and their glory\,\n9  and he said to him\, “All these I w
 ill give you\, if you will fall down and worship me.”\n10  Then Jesus said
  to him\, “Away with you\, Satan! for it is written\,  ‘Worship the Lord y
 our God\,   and serve only him.’ ”\n11 Then the devil left him\, and sudde
 nly angels came and waited on him.\n \nAfter the Sermon\, Holy Communion w
 ill be offered. Come as you are\, the gift of the Table of the Lord has be
 en prepared as Jesus has requested and now we are invited to the meal. Com
 e to the table like Peter\, with m ore enthusiasm than resolve and like Ja
 mes and John\, disappointed and the priorities of God’s reign. Come to the
  table like Martha\, hosting and leading with confidence like Mary\, full 
 of love and grief. Come to the table like Judas\, disillusioned and rebell
 ious and like Mary Magdalene\, faithful till the end. Come to the table\, 
 because it is God who invites us and it’s God’s will that those who want t
 o should meet God here.\nBlessing for the day (Our blessing is an adaptati
 on of a Franciscan Prayer)\nMay God bless us with discomfort at a Easy ans
 wers\, half truths and superficial leaderships so that we may live out God
 ’s will deep in our heartland in our world.\nMay god bless with anger at i
 njustice\, oppression and exploration and the environments that we may wor
 k for justice\, freedom and peace.\nMay God bless us with tears to shed fo
 r those who suffer from pain\, rejection\, hunger and war so that we may r
 each out with hands and hearts to help them\, walk with them and turn thei
 r pain into hope and joy.\nAnd may God bless us with enough foolishness to
  believe that we can make a difference in this world\, so that we can do w
 hat others claim cannot be done. To bring justice\, peace\, hope and love 
 to all children\, the poor and all others in any need.\nGod be your comfor
 t\, your strength\;\nGod be your hope and support\;\nGod be your light and
  your way\; and the blessing of God Creator\, Redeemer and Giver of Life\,
  remain with you now and forever. https://messiahofthemountains.org/events
 /event/629-first-sunday-in-lent-year-a-worship-service-11-00-am-service-pa
 stor-naomi-carriker
DTSTART:20260222T160000Z
DTEND:20260222T170000Z
LOCATION:Messiah Of The Mountains Lutheran Church (3690 US-19E\, Burnsville
 \, NC 28714\, USA)
SUMMARY:First Sunday in Lent -- Year A - Worship Service - 11:00 AM Service
   --  Pastor  Naomi Carriker
URL:https://messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/629-first-sunday-in-lent
 -year-a-worship-service-11-00-am-service-pastor-naomi-carriker
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