BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//https://messiahofthemountains.org///NONSGML kigkonsult.se iCalcreator 2.10.15// METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:20260419T121903UTC-1627sA64ar@https://messiahofthemountains.org/ DTSTAMP:20260419T121903Z 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\nDuring Lent we journey with all those arou nd the world who will be baptized at the Easter Vigil. In today’s gospel J esus tells Nicodemus that he must be born of water and Spirit. At the font we are a given a new birth as children of God. As God made a covenant wit h Abraham\, in baptism God promises to raise us up with Christ to new life . From worship we are sent forth to proclaim God’s love for all the world. \n \n \nPrayer of the Day\nO God\, our leader and guide\, in the waters of baptism you bring us to new birth to live as your children. Strengthen ou r faith in your promises\, that by your Spirit we may lift up your life to all the world through your Son\, Jesus Christ\, our Savior and Lord\, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\, one God\, now and forever .\nAmen.\n \nFirst Reading: Genesis 12:1-4a God’s call of Abram and Sarai has a clear purpose—that through them all the families of the earth would gain a blessing. As they set out on their journey\, they are accompanied b y promises of land\, nation\, and a great reputation.\nPsalm: 121 I lift u p my eyes to the hills\; my help comes from the Lord. (Ps. 121:1\, 2)/p>\n  \nSecond Reading:  \nRomans 4:1-5\, 13-17 In the person and example of Ab raham we discover that a right relationship with God does not involve earn ing a reward from God but entails trusting God’s promises. Abraham is the forebear and model for both Jews and Gentiles\, because we too trust that ours is a God who gives life to the dead.\n \nGospel:  \nJohn 3:1-17\nA cu rious Pharisee visits Jesus by night to learn from the teacher his friends reject. Jesus speaks to him about life in the Spirit and the kingdom of G od.\n1  Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus\, a leader of the Jews.\n 2  He came to Jesus by night and said to him\, “Rabbi\, we know that you a re a teacher who has come from God\, for no one can do these signs that yo u do unless God is with that person.”\n3  Jesus answered him\, “Very truly \, I tell you\, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”\n4  Nicodemus said to him\, “How can anyone be born after having g rown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” \n5  Jesus answered\, “Very truly\, I tell you\, no one can enter the king dom of God without being born of water and Spirit.\n6  What is born of the flesh is flesh\, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.\n7  Do not be astonished that I said to you\, ‘You must be born from above.’\n8  The win d blows where it chooses\, and you hear the sound of it\, but you do not k now where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is bo rn of the Spirit.”\n9  Nicodemus said to him\, “How can these things be?” \n10  Jesus answered him\, “Are you the teacher of Israel\, and yet you do not understand these things?  \n11  “Very truly\, I tell you\, we speak o f what we know and testify to what we have seen\, yet you do not receive o ur testimony.\n12  If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe\, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?\n13  No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven\, t he Son of Man.\n14  And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wildern ess\, so must the Son of Man be lifted up\,\n15  that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.  \n16  “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son\, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but ma y have eternal life.  \n17  “Indeed\, God did not send the Son into the wo rld to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved throug h him.”\n \nAfter the Sermon\, Holy Communion will be offered. Come as you are\, the gift of the Table of the Lord has been prepared as Jesus has re quested and now we are invited to the meal. Come to the table like Peter\, with m ore enthusiasm than resolve and like James and John\, disappointed and the priorities of God’s reign. Come to the table like Martha\, hostin g and leading with confidence like Mary\, full of love and grief. Come to the table like Judas\, disillusioned and rebellious and like Mary Magdalen e\, faithful till the end. Come to the table\, because it is God who invit es us and it’s God’s will that those who want to should meet God here.\nBl essing for the day (Our blessing is an adaptation of a Franciscan Prayer) \nMay God bless us with discomfort at a Easy answers\, half truths and sup erficial leaderships so that we may live out God’s will deep in our heartl and in our world.\nMay god bless with anger at injustice\, oppression and exploration and the environments that we may work for justice\, freedom an d peace.\nMay God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pa in\, rejection\, hunger and war so that we may reach out with hands and he arts to help them\, walk with them and turn their 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 what others claim cannot b e done. To bring justice\, peace\, hope and love to all children\, the poo r and all others in any need.\nGod be your comfort\, your strength\;\nGod be your hope and support\;\nGod be your light and your way\; and the bless ing of God Creator\, Redeemer and Giver of Life\, remain with you now and forever. https://messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/630-second-sunday- in-lent-year-a-worship-service-11-00-am-service-pastor-naomi-carriker DTSTART:20260301T160000Z DTEND:20260301T170000Z LOCATION:Messiah Of The Mountains Lutheran Church (3690 US-19E\, Burnsville \, NC 28714\, USA) SUMMARY:Second Sunday in Lent -- Year A - Worship Service - 11:00 AM Servi ce -- Pastor Naomi Carriker URL:https://messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/630-second-sunday-in-len t-year-a-worship-service-11-00-am-service-pastor-naomi-carriker END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR