First Sunday in Lent February 21, 2021

The St. Paul’s family welcomes you as we worship God together. We strive to be full, active, conscious participants in our liturgical life together.

Entrance and Praise Voluntary Passacaglia in D Minor Dietrich Buxtehude

Introit “Almighty and Most Merciful Father” William Harris Almighty and most merciful Father, grant that my hope and confidence may be in Jesu’s merits and thy mercy confirm my faith, stablish my hope, enlarge my charity, pardon my offences, and receive me at my death to everlasting happiness; for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Welcome

Hymn 110 “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” Ein’ Feste Burg U & œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ 1. A might - y for - tress is our God, a bul - wark nev - er fail - ing; 2. Did we in our own strength con - fide, our striv - ing would be los - ing, 3. And though this world, with dev - ils filled, should threat - en to un - do us, 4. at word a - bove all earth - ly powers, no thanks to them, a - bid - eth; U & œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ our help - er he a - mid the flood of mor - tal ills pre - vail - ing. were not the right man on our side, the man of God's own choos - ing. we will not fear, for God hath willed his truth to tri - umph through us. the Spir - it and the gis are ours, thru him who with us sid - eth. ™ ™ ˙ œ ™ & œ œ œ #œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ Fœor still our an - cient foe doœth seek to work us woe; his cra and power are great, Dost ask who that may be? Christ Je - sus it is he; Lord Sa - ba - oth, his name, e Prince of Dark- ness grim, we trem - ble not for him; his rage we can en - dure, Let goods and kin - dred go, this mor - tal life al - so; the bod - y they may kill; U ™ œ œ & œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ and armed with cru - el hate, on earth is not his e - quœal. from age to age the same, and he must win the bat - tle. for lo, his doom is sure; one lit - tle word shall fell him. God's truth a - bid - eth still; his king - dom is for - ev - er. Greeting Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ. Grace and peace to you also. Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Blessed be God’s kingdom, now and forever.

Collect Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The Ministry of the Word Prayer for Illumination Open our hearts and minds, O God, by the power of your Holy Spirit, so that, as the Word is read and proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us this day. Amen.

First Lesson Genesis 9:8-17 God said to Noah and to his sons with him, “As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” 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: I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant 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. 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.” God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.” The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Psalm 25:1-9 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; my God, I put my trust in you; let me not be humiliated, nor let my enemies triumph over me. Let none who look to you be put to shame; let the treacherous be disappointed in their schemes. Show me your ways, O Lord, and teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; in you have I trusted all the day long. Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love, for they are from everlasting. Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions; remember me according to your love and for the sake of your goodness, O Lord. Gracious and upright is the Lord; therefore he teaches sinners in his way. He guides the humble in doing right and teaches his way to the lowly. All the paths of the Lord are love and faithfulness to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Second Lesson 1 Peter 3:18-22 Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you— ­ not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. You are invited to sing the hymn.

Hymn 142 “If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee” Wer Nur den Lieben Gott bb ˙ ™ & œ œ œ œ ˙ œ #œ ˙ nœ œ œ ˙ œ ˙ #œ ˙ 1. If thou but suf - fer God to guide thee, and hope in God through all thy ways, 2. On - ly be still, and wait God's lei - sure in cheer-ful hope, with heart con - tent 3. Sing, pray, and keep God's ways un - swerv- ing; so do thine own part faith - ful - ly,

bb ˙ ™ & œ œ œ œ ˙ œ #œ ˙ nœ œ œ ˙ œ ˙ #œ ˙ God will give strength, what - e'er be - tide thee, and bear thee through the e - vil days. to take what - e'er thy Mak - er's plea-sure and all - dis - cern - ing love hath sent; and trust God's word; though un - de - serv- ing, thou yet shalt find it true for thee. ™ b œ ˙ œ ˙ œ ™ & b œ œ ˙ œ œ œ #˙ œ ˙ #œ ˙ Who trusts in God's un - chang - ing love builds on the rock that naught can move. we know our in - most wants are known, for we are called to be God's own. God nev - er yet for - sook at need the soul that trust - ed God in - deed.

Gospel Mark 1:9-15 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

You are invited to join in saying Psalm 19:14. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Amen.

Sermon “Water to Wilderness” Rev. Andrew Wolfe Responses and Offerings All stand.

The Apostles’ Creed I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at 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 Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

All sit. Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.

Peace The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you. All exchange signs and words of God’s peace with any who are around you, saying “peace be with you,” and offering a wave, open palms, or palms over your heart.

Registration of Attendance and Announcements You may register your attendance and make your offering by going to the St. Paul’s website at www.stpaulshouston.org/live-stream or to the St. Paul’s app. If you are interested in becoming a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, or just want to find out more about what it means to be a United Methodist Christian, please speak with a member of our clergy. Information on how to stay connected with the St. Paul’s community can be found on the St. Paul’s website and Facebook page. The Offering of tithes and gifts is a vital element of worship—our acknowledgment of the abundance of God’s blessings in our lives. Please take this time to log on to stpaulshouston.org/give to make your regular offering or to set up a recurring stewardship gift.

Offering “Dear Lord and Father of Mankind” C. Hubert H. Parry Wayne Ashley, tenor Dear Lord and Father of mankind, forgive our foolish ways; Reclothe us in our rightful mind, in purer lives thy service find, in deeper reverence, praise. In simple trust like theirs who heard beside the Syrian sea The gracious calling of the Lord, let us, like them, without a word rise up and follow thee. O Sabbath rest by Galilee, O calm of hills above, Where Jesus knelt to share with thee the silence of eternity, interpreted by love! Drop thy still dews of quietness, till all our strivings cease; Take from our souls the strain and stress, and let our ordered lives confess the beauty of thy peace. Breathe through the heats of our desire thy coolness and thy balm; Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire; speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire, O still, small voice of calm!

Doxology Erhat Uns Herr # œ œ œ œ œ œ & œ œ œ œ œ #œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ O Fa - ther, Son, and Spi - rit blest, to thee be ev - ery prayer ad- dressed, # œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ & œ œ œ œ œ œ #œ œ who art in three - fold Name a - dored, from age to age, the on - ly Lord. Hymn 269 “Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days” Land of Rest ™ & b œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙ œ ˙ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ 1. Lord, who through-out these for - ty days for us didst fast and pray, 2. As thou with Sa - tan didst con - tend, and didst the vic - tory win, 3. As thou didst hun - ger bear, and thirst, so teach us, gra - cious Lord, 4. And through these days of pen - i - tence, and through thy pas - sion - tide, 5. A - bide with us, that so, this life of suf - fering ov - ver past, ™ & b œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ™ J ˙ œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙ ˙ teach us with thee to mourn our sins and close by thee to stay. O give us strength in thee to fight, in thee to con - quer sin. to die to self, and chief - ly live by thy most ho - ly word. yea, ev - er - more in life and death Je - sus, with us a - bide. an Eas - ter of un - end - ing joy we may at - tain at last.

Benediction

Voluntary Allegro moderato e serioso from Sonata No. 1 Felix Mendelssohn

Lay Reader: Dawn Uebelhart

Permissions A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. Words: Martin Luther (ca. 1529); trans. by Frederick H. Hedge (1853). Public Domain. Music: Ein’ Feste Burg. Martin Luther (ca. 1529). Public Domain. If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee. Words: Georg Neumark (1657); trans. by Catherine Winkworth (1864). Public Domain. Music: Wer Nur den Lieben Gott, Georg Neumark (1657). Public Domain. The Glory of These Forty Days. Words: Latin (6th Century); trans. by Maurice F. Bell (1906). Public Domain. Music: Erhalt uns Herr. Joseph Klug’s “Geistliche Lieder,” (1535). Public Domain. Lord, Who Throughtout These Forty Days. Words: Claudia F. Hernaman (1873). Public Domain. Music: Land of Rest. USA Folk melody; arr. by Annabel Morris Buchanan (1938). Public Domain.

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-729097. Children’s Activities. Children’s Ministry has created Lenten Family Kits full of activities and resources, including our Family Lenten Devotional, to enrich your Lent, Holy Week, and Easter season. Pick one up at our outdoor morning worship service Sundays or any weekday at the Sanctuary Building reception desk. Stay in touch via the St. Paul’s Kids Facebook page (www.facebook.com/KidsOfSPUMC) and the e-letter for St. Paul’s Kids and families. To ensure receiving the e-letter, contact Rev. Kate Flint at [email protected]. Also contact her for the GROW and Joyful Noise Zoom connections. Children’s Choirs: To register your child for choir, please visit www.stpaulshouston.org/ childrenschoirs. For more information please contact Anna Teagarden at [email protected]. The day-by-day children’s schedule is as follows: Sundays: • Children’s Sunday School: All classes, age 3 through 5th grade, meet on Zoom 9:45-10:45 am for GROW and Joyful Noise assemblies followed by age-level groups. Check this week’s Children’s Ministry e-letter for the Zoom links. Contact Rev. Kate Flint for details at [email protected]. Children’s Choirs: • Wesley Singers (Grades 1-2). Sundays at 2 pm • Choristers (Grades 3-8). Sundays at 2:45 pm • Treble Choir. Wednesdays at 5:30 pm • One-on-One Voice for Life lessons. Contact [email protected] Youth Activities. The Youth are gathering on Sundays and throughout the week via Zoom. To learn more, email Tiffin, tiffin@stpaulshouston. org or Oksana, [email protected]. The day-by-day schedule follows: Sundays: • Sunday School. 10 am via Zoom • Confirmation. 4 pm on the Labyrinth and online via Zoom (followed by snack time for Confirmation Youth) • UMY, 6 pm on the Labyrinth Tuesdays: Girls Bible Study. 6:30 pm on the Labyrinth Wednesdays: H.O.T. (Hang Out Time). 7 pm via Zoom

Sign up for daily Lenten Devotionals at www.stpaulshouston.org/lent The devotion each day will include a brief video reflection on scripture and our Lenten themes. Thursday devotions will include a musical offering. If you would like a paper copy of the Lenten devotions mailed to you, you can let us know by calling our reception desk (713-528-0527) Monday-Thursday from 9 am-2 pm, or Fridays from 9 am - Noon. You may also email [email protected]. Please provide your current mailing address. Today at St. Paul’s Ordinary Life. 9:30 am. To watch, visit www.ordinarylife.org/live-stream-broadcast. St. Paul’s Epworth League (Young Adults) Sunday School class. Sunday mornings via Zoom. To connect with this Sunday School class, email Jim Bankston at [email protected]. Most other Sunday School Classes are meeting on Sundays at 9:45 or 10 am via phone or video conferencing. Check with your class leaders or visit www.stpaulshouston.org/stayconnected for more information.

Putting Your House in Order Today from 5-6:30 pm Plan to attend this timely seminar designed to help you make wise, loving, and generous decisions about your true legacy. Please register at stpaulshouston.org/events/pyhio. Deadline to sign up is 3pm today. Cost is $10 and includes a 45-page workbook. Presented by Leah Taylor, Senior Area Representative, Texas Methodist Foundation. This Week at St. Paul’s Tai Chi. Mondays and Wednesdays at 9 am via Zoom. To connect, email [email protected]. St. Paul’s Moms, Monday, February 22, from 8 to 9:15 pm via Zoom. (Meets 2nd & 4th Mondays) Compline: A Weekly Service of Evening Prayer. Mondays at 8:30 pm. The service of Compline includes responses, psalms, scripture, a hymn, and an opportunity to pray. Our time of evening prayer will be live via Zoom and will not be available on YouTube or the St. Paul’s stream after the service. To access the zoom link, visit www.stpaulshouston.org/worship. Tuesday Lectionary Bible Study led by Rev. Paul Richards-Kuan. Tuesdays at noon, meeting virtually via Zoom. To connect, email [email protected]. St. Paul’s Single Moms Circle. Tuesday, February 23, 8:30 - 9:30 pm. For more information or to obtain the Zoom meeting link, email [email protected]. (2nd and 4th Tuesdays) Men’s Lectionary Bible Study with Rev. Dr. Jeff McDonald. Wednesdays at 7:30 am via Zoom. To connect, email bharmes@ gmail.com. St. Paul’s Veterans Healing Circle, Wednesdays at noon in the Fannin Street courtyard outside the Youth Center. For lunch, your reservation is required by the Monday prior. For more information or to RSVP: [email protected]. Pastors Bible Study in the Book of Ecclesiastes, Wednesdays through March 24, from 6-7 pm. All are invited to be a part of this online opportunity to join St. Paul’s clergy for this study. Each week, two pastors will lead the webinar for the first 45 minutes and will take 15 minutes to answer questions. To register, visit www.stpaulshouston.org/study. For more information, email [email protected]. Thursday Women’s Lectionary with Rev. Barbara Robberson. Thursdays at 8:30 am via Zoom. To connect, email bjmcmah@ swbell.net. First 2021 Green Team Meeting (via Zoom), Thursday, February 25, at 10:30 am (newly rescheduled time). If you would like to learn more about eliminating single use plastics and styrofoam, recycling, and the St. Paul’s Community Garden, then please join in. Contact Helen Spaw, hspaw@stpaulshouston, to receive the Zoom link or to answer any questions. Her|meneutics. 1st and 3rd Thursday at 6:30 pm via Zoom. Gather with a community of women who are committed to maturing spiritually and cultivating a network of support and belonging. This season the group is working through Willie Jennings’ commentary on Acts, sharing at each gathering a spiritual practice centered around implicit bias. For more information, sign up for the newsletter by contacting [email protected] or email Rev. Karyn Richards-Kuan at krichards- [email protected]. The Chimes (Thursdays) and the Friday Pastor’s Message. To receive these weekly email messages, email Donna Adair at [email protected]. Upcoming Grief and Loss Healing Circle, Wednesday, March 3, at 8:30 pm. For more information or to obtain the Zoom meeting link, email Helen at [email protected]. (1st and 3rd Wednesdays through March 3.) Kerley Endowment Lecture Series Webinar, Tuesday, March 9, at 7 pm. Guest speaker for this webinar will be John Tucker, District Superintendent in the United Methodist Church and an independent scholar of Ludwig Wittgenstein’s philosophy, as well as the author of “Zero Theology: Escaping Belief Through Catch 22s.” Registration information will be posted soon. Healing of Racism Circle (through The Center for The Healing of Racism), Thursday, March 11, at 10 am. For more information or to obtain the Zoom meeting link, email Helen at [email protected]. (Meets 2nd Thursdays.) Community Garden Zoom Meeting, March 12, at 10:30 am via Zoom. For more information or to obtain the Zoom meeting link, email Helen at [email protected]. (2nd Fridays)

Ways to Love Your Neighbor How to Assist our Fellow Neighbors following our recent cold weather storm: The Restoration Team is encouraging people (friends, families, neighbors) to sign up at https://www.therestorationteam.org/volunteer-1 if you would like assistance in any way, such as needing help filing insurance claims, home issues, or simply being added to our prayer list. If you would like to make a financial gift towards immediate needs, please visit crowdsourcerescue.com/freeze. To make a gift toward long term needs, visit https://www.therestorationteam.org/donate. For more information, contact Rev. Paul Richards-Kuan at prichards- [email protected]. Donate to the Emergency Aid Coalition (EAC). The Clothing Center has been re-organized and is ready to accept donations of clean, gently loved clothes, especially coats and sweaters for men, women, and children; household linens, towels, and washcloths; shoes and clothing for men, women, teens, and children. Always welcome are peanut butter crackers, granola bars, Vienna sausages, fruit cups, and string cheese. Drop off donations at 5401 Fannin, M-F, between 9 am and 1 pm. Also, shop the EAC Amazon wish list: https://a.co/3b79tEQ. If you have a question about Amazon delivery, call Marian Bryant at 832-859- 1065.

If You Would Like to Attend Weekly In-Person, Outdoor Sunday Worship...... at 11:30 am (weather permitting), please RSVP for the service by visiting www.stpaulsworship.eventbrite.com. We will observe social distancing and all congregants will be required to wear a mask. Registration for the next upcoming Sunday is open beginning 1 week prior to the service.