Calvary Presbyterian Church Sunday, February 21, 2021 First Sunday of Lent

CALL TO WORSHIP Into your presence we come, Father God as your children have done throughout the centuries.

In vast Cathedrals, parish Churches, Chapels, homes, warehouses, converted cinemas, in lonely, isolated places.

Alone or gathered together with others, your Church is wherever your people meet together in worship, in fellowship and in prayer.

Your presence is discernable wherever your Spirit is allowed to enter, be with us now, loving Father.

HYMN – BLEST ARE THEY

PRAYER OF CONFESSION Lord God, you are the one who leads us from darkness into light, from captivity into freedom, from anxiety into peace, from despair into joy. Yet we long to break free, choosing independence, convinced of our own wisdom, forgetting your love and grace. Forgive us, draw close to us, embrace us once again in your loving arms, and enable us to follow you in worship and grateful service each day of our lives.

(Silent Confession)

ASSURANCE OF PARDON The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. May the God of mercy, who forgives us all our sins, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen.

PASSING THE PEACE SIGN God, who calls us by name, has forgiven us and freed us. The “passing the peace” is our chosen act of reconciliation with one another. As beloved children of God, let us extend a sign of peace to one another.

The peace and goodness of Jesus Christ be with you.

And also with you.

GOSPEL : MATTHEW 16:13-23 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’ Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’

MESSAGE

ANTHEM – NOTHING TO FEAR

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD ’S SUPPER

HYMN – JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE

BENEDICTION