This Sunday, 9 March, we mark the First Sunday of Lent with a Joint Benefice service at St John the Baptist, Outwood.

This week’s online service is led by Revd Steve Bishop.

Forty days and forty nights
thou wast fasting the wild;
forty days and forty nights
tempted, and yet undefiled.

Sunbeams scorching all the day,
chilly dew-drops nightly shed,
prowling beasts about thy way,
stones thy pillow, earth thy bed.

Shall not we thy sorrows share,
and from earthly joys abstain,
fasting with unceasing prayer,
glad with thee to suffer pain?

And if Satan, vexing sore,
flesh or spirit should assail,
thou, his vanquisher before,
grant we may not faint nor fail.

So shall we have peace divine;
holier gladness ours shall be;
round us too shall angels shine,
such as ministered to thee.

Keep, O keep us, Saviour dear,
ever constant by thy side,
that with thee we may appear
at the eternal Eastertide!

George Hunt Smyttan (1822-1870) and Francis Pott (1832-1909)
Tune: Aus der tiefe, Nürnbergisches Gesangbuch (1676)

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said:
The first commandment is this:
‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, with all your mind,
and with all your strength.’
The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’
There is no other commandment greater than these.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Amen. Lord, have mercy.

Most merciful God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we confess that we have sinned
in thought, word and deed.
We have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
In your mercy
forgive what we have been,
help us to amend what we are,
and direct what we shall be;
that we may do justly,
love mercy,
and walk humbly with you, our God.
Amen.

Absolution

The Collect for the First Sunday of Lent

Almighty God,
whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness,
and was tempted as we are, yet without sin:
give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to your Spirit;
and, as you know our weakness,
so may we know your power to save;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

The readings

The first reading is from 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10
read by Sue Wates

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
Glory to you, O Lord.

The Gospel reading is from Matthew 6:1-6,16-21
read by Jenny Mackay

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

Talk
by Revd Steve Bishop

Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts,
since, as members of one body,
we are called to peace.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

Lord, everything in heaven and earth is yours.
All things come from you and of your own do we give you.

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 and ever. Amen.

Eternal God,
the light of the minds that know you,
the joy of the hearts that love you,
and the strength of the wills that serve you:
grant us so to know you that we may truly love you,
so to love you that we may truly serve you,
whose service is perfect freedom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty and everlasting God,
we thank you that you have brought us safely
to the beginning of this day.
Keep us from falling into sin
or running into danger,
order us in all our doings
and guide us to do always
what is righteous in your sight;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Blessing

Go in peace to love and to serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.

God is working His purpose out, as year succeeds to year;
God is working His purpose out, and the day is drawing near;
nearer and nearer draws the time, the time that shall surely be:
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.

From the east to utmost west, wherever foot has trod,
Through the mouths of His messengers echoes forth the voice of God:
“Listen to me, ye continents, ye islands, give ear to me,
that the earth shall be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.”

How can we do the work of God, how prosper and increase
harmony in the human race and the reign of perfect peace?
what can we do to urge the time, the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.

March we forth in the strength of God, His banner is unfurled;
let the light of the gospel shine in the darkness of the world:
strengthen the weary, heal the sick and set every captive free,
that the earth may be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.

All our efforts are nothing worth unless God bless the deed;
vainly our hopes for the harvest-tide till He brings life to the seed.
Yet nearer and nearer draws the time, the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.

Arthur Campbell Ainger (1841-1919) adapted by Michael Forster (b 1946)
Tune: Benson, Millicent Kingham (1866-1894)

Organist: Peter Nye.
Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England (2000), material from which is included in this service,
is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2000.
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