We gather to celebrate our communion with Jesus and with one another this week. We’ll also gather to consider the next line of the Lord’s Prayer: “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” This is week 5 in the series on the Lord’s prayer and you’ll find all the words that we’ll be using in worship below. You can also download a copy to print here. All the way at the bottom are some examples of how you might consider rewriting the Lord’s Prayer in your own words. As we unpack the meaning of the prayer you’re being invited to find fresh meaning for yourself as you rewrite it.

PRELUDE                                                                                Be Thou My Vision                                                                                                                                 

CALL TO WORSHIP – from Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
   He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
   he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
   for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
   I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
   your rod and your staff—
   they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
   in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
   all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
   my whole life long.

*HYMN #553                                                                      How Great Thou Art

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Most High and holy God, you guide us as a shepherd guides his sheep. You lead us with love. You promise to take us places that nourish our faith and our life. You promise to help us find rest. But, when we struggle to trust, we are tempted to wrong down a different path; to be led by different voices. We are tempted by power, by profit, by pleasure. Forgive us for all of the ways that we don’t put people first. Bless us with your Holy Spirit so that goodness and mercy follow us and flow through us all the days of our lives. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

ANTHEM                                                                                         Reckless Love

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – from John 8:12, 31-32

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Again Jesus said, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free.”

HYMN #611                                                                                 Mighty To Save                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Jesus Loves M

SCRIPTURE                                                                                         John 8:2-11

The Temptation of Jesus

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, “One does not live by bread alone.” ’

Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, ‘To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is written,
“Worship the Lord your God,
   and serve only him.” ’

Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written,
“He will command his angels concerning you,
   to protect you”,
and
“On their hands they will bear you up,
   so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.” ’
Jesus answered him, ‘It is said, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” ’ When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry

Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth

When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
   because he has anointed me
     to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
   and recovery of sight to the blind,
     to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’
And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’ He said to them, ‘Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, “Doctor, cure yourself!” And you will say, “Do here also in your home town the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.” ’ And he said, ‘Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s home town. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up for three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.’ When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

SERMON                      Lord, Teach Us to Pray (Part 5)                                     

*HYMN #825                                                                         Beneath the Cross

GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

The Lord be with you.

AND ALSO WITH YOU.

Lift up your hearts.

WE LIFT THEM TO THE LORD.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

IT IS RIGHT TO GIVE OUR THANKS AND PRAISE.

O Holy God… we lift our hearts in joyful praise:

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY LORD, GOD OF POWER AND MIGHT, HEAVEN AND EARTH ARE FULL OF YOUR GLORY. HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST. BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST.

We praise you… until we feast together in your eternal Kingdom

THROUGH CHRIST, WITH CHRIST, IN CHRIST, IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, ALL GLORY AND HONOR ARE YOURS, ALMIGHTY GOD, NOW AND FOREVER.  AMEN

CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER                Table of Plenty (see #808)

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION & 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.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.

OFFERTORY                                                                                          Everything                                                                

*DOXOLOGY #964

*BENEDICTION

*SENDING SONG #930                                                This Little Light of Mine

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name…

1.) Our Father in heaven, you created everything out of love to share with your children, let other see your love in us

2.) God of steadfast love, your provide for us and protect us, so let no one profane your name because of my life

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done…

1.) Change our minds so that we can find our way out of the darkness and into the light of love

2.) Let Jesus rule as king over the earth so that everyone knows your will

Give us this day our daily bread…

1.) Teach what I need for today so that I can share the rest with others

2.) Help me not to worry about tomorrow so that I can be generous today

Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors…

1.) Let my mercy triumph over my judgments so that I can remain in your mercy

2.) You have forgiven us for so much. Help me to forgive others in the same way

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…

1.) Empower me with your Spirit to resist the devil and save me from those who don’t.

2.) Don’t lead me to places where I will do harm and rescue me from place where others would harm me.