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February 22, 2026: First Sunday in Lent

Rev Brian Goodings

Sunday, February 22, 2026

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February 22, 2026

First Sunday in Lent

Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live

Leading us today in Worship:
Minister: Rev. Dr. Brian Goodings
Director of Music: Dr. Christopher Burton
Lay Reader: Kelly Adam

Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung words: bold italics.
Asterisk * Indicates when the congregation may stand if able.

Scripture for meditation:
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. (Matthew 4:1)

We Gather

PRELUDE: “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” (A little Night Music) W.A. Mozart

A Stewardship Second
Recognizing the pull of social media and non-stop advertising, when we make faithful purchasing decisions, our identity changes from consumers to stewards.

WELCOME

Extinguishing first Candle of Lent
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh! Sometimes it makes me tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

OUR COMMITMENT to SAFER SPACE & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the LAND
We believe all people are made in the image of God and are entitled to dignity and respect. At Grace United Church we try to offer a safer, inclusive and generous space for all who are seeking a faith community. We offer full participation of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, all races, ages and abilities in the life and work of the ministry.
Grace United Church is situated on the traditional territory of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation. We acknowledge that they are the first stewards of this land and we respect their histories and past and present cultures. We will work to recognize and remove barriers to reconciliation.

*OPENING HYMN: VU #108 “Throughout These Lenten Days and Nights”
1. Throughout these Lenten days and nights
we turn to walk the inward way,
where, meeting Christ, our guide and light,
we live in hope till Easter Day.

2. The pilgrim Christ, the Lamb of God,
who found in weakness greater power,
embraces us, though lost and flawed,
and leads us to his Rising Hour.

3. We bear the silence, cross and pain
of human burdens, human strife,
while sisters, brothers help sustain
our courage till the Feast of Life.

4. And though the road is hard and steep,
the Spirit ever calls us on through
Calvary’s dying, dark and deep,
until we see the coming Dawn.

5. So let us choose the path of One
who wore, for us, the crown of thorn,
and slept in death that we might wake
to life on Resurrection Morn!

6. Rejoice, O sons and daughters! Sing
and shout hosannas! Raise the strain!
For Christ, whose death Good Friday brings
on Easter Day will rise again!

LENTEN PRAYER of CONFESSION: (Unison)
Merciful God, we confess we are often reluctant to take responsibility for our faith.
We avoid the path of costly love;
We are not willing to bear the weight of discipleship;
We prefer to satisfy our appetites first rather than consider the needs of others;
We are bold enough to quickly ask your forgiveness; but slow to change our behaviours.
We ask for your grace and bow our heads in repentance.
AMEN

WORDS of ASSURANCE:
(Adapted from Julia Esquivel, Guatemala)
God’s kin(g)dom of forgiveness comes;
When we know a way of freedom and love;
Practice sisterhood and brotherhood;
Follow the path of righteousness;
And live Christ’s truth. This is the Good News!

Lighting the Children’s Lantern

Theme Conversation: Lent

We Listen

SCRIPTURE READINGS
(Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)
Genesis 3: 1-7 (Serpent in the Garden)
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden,but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.’ ”But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die,for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate.Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.

Matthew 4: 1-11 (Temptation of Christ)
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil.He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was famished.The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”But he answered, “It is written,
‘One does not live by bread alone,
    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple,saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,
‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
    and ‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ”
Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory,and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written,
‘Worship the Lord your God,
    and serve only him.’ ”
Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

RESPONSE HYMN: VU #114 “Forty Days and Forty Nights” v.1
1. Forty days and forty nights
you were fasting in the wild;
forty days and forty nights
tempted, and yet undefiled.

ANTHEM: “Love Us into Fullness” D.C. Damon

Sacrament of Communion:
(Today we will come to the front to receive the elements of communion. All are welcome and if you are unable to come to the front we will gladly serve you in the pew.)

*HYMN: VU #467 “One Bread, One Body”
Refrain:
One bread, one body, one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing which we bless;
and we, though many, throughout the earth,
we are one body in this one Lord.

1. Gentile or Jew, servant or free,
woman or man, no more.
Refrain:
One bread, one body, one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing which we bless;
and we, though many, throughout the earth,
we are one body in this one Lord.

2. Many the gifts, many the works,
one in the Lord of all.
Refrain:
One bread, one body, one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing which we bless;
and we, though many, throughout the earth,
we are one body in this one Lord.

3. Grain for the fields, scattered and grown,
gathered to one, for all.
Refrain:
One bread, one body, one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing which we bless;
and we, though many, throughout the earth,
we are one body in this one Lord.

Communion Liturgy:
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to God.
Let us give thanks to God.
It is right to give God our thanks and praise

From the beginning, life has been shaped by despair, struggle and triumph. Oppressive forces have time and time again tried to destroy the hope of the marginalized and vulnerable. The forces of wealth and privilege, armies and self-serving theologies, have beaten down too many. Yet hope has never been fully extinguished. When all seems lost the embers stir and glow, and the story of God’s-justice ignites again.

Recalling the promise of tomorrow we wait out the night of our Lenten struggle. Rejoicing in the bonds of solidarity we are seated at the table of the inexhaustible Divine One. We take, eat and drink, knowing that the Spirit of God is here within and amongst us.

Shortly before Jesus died he gathered around his closest friends who had shared his life and ministry. They met in a small upstairs room. The forces of power and hatred were closing in and they had no choice but to face them. All their excitement and hopes they experienced with Jesus’ truth were about to be put to death.

On that night, Jesus took bread and wine and likened it to his own life.

And so we remember on the night before he died, Jesus took bread: when he had given thanks he broke it, gave it to his friends and said:
“Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you: remember me when you share with one another.”

After supper he took the cup; when he had given thanks he offered it to them and said:
“Drink this, all of you. This is the cup of the new covenant. Remember me when you thirst for God.”
With this bread and juice we remember the Word of God revealed in the radical love, lived by Jesus.

Grant that in praise and thanksgiving we so offer ourselves to you that our lives proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died; Christ has risen; Christ will come again.

God send your Spirit upon us and these gifts that all who come to this table receive your life and blessing.

Prayer after Communion: Lord’s Prayer
…Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil for the kingdom the power and the glory are yours, now and forever. AMEN

SERMON: “The Devil in the Details” Rev Brian Goodings

*HYMN: VU #114 “Forty Days and Forty Nights” v. 2-5
2. Sunbeams scorching all the day,
chilly dewdrops nightly shed;
prowling beasts about your way;
stones your pillow, earth your bed.

3. Shall not we your trial share,
and from earthly joys abstain,
fasting with unceasing prayer,
strong with you to suffer pain?

4. If temptations, vexing sore,
flesh or spirit should assail,
you their vanquisher before,
grant we may not faint nor fail.

5. Keep, oh keep us, Saviour dear,
ever constant by your side;
that with you we may appear
at the eternal Eastertide.

We Respond

INVITATION to the OFFERING
God has invited us to eat freely of every tree in the garden except for one, but we take more. With eyes opened, we know how our lifestyle decisions make life more difficult for others. Let us now share our abundance, offering gifts that will enable others to live more fully, and maybe even to know and walk with God.

PRAYER of DEDICATION of OUR OFFERINGS
Holy One, we offer back to you these gifts, and those given already through PAR and online, fruit from the bounty you have given us. Use them to feed those who might otherwise go hungry physically or spiritually. Bless them for the ministries here and for ministries across the world through Mission and Service. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Donate online: www.graceunitedthornbury.ca, select “Donate”
or contact the office by email: accounting@graceunitedthornbury.ca
or phone: 519-599-2438 to arrange a cheque pick-up, or an e-transfer.
Mail: Grace UC, 140 Bruce St. S. PO Box 219, Thornbury, ON N0H 2P0
or Offering Plate at the back of the sanctuary.

Tap your debit card at the door of the church, or Donate to Grace United Church Thornbury through CanadaHelps.org. Our account is set up with them now and it is easy to register. Tax receipts are given automatically at the time of giving. Care, Prayer, Share

Dedication Hymn: VU #538
For the gift of creation the gift of your love
And the gift of the spirit by which we live
We thank you and give you the fruit our hands
May your grace be proclaimed by the gifts that we give.

What’s up at Grace?

We Go Out

*HYMN: VU #120 “O Jesus, I Have Promised”
1. O Jesus, I have promised to serve you to the end;
remain for ever near me, my Saviour and my friend:
I shall not fear the journey if you are by my side,
nor wander from the pathway if you will be my guide.

2. O let me feel you near me: the world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle, the tempting sounds I hear;
my foes are ever near me, around me and within;
but, Jesus, then draw nearer and shield my soul from sin.

3. O let me hear you speaking in accents clear and still,
above the storms of passion, the murmurs of self-will;
O speak to reassure me, to hasten or control;
now speak, and make me listen, O guardian of my soul.

4. O Jesus, you have promised to all who follow you,
that where you are in glory your servant shall be too.
And Jesus, I have promised to serve you to the end;
O give me grace to follow, my Saviour and my friend.

*COMMISSIONING

*BENEDICTION HYMN: VU#400 “Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying” (2x)
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Lord, send your Spirit in this place;
Lord, listen to your children praying,
send us love, send us power, send us grace!

POSTLUDE: “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” J.S. Bach

“The Bible abounds in references to the desert and the wilderness. Encounters with God, both directly and through prophetic voices, took place in scenes of desolation. God spoke on an empty stage, knowing how easily other sounds divert human attention”. (Yi-Fu Tuan)

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