On this First Sunday in Lent, we are blessed by our Agape Choir singing Stricken, Smitten & Afflicted and our Bethany Bell Choir performing Take Time to by Holy. If you are interested in singing or ringing, let us know in the comments!
Nonie Lemmon serves as our lay reader today and Marc Middleton is BACK! He shares with us a message for all about the pulpit.
Pastor Kayla preaches the 2nd sermon in our Seeking: honest questions for a deeper faith series. This week, we read the scriptures from Genesis and Matthew and then we ponder: Who will you listen to?
Scriptures: Genesis 2:15-17 and Genesis 3:1-7 and Matthew 4:1-11
Rewatch worship below:
Artist Statement on this week’s art piece
tune in
by Lisle Gwynn Garrity
Inspired by Matthew 4:1-11
Silk painting with digital drawing and collage
In this image, the words of the Tempter hover in the background. The Tempter’s voice lingers like a ringing in Jesus’ ears, saying: “Take charge. Hoard your power. Dominate. Control.” Somehow, Jesus has deciphered that these words are simply background noise. He closes his eyes and goes inward, wrapping
himself in a posture of self-embrace. From this introspective perspective, Jesus essentially says, “Get behind me, Satan.” The backdrop of this piece resembles the dust of the desert. Like sand washing along a beach, the sediment shifts into water in the top left, hinting at what bolsters Jesus in his ministry: his belonging to God. His belovedness washes over him, giving him the courage to defy the deception of the
Tempter and tune into his inner wisdom. In this way, he is given a new song to carry with him, a lullaby from God that goes, “You, my child, in you, I am well-pleased.” This is a melody for singing, a song for dancing. What are the voices that linger with you like a ringing in your ears? What are the messages that try to deceive or devour you? Let those voices buzz and fade into the background. Close your eyes, tune in, and embrace yourself. From your belovedness, what song will you sing?
—Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity