February 20, 2021

Dear Beloved St. Paul's UMC and Wesley Foundation Family,

Grace and peace to you on this first weekend of Lent. Our theme for our Lenten journey this year is "The Broken Way" in which we are considering the brokenness of our journeys, individually and collectively, and how the broken places are not places to cover up, but places where the light shines through! We began on Ash Wednesday by talking about the brokenness of the soil. Today we turn our attention to the call to repent -- to turn around, or return -- and believe in the Good News. Our hope is that as you worship together today, you will feel the call to return to your first love, in this springtime of the soul. You can worship with us by clicking here.

On this first weekend of Lent, we will celebrate Holy Communion together on Zoom at 11:00 AM on Sunday, February 21. You can join us by clicking here (if you are using the Zoom App, the meeting ID is: 859 0584 5591 and the Password is: stpauls). Be sure to have your elements ready, as we gather at the Gospel Feast. Following communion, those who would like to are invited to remain for our weekly time of conversation and relationship building, as we discuss the themes of this weekend's worship.

Now that we're in Lent, our lessons will follow the events during the last week of Jesus' life. So, we start with his entrance into Jerusalem on what we now call Palm Sunday. Please have the green palm branch and scissors ready as we'll be doing the craft at the beginning of our video. Also, we'll be opening the second egg today at the end of the lesson, so please have egg #2 available, too. The lesson is available here. After the lesson on Palm Sunday is over, there is an egg activity for your family to do together. If you have any questions, please let Pastor Becky know at rmcgee@susumc.org. May this Lenten season of introspection and preparation be a blessing to your family!

As we consider our broken paths, and repent of the ways we have wandered away, let us return to the One who calls us beloved, and became broken for us!

Grace|Peace,
Pastor Greg

Greeting

Call to Worship*

One: Come, all you people, come and worship.

One: Come, all creatures of the earth, come and worship.

One: God has sealed this covenant with redeeming love;

Opening Hymn: "Just as I Am, Without One Plea" (verses 1, 3, and 5) (UMH 357)

Prayer of Confession*

Words of Assurance*

God is merciful and full of steadfast love.

God will not forget us,

but will wash us clean,

and lead us on paths of steadfast love

and faithfulness.

Passing the Peace

Children's Message: Debbie Harwell

Scripture: Mark 1:9-15 (NRSV) - Kevin Harwell

Message: "The Broken Way: Repent" - Rev. Greg Milinovich

Prayer Song: "Depth of Mercy" (UMH 355)

Pastoral Prayer

Offering

Closing Hymn: "Come, Sinners, to the Gospel Feast" (UMH 339)

Benediction

Postlude

*adapted from liturgy by Mary Petrina Boyd

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