1st Sunday in Lent February 22, 2026
Welcome & Announcements
*Call to Worship: Psalm 32:1-7 (pg. 546)
*Opening Prayer …………………………………………….. pg. 2
THE OPENING HYMN ------------------------------------------- # 157
“Rejoice, the Lord Is King!”
*Confession of Sins ……………….……….……………....... pg. 2
*Kyrie …………………………………………………….…. pg. 3
*Declaration of Grace …………………………………..…… pg. 3
Scripture Lessons: 1st Reading: Genesis 3:1-21 (pg. 3)
2nd Reading: Romans 5:12-19 (pg. 1120)
*The Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11 (pg. 961)
*Response to the Gospel …………………………………..… pg. 3
*Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed .……………...... pg. 4
*Gloria Patri …………………………………………………. pg. 4
The Offering
*Response: “Create in Me A Clean Heart O God” ……..….. pg. 17
*Prayers of the Church
HYMN --------------------------------------------------------------- # 376
“I Am Trusting You, Lord Jesus”
Sermon: John 13 – “Cleansing Love”
THE CLOSING HYMN ------------------------------------------- # 422
“I Hear Thy Welcome Voice”
*The Lord’s Prayer ………………………………………….. pg. 5
*The Benediction ………………………………..…………... pg. 5
*Three-fold Amen ………………………………...…………. pg. 5
THE DOXOLOGY ……………………………...………….. # 390
Organ Postlude
WE CORDIALLY WELCOME all who have come to worship with us this morning, especially our guests and visitors. May our Father’s mercy in Jesus assure you of the forgiveness of all your sins. If you have not established your church home in our area, we are anxious to share with you all the blessings which God gives us through His Word. We ask that you please sign our guest book, and we hope that you return to worship with us again soon.
Announcements
Monthly hymn #157: "Rejoice, the Lord
Is King!"
Memory verse: Psalm 118:24
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad
in it.”
Wednesday Lenten Service, 7:30 p.m. This week’s service will be led by Del Neumeister with the Theme of “Strengthening Elijah”. Ladies with first names beginning in letters A – J are asked to bring bars/cookies for the fellowship time to follow the service. A Meal of Lasagna will be served starting at 6:00 p.m.
AFLC Annual Conference registration is open.
You can register through the AFLC website at https://www.aflc.org/conferences
Information about lodging, food, and the conference schedule is
there also.
Annual Men's Chorus Festival Concert, Sunday at 7pm on March 1st at Dakota Christian School.
There is a box downstairs for Toiletry donations for area schools until March 8th.
A Card Book is also in the basement, orders will be taken until March 8th.
This week’s activities:
25th – Wed. – Meal at 6:00 p.m. Lenten Service at 7:30
p.m.
28th – Sat. – Men’s Bible
Study, 8:00 a.m.
1st – Sun. –
Communion Service – John 14, 9:00 am,
Sunday School 10:00 am
CHURCH CLEANING: Feb 23 – Mar 1 Liz Weber & Kendra Thies
Usher’s for Sunday, March 1 7 & Wed, March 4: Vic Wieczorek & Walter Villmow
*Call to Worship: Psalm 32:1-7
32 Blessed is the one whose transgression is
forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed
is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
and in
whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 For when I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand
was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of
summer.
5 I acknowledged my sin to
you,
and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will
confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the
iniquity of my sin.
6 Therefore let everyone who is godly
offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
surely
in the rush of great waters,
they shall not reach him.
7 You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with shouts
of deliverance.
1st Reading:Genesis 3:1-21
3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.
He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 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. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
14 The Lord God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and
above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust
you shall eat all the days of your life.
15 I
will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your
offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you
shall bruise his heel.”
16 To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”
17 And to Adam he said, “Because you
have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree
of which I commanded you,
‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is
the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days
of your life;
18 thorns and thistles
it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the
field.
19 By the sweat of your
face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out
of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall
return.”
20 The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. 21 And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.
2nd Reading: Romans 5:12-19
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.
*The Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11
4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,
“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word
that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said 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,
lest you strike
your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,
“‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall
you serve.’”
11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
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Mid-week Lenten Service
“40”
February 25, 2026
Theme: Strengthening of Elijah
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Welcome & Announcements
Lenten Text: Matthew 14:27-42
27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” 30 And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.
32 And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. 34 And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” 35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. 41 And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
*Call to Worship: Psalm 119:25-32
25 My soul clings to the dust; give
me life according to your word!
26 When I
told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes!
27 Make me understand the way
of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
28 My soul melts away for
sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!
29 Put false ways far from me and
graciously teach me your law!
30 I
have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.
31 I cling to your testimonies,
O Lord; let me not be put to shame!
32 I
will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!
*Opening Prayer …………………………………………………………………………….………...…….. pg. 2
THE OPENING HYMN ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # 85
“ ‘Tis Midnight, and on Olive’s Brow”
*Confession of Sins ……………………………………………………………………………..................... pg. 2
*Kyrie …………………………………………………………………………………………………….…. pg. 3
*Declaration of Grace ………………………………………………………………………...………..…… pg. 3
Scripture Lessons:
First Reading: Romans 5:1-11
5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Second Reading: Luke 22:39-53
39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
47 While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
*The Gospel: 1 Kings 19:1-10
19 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” 3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.
9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”
*Response to the Gospel …………………………………………………………………………………..… pg. 3
*Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed ………………………………………………………………... pg. 4
*Gloria Patri …………………………………………………………………………………………………. pg. 4
The Offering: ½ to FLBC & ½ to Safe Place of Eastern South Dakota
*Response: “Create in Me A Clean Heart O God” ……………………………………………………..….. pg. 17
*Prayers of the Church
HYMN --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # 141
“A Mighty Fortress”
Sermon Title: “Not My Own” Del Neumeister
THE CLOSING HYMN ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- # 84
“Hallelujah, What a Savior!”
*The Lord’s Prayer ………………………………………………………………………………………….. pg. 5
*The Benediction ………………………………………………………………………………..…………... pg. 5
*Three-fold Amen ………………………………………………………………………………...…………. pg. 5
THE DOXOLOGY ……………………………...………………………………………………………….. # 390
Organ Postlude