Happening This Sunday

Who's Preaching Where on Sunday

• Traditional Services | 9 am & 11:15 am in the Church – The Rev. John Sundara (9 am) & The Rev. Sutton Lowe (11:15 am)
• Awesome Worship Service for Families | 9:15 am in the Hall Life Center – The Rev. Dr. Doug Richnow
• Modern Worship | 11:15 am in the Hall Life Center – The Rev. Dr. R. Leigh Spruill
• Traditional Service | 8 am & 5 pm in the Chapel – The Rev. John Sundara (8 am) & The Rev. Dr. R. Leigh Spruill (5 pm)

Worship Online

• Traditional Service in the Church (9 am - with Order of Service & Announcements)
• Modern Worship in the Hall Life Center (11:15 am - with Announcements)

Happening Today

The Great Litany
On the first Sunday in Lent, at the 9 am and 11:15 am Church services, we will begin our observance of this penitential season by praying the historic Great Litany, a penitential prayer offered in procession at the beginning of the service.

Mission Trip to Mexico with Mexico Medical Mission Begins
Pray for a safe mission as we travel from Houston to Chihuahua, February 22-27, to see firsthand the work of God among the Tarahumara people. Limited to 8 adults. Learn more.

20s/30s Sunday School Begins
If you’re just curious or wanting to grow in your faith, join us in Room 201 at 10:15 am as we explore the Scriptures and the tradition to see how time-tested practices do not so much stifle as give a home to a life that is genuinely spiritual.

The Collect of the Day

Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Matthew 4:1-11

4:1 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.

Musical Offering in the Church

During Lent, our liturgies change to reflect the spirit of the penitential season. As such, our worship today, the First Sunday in Lent, begins with the historic Great Litany. A litany is a type of prayer with fixed responses to short biddings said by the officiant. Litanies are often penitential in nature and involve processions: the clergy and the congregation praying while walking in or around the church. The Great Litany which we pray today is the first liturgy written in English for use in public worship. Using a wide variety of ancient sources combined with some original prayers, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer wrote the Great Litany in 1544 at the request of Henry VIII to be prayed as the nation faced war with France. The Great Litany continues to be prayed today in Anglican churches around the globe, especially before Lent or in times of national distress. In the Great Litany we are invited to ask God for mercy, pardon, and help for a great variety of things—more than we typically think on our own. The Great Litany gives us an opportunity to take stock of our hearts and to cast ourselves on the mercies of God.

At the Offertory, the Chorale sings a penitential anthem by Samuel Sebastian Wesley. This quintessential Victorian anthem is taken from taken from Psalm 51, “Cast me not away from thy presence…Restore unto me the joy of my salvation.” Samuel, the grandson of the great hymnist and leader of the Methodist movement Charles Wesley, was considered one of England’s premier organists and choirmasters of his day. As a boy, he was a chorister at the Chapel Royal and later throughout his career held posts as organist/choirmaster at several cathedrals such as Hereford, Exeter, Winchester, and Gloucester.

During the Ministration we hear verses from Psalm 51, “Turn thy face from my sins” by late 18th century English organist and composer Thomas Attwood.

You are invited to join us for a Lenten Evensong on Sunday, March 1 at 5:00pm, sung by the Choir of St. John the Divine and led by guest conductor Richard Webster.  

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