PRELUDE/ENTRANCE
GREETING/ANNOUNCEMENTS
* SONG
“Lord, I Lift Your Name on High” TFWS 2088
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Liturgist: Today, we follow Jesus into a wilderness full of isolation, fatigue, hunger, thirst, and temptation. People: We follow, trusting in God’s mercy.
Liturgist: We witness Jesus resist the siren calls of sensationalism, notoriety, and misuse of power for selfish gain. People: We recognize God’s mercy at work in the face of temptation.
Liturgist: We notice the angels who tend Jesus, messengers of care in a harsh and lonely place. People: We pay attention to God’s merciful presence that did not abandon Jesus and does not abandon us now.
Liturgist: We come to the wilderness together, clinging to the truth that we are not alone—God is with us. ALL: We gather to worship God, whose unfailing mercy journeys with us into the wildernesses of our lives. Thanks be to God! Amen.
Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, July 2025.
OPENING PRAYER (Together)
Holy God, by the grace of Jesus Christ, you know the tests and trials we face. Journey with us through this wilderness. Come to us with ministers of healing and visit us with messengers of hope, so that we may return to you in faith, believing the good news of the gospel; through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen Adapted from the Presbyterian Church USA website, https://pcusa.org/.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
SHARING GOD’S PEACE
GOD SIGHTINGS AND SUPPLICATIONS
THE LORD’S PRAYER
PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE
A TIME FOR CHILDREN
SPECIAL MUSIC
FIRST SCRIPTURE Matthew 4:1-11
*SECOND SCRIPTURE Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7
MESSAGE
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
*SONG OF RESPONSE
“Seek Ye First” UMH 405
*OFFERING OF OURSELVES
“The Nicene Creed” UMH 880
*DOXOLOGY UMH 95
*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
SENDING FORTH
*SONG OF DISMISSAL
“It is Well with My Soul" UMH 377
*BENEDICTION
*PEACE “Shalom to You” UMH 666
*Please stand as you are able