We gather for a Worship Service on this First Sunday in Lent – February 26, 2023 – in-person at the Chapel (2700 W 14th Street) and via the Zoom platform (online and by phone) at 11:00 A.M.

To join us at the Chapel, buzz Zion Church (Bob Bucklew) from the Directory at the front of the 2700 Building on the campus of San Sofia apartments or enter from the accessible ramp from the rear parking lot. When you arrive, call Bob at 216-375-5323 to open the parking lot gate.

For the online link and phone info to join the worship service via Zoom, please scan down below…

ZION’S ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, BEVERLY WURM

Beverly will be keeping some limited Office Hours at church/home. The days and hours are:

Monday – 9am – 1pm
Wednesday – 10am – 2pm
Thursday – 9am – 1pm

Beverly can be reached at: [email protected] or by phone at: 216-273-7561 (church) or 216-310-6810 (mobile).

The bulletin is attached. You may use it to follow along with us in the worship service or as a Devotional this week.

Our new website address is: zionchurchtremont.org
Check out our website and Facebook page for updates and news.

Commemorating African American History Month

The month of February each year is designated as African American History Month. During February 2023, we will be introduced to a different African American leader, whose faith helped shape their lives, their ministries and their activism. Join us during our time after the service in the Library where we will learn about people who should be heroes to all Americans. On Sunday, February 26th, we will learn of the life and legacy of civil rights and women’s rights activist, journalist, newspaper editor, and teacher, Ida B. Wells-Barnett.

The Scripture Readings for Sunday, February 26th, 2023 are:

First Reading: Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7

On this first Sunday in Lent, we read the story of God’s allowance to eat any fruit in the garden of creation, except for the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in Genesis 2. The first human being was given that command, but in Genesis 3, the serpent tempts the woman and man to eat of the fruit, so that their eyes are opened to the knowledge of good and evil. This creation story centers on the knowledge that God has given us everything, yet when we desire what we do not have, we can be led into sin.

Psalm Response: Psalm 32

Psalm 32 is a psalm of confession sin before God. The psalmist acknowledges that in trying to hide what was wrong, their entire body suffered and they felt the weight of what they’d done upon them in the form of God’s hand. However, when they turned to God and confessed, God forgave “the guilt of their sin.” The guilt of sin often weighs on us more than the wrongdoing itself, that can only be released when confessed. The psalmist encourages those who are faithful to pray and to follow God’s instructions and counsel. Those who put their trust in God will know God’s faithfulness and steadfast love.

Second Reading: Romans 5:12-19

The Epistle readings in Lent are in the book of Romans for weeks 1-3 and week 5. The apostle Paul juxtaposes Adam and Eve with Christ in this passage, with the first humans’ sin bringing death into the world and Christ’s death bringing life back into the world. Their actions condemned all and lead to death, but Christ’s actions justify all and lead to life. Paul concludes this section with juxtaposing sin with grace. Sin had dominion through death, but grace has dominion through Christ’s death, giving us eternal life.

Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11

Matthew’s account of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness occurs in Matthew 4. Unlike Mark, Matthew lists three temptations that Jesus faced, which are the same in Luke but the last two are reversed. In all three temptations, Jesus quotes scripture back at the devil to refute, rebuke, and refuse. The first temptation takes place when Jesus is hungry after fasting and praying, the purpose of which was to draw closer to God by emptying himself. The temptation to abuse the power within him is refuted when he quotes the Torah, holding on to the reason of his fast. The Child of God draws closer to God by becoming as human as possible, hungry and in need. The second temptation also involves abusing his power as the Only Begotten, to prove himself to others by testing God. The devil quotes Psalm 91 atop the pinnacle of the temple, but Jesus rebukes the devil by quoting again from the Torah to not put God to the test. We draw closer to God when we rebuke the powers of the world we have made, the power of empire and oppression. Finally, the devil offers Jesus all the empires of the world if Jesus will bow down and worship him. At this point, Jesus tells the devil to go away and again quotes from the same portion of Deuteronomy, refusing to worship the devil, and to worship and serve only God. Once the devil left Jesus, angels came and waited on him. Jesus drew closer to heaven in his refusal to serve or desire the empires and powers of this world, and so we, too, draw closer to the reign of God when we refuse to serve powers of oppression and domination.

The Sermon/Reflection is “In the Wilderness” by the Rev. Scott Rosenstein and is based on Matthew 4:1-11.

Please join us on this First Sunday in Lent, to give thanks to God, in-person in the Chapel, or via Zoom!

Pastor Scott
216-273-7561 – church
216.577.1514 – mobile

Bulletin Cover Image:
Art for Church Bulletins – Lent
Unique crayon and digital worship art
by Stushie, a Scottish pastor, ministering in East Tennessee
Stushie Art: Stushieart.com