Author: Dennis Hacker

Philadelphia Lutheran Church
“Church of Brotherly Love”
February 22,2026
first Sunday in lent
52 Pinewood Road
Granite Falls, NC 28630
Pastor Leonard Bolick
Kim Ledford, Music Director Judy Parker, Organist

We welcome you to worship today! May God richly bless you as we worship together. If you are visiting for the first time, please sign the guest register in the front entrance of the church.

Gathering music
P: welcome and announcements
Prelude “o god, be merciful to me”” bach

(Remain seated during the prelude.).

GATHERING: We have been gathered by the Holy Spirit.
*(As the music begins, we are invited to stand, facing the procession of the cross.)
*Gathering Hymn “o lord, throughout these forty days”
Elw #319
*confession and forgiveness
(All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the minister begins.)
P: Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God,
who forgives all our sin,
whose mercy endures forever.
Amen.
Let us confess our sin before God, who removes our guilt
and blots out all offenses.
(Silence is kept for reflection.)
Gracious God,
have mercy on us according to your steadfast love.
For seeking worldly delights that deceive us and dishonor you:
Gracious God,
have mercy on us according to your steadfast love.
For desiring self-reliance instead of hungering for your word:
Gracious God,
have mercy on us according to your steadfast love.

*greeting
P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.

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*(Denotes when congregation stands.)
(Bold italicized print denotes when congregation speaks.)

For failing to recognize your coming reign,
and for hindering the work of the Spirit: Gracious God,
have mercy on us according to your steadfast love.
For drawing from the well of self-serving ambition,
and for disdaining the living water Christ offers: Gracious God,
have mercy on us according to your steadfast love.
For disregarding voices from the margin,
and for distrusting signs of your healing and hope in the world:
Gracious God,
have mercy on us according to your steadfast love.
For dwelling in tombs of self-pity and discontent,
and for disregarding Christ’s call to come forth to life:
Gracious God,
have mercy on us according to your steadfast love.
God’s steadfast love, grace, and forgiveness abound.
Through faith, the free gift of God,
you have been clothed in the righteousness of Christ.
In the name of ☩ Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven.
The Spirit of the One who raised Christ from the dead
dwells in you,
pours God’s love into your hearts,
and gives you life and peace.
Amen.

*Kyrie

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*Prayer of the Day
P: The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

(The congregation may be seated.)

Children’s message

first Reading genesis 2: 15-17; 3: 1-7
Human beings were formed with great care, to be in relationship with the creator, creation, and one another. The serpent’s promise to the first couple that their eyes would be opened led, ironically, to the discovery only that they were naked.
A reading from Genesis, the second and third chapters
15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.” 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in

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the garden’?” 2 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 middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not 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 loincloths for themselves.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Second Reading romans 5: 12-19
Through Adam’s disobedience, humanity came under bondage to sin and death, from which we cannot free ourselves. In Christ’s obedient death, God graciously showers on us the free gift of liberation and life.
A reading from Romans, the fifth chapter
12 Just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned 13 for sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam, who is a pattern of the one who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. 16 And the gift is not like the effect of the one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the gift following many trespasses brings justification. 17 If, because of the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

18 Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. 19 For just as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Cantor: psalm 32 (sung in unison)
1 Happy are they whose transgressions | are forgiven, and whose sin is | put away! 2 Happy are they to whom the Lord im- | putes no guilt, and in whose spirit there | is no guile! 3 While I held my tongue, my bones with- | ered away, because of my groaning | all day long. 4 For your hand was heavy upon me | day and night; my moisture was dried up as in the | heat of summer. 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and did not con- | ceal my guilt. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” Then you forgave me the guilt | of my sin. 6 Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in | time of trouble; when the great waters overflow, they | shall not reach them. 7 You are my hiding-place; you preserve | me from trouble; you surround me with shouts | of deliverance. 8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way that | you should go; I will guide you | with my eye. 9 Do not be like horse or mule, which have no | understanding; who must be fitted with bit and bridle, or else they will | not stay near you.” 10 Great are the tribulations | of the wicked; but mercy embraces those who trust | in the Lord. 11 Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice | in the Lord; shout for joy, all who are | true of heart.

* Gospel Acclamation

*Holy Gospel matthew 4: 1-11
Jesus experiences anew the temptations that Israel faced in the wilderness. As the Son of God, he endures the testing of the evil one
The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the fourth chapter
Glory to you, O Lord.
1 Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was famished. 3 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, ‘One does 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 placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 saying 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, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ” 7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do 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, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written,

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‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’ ” 11 Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.
Praise to you, O Christ. (The assembly is seated.)

Sermon Pastor Leonard Bolick

*hymn of the day “”a mighty fortress is our god” elw#504

P: And now as we respond to God’s Word, we confess our faith through the words of the Nicene Creed:

*Nicene Creed
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven;
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

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He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
with the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Assisting Minister: Reconciled by God’s mercy and sustained by God’s presence, let us pray for the world and its needs.
(A brief silence.....we kneel or sit.)
God of all grace, grant faith to your church. Give to all the baptized the will to resist temptation and to worship and serve you alone. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great
.
God of all creation, tend this earth. When human greed and disobedience threaten this planet and the life it contains, lead us by your Spirit into ways of reverence, awe, and gentleness. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
God of all nations, preserve us from trouble. Surround all living in places of violence with your steadfast love and give resilience to all who work for peace. Grant courage to those who challenge, especially around issues of racism and systemic oppression. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
God of all healing, mend our wounds. Bring wholeness to all who are sick, give peace to all who groan in grief, and send companions to all who are lonely or isolated. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.

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God of all people, provide for our community. For any among us who hunger for bread, bring nourishment. For any among us who hunger for truth, speak your life-giving word. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
God of all life, bring us to you. We thank you for your free and abounding grace, and for those who, by that same grace, now rest eternally in you. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
P: Are there any other prayer requests?
P: Receive our prayers, O God, through Jesus Christ, our strength and salvation.
Amen.

*Sharing of the Peace (We acknowledge one another with a bow or a nod...)
The peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.
Offering (You may remain seated.)
(Giving to those in need, is a sign of the giving of our whole selves.in grateful response for all God’s gifts.)
Offertory “meditation on martyrdom”

penfield

*P: Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen. (Assembly may sit.)

P*Blessing
Receive the blessing of the holy Trinity:
God, who calls all things into existence,
Jesus Christ, who redeems us,
and the Holy Spirit, whose breath sustains creation,
X bless you now and always.
Amen.

hymn: “jesus, still lead on” elw# 624

Lenten focus

Reflection pastor leonard bolick

“the old rugged cross”
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame; And I love that old cross where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain: So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it someday for a crown.
Oh, that old rugged cross so despised by the world, has a wondrous attraction for me; for the dear Lamb of God left His glory above, to bear it to dark Calvary.
Refrain
In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, a wondrous beauty I see; for ‘twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died, to pardon and sanctify me.
Refrain
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true, its shame and reproach gladly bear, then He’ll call me some day to my home far away, where His glory forever I’ll share.
Refrain

Dismissal-assisting minister
Go in peace. Believe the good news.
Thanks be to God.

Postlude “postludium and Fughetta in E Minor”

Fischer

The congregation will be going out to eat at Pancho Villa in Granite Falls after the service today. Everyone is invited to this meal even if you were unable to sign up on the sheet.

The altar flowers are given to the Glory of God and in
memory of Susan Woodie & Willie Woodie by
Marc Woodie

The sanctuary lamp is given to the Glory of God and in memory of Barry Cline by Karan Cline

Sunday Servants February 22nd
Assisting Minister...............................................................................David Hartmann
Lay Reader……………………………............................................……...Kelly Taylor
Ushers ………………......................................................Art Chaffee & James McGee
Greeter......................................................................................................Dot Fairchild
Acolyte………………..…………................................................................Leah Isley
Crucifer....................................................................................................Marc Woodie
Tabulators………………....................................................Marc Woodie & Leah Isley
Altar Guild……..............……….....................................................Ron & Lisa Herman
Presenters....................................................................................Harold & Judy Smith
Children’s Message.................................................................................Katie Hamann

This Week’s Opportunities
Sunday 9:00 a.m. Sunday School
10:00 a.m. Worship
Congregational Meal at Pancho Villa~After service
Monday
Tuesday 10:00 a.m. Staff Meeting
5:00 p.m. Girl Scouts
Wednesday 10:00 a.m. Quilting
Thursday 6:00 p.m. Al-Afam
Friday Church Office Closed
7:00 p.m. AA
*Please note that AA has changed their meeting start
time. They now meet from 7:00 –8:00 p.m.*
Saturday 10:00 a.m. Al-Anon

Glory to you, O Lord.

Lord God, our strength, the struggle between good and evil rages within and around us, and the devil and all the forces that defy you tempt us with empty promises. Keep us steadfast in your word, and when we fall, raise us again and restore us through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

After the Epiphany#

Sunday ##