A  familiar cycle of temptation: fall, forgiveness and empowerment.

Collect: First Sunday in Lent

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 forever. Amen

Genesis: 2:15-17; 3:1-7. . .  Adam and Eve, have been given all good things from God and craved more and gave in to temptation.

Psalm 32 . . . The Deep Peace in Forgiveness

Romans 5:12-19 . . . Paul announces that the gift of grace in Jesus Christ overcomes the condemnation of sin.

Matthew 4:1-11 . . . Jesus sees through the tempter’s lures and resists, using the power of God’s word.

A Lecture: “Exile and Return: the scripture and the human condition” by Geoffrey Plant.

A Sermon: “Temptation” Dr. Tracy Hartman, Daniel O.  Aleshire Professor of homiletic and Practical Theology at the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, gives an unusual spin to the story of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness.