Our covenant relationship to God through Jesus.

Collect: Fifth Sunday in Lent

Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Jeremiah 31:31-34. . . The prophet Jeremiah tells us that God looks forward to a new relationship with God’s people—a relationship of intimacy, forgiveness and faithfulness.

Psalm 51:1-13. . .  A prayer from a broken Spirit

or

Psalm 119:9-16 . . .  Song of a  Pilgrim

Hebrews 5:5-10 . . . The author of Hebrews describes the action of God that makes this relationship possible: through his suffering and submission, Jesus becomes the source of our salvation

John 12:20-33 . . .  the final chapter in Jesus’ suffering and submission begins as Jesus faces his crucifixion.

Sermon by   Dr. Amy K. Butler, Senior Minister of the Riverside Church in New York City, preaches a sermon from John 12:22-30 called, “Celebrity Sighting.” She says, “Once I had dinner in the very same restaurant where Bruce Springsteen was having dinner with his family. My friends asked the maitre d’ if we could sneak a peek, but alas–no luck. We didn’t have an ‘in’ like the Greeks did, who told Philip (a Greek name) that they wished to see Jesus.”

Celebrate God’s mercy

Collect: Fourth Sunday in Lent

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Numbers 21:4-9 . . . God delivers the people from poisonous serpents.

Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 . . . The Mystery of God’s Limitless Mercy

Ephesians 2:1-10 . . . God has graciously done it all, lifting us out of sin’s grave and preparing us to do good works.

John 3:14-21 . . . Jesus is God’s gift to us, the ultimate expression of God’s mercy and love.

Sermon by  Fr Bill Cieslak of the Franciscan Renewal Center

Nicodemus’ Search for the ‘Soul of Theology‘ by Fr. Thomas Rosica

An invitation to a renewed commitment to our covenant relationship with God

Collect: Third Sunday in Lent[i]

Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen

Exodus 20:1-17;  . . . the Ten Commandments become the standard of life for God’s people.

Psalm 19 . . . A Hymn To the Universe

1 Corinthians 1:18-25 . . . Paul assures his Corinthian community that their commitment to Christ, though foolish to the world, is the powerful core of Christian faith.

John 2:13-22 . . . Jesus’ passionate love for God ignites his anger against those who treat God’s house with disrespect.

Sermon on the Ten Commandments,  Rev. Fr. Chito Dimaranan SDB

Sermon on the Gospel, by Carla Pratt Keyes, Pastor of Ginter Park Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Virginia, preaches a sermon called “When Jesus Found His ‘Why‘,”

Trust in God’s faithfulness

Collect: Second Sunday in Lent

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from thy ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of thy Word, Jesus Christ thy Son; who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Genesis 17:1-7. . .  God affirms his faithfulness to Abraham.

Psalm 22:22-30. . . The Cry of the Forsaken

Romans 4:13-25. . . Paul appeals to Abraham as an example of justification by faith not works.

Mark 8:31-38. . . Jesus speaks openly and unambiguously about his death.  So, what does it mean to pick up one’s cross and follow? Is to boldly walk in love in the midst of sin, fear or whatever obstacle to God?

Sermon by Jim Somerville, Pastor of Richmond’s First Baptist Church and Co-Founder of A Sermon for Every Sunday, preaches his most-requested sermon, “The Class of ’77,”

God’s promise of continuing relationship

Collect: First Sunday in Lent

 Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the spirit to be tempted of Satan: Make speed to help thy servants who are assaulted by manifold temptations; and as thou knowest their several infirmities, let each one find thee mighty to save; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Genesis 9:8-17 . . . life begins anew, sealed by God’s promise to all creatures and confirmed by the rainbow

Psalm 25: 1-9 . . .  help us find a path that leads through the vicissitudes of life towards You, Lord

1 Peter 3:18-22 . . . we are saved through the cleansing water of baptism

Mark 1:9-15 . . . Jesus’ 40 days of temptation in the wilderness end with the proclamation of God’s good news

Father Michael Renninger, Pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Richmond, Virginia, preaches a sermon from Mark 1:9-15 called, “Satan Had a Problem.”

Rev, Grace Imathiu,  Pastor of Community United Methodist Church in Naperville, Illinois, and an international speaker.  Her sermon,    from Mark 1:9-15,  called “In Those Days.”