CHRIST CONGREGATIONAL

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

 

FEBRUARY 22, 2026 – 11:00 a.m.

FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT

CHURCH VOCATIONS SUNDAY/SEMINARY SUNDAY

 

Preparation for worship

“Opportunity may know only once, but temptation leans on the doorbell.” — (Author Unknown)

 

🌷Today’s flowers are in celebration of

Karen & Dan Kett’s 38^th Anniversary!

 

The Rev. Candace Thomas, Pastor

Jay Harragin, Director of Music

Graham Bryan, Church Moderator/ Musician

Anita Smith, Liturgist

Jack Smith, Usher

Kevin Salas, Audio/ Visual Technical director

 

 

14920 Southwest 67^th Avenue, Palmetto Bay, Florida 33158

www.christcongregationalucc.org

office@christcongregationalucc.org | 305.235.9381

 

*Indicates please stand if comfortably able

 

Order of Service:

GATHERING MUSIC

 

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

PRELUDE

 

*LIGHTING OF THE PEACE CANDLE

Leader: The Light shines in the Darkness

All: And the darkness cannot put out the light!

 

*WORLD PEACE PRAYER (Unison)

Lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth,

Lead us from despair to hope, from fear to trust.

Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace.

Let peace fill our heart, our world, our universe. Amen.

 

 

* CALL TO WORSHIP  (Responsive)

Leader: Then the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness.

 

People: Come, beloveds, into the wilderness of our heartbreaking and troubled days.

 

L: In the midst of our hunger for comfort, provoked by lies of scarcity,

 

P: This Lent journey promises bread and abundance.

 

L: In the midst of our longing for safety, enticed by promises of security,

 

P: this Lent journey promises angels and costly solidarity.

 

L: In the midst of our clinging to power, lured by the ease of complicity,

 

P: this Lent journey promises prayer and turning around.

 

L: The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness.

 

ALL: Come, beloveds, to worship, venturing deeper and deeper into the wilderness of our broken and beautiful world.

*HYMN:        “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”          (No. 25, NCH)

 

 

Verse 1

O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.

 

Verse 2

Under the shadow of your throne your saints have dwelt secure; Sufficient is your arm alone, and our defense is sure.

 

Verse 3

Before the hills in order stood or earth received its frame, From everlasting you are God, to endless years the same.

 

Verse 4

A thousand ages in your sight are like an evening gone, Short as the watch that ends the night before the rising sun.

 

Verse 5

Time, like an ever rolling stream, soon bears us all away; We fly forgotten, as a dream fades at the opening day.

 

Verse 6

O God, our help is ages past, our hope for years to come, Still be our God while troubles last, and our eternal home!

 

 

THE COMMANDMENT OF JESUS (John 15:5, 12)

I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

 

 

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION  (Unison)

In the wilderness and the wandering and the weariness, lead us, Holy Spirit.

In the hungering and the holding and the humbling, accompany us, Holy Spirit.

In the tempting and the testing and the turning, move us, Holy Spirit.

In the resisting and the refusing and the recognizing, guide us, Holy Spirit. Ground in us, as we ground in you.

Breathe with us, as we breathe with you.

Turn with us, as we turn toward you.

As the new way emerges, we pray. Amen.

 

 

SCRIPTURE LESSON:              Matthew 4:1-11       NRSV

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, One does not live by bread alone,

but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 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.’ ”

Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written,

‘Worship the Lord your God,

and serve only him.’ ”

Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

 

 

SPECIAL MUSIC          “Yonder Come Day”

 

 

PRAYER FOR TRANSFORMATION AND NEW LIFE  (Responsive)

Leader: For the ways our faith has told unchristian stories of Christian nationalism, and the ways they shape us,

 

All: God, have mercy.

 

Leader: For the ways our scriptures have told unjust stories of white supremacy, and the ways we perpetuate them,

All: Christ, have mercy.

 

Leader: For the ways our traditions have told unloving stories of transphobia and stranger-fear, and the ways we have embodied them,

 

All: God, have mercy.

 

Leader: Compel us to learn and tell the truths of our Christian lineages.

 

All: Turn us around, Holy One. Amen.

 

 

WORDS OF GRACE – Pastor Candy

Let your soul receive this rest:

God’s story of love surpasses even the most powerful human distortions.

Praise God who forgives us and frees us

continually inviting us to take up our role

in the unfolding story of redemption and new life. Amen.

 

 

SHARING OUR JOYS AND CONCERNS

 

 

PRAYER SONG          “Hear Our Prayer, O God”      (No. 769, NCH)

 

Hear our prayer, O God, hear our prayer, O God; incline your ear to us, and grant us your peace.

 

TIME OF SILENT MEDITATION 

(You are invited to open your heart to the movement of the Holy Spirit).

 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

 

THE PRAYER OF JESUS (Unison)

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, now and forever. Amen. 

 

 

INVITATION TO GENEROSITY– Pastor Candy

The season of Lent invites us to take stock of and deepen our spiritual practices. How might God be inviting you to deepen your spiritual practice of generosity in this season? Let us offer whatever gifts we have to resist the tempter’s lies of scarcity and turn toward abundant life and flourishing for all.

 

 

MUSICAL OFFERING           “Like a Mighty Stream”

 

 

PRAYER OF DEDICATION AND THANKSGIVING (Unison)

Jesus resisted the tempter’s lies of scarcity by remembering we do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Amen.

 

 

*HYMN        “Yield Not to Temptation” (adapted)

 

Verse 1

Yield not to temptation, For yielding is sin; Each vict’ry will help you some other to win; Fight prayerfully onward, Dark passion subdue; Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.

 

Chorus

Ask the Savior to help you, Comfort, strengthen, and keep you; He is willing to aid you, He will carry you through.

 

Verse 2

Shun evil companions, Bad language disdain; God’s name hold in rev’rence, Nor take it in vain; Be thoughtful and earnest, Kindhearted and true; Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.

 

Chorus

Ask the Savior to help you, Comfort, strengthen, and keep you; He is willing to aid you, He will carry you through.

Verse 3

To them that o’ercometh, God giveth a crown; Thro’ faith we will conquer, Tho’ often cast down; He who is our Savior, Our strength will renew; Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.

 

Chorus

Ask the Savior to help you, Comfort, strengthen, and keep you; He is willing to aid you, He will carry you through.

 

 

MESSAGE         “What’s Good About Temptation?”     

 

 

*HYMN        “Ask Me What Great Thing I Know”        (No. 49, NCH)

 

Verse 1

Ask me what great thing I know that delights and stirs me so, What the high reward I win, whose the name I glory in: Jesus Christ, the crucified.

 

Verse 2

Who defeats my fiercest foes? Who consoles my saddest woes? Who revives my fainting heart, healing all that grief imparts? Jesus Christ, the crucified.

 

Verse 3

Who is life in life to me? Who the death of death will be? Who holds all my days secure, in God’s heart where love is sure? Jesus Christ, the crucified.

 

Verse 4

This is that great thing I know; this delights and stirs me so: Faith in Christ who died to save, Christ who triumphed o’er the grave, Jesus Christ, the crucified.

 

*COMMISSION- Pastor Candy

In the midst of our hunger for comfort,

provoked by lies of scarcity,

may this Lent journey bless us with bread and abundance.

In the midst of our longing for safety,

enticed by promises of security,

may this Lent journey bless us with angels and costly solidarity.

In the midst of our clinging to power,

lured by the ease of complicity,

may this Lent journey bless us with prayer and turning around. Amen.

 

*BENEDICTION

 

*POSTLUDE      

 _____________________________________________

 

Welcome to Everyone!

 

Whoever or whatever brought you to our Sanctuary or our Facebook or YouTube on-line worship service this morning, we believe that the Spirit of God had a hand in you joining us.  We hope that you feel the Holy Spirit in our service of prayer and praise. 

 

At Christ Congregational Church we strive to love one another as God has loved us and welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us.  Therefore, we are an Open and Affirming church, loving, and welcoming all people in all of God’s variety, including racial, ethnic, and economic diversity, gender diversity and expression, sexual orientation, and physical and mental abilities.

 

JOYS AND CONCERNS       Do you have joys or concerns you would like lifted in worship? Please call or text Pastor Candy at 925.640.9289 or email her at cccpastor@att.net by 10 am Sunday morning.

 

For Pastoral Care Needs, please call Pastor Candy at 925-640-9289 or you may call and leave a message with the Church Office, 305-235-9381.

 

ARE YOU CURIOUS ABOUT CCC? About the United Church of Christ? Pastor Candy would be happy to meet with you to talk about our Christian faith, your spiritual journey, and to discuss what church membership means. Please let her know if you’re interested!

 

REMEMBERED IN OUR CONTINUING PRAYERS

Jay Harrigan, Rita and Jack Smith, Tracy Williams, C. M. Chandler, Maggie McDowell, Joan Hansen, Amelia Canali, Karen Kett, Wally and Judy Carlson.

 

Please let Tracy Williams, Administrative Assistant at <office @christcongregationalucc.org> or Pastor Candy at <cccpastor@att.net> know if you’d like a name included on our Prayer List. It is a blessing to remember that others are praying for us and a blessing to pray for others.

 

ONLINE GIVING: We invite you to use our online giving option as a quick, simple, and secure method to make your pledges and any ancillary contributions.  Clicking on the “Give Online Today” button at the bottom of our weekly newsletter or by going to our website at https://christcongregationalucc.org  and clicking “Online giving.” You will be redirected to the secured Moon Clerk site which will allow you to enter your credit card information.

 

CHOIR PRACTICE takes place on Sundays at 10:00am. Like to sing? Join us!

 

CCC Women

Spiritual Spa Day will be held on Saturday, March 28 from 10:00-2:00, RSVP is required.

 

The Florida UCC Women are meeting in Parrish, Fl. from April 24-26.  If you are interested in attending, please let Joan Chandler know.

 

Outreach’s BLANKET THE WORLD IN LOVE 

Help Church World Service (CWS) provide blankets to the cold and needy with a $10 donation per blanket throughout February. 

 

Let’s cover our altar blankets with a heart for every donation! These can be made by cash, check or online (include “CWS” or “Blankets”).

 

Our Annual Congregational Meeting will be held here in the Sanctuary following worship today.

 

A time of celebrating the life of Dr. Dorothy (Dot) Thomas and sharing memories of her will be held on Sunday, March 8th at 3 p.m. in Kelsey Hall. Friends are invited to attend by her children Susan and Alan Thomas.

 

 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

February 22, 2026 to March 1, 2026

Today	10:00 am	Choir Practice
Today	11:00 am	Worship in the Sanctuary, also on Facebook Live & YouTube.
Today	12:30 pm	Annual Congregational Meeting
Mon. Feb. 23	6:30 pm	ZOOM Bible study. ID: 835 5486 8918
Wed. Feb. 25	6:30 pm	Chair Yoga in Kelsey Hall
Thurs. Feb. 26	7:00 pm	ZOOM Council Meeting ID: 691 735 4836
Sun. Mar. 1	10:00 am	Choir Practice
Sun. Mar. 1	11:00 am	Worship in the Sanctuary also on Facebook Live & YouTube.