Lent-1 (Yr A) February 22, 2026

 

 

 

 

The prelude is a time for preparation for worship.

 As we enter the sanctuary, let us prepare through quiet prayer and meditation.

 

 

The service is being livestreamed and recorded and will be available on our Facebook page and on YouTube.

The People’s responses are in bold type, and directions are italicized.

 

As a courtesy to others, please silence your cell phone.

 

Have compassion on those on our Parish Prayer List: Barbara, Ginny, Hayward, Ann, George, Patricia, Jim, Mary-Anna, Wayne, Judy, Juanita, Rob, Susan, and the Darnell family; and for all who suffer from any grief or trouble;

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer—The Church of Ireland.

In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer—Calvary in Clifton, St. Christopher in Fairborn, and St. Paul in Greenville.

In our Parish Cycle of Prayer—we pray for Tony & Kendall Rubino; Megan Rubino, Adam & Addison Oiler; and Jim & Judy Rudd.

 

Welcome/Prayer

Prelude:

The Great Litany                                Book of Common Prayer, pgs. #148-154

 

O God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth,
Have mercy upon us.

O God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy upon us.

O God the Holy Ghost, Sanctifier of the faithful,
Have mercy upon us.

O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, one God,
Have mercy upon us.

Remember not, Lord Christ, our offenses, nor the offenses of our forefathers; neither reward us according to our sins. Spare us, good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood, and by thy mercy preserve us, for ever.
Spare us, good Lord.

From all evil and wickedness; from sin; from the crafts and assaults of the devil; and from everlasting damnation,
Good Lord, deliver us.

From all blindness of heart; from pride, vainglory, and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred, and malice; and from all want of charity,

Good Lord, deliver us.

From all inordinate and sinful affections; and from all the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil,

Good Lord, deliver us.

From all false doctrine, heresy, and schism; from hardness of heart, and contempt of thy Word and commandment,

Good Lord, deliver us.

 

From lightning and tempest; from earthquake, fire, and flood; from plague, pestilence, and famine,

Good Lord, deliver us.

From all oppression, conspiracy, and rebellion; from violence, battle, and murder; and from dying suddenly and unprepared,

Good Lord, deliver us.

By the mystery of thy holy Incarnation; by thy holy Nativity and submission to the Law; by thy Baptism, Fasting, and Temptation,

Good Lord, deliver us.

By thine Agony and Bloody Sweat; by thy Cross and Passion; by thy precious Death and Burial; by thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension; and by the Coming of the Holy Ghost,

Good Lord, deliver us.

In all time of our tribulation; in all time of our prosperity; in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment,

Good Lord, deliver us.

We sinners do beseech thee to hear us, O Lord God; and that it may please thee to rule and govern thy holy Church Universal in the right way,

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to illumine all bishops, priests, and deacons, with true knowledge and understanding of thy Word; and that both by their preaching and living, they may set it forth, and show it accordingly,

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to bless and keep all thy people,

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to send forth laborers into thy harvest, and to draw all mankind into thy kingdom,

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to give to all people increase of grace to hear and receive thy Word, and to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit,

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to bring into the way of truth all such as have erred, and are
deceived,

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to give us a heart to love and fear thee, and diligently to live after thy commandments,

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee so to rule the hearts of thy servants of this nation, and all others in authority, that they may do justice, and love mercy, and walk in the ways of truth,

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

 

That it may please thee to make wars to cease in all the world; to give to all nations unity, peace, and concord; and to bestow freedom upon all peoples,

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

 

That it may please thee to show thy pity upon all prisoners and captives, the
homeless and the hungry, and all who are desolate and oppressed,

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to give and preserve to our use the bountiful fruits of the earth, so that in due time all may enjoy them,

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to inspire us, in our several callings, to do the work which thou givest us to do with singleness of heart as thy servants, and for the common good,

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to preserve all who are in danger by reason of their labor or their travel,

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to preserve, and provide for, all women in childbirth, young
children and orphans, the widowed, and all whose homes are broken or torn by strife,

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to visit the lonely; to strengthen all who suffer in mind, body, and spirit; and to comfort with thy presence those who are failing and infirm,

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to support, help, and comfort all who are in danger,
necessity, and tribulation,

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to have mercy upon all mankind,

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to give us true repentance; to forgive us all our sins,
negligences, and ignorances; and to endue us with the grace of thy Holy Spirit to amend our lives according to thy holy Word,

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and to turn their hearts,

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to strengthen such as do stand; to comfort and help the weak-hearted; to raise up those who fall; and finally to beat down Satan under our feet,

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to grant to all the faithful departed eternal life and peace,

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please thee to grant that, in the fellowship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Blessed Paul, and all the saints, we may attain to thy heavenly kingdom,

We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

 

 

The Collect of the Day

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.

 

Please be seated.

 

 

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

 

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; 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.”

     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 the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; 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.’“ But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 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. 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.

 

Reader      The Word of the Lord.
People       Thanks be to God.

 

 

The Response: Psalm 32

 

1 Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, *
and whose sin is put away!

 

2 Happy are they to whom the Lord imputes no guilt, *
and in whose spirit there is no guile!

 

3 While I held my tongue, my bones withered 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 conceal my guilt.

 

6 I said,” I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” *
Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin.

 

7 Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in time of trouble; *
when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them.

 

8 You are my hiding-place; you preserve me from trouble; *
you surround me with shouts of deliverance.

 

9 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go; *
I will guide you with my eye.

 

10 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.”

 

11 Great are the tribulations of the wicked; *
but mercy embraces those who trust in the Lord.

 

12 Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord; *
shout for joy, all who are true of heart.

 

 

Second Reading: Romans 5:12-19

 

As sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned– sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. Yet death
exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come.

     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 free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

     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. For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

 

Reader      The Word of the Lord.

People       Thanks be to God.

 

Please stand

 

Gospel Hymn:  LEVAS Hymn #170    Yield not to temptation

 

1. Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin;
Each vict’ry will help you some other to win;
Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue;
Look ever to Jesus, He will carry you through.

 

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

 

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 will carry you through.

Refrain:

 

3. To him that o’ercometh, God giveth a crown,
Through faith we will conquer, though often cast down;
He who is our Savior, our strength will renew;
Look ever to Jesus, He will carry you through.

Refrain:

 

 

The Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11

 

Celebrant    The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
     People    Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards 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 splendor; and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 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.

 

 

Homily                                                                   The Rev. Jean Vargo

 

 

Installation of Vestry

All stand as they are able.

 

 

The 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.
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.

 

The Peace
Leader      The Peace of the Lord be always with you.
People      And also with you.

 

The Offertory – The Ushers collect the offering at this time.

 

Please stand as the offerings are brought to the altar.

 

Offertory Hymn: #593     Lord, make us servants of your peace

 

1  Lord, make us servants of your peace:

    where there is hate, may we sow love;

    where there is hurt, may we forgive;

    where there is strife, may we make one.

 

2  Where all is doubt, may we sow faith;

    where all is gloom, may we sow hope;

    where all is night, may we sow light;

    where all is tears, may we sow joy.

 

3  Jesus, our Lord, may we not seek

    to be consoled, but to console,

    nor look to understanding hearts,

    but look for hearts to understand.

 

4  May we not look for love’s return,

    but seek to love unselfishly,

    for in our giving we receive,

    and in forgiving are forgiven.

 

5  Dying, we live, and are reborn

    through death’s dark night to endless day:

    Lord, make us servants of your peace,

    to wake at last in heaven’s light.

 

 

Presentation Hymn: #142 (vs. 3)

 

Lord, who throughout these forty days
As thou didst hunger bear and thirst,
so teach us, gracious Lord, to die to self,
and chiefly live by thy most holy word.

 

The Holy Communion

The Great Thanksgiving
Eucharistic Prayer A, Book of Common Prayer, p. 361

 

Celebrant      The Lord be with you.
     People      And also with you.
Celebrant      Lift up your hearts.
     People      We lift them up to the Lord.
Celebrant      Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
     People      It is right to give him thanks and praise.

 

The Celebrant proceeds
     It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
     Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who was tempted in every way as we are, yet did not sin. By his grace we are able to triumph over every evil, and to live no longer for our-selves alone, but for him who died and rose again.
     Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

 

Celebrant and People

 

Sanctus: LEVAS #256

 

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

 

 

The Celebrant continues
     Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself; and when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.
     He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.
     On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread: and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
     After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

 

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:

 

Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.

 

The Celebrant continues
     We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts.  Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom.

     All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ. By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever.  Amen.

 

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

 

The Lord’s Prayer, BCP p. 364

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,

  for ever and ever. Amen.

 

 

The Breaking of the Bread, BCP pg. 364

 

Communion Hymn: Hymn #147                Now let us sing with one accord

 

1  Now let us all with one accord,

        in company with ages past,

    keep vigil with our heavenly Lord

        in his temptation and his fast.

 

2  The covenant, so long revealed

        to those of faith in former time,

    Christ by his own example sealed,

        the Lord of love, in love sublime.

 

3  Your love, O Lord, our sinful race

        has not returned, but falsified;

    author of mercy, turn your face

        and grant repentance for our pride.

 

4  Remember, Lord, though frail we be,

        in your own image were we made;

    help us, lest in anxiety,

        we cause your Name to be betrayed.

 

5  Therefore, we pray you, Lord, forgive;

        so when our wanderings here shall cease,

    we may with you for ever live,

        in love and unity and peace.

 

 

Please stand or kneel

 

Post Communion Prayer, BCP, pg. 366

 

Celebrant     Let us pray.

Celebrant and People

Almighty and everliving God,

we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food

of the most precious Body and Blood

of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ;

and for assuring us in these holy mysteries

that we are living members of the Body of your Son,

and heirs of your eternal kingdom.

And now, Father, send us out

to do the work you have given us to do,

to love and serve you

as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord.

to him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit,

be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

 

Solemn Lenten Prayer

Celebrant      Bow down before the Lord.  (the people kneel)

The Celebrant says the solemn Prayer over the People:

Look down in mercy, Lord, on your people who kneel before you: and grant that those whom you have nourished by your Word and Sacraments may bring forth fruit worthy of repentance; through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

Recessional: Hymn #448             Oh love, how deep, how broad, how high (vs. 1-3,6)

 

1 O love, how deep, how broad, how high,

   how passing thought and fantasy,

   that God, the Son of God, should take

   our mortal form for mortals’ sake.

 

2 For us baptized, for us he bore

   his holy fast and hungered sore;

   for us temptations sharp he knew;

   for us the tempter overthrew.

 

3 For us he prayed; for us he taught;

   for us his daily works he wrought:

   by words and signs and actions, thus

   still seeking not himself, but us.

 

6 All glory to our Lord and God

   for love so deep, so high, so broad;

   the Trinity whom we adore

   for ever and for evermore.

 

The Dismissal

Celebrant Go in peace, to love and serve the Lord.

People Thanks be to God.

Postlude:  

 

READINGS and MINISTRY SCHEDULE

 

February 22, 2026 — The First Sunday in Lent

Holy Eucharist at 11:30am

 

Celebrant: The Rev. Jean Vargo

Organist: Barbara Acker-Mills

Acolyte: Lizzie Reuter

Lay Readers: Jackie Hoskinson, Carol Williamson

Chalicists: Kendall Rubino, Carol Williamson

Tech & Facebook Live: Dave Reuter, Katherine Wagner

Ushers: Wayne Harper, Jim Rudd

Counters: Janet Reuter, Kendall Rubino

Open/Close: Wagner/Reuter

February Altar Guild: Katherine Wagner, Elizabeth Wagner-Weber

 

March 1, 2026

The Second Sunday in Lent—Holy Eucharist at 11:30am

 

Readings:

 

Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7  Psalm 32

Romans 5:12-19  Matthew 4:1-11

 

Celebrant: The Rev. Jean Vargo

Organist: Barbara Acker-Mills

Acolyte: Gabriel Walch

Lay Readers: Jim Rudd, Laura Leach

Chalicists: Don Nancarrow, Jim Rudd

Tech & Facebook Live: Gary Welch, Katherine Wagner

Ushers: Dave Reuter, Jim Rudd

Counters: Sandy Bultman, Carol Nancarrow

Open/Close: Wagner/Rubino

March Altar Guild: Welch Family & Janet Reuter