First Sunday in Lent

Collect
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 thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

First Lesson: Genesis 9:8-17
Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: "I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you--the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you--every living creature on earth. I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth."

And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."

So God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth."

Second Lesson: 1 Peter 3:18-22
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand--with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

Psalm: 25

1. To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;
   my God, I put my trust in you; *
   let me not be humiliated,
   nor let my enemies triumph over me.
2. Let none who look to you be put to shame; *
   let the treacherous be disappointed in their schemes.
3. Show me your ways, O LORD, *
   and teach me your paths.
4. Lead me in your truth and teach me, *
   for you are the God of my salvation;
   in you have I trusted all the day long.
5. Remember, O LORD, your compassion and love, *
   for they are from everlasting.
6. Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions; *
   remember me according to your love
   and for the sake of your goodness, O LORD.
7. Gracious and upright is the LORD; *
   therefore he teaches sinners in his way.
8. He guides the humble in doing right *
   and teaches his way to the lowly.
9. All the paths of the LORD are love and faithfulness *
   to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
10. For your Name's sake, O LORD, *
    forgive my sin, for it is great.
11. Who are they who fear the LORD? *
    he will teach them the way that they should choose.
12. They shall dwell in prosperity, *
    and their offspring shall inherit the land.
13. The LORD is a friend to those who fear him *
    and will show them his covenant.
14. My eyes are ever looking to the LORD, *
    for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.
15. Turn to me and have pity on me, *
    for I am left alone and in misery.
16. The sorrows of my heart have increased; *
    bring me out of my troubles.
17. Look upon my adversity and misery *
    and forgive me all my sin.
18. Look upon my enemies, for they are many, *
    and they bear a violent hatred against me.
19. Protect my life and deliver me; *
    let me not be put to shame, for I have trusted in you.
20. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, *
    for my hope has been in you.
21. Deliver Israel, O God, *
    out of all his troubles.

Gospel: Mark 1:9-13
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

Collect & Psalm from the Book of Common Prayer
Other excerpts from the New International Bible

Sts. Vidicon & Isidore