SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT
SUNDAY, MARCH 1ST, 2026​

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INTRODUCTION​

During Lent we journey with all those around the world who will be baptized at the
     Easter Vigil. In today’s gospel Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be born of
     water and Spirit. At the font we are a given a new birth as children of God. As
     God made a covenant with Abraham, in baptism God promises to raise us up with
     Christ to new life. From worship we are sent forth to proclaim God’s love for all the world.

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PRAYER OF THE DAY

O God, our leader and guide, in the waters of baptism you bring us to new birth to
     live as your children. Strengthen our faith in your promises, that by your Spirit we
     may lift up your life to all the world through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and
     Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.​

FIRST READING

GENESIS 12:1-4a
God’s call of Abram and Sarai has a clear purpose—that through them all the
     families of the earth would gain a blessing. As they set out on their journey, they
     are accompanied by promises of land, nation, and a great reputation.

1 The Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your
     father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation,
     and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I
     will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse, and in
     you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

     4a So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him.​

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PSALM

PSALM 121
(Response) I lift up my eyes to the hills; my help comes from the Lord. (Ps. 121:1, 2)

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills;
from where is my help to come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth.
3 The Lord will not let your foot be moved
nor will the one who watches over you fall asleep.
4 Behold, the keeper of Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep;
(Response) I lift up my eyes to the hills; my help comes from the Lord. (Ps. 121:1, 2)

5 the Lord watches over you;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will preserve you from all evil
and will keep your life.
8 The Lord will watch over your going out and your coming in,
from this time forth forevermore.
(Response) I lift up my eyes to the hills; my help comes from the Lord. (Ps. 121:1, 2)

SECOND READING

ROMANS 4:1-5, 13-17
In the person and example of Abraham we discover that a right relationship with
     God does not involve earning a reward from God but entails trusting God’s
     promises. Abraham is the forebear and model for both Jews and Gentiles,
     because we too trust that ours is a God who gives life to the dead.

1 What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the
     flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about,
     but not before God. 3 For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God,
     and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to one who works, wages
     are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. 5 But to one who does not work
     but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.

     13 For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to
     his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if it
     is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.
     15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law, neither is there transgression.

     16 For this reason the promise depends on faith, in order that it may rest on
     grace, so that it may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the
     adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (who is the
     father of all of us, 17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many
     nations”), in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the
     dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.​

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​​​​GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
The Son of Man must be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. (John 3:14-15)

GOSPEL READING

JOHN 3:1-17
A curious Pharisee visits Jesus by night to learn from the teacher his friends
     reject. Jesus speaks to him about life in the Spirit and the kingdom of God.

1 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came
     to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who
     has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with
     that person.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the
     kingdom of God without being born from above.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How
     can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into
     the mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no
     one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What
     is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be
     astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ 8 The wind blows
     where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it
     comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
     9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him,
     “Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

     11 “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have
     seen, yet you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly
     things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly
     things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended
     from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the
     wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him
     may have eternal life.

     16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who
     believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

     17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in
     order that the world might be saved through him.”

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LICENSES & EXPIRATION DATES
Worship Service Content is used via permission through Augsburg Fortress Liturgies

Annual License #SB144368. The next Subscription Renewal Date is 2/28/2027.
Our Hymns and Worship Music are used via permission through CCLI One
License #11327166. The next Subscription Renewal Date is 1/31/2027.

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​SERMONS​
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