The Lessons Appointed for Use on the
First Sunday in Lent
Year B BCP

Genesis 9:8-17
1 Peter 3:18-22
Mark 1:9-13
Psalm 25 or 25:3-9

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 for ever. Amen.

Genesis 9:8-17

God said to Noah and to his sons with him, "As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth." God said, "This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth."

Psalm 25 or 25:3-9 Page 614, BCP

Ad te, Domine, levavi

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.

1 Peter 3:18-22

Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you-- not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

Mark 1:9-13

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.

The Collects, Psalms and Canticles are from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979.

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