Sunday Focus

22nd February 2026

1st Sunday in Lent

 

Welcome to this weeks Sunday Focus, we pray you will be blessed.

In Church we are celebrating 100 years of Thinking Day along with all the guiding units of Coldstream.

Please remember the girls and their leaders in your prayers.

Hymn - Lead us Heavenly Father Lead us

 

Song -  You Chose The Cross

 

Prayer of confession

God of Mercy
we confess that we have sinned against You
in our thinking
in our speaking
in our action an inaction word, and deed.
We have not loved ourselves, our neighbours or You
with our whole heart and mind and strength.
In Your mercy forgive what we have been,
and redirect what we shall be,
so that we may live fully in Your will
and walk humbly in Your ways,
to the glory of Your holy name.
Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

 

 

Song - You are My Hiding Place

 

Reading

 

Matthew 4:1-11

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for 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 splendour; 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.

  Song -  Rock of Ages

 

Tender God,
Your love is unconditional.
Wider, deeper and truer than we can ever fully know.
For those of us who find it hard to accept ourselves,
hear our prayer.

Compassionate God,
for those of us who feel stretched and tired
and whose lives are strained and stressed,
hear our prayer.

Merciful God,
for those of us holding onto life by our fingertips,
or whose grip upon life is fragile,
hear our prayer.

Healing God,
for those of us whose illness makes us vulnerable,
or leaves us isolated,
hear our prayer.

Loving God,
For those of us whose journey is chaotic or find ourselves in turmoil,
hear our prayer.

Caring God,
For those of us whose calling is to journey with and care for others,
hear our prayer.

Eternal God,
in Your infinite mercy
hear our prayers.
Amen

 

 

The Lord's Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen. 

 

 

Song - His Mercy is More

 

 God, send us out into Your world
to be a people who choose Your way of love.
Whether we go into a garden or wilderness
we go with You.

May we discern what will help and what will harm,
empowered to nurture and not neglect.
Help us to live as Your people
choosing to turn toward love each and every day.
Amen