2nd Sunday in Lent
Sunday, March 1, 2026
9 a.m. Worship
Prelude
Announcements
Confession & Forgiveness
Opening Song "Come to the Water”
Greeting
Kyrie ELW p, 203
Prayer of the Day
Reading: Genesis 12:1-4a
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. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Psalm 121 (verses will be read responsively)
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;
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.
Reading: Romans 4:1-5, 13-17
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. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Children's Message
Gospel Acclamation "We Are Turning, Lord, to Hear You" ELW p. 205
Gospel: John 3:1-17
The holy Gospel according to John, the 3rd chapter.
Glory to you, O Lord.
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.” The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon
Hymn of the Day "Come to the Water of Life" ACS 955
Apostles' Creed
Prayers of Intercession
Offering & Special Music: "Psalm 121" Choir
Offertory Hymn: “Create in Me a Clean Heart” ELW 186
Offertory Prayer
Great Thanksgiving
Words of Institution
Lord’s Prayer
Invitation to Communion
Communion Hymns: "Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross" ELW 335
"When I Survey the Wonderous Cross" ELW 803
Post Communion Blessing
Prayer after Communion
Sending Hymn: “God So Loved”
Dismissal
Adapted from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2026 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #014958
Weekly Calendar
Sunday, March 1—8:30 a.m. Kool Kids Bells (Spirit Center, 9 a.m.—Worship (Livestreamed), 10 a.m. Sunday School (begins in Sanctuary), Coffee Fellowship (Narthex), Grace Notes Bells (Spirit Center), 11 a.m. Worship (Traditional)
Tuesday, March 3—10:30 a.m. Bible Study (Narthex)
Wednesday, March 4— 1:30 p.m. Prayer Shawl Ministry (Parlor), 6 p.m. Lenten Supper (Fellowship Hall), 7 p.m. Lenten Worship (Sanctuary)
Thursday, March 5—6 p.m. Agape Bell Choir (Spirit Center), Carillon Bell Choir (Spirit Center)
Sunday, March 8—8:30 a.m. Kool Kids Bells (Spirit Center), 9 a.m.—Worship (Livestreamed), 10 a.m. Coffee Fellowship (Narthex), Sunday School (begins in sanctuary), Grace Notes Bells (Spirit Center), 11 a.m. Worship (Traditional), 2 p.m. Softball Game (Field # 1 at North Meck Park)
Announcements:
On Sunday, March 1st, we're excited to have Phil Whitley preach at the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. service. As you might've seen in the February newsletter, Phil is a part of the Synod's Advanced Lay Ministry Program. The primary role of Advanced Lay Ministries (ALM) is to prepare candidates to preach and lead worship in congregations who do not currently have a called pastor. One important element that remains for Phil’s multi-year ALM experience is preaching within a congregation. So, we’re thrilled to have Phil to have that experience at CIC on March 1st and 25th!
Have you joined CIC's new online photo directory yet? The directory is through a program called Church Center, which
is also an app. Follow the QR code to get started.
March Grocery Cart: This month we will be collecting items for Angels and Sparrows Community Table. This month we will be collecting canned corn, canned carrots, canned cannellini beans, Rotel, and Dijon mustard. When you’re grocery shopping this month please consider picking up some ramen and add to the CIC grocery cart. Your generosity continues to make a difference in the lives of many in and around our neighborhood.
Preschool Registration for 2026/2027: Tuitions for 2026/2027: $340.00 for 2-year-old classes, $310 for 3-year-old classes, $360.00
for 4-year-old & PK class and $370 for TK class. There is an $85 non refundable registration fee.
-
Priority Registration Begins January, 20 for currently enrolled students, siblings and church members. Open registration is open to the public February 2, 2026. Questions? Contact Morgan Naum at preschooldirector@communityinchrist.net to learn more!
Happy Times Seniors: It's the Wearin' O' the Green! St. Patrick's Day themed lunch get together on Wednesday, March 18, at 11:30 a.m. at Fresh Chef in Huntersville! For questions and to RSVP contact Linda Muhlbach at 704-905-5847 or lindamuhlbach@gmail.com
Prayer Shawl Ministry: We meet in the CIC Parlor Room on Wednesday afternoons from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Join us for some fellowship, idea-sharing, and fun! Questions? Contact Kathy Dutton at mamabissy@gmail.com. Of course, you can also participate in this important ministry at home by crafting items, and bringing them to CIC.
Card Ministry: We’ll be meeting Tuesday, March 10th, at 2:00 p.m. and Tuesday, March 24th, at 6:30 p.m. in Classroom One. Participants are asked to enter through the doors nearest the Spirit Center. If you would like information contact: Kathy Shugarman at shugs02@gmail.com or 940-300-2290.
Quilting Ministry: We will meet on Thursdays, March 12th & 26th, in Classroom 1@ 10:00 AM. Questions? Contact Barbara Eaker at 704-483-2060.
All women of CIC are welcome to The 5:11s. 1st Thessalonians 5:11, we are a women’s group that “encourages one
another and builds one another up, just as you are doing.” We meet monthly between services to discuss ways we can
continue to encourage and build each other up and support our church. Contact Tracy Lyon (vikingtk@hotmail.com) or
Susan Kullstam (skulls01@me.com) with any questions.
-
Please refer to the newsletter for ways to connect with this group.
-
See the March newsletter for information about the Women's Retreat - April 24-26.
-
The next meeting is on March 15 between services in the Fellowship Hall
Men’s Group: CIC’s Men’s Group has a fun and unique opportunity coming up on March 19th to participate in Charlotte’s new “Game Show Challenge.” Our escapades will not, unfortunately, be televised but we will certainly have a great time at the GSC in Uptown. For those who would like to carpool, we’ll meet at CIC at 5:10pm and head to Moo & Brew for dinner before GSC at 6:45pm. The cost for GSC is $40. Please register HERE or by e-mailing Pastor Michael.
CIC Softball! Come cheer the team on! Here is the March schedule—check your calendars! Our first game is Sunday, March 8th, at 2:00 p.m. on Field #1 at North Meck Park on Old Statesville Road. March 15th is a double header with a game at 3 p.m. & 4 p.m. in Field #2. March 22nd is at 2 p.m. in Field #1 and March 29th is another double header with games at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. in Field #2. All games are at North Meck Park on Old Statesville Road. If you have any questions, please see Paul Miller (p.k.miller1@gmail.com) or Pastor Michael.
A VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL ADVENTURE - SNOWBALL MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE - “FIND YOUR STRENGTH IN GOD!”
July 26 –July 30, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. More details and Registration Information will be in the April Newsletter. Save the date for this amazing adventure. Please contact Suzi Hinrichs or Kathy Shugarman with questions suzihinrichs@gmail.com or shugs02@gmail.com
It's almost March Madness Time! If you're the least bit interested in college basketball, you're strongly encouraged to participate in CIC's NCAA Men's & Women’s Basketball Bracket Challenge. What is a “bracket challenge?”— In mid-March, tournament brackets will be created by a selection committee. Within those brackets, you will then pick who you think will win every potential match-up (and don’t worry, your guess is as good as anyone’s…in fact, most of our brackets will be more accurate than the analysts on ESPN). It really is as simple as that. Your strategy for picking a winner can be based on seedings, team preferences, mascots, the flipping of a coin… As the tournament goes along, we'll rank who has made the most accurate picks. The challenge is just for fun as well as for bragging rights. The intent is to have a simple and enjoyable activity that EVERYONE can participate in. Stay posted for the bracket details as we get closer to the release of the brackets!
