4th Sunday in Lent

Scriptures:   Psalm 107:1-3,17-22; Ephesians 2:1-10

Psalm 107

1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

 for his steadfast love endures forever.

2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,

 those he redeemed from trouble

3 and gathered in from the lands,

 from the east and from the west,

 from the north and from the south.

17 Some were sick through their sinful ways

 and because of their iniquities endured affliction;

18 they loathed any kind of food,

 and they drew near to the gates of death.

19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,

 and he saved them from their distress;

20 he sent out his word and healed them

 and delivered them from destruction.

21 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,

 for his wonderful works to humankind.

22 And let them offer thanksgiving sacrifices

 and tell of his deeds with songs of joy.

Ephesians 2:1-10

2 You were dead through the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. 3 All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, doing the will of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else, 4 but God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— 9 not the result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we may walk in them.