Holy Cross Lutheran Church

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)

7901 Westview Dr. Houston, TX 77055 Tel. 713-686-8253

Website: www.holycross.us e-mail: hclc@holycross.us 713-686-8254

Rev. Jim Berggren February 22, 2026 First Sunday in Lent

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WORSHIP SERVICE

PRELUDE

GATHERING SONG O Lord, throughout These Forty Days ELW 319

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

P: In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen.

P: God of all mercy and consolation, come to the help of your people, turning us from our sin to live for you alone. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit that we may confess our sin, receive your forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

C: Amen.

P: Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Most merciful God,

C: We confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

P: God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin, and made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved. In the name of V Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Almighty God strengthen you with power through the Holy Spirit, that Christ may live in your hearts through faith.

C: Amen.

PASTORAL GREETING

PRAYER OF THE DAY

P: The Lord be with you.

C: And also, with you.

P: Let us pray, together.

C: Lord God, our strength, the struggle between good and evil rages within and around us, and the evil and all the forces that defy you tempt us with empty promises. Keep us steadfast in your word, and when we fall, raise us again and restore us 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.

SCRIPTURE LESSONS

February 22, 2026 – First Sunday in Lent

FIRST READING: Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7

¹⁵ The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. ¹⁶ And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; ¹⁷ but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

The Fall

Now the serpent was craftier than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

² The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, ³ but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”

⁴ “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. ⁵ “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

⁶ When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. ⁷ Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

The word of the Lord.

Congregation response following the reading is: Thanks be to God!

THE PSALM Psalm 32

SECOND READING: Romans 5:12-19

Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ

¹² Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way, death came to all people, because all sinned—

¹³ To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. ¹⁴ Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.

¹⁵ But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! ¹⁶ Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. ¹⁷ For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

¹⁸ Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. ¹⁹ For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

The word of the Lord.

Congregation response following the reading is: Thanks be to God!

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: ELW Pg. 142

Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,

and abounding in steadfast love.

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 4:1-11

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ² After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ³ The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ⁶ “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

⁷ Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

⁸ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ⁹ “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

¹¹ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Congregational response: Praise to you, O Christ.

PR. JIM’S SERMON: https://youtu.be/0-g0pYoBDgY

LENT 1A, 2-22-26, Mt 4.1-11

THE DEVIL YOU SAY

A man walked into a bar. Ordered three beers. Sat at a back table. Quietly drank them and left. He started doing it every night. People were curious.

The bartender finally asked, “I don’t want to pry, but folks wonder why you drink three beers alone, and then leave, every day.”

The man explained, “Well, I have two brothers. One in Chicago and the other in LA. We promised to order two extra beers, every time we drank, to remember and maintain our family bond.” The regulars were touched by this fraternal affection.

Then one day, he sat down in the pub and ordered only two beers. Something terrible must have happened. The bartender served him and said, “On behalf of the community, I want to offer our thoughts and prayers.”

The man responded, “I don’t understand. Why?”

The bartender said, “You only ordered two beers. We figured one of your brothers must have died.”

“Oh no!” the man explained, “My brothers are healthy and doing great. It’s just that I decided to give up drinking for Lent!” (Always on the lookout for loopholes!)

The lady was doing well with her New Year’s Resolution and was determined to make it through Lent continuing her strict diet. Out of habit, she continued to stop for coffee at the City Bakery before work. It was a test of will power, because seeing all the pastries surrounding her, made her mouth water copiously.

A man sat down directly across from her with a cup of coffee, and two steaming, freshly iced cinnamon rolls, with the pearly white icing covering the top of the rolls and dripping down the sides. He ate one roll, finished his coffee and left.

The other roll was sitting there abandoned and lonely. Every once in a while, she’d look at it just to see if it was looking back at her. An internal struggle ensued. She imagined how heavenly it would taste. Her mind was already tasting the ecstasy of a sugar high.

She was in a fevered argument with herself, when she thought, “it’s a worse sin to waste food like that than it is to eat it!” She grabbed it and took a first bite of taste bud paradise.” Just then the man came back with his second cup of coffee.

They say that opportunity knocks once. Temptation leans on the doorbell and drives you crazy. The devil is attractive, and sneaky and misleading. He would never say, “Here’s a pistol, Shoot the guy with the donuts and take’em.” You would laugh in his face. But nooooo…..he makes you get into an argument with yourself about right and wrong, and either way, your self is going to lose the argument.

Jean Jacques Rousseau, was a French philosopher of the 18^th century. He believed that humanity is naturally perfect, is damaged by society, and can be made perfect again by dismantling society and building a new Golden Age of Noble Savages. Satirical political writer, P.J. O’Rourke says, “There is this horrible idea, beginning with Jean-Jacques Rousseau and still going strong in college classrooms, that natural man is naturally good. Anybody who’s ever met a toddler knows this is nonsense.” There is something in the human heart that teases temptation.

Besides our inclination to feel empathy and seek to help others, there is something in us all that is self-centered and potentially self-destructive. Maybe that is why none of us made it out of public school without being assigned to read, “Lord of the Flies,” at least twice.

One of our liturgical confessions from an older hymnal states, “…. we are by nature, sinful and unclean, and we have sinned against thee by thought, word and deed. Wherefore we flee for refuge to thine infinite mercy, seeking and imploring thy grace, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Why? Because, yes…Jesus was tempted, too, and we need his help!

Every day, I pray, “lead us not into temptation.” That’s because I know that I am not as tough, I am not as focused as Jesus, who was led by the spirit into the wilderness to face temptation.

We’ve been conditioned to think of temptation as a trap, as an unavoidable condition with a lethal outcome. Temptation is a gift! It is a continuing education opportunity. If you are tempted, you have just identified a weak spot, a place that needs patching or shoring up. Something surfaces in your mind. You want it. Perhaps that tasty pastry, or maybe just the cutie-pie in the other office, or your drug of choice, or maybe the seductive gamble of easy money. It’s always something! But nothing’s happened yet.

This is a dress rehearsal. You can visualize the possibilities and anticipate the outcomes. Maybe discuss it with somebody. Play it out ahead of time, in your mind. Guaranteed, there won’t be any negative consequences, if you choose to postpone or better yet, resist. The devil and the used car salesman are in a hurry and they do not want you walking off the lot. Humans have the unique ability to say, “No.” Get a second opinion.

Temptation can be conquered by communication. Eve could’ve told the serpent to wait until she had a meeting with God to clarify the details concerning that tree. She could have interrogated the tempter. “If the fruit is that great, making you like God and all, how come you haven’t eaten it?” Talk about it. It’s not a secret. Everybody knows that everybody wants stuff. Sometimes the devil shows up looking like everything you ever prayed for.

The devil always approaches in an attractive and helpful way. He sympathizes. In Jesus’ case, he commiserates with his wilderness hunger. The devil is betting that Jesus, in his love for the temple and Israel, would do anything to make things better for his people.

The devil mounts a full-frontal attack on the First Table of the Law. He doesn’t mess around with murder, adultery, stealing, lying, slander and covetousness. He tries to coax Jesus into worshiping anything over God. That’s bad. Real bad. Jesus will not be tempted into idolatry.

The temptation of Jesus in the wilderness is a wonderful combination of irony and comedy. The devil is an expert at misdirection and confusion. His trap is misrepresentation, “Please allow me to introduce myself, I’m a man of wealth and taste.”

No! Sorry. You’re just a lying devil, that’s gonna lose your golden fiddle to a hillbilly boy from Georgia.

The devil is a fallen angel. All of the good angels, when they talk to people, they say, “Fear Not!” Not this evil angel. He is easy to look forward to spending time with. He looks good, he makes sense, and his arguments are convincing………compelling.

For Jesus, he pretends to be a thoughtful ally. “Of course, you are hungry, Jesus, but think about this. You could feed everyone in the Promised Land!” In his best maple syrup voice he says, “Hey, we’re talking the Golden Age of everybody’s dream. No more hunger. No more war. No more faithlessness. The perfect society can start here today. “HEY PARTNER, LET’S DO IT. IT’D BE A SIN NOT TO!!!!”

Jesus is being tempted to bypass history. But that is how God works, in history. So, the devil wants to edit God out. God reveals himself in history as it unfolds. God was there in Egypt. The Exodus formed the people of Israel in the wilderness. The devil wants Jesus to bypass history, bypass the cross, and bypass nature and bypass reality. It is tempting. In my craven sinful nature, I would be thinking about turning the devil into a stone first, which could then be made into devil’s food cake to feed to crows, just for laughs. Temptation solved.

Jesus kindly tries to do pastoral care for this poor misguided Satan, who is almost reduced to whining. “We need a new Moses with that munchable manna that you can always count on, not that it’s tasty, but you can count on it!”

“We need that old perfect priest, Melchizedek to purify religion. We need that High Priest Messiah to control the hearts and minds of the people, and make them comply to proper standards.”

“We need that Davidic conqueror to promote worldwide a new system of perfection, so that we can all enjoy just one unambiguous Paradise monoculture, a Golden Age you can count on, the Reich stuff! You know, Plato’s Republic, the New World Order, and the Great Reset. Satan is a legalist, an establishmentarian, promising a perfectly just society………...that will be perfectly merciless. Without God.

Jesus had heard all of this a thousand times in 30 years. It was nothing new or innovative. It still isn’t. Even insects; ants and bees, want food, culture and territory. “Can’t you, dear devil, do any better than a bug?”

Let’s reflect for a minute here. There is a trend to notice. An Unholy Trinity. A new Moses, A new Melchizedek a new David; for food, faith, fighting; which encompass economics, culture, politics; material satisfaction, entertainment, expansion. How is this any different than the best that the Roman Empire advertises and offers with its motto: “Bread, Circuses, and Legions.” Jesus’ Mission Statement does not include a need to reiterate sinful human Empire for the umpteenth time.

Jesus did all of these things, on his own terms and in line with the Will of God. He did a big feed or two, and he made a scene at the temple and he did promote an expanding kingdom.

Six times in four gospels, Jesus fed multitudes. The miracle was that they were sworn enemy partisans, who were invited to sit down and eat together in unclean wilderness settings. It wasn’t about the bread. It is about your baptismal call to share with those you don’t like, or have identified as enemy combatants.

Yes indeed, Jesus cleansed the temple. But not of the sinners, the maimed, the unfit, the blind, the women, the crippled, the pagan and the unclean. He exposed the unbelieving, compromised, fraudulent, elite managerial CEOs instead.

And the Kingdom? Well, it’s totally unsurveyable. It is not of this world. How can you triangulate and measure the heart, mind and soul of every person that God has made?

So, listen for the emerging new will of God and don’t settle for Lucifer’s old news, because he’s got a moldy agenda, that is not promoting grace. God is in charge, and we are not missing anything. You can’t get conned by the devil, or anyone else, unless you think you are missing something. Check the things you really want, the solutions you crave. The devil will use them. Sometimes, God doesn’t open that door because what’s behind it bites! We are the people of grace at Wirt and Westview. We serve at a Holy Crossroad and wait breathlessly to her His Will! Amen.

HYMN OF THE DAY When I Survey the Wondrous Cross ELW 803

APOSTLES’ CREED

P: God has made us His people through our Baptism into Christ. Living together in trust and hope, we confess our faith:

C: I believe in God the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

He ascended into heaven,

He is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

The Lord’s Peace (Please share the Peace with a neighbor)

THE OFFERING

THE OFFERTORY RESPONSE Let the Vineyards Be Fruitful ELW Hymn 142

THE OFFERING PRAYER

All pray together:

O God, maker of heaven and earth, your steadfast love embraces all creation. You send rain and sunshine to nourish the earth and bring forth its bounty. Through these gifts of bread and wine, draw us into the death and life of your Son, who calls us to bear witness to his saving work. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

AGNUS DEI

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,

have mercy upon us.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,

have, mercy upon us.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,

grant us thy peace.

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

P: In the night in which he was betrayed, Our Lord Jesus took bread and gave thanks, broke it and gave it to his disciples saying: Take and eat, this is my body given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks and gave it for all to drink saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this in remembrance of me.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

COMMUNION DISTRIBUTION

POST COMMUNION BLESSING

The Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and preserve you in Eternal Life.

POST COMMUNION SONG Now, Lord ELW 201

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Presider:

God of our salvation, we give you thanks for this meal that restores our souls, reconciles us to you, and strengthens us for the journey. Through the body and blood of your Son, may we become Christ’s body in the world, bearing witness to your love for all creation, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Congregation: Amen.

THE BLESSING

SENDING SONG Bless Now, O God, the Journey ELW 326

GO IN PEACE, IN SERVICE

C: Thanks be to God!

PSALM 19:14

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

§ Ken Beamesderfer

§ Jim Berggren

§ Pat Boessling

§ Jim Fritze

§ Eliseo Gonzales

§ Paul Houghton

§ Joyce Huey

§ Lane Kelly

§ Nancy Lancaster

§ David Magrill

§ Jeremy Mitchell

§ Geraine Moore

§ Ed Peterman

§ Dorothy Preuss

§ Lupe Romero

§ Wayne Schaper

§ Steve Schulze

§ Scott Spates

§ Marilyn Thigpen

§ Jaime Urbanski

§ Bennie Valites

§ Michael Williams

§ Lin Worsham

Prayers for Family and Friends of Julie Yanta upon

completion of her life’s mission.

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COUNCIL MEETING

Council meeting will be Sunday, February 22, 2026,

at 11:00 a.m. in the Annex.

Church Council

USHERS

Month: February Team # 04 Leader: Julie Kilkenny

LAY READERS & ASSISTANTS

FEBRUARY

1 Reader — Charlotte Jaster

P/E — Nancy Beamesderfer

8 Reader — Ruby Schaper

P/E — Alma Byerly

15 Reader — Scott Wegner

P/E — Sharon Wagner

22 Reader — Nancy Beamesderfer

P/E — Nancy Beamesderfer

P/E stands for Prayers and Eucharist

Nancy Beamesderfer

ATTENTION HOLY CROSS MEMBERS

Following the Church Safety Protocol, if you would like to make a reservation to use the church facilities for private events, please contact Sussy. You must to fill out a Calendar Request Form as well.

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING PART II

Holy Cross Congregational meeting will be Sunday, March 22, 2026.

Please send your 2025 Reports to Sussy by Sunday, March 8.

Church Council

LENTEN SCHEDULE - 2026

ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES

FEBRUARY 18^th — 12:00 noon and 7:00 p.m.

Lenten services will be held on Wednesdays

at 12:00 noon in the Atrium the following dates:

FEBRUARY 25, MARCH 4, 11, 18 & 25,

followed by a light meal after the services.

LENTEN MEALS

This is the schedule for the Lenten Meals:

· 2/25 Council

· 3/04 Choir

· 3/11 Ruth Circle

· 3/18 Fellowship Club

· 3/25 Men's Breakfast Group

Lenten Study

for Wednesday Noon Services

This year we will explore the Lenten study “Killing Jesus”

by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard.

Pastor Jim Berggren

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL BOOKLETS

Lenten Devotional Booklets are available in the Narthex and Atrium. 

These booklets, MERCY, PASSION AND JOY, are meditations based on the works of C.S. Lewis.  A beautiful way to spend a few minutes every day preparing for the journey to the Cross and Resurrection of our Lord.

Sharon Wagner

ALTAR FLOWERS

Altar flowers were donated by Barbara Sledge

In loving memory of Chester Sledge.

TIME FOR EASTER LILIES

Order envelopes for Easter Lilies will be available March 1, 8, 15, and 22.

These will be used to decorate the Sanctuary for Easter services.

The cost will be $10.⁰⁰ per plant.

Sharon Wagner

Safeguards Safety Training

Holycross coupon code for 15% discount: HCLC2026

CLASS	DAY	DATE	TIME
Adult CPR *CPR only ($79) *CPR + First Aid ($92)	Friday Sunday	1/23/2026 2/8/2026	1 pm — 4:30 pm 1 pm — 4:30 pm
Adult & Pediatric CPR *CPR only ($98) *CPR + First Aid ($108)	Saturday Saturday	1/31/2026 2/14/2026	1 pm — 5:30 pm 1 pm — 5:30 pm
Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers and Professional Rescuers ($89)	TEMPORARILY DISCONTINUED WILL RETURN IN LATE FEBRUARY / EARLY MARCH
CPR Instructor Course ($299)	Friday	2/20/2026	9 am — 5:30 pm

Classes are in the Youth Room, Media Room and in the Annex.

You can sign up online for classes by going to

www.safeguards-safety.com and choosing “Register for Classes.”

  Or call 713-854-8085 for more information

Congregation members and their families will receive a discount of 15%

for any class by using the above-mentioned coupon code when signing up.

 John Lambeth

SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE 9:30 a.m. Traditional Worship service with Rev. Jim Berggren —WC Sunday School / Nursery is available for small children during the service — Crib Room 10:30 a.m. Coffee fellowship following the service —FLC 11:00 a.m. Church Council Meeting –FLCA
This week at Holy Cross
23 Mon	24 Tues	25 Wed	26 Thurs	27 Fri	28 Sat
11—12 pm ELC Chapel –WC	11—12 pm ELC Chapel –WC	10—12 pm ELC KiM –FLC 10 am Roundtable Group -VR 11 am Choir practice –CL 12 noon LENTEN SERVICE Followed by a light meal prepared by Church Council	10—12 pm ELC KiM –FLC 8 pm AA Women mtg. —FLCA	7—9 pm Bayou City Band practice –FLC	6 pm Saturday Informal service –AT
AT =Atrium, CL=Choir Loft, CR=Choir Room, FLC= Family Life Center, FLCA=Annex, KiM= Kids in Motion, MR=Media Room, WC=Worship Center, YR=Youth Room  BLS=Basic Life Support, SST=Safeguards Safety Training, UCL=Upcycled Crafty Ladies