Believe!
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series VII, Cycle A
Call To Worship
There are killing fields around the world, some old and dry and dusty, and others lamentably fresh with despair. Ezekiel might have been taken to any of these by the Lord. The season of Advent began with the prophecies of Joel on Ash Wednesday. In the wake of devastating crop losses after a plague of locusts and God promised the despairing people that he would give back to them all they had lost to the hopper. That might have been hard enough to believe, but now God asks a harder question. What about everything we have lost to death, that officer whose arrest is swift and sure and seemingly permanent? In Ezekiel's day the people were scattered, in exile, with the temple in ruins. Everything was lost. But not for long. Not forever. Can these bones live? What do you think?
Collect (Ezekiel 37:1-3)
Women: The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.
Men: He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry.
Women: He said to me, "Mortal, can these bones live?"
Men: I answered, "O Lord God, you know."
Prayer Of Confession
Dry bones, Lord, a field of dry bones - and you expect me to answer? You expect me to stand up and be counted when so many of our dreams lie like ancient bones, dusty and abandoned, and dry, very, very dry? You do expect an answer, don't you? Yes, Lord God of might and majesty - these bones can live! Amen.
Hymns
"They Crucified My Savior"
"Savior Like A Shepherd Lead Us"
"In The Bulb There Is A Flower"
Fifth Sunday In Lent
Second Lesson: Romans 8:6-11
Theme: The Cross Is Looming Large
Call To Worship (based on Psalm 130)
One: Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.
All: Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!
One: If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?
All: But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.
One: I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
All: my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning.
Collect
Lord, we look upon the cross at the front of our church and remember that your Son paid the price for our sins upon such an instrument. Lord, make us an instrument of your peace, through the cross we bear for each other, in our prayers, in our suffering, in our offerings. Accept our lives which we give to you today for the work of your kingdom in this world. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Our lives, Lord, were yours from the start. They came from your hand into ours. We return only a portion of your bounty for your work. Thank you for your goodness and your mercy. Fill us with your wisdom and your courage as we seek to participate in the work of your kingdom. Amen.
Hymns
"God Is Here Among Us"
"Sleepers, Wake!"
"Dry Bones"
Fifth Sunday In Lent
Gospel Lesson: John 11:1-45
Theme: Why Weren't You Here, Lord?
Call To Worship (Ephesians 5:14)
Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.
Collect
Lord, our God, we believe. We struggle, we walk in darkness, we walk in light, and we believe. Hear our voice. We wait. Our stories are so different, but our gift from you is the same. We come together because of your grace. We believe. We ask you to walk with us patiently, as we receive from you again the message of eternal life and salvation. You called to Lazarus. Call to us in our worship, as individuals, and as your church. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Lord, this day we will consider the time you lost a personal friend. We will marvel at your tears. We will shudder at the strong emotions of Mary and Martha. We will stand amazed once more at this glimpse of the glory to come. May we be as willing to risk as you were that day. Amen, Lord. Amen.
Hymns
"When Grief Is Raw"
"When Jesus Wept, The Falling Tear"
"In The Garden"
There are killing fields around the world, some old and dry and dusty, and others lamentably fresh with despair. Ezekiel might have been taken to any of these by the Lord. The season of Advent began with the prophecies of Joel on Ash Wednesday. In the wake of devastating crop losses after a plague of locusts and God promised the despairing people that he would give back to them all they had lost to the hopper. That might have been hard enough to believe, but now God asks a harder question. What about everything we have lost to death, that officer whose arrest is swift and sure and seemingly permanent? In Ezekiel's day the people were scattered, in exile, with the temple in ruins. Everything was lost. But not for long. Not forever. Can these bones live? What do you think?
Collect (Ezekiel 37:1-3)
Women: The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.
Men: He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry.
Women: He said to me, "Mortal, can these bones live?"
Men: I answered, "O Lord God, you know."
Prayer Of Confession
Dry bones, Lord, a field of dry bones - and you expect me to answer? You expect me to stand up and be counted when so many of our dreams lie like ancient bones, dusty and abandoned, and dry, very, very dry? You do expect an answer, don't you? Yes, Lord God of might and majesty - these bones can live! Amen.
Hymns
"They Crucified My Savior"
"Savior Like A Shepherd Lead Us"
"In The Bulb There Is A Flower"
Fifth Sunday In Lent
Second Lesson: Romans 8:6-11
Theme: The Cross Is Looming Large
Call To Worship (based on Psalm 130)
One: Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.
All: Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!
One: If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?
All: But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.
One: I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
All: my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning.
Collect
Lord, we look upon the cross at the front of our church and remember that your Son paid the price for our sins upon such an instrument. Lord, make us an instrument of your peace, through the cross we bear for each other, in our prayers, in our suffering, in our offerings. Accept our lives which we give to you today for the work of your kingdom in this world. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Our lives, Lord, were yours from the start. They came from your hand into ours. We return only a portion of your bounty for your work. Thank you for your goodness and your mercy. Fill us with your wisdom and your courage as we seek to participate in the work of your kingdom. Amen.
Hymns
"God Is Here Among Us"
"Sleepers, Wake!"
"Dry Bones"
Fifth Sunday In Lent
Gospel Lesson: John 11:1-45
Theme: Why Weren't You Here, Lord?
Call To Worship (Ephesians 5:14)
Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.
Collect
Lord, our God, we believe. We struggle, we walk in darkness, we walk in light, and we believe. Hear our voice. We wait. Our stories are so different, but our gift from you is the same. We come together because of your grace. We believe. We ask you to walk with us patiently, as we receive from you again the message of eternal life and salvation. You called to Lazarus. Call to us in our worship, as individuals, and as your church. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Lord, this day we will consider the time you lost a personal friend. We will marvel at your tears. We will shudder at the strong emotions of Mary and Martha. We will stand amazed once more at this glimpse of the glory to come. May we be as willing to risk as you were that day. Amen, Lord. Amen.
Hymns
"When Grief Is Raw"
"When Jesus Wept, The Falling Tear"
"In The Garden"
