Christ's ministry of light and liberation
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series II
Exegetical note: This passage contains the so-called "First Servant Song" of Second Isaiah (vv. 1-4) and an elaboration upon it (vv. 5-9). The song itself focuses on the qualities of the Servant, while the elaboration is more concerned with the scope of his mission, which can be summarized in the words "light" and "liberation."
Call to Worship
Leader:
Blessed is God's Servant, who brings light to the nations!
People:
BLESSED IS GOD'S CHOSEN ONE, WHO BRINGS LIBERATION TO THE CAPTIVE!
Leader:
In his name, let us worship the God of Israel!
People:
IN HIS NAME, LET US WORSHIP THE GOD OF ALL CREATION!
Collect
Most radiant God, you sent your Servant to bring light to the nations. Make him a lamp for our way as well: that, our paths illuminated by his brilliance, we may advance along the road to righteousness established by his life and death. In his redeeming name we trust and pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Liberating God, it saddens us to confess to you the extent to which we allow ourselves to fall captive to sin and Satan, as well as to the powers and principalities of this world, and to admit our resulting failure to experience or embrace the perfect freedom into which you have always led your people. Forgive us, we pray, and help us to use this Holy Week as an opportunity to appropriate the benefits offered us in Christ Jesus, especially the release from spiritual bondage that his death made possible. In his name we pray. Amen
Monday in Holy Week
Second Lesson: Hebrews 9:11-15
Theme:
The ultimate atonement
Exegetical note: This passage amounts to a radicalization of the images of priest and sacrifice that dominate the Christology of the entire epistle. In this case, the Christ makes the ultimate atonement by entering the Holy of Holies (i.e., God's presence) and sacrificing himself (an unblemished offering), thereby effecting "an eternal redemption" and everlasting purification that negates even death itself.
Call to Worship
Leader:
In the name of Jesus, the Christ, let us lift our hearts to God!
People:
IN THE NAME OF JESUS, OUR HIGH PRIEST, LET US PRAISE GOD'S HOLY NAME!
Leader:
In the name of Jesus, the unblemished lamb, let us give thanks for our salvation!
People:
IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WHOSE SELF-SACRIFICE IS OUR ATONEMENT, LET US TRUST AND HOPE!
Collect
Eternal God, you sent us in Christ Jesus a high priest who could make a perfect sacrifice for our atonement. Help us in this Holy Week to accept his action on our behalf: that, cleansed thereby of our sin, we may live lives of holiness and justice worthy of his redeeming love. In his holy name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Compassionate God, it is painful to admit how consistently we resist and refuse the effects of Jesus' incredible atoning self-sacrifice, and how completely we instead remain dominated and directed by sin. Forgive us, we pray, empower us by your Holy Spirit to accept at last the cleansing and redeeming benefits of his priestly offering, and assist us in leading lives that befit those for whom the bonds of sin have been broken and the debts of sin have been paid. In the name of the Christ we trust and pray. Amen
Monday in Holy Week
Gospel:
John 12:1-11
Theme:
Impending tragedy, ultimate triumph
Exegetical note: The Fourth Evangelist's version of the anointing of Jesus at Bethany differs from those of his predecessors by identifying the woman as Mary as well as by mentioning Lazarus, whose emergence from the grave John has just recounted (11:38-44). Mary's act of anointing (as told here, at least) is, of course, a symbolic preparation of Jesus for burial, while the reference to Lazarus prefigures both Jesus' death and his ultimate resurrection.
Call to Worship
Leader:
Let us begin this Holy Week with a sense of tragedy.
People:
FOR JESUS, THE CHRIST, MUST SOON SUFFER AND DIE!
Leader:
But let us maintain this week a sense of triumph!
People:
FOR IN JESUS' DEATH IS REDEMPTION, AND IN THAT REDEMPTION IS OUR HOPE!
Collect
Most Holy One, you taught us in the life of Jesus to look beyond life to death, and beyond death to life eternal. Grant us the vision to see the world and our existence from your eternal perspective: that, thus enlightened, we may see beyond all our tragedies your ultimate triumph. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Most merciful God, we confess our tendency to dwell on the negative aspects and tragic events of our lives and of those around us, and even to wallow in the feelings of despair and hopelessness that they trigger in us, with the result that we feel bad about human nature in general and ourselves in particular. Forgive us, O God, and teach us to trust, even in the most heart-rending tragedies and gutwrenching injustices, that you are at work, graciously drawing life and redemption out of death and damnation. In the name of Jesus and in the shadow of his cross we pray. Amen
Call to Worship
Leader:
Blessed is God's Servant, who brings light to the nations!
People:
BLESSED IS GOD'S CHOSEN ONE, WHO BRINGS LIBERATION TO THE CAPTIVE!
Leader:
In his name, let us worship the God of Israel!
People:
IN HIS NAME, LET US WORSHIP THE GOD OF ALL CREATION!
Collect
Most radiant God, you sent your Servant to bring light to the nations. Make him a lamp for our way as well: that, our paths illuminated by his brilliance, we may advance along the road to righteousness established by his life and death. In his redeeming name we trust and pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Liberating God, it saddens us to confess to you the extent to which we allow ourselves to fall captive to sin and Satan, as well as to the powers and principalities of this world, and to admit our resulting failure to experience or embrace the perfect freedom into which you have always led your people. Forgive us, we pray, and help us to use this Holy Week as an opportunity to appropriate the benefits offered us in Christ Jesus, especially the release from spiritual bondage that his death made possible. In his name we pray. Amen
Monday in Holy Week
Second Lesson: Hebrews 9:11-15
Theme:
The ultimate atonement
Exegetical note: This passage amounts to a radicalization of the images of priest and sacrifice that dominate the Christology of the entire epistle. In this case, the Christ makes the ultimate atonement by entering the Holy of Holies (i.e., God's presence) and sacrificing himself (an unblemished offering), thereby effecting "an eternal redemption" and everlasting purification that negates even death itself.
Call to Worship
Leader:
In the name of Jesus, the Christ, let us lift our hearts to God!
People:
IN THE NAME OF JESUS, OUR HIGH PRIEST, LET US PRAISE GOD'S HOLY NAME!
Leader:
In the name of Jesus, the unblemished lamb, let us give thanks for our salvation!
People:
IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WHOSE SELF-SACRIFICE IS OUR ATONEMENT, LET US TRUST AND HOPE!
Collect
Eternal God, you sent us in Christ Jesus a high priest who could make a perfect sacrifice for our atonement. Help us in this Holy Week to accept his action on our behalf: that, cleansed thereby of our sin, we may live lives of holiness and justice worthy of his redeeming love. In his holy name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Compassionate God, it is painful to admit how consistently we resist and refuse the effects of Jesus' incredible atoning self-sacrifice, and how completely we instead remain dominated and directed by sin. Forgive us, we pray, empower us by your Holy Spirit to accept at last the cleansing and redeeming benefits of his priestly offering, and assist us in leading lives that befit those for whom the bonds of sin have been broken and the debts of sin have been paid. In the name of the Christ we trust and pray. Amen
Monday in Holy Week
Gospel:
John 12:1-11
Theme:
Impending tragedy, ultimate triumph
Exegetical note: The Fourth Evangelist's version of the anointing of Jesus at Bethany differs from those of his predecessors by identifying the woman as Mary as well as by mentioning Lazarus, whose emergence from the grave John has just recounted (11:38-44). Mary's act of anointing (as told here, at least) is, of course, a symbolic preparation of Jesus for burial, while the reference to Lazarus prefigures both Jesus' death and his ultimate resurrection.
Call to Worship
Leader:
Let us begin this Holy Week with a sense of tragedy.
People:
FOR JESUS, THE CHRIST, MUST SOON SUFFER AND DIE!
Leader:
But let us maintain this week a sense of triumph!
People:
FOR IN JESUS' DEATH IS REDEMPTION, AND IN THAT REDEMPTION IS OUR HOPE!
Collect
Most Holy One, you taught us in the life of Jesus to look beyond life to death, and beyond death to life eternal. Grant us the vision to see the world and our existence from your eternal perspective: that, thus enlightened, we may see beyond all our tragedies your ultimate triumph. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Most merciful God, we confess our tendency to dwell on the negative aspects and tragic events of our lives and of those around us, and even to wallow in the feelings of despair and hopelessness that they trigger in us, with the result that we feel bad about human nature in general and ourselves in particular. Forgive us, O God, and teach us to trust, even in the most heart-rending tragedies and gutwrenching injustices, that you are at work, graciously drawing life and redemption out of death and damnation. In the name of Jesus and in the shadow of his cross we pray. Amen
