First Sunday in Lent
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series IV, Cycle B
Call To Worship
As we begin Lent, here is a Call To Worship that reminds us that this season is about emptying ourselves.
Leader:
We gather at the beginning of this season of Lent to worship our God
People:
Who challenges us
Leader:
To lose our selfishness
People:
And find our true selves;
Leader:
To be fools in the world;
People:
Showing forth his wisdom;
Leader:
To empty ourselves
People:
And discover life's fullness;
Leader:
To become slaves to God
People:
And find real freedom.
Leader:
O Lord God,
People:
We come to worship you.
This one celebrates Christ's emptying of himself for us. Based on Philippians 2.
Leader:
Consider Jesus, who, being in very nature God,
People:
Did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
Leader:
But made himself nothing,
People:
Taking on the nature of a servant;
Leader:
Being made in human likeness;
People:
Becoming a man;
Leader:
Humbling himself,
People:
And being obedient unto death;
Leader:
Even the painful, humiliating death of the cross!
People:
So God exalted him to the highest place
Leader:
And gave him the name that is above every name;
People:
That at the name of Jesus
Leader:
Every knee should bow,
People:
In heaven and on earth,
Leader:
And every tongue confess
People:
That Jesus Christ is Lord.
Leader:
Let us worship the Lord.
Lastly this week, a Call To Worship that encourages your people to escape from the tumult of daily life into the heart of God. This one is a guided meditation used at the beginning of worship. It begins with a responsive section and moves into a meditation.
Leader:
Come away with me to the heart of God where forgiveness abounds, and love lives, and peace reigns.
People:
That sounds good.
Leader:
Then come.
Quiet your heart.
Sense God's presence.
Let him touch your hungry soul.
People:
Show us how.
Leader:
Close your eyes and listen now. Just listen ...
Here you will lead them on a guided meditation. You know your congregation best and may want to create one that suits your church. We have provided one that we used in our church.
See in your mind's eye the most peaceful place you know. Take a moment and find that place. (Short silence) The place is deserted except for one person standing with his back to you.
You approach the person.
As you come near to the person he turns around. It is Jesus. He throws open his arms and embraces you. He says simply, "My child, you are worried and disturbed about many things, but only one thing is truly needed, come, sit with me a while."
You sit. Face-to-face with Jesus.
Feel his peace. (Short silence)
Open yourself to his truth. (Short silence)
Now --Êopen your eyes and let us worship God.
Prayer Of Confession
For this one you will need to use current news events in the first leader part. We have included events that are in the news as we write. Lent leads us to the day, Good Friday, that occurred because things are not as God intended them to be. This prayer is a Confession of all that is not right.
Leader:
The wreckage we see around the world, Iraq, Sudan, Sri Lanka, in New York City, is nothing compared to the wreckage that Satan has wrought in the human soul.
People:
Where God sowed love for others,
Leader:
Satan has planted judgment, criticism, and anger.
People:
Where God sowed self-respect,
Leader:
The devil deposited doubt and self-hatred.
People:
Where the Father sowed forgiveness,
Leader:
The deceiver laid in bitterness and grudge-holding.
People:
Where Yahweh sowed patience,
Leader:
Wormwood placed irritability.
People:
Where the Creator sowed humility,
Leader:
The evil one scattered arrogance and pride.
People:
O Lord,
Leader:
O Lord,
People:
Forgive us,
Leader:
Teach us,
People:
Transform us,
Leader:
Into those who love you,
People:
Love others,
Leader:
And love ourselves.
People:
Amen!
A third option for you this week.
Leader:
Eternal God, from the beginning of time you have called your children into communion with you.
People:
Yet, we confess, that like all the rest, we have turned to our own way and refused your love and grace.
Leader:
Restore us to the joy of knowing you,
People:
And of recognizing your reign among us,
Leader:
Through Jesus Christ, bringer of the good news that you are a God who forgives,
People:
And grants us fresh start after fresh start.
Leader:
Grant us one this morning, Lord.
People:
Amen.
Finally, based on Psalm 25:1-2.
Leader:
To you, O Lord, we lift up our souls;
People:
In you we trust, O God.
Leader:
Do not let us be put to shame,
People:
Nor let our enemies triumph over us.
Leader:
Amen!
Assurance Of Pardon
Leader:
We are dead in our sins
People:
And we are all sinners,
Leader:
But there is good news, in the midst of the bad.
People:
Tell us the news.
Leader:
God is not only a just God, but a forgiving God.
People:
Praise the Lord.
Leader:
And our sin can be washed away by the blood of the Lamb, if we repent and turn to him.
People:
Forgive us, Lord.
Leader:
Know this then, you are forgiven.
People:
Amen.
Prayer For Illumination
From Psalm 25:4-5.
Let us pray: Show us now your ways, O Lord. Teach us your paths. Guide us in your truth and teach us, for you are our God, our Savior, and our hope is in you all day long. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
Let us pray: Majestic and mighty God, when our rebellion is so complete that destruction is the only solution, still you provide a rainbow promise. When we have fallen so far that we are numbered among the captives in prison, even there you will come looking for us. When we have rejected you, left your ways completely behind, and humiliated you with our actions, in spite of it all you will receive us back with open arms. As we begin our Lenten journey this morning, reveal to us those areas of life where we continue to rebel, where we have gone astray, where we have left you behind. Remind us that you have not given up on us. And give us the wisdom, the will, and the strength to return to your way.
We ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Benediction
Mark 1:15
The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!
Hymns
A Perfect Heart
Hallelujah, What A Savior!
I Lay My Sins On Jesus
Jesus Saves!
Room At The Cross For You
There Is A Redeemer
What A Wonderful Savior!
Contemporary Choruses
At The Cross (use anytime during Lent)
My Life Is In You, Daniel Gardner
There Is A Redeemer, Melody Green-Sievright
Other Music
Crucified With Christ, Phillips, Craig, and Dean
To be truly Christian means to be crucified with Christ. This song is included as an option for several of the Sundays of Lent.
Jesus Saves, Greg Long
A very upbeat song that tells us that in the end all that matters is that Jesus saves.
Creative Ideas
If you are doing anything based on the Genesis passage you might want to use pictures of rainbows around the sanctuary this morning. If you use a Power Point type system you might project images at the appropriate times during sermon or singing.
As we begin Lent, here is a Call To Worship that reminds us that this season is about emptying ourselves.
Leader:
We gather at the beginning of this season of Lent to worship our God
People:
Who challenges us
Leader:
To lose our selfishness
People:
And find our true selves;
Leader:
To be fools in the world;
People:
Showing forth his wisdom;
Leader:
To empty ourselves
People:
And discover life's fullness;
Leader:
To become slaves to God
People:
And find real freedom.
Leader:
O Lord God,
People:
We come to worship you.
This one celebrates Christ's emptying of himself for us. Based on Philippians 2.
Leader:
Consider Jesus, who, being in very nature God,
People:
Did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
Leader:
But made himself nothing,
People:
Taking on the nature of a servant;
Leader:
Being made in human likeness;
People:
Becoming a man;
Leader:
Humbling himself,
People:
And being obedient unto death;
Leader:
Even the painful, humiliating death of the cross!
People:
So God exalted him to the highest place
Leader:
And gave him the name that is above every name;
People:
That at the name of Jesus
Leader:
Every knee should bow,
People:
In heaven and on earth,
Leader:
And every tongue confess
People:
That Jesus Christ is Lord.
Leader:
Let us worship the Lord.
Lastly this week, a Call To Worship that encourages your people to escape from the tumult of daily life into the heart of God. This one is a guided meditation used at the beginning of worship. It begins with a responsive section and moves into a meditation.
Leader:
Come away with me to the heart of God where forgiveness abounds, and love lives, and peace reigns.
People:
That sounds good.
Leader:
Then come.
Quiet your heart.
Sense God's presence.
Let him touch your hungry soul.
People:
Show us how.
Leader:
Close your eyes and listen now. Just listen ...
Here you will lead them on a guided meditation. You know your congregation best and may want to create one that suits your church. We have provided one that we used in our church.
See in your mind's eye the most peaceful place you know. Take a moment and find that place. (Short silence) The place is deserted except for one person standing with his back to you.
You approach the person.
As you come near to the person he turns around. It is Jesus. He throws open his arms and embraces you. He says simply, "My child, you are worried and disturbed about many things, but only one thing is truly needed, come, sit with me a while."
You sit. Face-to-face with Jesus.
Feel his peace. (Short silence)
Open yourself to his truth. (Short silence)
Now --Êopen your eyes and let us worship God.
Prayer Of Confession
For this one you will need to use current news events in the first leader part. We have included events that are in the news as we write. Lent leads us to the day, Good Friday, that occurred because things are not as God intended them to be. This prayer is a Confession of all that is not right.
Leader:
The wreckage we see around the world, Iraq, Sudan, Sri Lanka, in New York City, is nothing compared to the wreckage that Satan has wrought in the human soul.
People:
Where God sowed love for others,
Leader:
Satan has planted judgment, criticism, and anger.
People:
Where God sowed self-respect,
Leader:
The devil deposited doubt and self-hatred.
People:
Where the Father sowed forgiveness,
Leader:
The deceiver laid in bitterness and grudge-holding.
People:
Where Yahweh sowed patience,
Leader:
Wormwood placed irritability.
People:
Where the Creator sowed humility,
Leader:
The evil one scattered arrogance and pride.
People:
O Lord,
Leader:
O Lord,
People:
Forgive us,
Leader:
Teach us,
People:
Transform us,
Leader:
Into those who love you,
People:
Love others,
Leader:
And love ourselves.
People:
Amen!
A third option for you this week.
Leader:
Eternal God, from the beginning of time you have called your children into communion with you.
People:
Yet, we confess, that like all the rest, we have turned to our own way and refused your love and grace.
Leader:
Restore us to the joy of knowing you,
People:
And of recognizing your reign among us,
Leader:
Through Jesus Christ, bringer of the good news that you are a God who forgives,
People:
And grants us fresh start after fresh start.
Leader:
Grant us one this morning, Lord.
People:
Amen.
Finally, based on Psalm 25:1-2.
Leader:
To you, O Lord, we lift up our souls;
People:
In you we trust, O God.
Leader:
Do not let us be put to shame,
People:
Nor let our enemies triumph over us.
Leader:
Amen!
Assurance Of Pardon
Leader:
We are dead in our sins
People:
And we are all sinners,
Leader:
But there is good news, in the midst of the bad.
People:
Tell us the news.
Leader:
God is not only a just God, but a forgiving God.
People:
Praise the Lord.
Leader:
And our sin can be washed away by the blood of the Lamb, if we repent and turn to him.
People:
Forgive us, Lord.
Leader:
Know this then, you are forgiven.
People:
Amen.
Prayer For Illumination
From Psalm 25:4-5.
Let us pray: Show us now your ways, O Lord. Teach us your paths. Guide us in your truth and teach us, for you are our God, our Savior, and our hope is in you all day long. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
Let us pray: Majestic and mighty God, when our rebellion is so complete that destruction is the only solution, still you provide a rainbow promise. When we have fallen so far that we are numbered among the captives in prison, even there you will come looking for us. When we have rejected you, left your ways completely behind, and humiliated you with our actions, in spite of it all you will receive us back with open arms. As we begin our Lenten journey this morning, reveal to us those areas of life where we continue to rebel, where we have gone astray, where we have left you behind. Remind us that you have not given up on us. And give us the wisdom, the will, and the strength to return to your way.
We ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Benediction
Mark 1:15
The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!
Hymns
A Perfect Heart
Hallelujah, What A Savior!
I Lay My Sins On Jesus
Jesus Saves!
Room At The Cross For You
There Is A Redeemer
What A Wonderful Savior!
Contemporary Choruses
At The Cross (use anytime during Lent)
My Life Is In You, Daniel Gardner
There Is A Redeemer, Melody Green-Sievright
Other Music
Crucified With Christ, Phillips, Craig, and Dean
To be truly Christian means to be crucified with Christ. This song is included as an option for several of the Sundays of Lent.
Jesus Saves, Greg Long
A very upbeat song that tells us that in the end all that matters is that Jesus saves.
Creative Ideas
If you are doing anything based on the Genesis passage you might want to use pictures of rainbows around the sanctuary this morning. If you use a Power Point type system you might project images at the appropriate times during sermon or singing.
