Fourth Sunday In Lent
Worship
A Call To Worship
Worship Aids, Lectionary Year B
Call To Worship (based on John 3:3-17)
One: Jesus said, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above."
All: Jesus said, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit."
Women: What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Men: The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.
One: For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
All: so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
Women: Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world,
Men: but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Unison Invocation
God who cares, who intervenes in history through Jesus Christ, we struggle like Nicodemus to grasp the meaning of your words to us. You offer us a share in your glory. We give you only a share of our day. Bless us as your people, send your Spirit to move in our midst, that we might fully apprehend and appreciate the magnificent gift of your grace. These things we pray in the name of Jesus, who suffered and died for us, and was raised on the third day. Amen.
Morning Prayer
Lord, your children are praying. We have meditated upon our joys and our concerns, our sorrows and our celebrations. No one grieves more with us than you, no one laughs more with us than you. Turn our hearts and our minds to the suffering of your people, both within and beyond our fellowship. Let your will be fulfilled in our ministries to each other. Amen.
Offering Prayer
Lord, you offer us your Son as your salvation, and we struggle with the gift. We also struggle with our gift giving. Accept our offerings today and use them beyond their worldly measure, according to your mighty power. Amen.
Children's Benediction
God loves the world.
One: Jesus said, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above."
All: Jesus said, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit."
Women: What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Men: The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.
One: For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
All: so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
Women: Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world,
Men: but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Unison Invocation
God who cares, who intervenes in history through Jesus Christ, we struggle like Nicodemus to grasp the meaning of your words to us. You offer us a share in your glory. We give you only a share of our day. Bless us as your people, send your Spirit to move in our midst, that we might fully apprehend and appreciate the magnificent gift of your grace. These things we pray in the name of Jesus, who suffered and died for us, and was raised on the third day. Amen.
Morning Prayer
Lord, your children are praying. We have meditated upon our joys and our concerns, our sorrows and our celebrations. No one grieves more with us than you, no one laughs more with us than you. Turn our hearts and our minds to the suffering of your people, both within and beyond our fellowship. Let your will be fulfilled in our ministries to each other. Amen.
Offering Prayer
Lord, you offer us your Son as your salvation, and we struggle with the gift. We also struggle with our gift giving. Accept our offerings today and use them beyond their worldly measure, according to your mighty power. Amen.
Children's Benediction
God loves the world.
