Lent 1
Worship
Lectionary Worship Aids, Cradled in God's Heart
Series VIII, Cycle A
Object:
Litany For Lent
One: O Christ,
as you head to Jerusalem,
you lead us
from the culture of selfishness
into the kingdom of service;
from our focus on fulfillment
into acts of radical obedience;
from a desire for esteem and honor
into a life of self-denial.
All: Save us, Lord Jesus.
One: O Christ, Bearer of Mercy,
you set down your glory
to pick up the pieces of our broken lives
and restore us as God's children.
All: Save us, Brother Jesus.
One: O Christ, Fullness of Grace,
you emptied yourself
so we might be filled
with the power of the Holy Spirit.
All: Save us, Bread of the World.
One: O Christ, Breaker of Crafty Death,
you are our hope in every moment,
you are the promise of God's presence,
you are the One who calls us to worship.
All: Save us, Word of God.
One: Jesus Christ, Lamb of God,
All: have mercy on us.
One: Lamb of God, who takes away all sin,
All: fill us with your hope.
One: Jesus Christ, Gift of Grace,
All: grant us your peace.
Silence
One: Creator God of all Love,
in Jesus Christ you have given us your very heart,
and so we offer ourselves to you,
seeking to follow Jesus in the way
he would lead us.
We would humbly do your will,
speaking your truth to all,
as you whisper your soul to us;
giving our lives in service to all,
as you fill us with the Holy Spirit;
walking the streets of the kingdom,
even as we pray the prayer
Jesus has taught us, saying,
All: Our Father ...
Call To Reconciliation
Like children, God sets boundaries for us that will lead us into goodness. Like children, we are stubborn enough to try to live our own way. We become easy prey for the evil one. But Jesus, who trusted and believed in God, helps us to find the will and strength to resist, and to experience the mercy of God. Together, let us confess our sins, that God would fill us with grace and hope.
Unison Prayer Of Confession
We confess, Eden's God, that Lent can make us very uncomfortable. We live in a culture that invites us to worship success, and you call us to sacrifice. We desire power, and you invite us to penitence and denial. We dwell in a "feel-good" society, and you ask us to become aware of the sufferings of our sisters, of the brokenness of our brothers.
By your mercy, restore us, God of Hope. As we walk toward Jerusalem with Jesus, may we walk toward your truth. As we hear the hard words of sacrifice, may we hear the Spirit helping us to say, "No," to all that would distract us from discipleship. As we witness the suffering of our Lord, may we speak Christ's good news to all who are without hope and life in our world.
Silence is kept
Assurance Of Pardon
One: Left on our own, we would let our sins, our rebellion, and our obedience to God control our lives, but we have been given the gift of Jesus Christ.
All: This is good news: The gift is freely given. The gift brings us grace. The gift brings us forgiveness. The gift brings us new life and peace with God and with one another. Thanks be to God for such a gift. Amen.
One: O Christ,
as you head to Jerusalem,
you lead us
from the culture of selfishness
into the kingdom of service;
from our focus on fulfillment
into acts of radical obedience;
from a desire for esteem and honor
into a life of self-denial.
All: Save us, Lord Jesus.
One: O Christ, Bearer of Mercy,
you set down your glory
to pick up the pieces of our broken lives
and restore us as God's children.
All: Save us, Brother Jesus.
One: O Christ, Fullness of Grace,
you emptied yourself
so we might be filled
with the power of the Holy Spirit.
All: Save us, Bread of the World.
One: O Christ, Breaker of Crafty Death,
you are our hope in every moment,
you are the promise of God's presence,
you are the One who calls us to worship.
All: Save us, Word of God.
One: Jesus Christ, Lamb of God,
All: have mercy on us.
One: Lamb of God, who takes away all sin,
All: fill us with your hope.
One: Jesus Christ, Gift of Grace,
All: grant us your peace.
Silence
One: Creator God of all Love,
in Jesus Christ you have given us your very heart,
and so we offer ourselves to you,
seeking to follow Jesus in the way
he would lead us.
We would humbly do your will,
speaking your truth to all,
as you whisper your soul to us;
giving our lives in service to all,
as you fill us with the Holy Spirit;
walking the streets of the kingdom,
even as we pray the prayer
Jesus has taught us, saying,
All: Our Father ...
Call To Reconciliation
Like children, God sets boundaries for us that will lead us into goodness. Like children, we are stubborn enough to try to live our own way. We become easy prey for the evil one. But Jesus, who trusted and believed in God, helps us to find the will and strength to resist, and to experience the mercy of God. Together, let us confess our sins, that God would fill us with grace and hope.
Unison Prayer Of Confession
We confess, Eden's God, that Lent can make us very uncomfortable. We live in a culture that invites us to worship success, and you call us to sacrifice. We desire power, and you invite us to penitence and denial. We dwell in a "feel-good" society, and you ask us to become aware of the sufferings of our sisters, of the brokenness of our brothers.
By your mercy, restore us, God of Hope. As we walk toward Jerusalem with Jesus, may we walk toward your truth. As we hear the hard words of sacrifice, may we hear the Spirit helping us to say, "No," to all that would distract us from discipleship. As we witness the suffering of our Lord, may we speak Christ's good news to all who are without hope and life in our world.
Silence is kept
Assurance Of Pardon
One: Left on our own, we would let our sins, our rebellion, and our obedience to God control our lives, but we have been given the gift of Jesus Christ.
All: This is good news: The gift is freely given. The gift brings us grace. The gift brings us forgiveness. The gift brings us new life and peace with God and with one another. Thanks be to God for such a gift. Amen.
