Lent 4
Worship
Visions Of Lent
Lenten Congregational Resources
Minister: When the hour had come, Jesus sat at table, and the
apostles with him. And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired
to eat this Passover with you."
Mother: (Lights candle) With every holy light we kindle, the
world is brightened to a higher harmony!
Child: Why is this Sunday different from all other Sundays?
Reader 1: This is the Fourth Sunday of Lent, the Sunday in which
we reflect on the fourth Passover symbol, remembering Jesus
during his final Passover meal, his last supper, with the
disciples. The fourth symbol is the Matzah, which means
unleavened bread. (Gives matzah to child)
Child: What would the unleavened bread mean for Jesus' disciples?
Reader 2: The unleavened bread recalled the bread prepared by the
Jewish mothers in Egypt. When God led the Israelites out of their
slavery in Egypt, they had no time to wait for the dough of their
bread to rise. So they took unleavened bread into the wilderness;
matzah was the bread of affliction and the bread of freedom.
Child: What would the unleavened bread mean for Jesus?
Reader 1: As Jesus ate his last supper with his disciples, he
knew he would suffer and die and in three days be free. He
18
also knew that he was the Bread of Life come down from heaven,
bringing true freedom for all.
Child: What does the unleavened bread mean for us today?
Reader 2: As Christians we are called by Christ to live out --
with a sense of genuine urgency -- Christ's freedom. We are called
to love God above all other people and things -- to love God more
than our spouse or child, more than our job, more than our
achievements, or money. When we love God that way, with all our
heart and strength and mind, we are truly and deeply free.
Reader 1: Let us pray together.
Congregation: Holy God, God of the Passover and of the Exodus,
God of the crucifixion and the resurrection, may we rightly
hallow our humanity and yet long for our true freedom. Lead us as
you led the Israelites through their wilderness and the disciples
through their darkness. Lead us in Jesus' name into love of you.
Child: Amen! Our unleavened bread! (Raises matzah and places it
on plate)
All: Amen.
apostles with him. And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired
to eat this Passover with you."
Mother: (Lights candle) With every holy light we kindle, the
world is brightened to a higher harmony!
Child: Why is this Sunday different from all other Sundays?
Reader 1: This is the Fourth Sunday of Lent, the Sunday in which
we reflect on the fourth Passover symbol, remembering Jesus
during his final Passover meal, his last supper, with the
disciples. The fourth symbol is the Matzah, which means
unleavened bread. (Gives matzah to child)
Child: What would the unleavened bread mean for Jesus' disciples?
Reader 2: The unleavened bread recalled the bread prepared by the
Jewish mothers in Egypt. When God led the Israelites out of their
slavery in Egypt, they had no time to wait for the dough of their
bread to rise. So they took unleavened bread into the wilderness;
matzah was the bread of affliction and the bread of freedom.
Child: What would the unleavened bread mean for Jesus?
Reader 1: As Jesus ate his last supper with his disciples, he
knew he would suffer and die and in three days be free. He
18
also knew that he was the Bread of Life come down from heaven,
bringing true freedom for all.
Child: What does the unleavened bread mean for us today?
Reader 2: As Christians we are called by Christ to live out --
with a sense of genuine urgency -- Christ's freedom. We are called
to love God above all other people and things -- to love God more
than our spouse or child, more than our job, more than our
achievements, or money. When we love God that way, with all our
heart and strength and mind, we are truly and deeply free.
Reader 1: Let us pray together.
Congregation: Holy God, God of the Passover and of the Exodus,
God of the crucifixion and the resurrection, may we rightly
hallow our humanity and yet long for our true freedom. Lead us as
you led the Israelites through their wilderness and the disciples
through their darkness. Lead us in Jesus' name into love of you.
Child: Amen! Our unleavened bread! (Raises matzah and places it
on plate)
All: Amen.
