The obedient Servant
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Our Lord faced a difficult ministry when he came to proclaim salvation.
People:
We praise his name for his faithfulness to God, when humanity was so cruel to him.
Pastor:
Jesus was obedient to the mission God gave him, because he trusted God to fulfill his promise of salvation.
People:
That promised salvation is ours, because Christ was obedient even to death. Thanks be to God for our Lord Jesus Christ!
Collect
Almighty God, whose Son obediently fulfilled his mission to bring salvation, even when rejected by those he came to save: Make us aware of the resistance we unconsciously express; that we may arise to a new sense of commitment, and respond wholeheartedly to your salvation. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We are dependent on our Lord's obedience to the mission you gave him, Father. He was faithful to death, yet we are so careless with the new life to which he saved us. Forgive us for our unconcern about our sinful attitudes which deny his Lordship over our lives. Increase our responsiveness to our Lord's mission, that his obedience may result in our salvation. In his name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed"
"O Love Divine, What Hast Thou Done"
"O Sacred Head, Now Wounded"
"What Grace, O Lord, and Beauty Shone"
WEDNESDAY IN HOLY WEEK
Second Lesson: Hebrew 12:1-3
Theme:
Encouraged in discipleship
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Life imposes many crosses for us to bear; but our faith gives us the fortitude to press on.
People:
Our faith is in Jesus who defeated the power of his cross, and turned it into victory for all who put their faith in him.
Pastor:
Our Lord's victory has revealed the glory of God's love for those who are steadfast in their discipleship.
People:
We are encouraged by our Lord's example, and strengthened by his Spirit. May our discipleship demonstrate loyalty and depth of faith.
Collect
Almighty God, whose Son faced his cross without wavering, and defeated its power and shame: Grant us renewed faith in our discipleship by his example; that we, too, may endure our crosses with victory, and experience the glory of your love. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We become discouraged so easily, Lord, when our faith is challenged by unbelief, or direct criticism. We want to avoid conflict and so limit our discipleship to the protected areas of life. Forgive us when we have sacrificed our faith on the crosses of opposition and ridicule. Renew our faith, and strengthen our discipleship; that we may be true in all circumstances to our Savior, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross"
"Take Up Thy Cross"
Chorus:
"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus"
"What Wondrous Love Is This?"
WEDNESDAY IN HOLY WEEK
Gospel:
John 13:21-30
Theme:
Judas plans for the betrayal
Call to Worship
Pastor:
As Jesus prepared to eat the Passover meal with his disciples, he knew Judas was planning to betray him.
People:
Judas had made his decision, and Jesus had to face the consequence of the evil plot.
Pastor:
Jesus knew God would use that evil to share his love with our world.
People:
God's love is redemptive in spite of man's evil plans. We claim that redemption, and pray for faithfulness to Christ.
Collect
Heavenly Father, whose Son was betrayed by one of his closest followers: Keep us secure in your love, and firm in our faith, that we may not submit to any form of false allegiance or insincere discipleship. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Dear Father, we pause to consider the hurt that Jesus felt when he was betrayed and crucified. And in our meditation, we feel the finger of accusation pointing at ourselves. Forgive us when we lose hold of faith, making ourselves vulnerable to the persuasive power of selfish gain. Establish us in the faith, strongly committed to Christ as Lord, that we may be true in our discipleship. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Go to Dark Gethsemane"
"In the Hour of Trial"
"More Love to Thee, O Christ"
"O Jesus, I Have Promised"
Pastor:
Our Lord faced a difficult ministry when he came to proclaim salvation.
People:
We praise his name for his faithfulness to God, when humanity was so cruel to him.
Pastor:
Jesus was obedient to the mission God gave him, because he trusted God to fulfill his promise of salvation.
People:
That promised salvation is ours, because Christ was obedient even to death. Thanks be to God for our Lord Jesus Christ!
Collect
Almighty God, whose Son obediently fulfilled his mission to bring salvation, even when rejected by those he came to save: Make us aware of the resistance we unconsciously express; that we may arise to a new sense of commitment, and respond wholeheartedly to your salvation. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We are dependent on our Lord's obedience to the mission you gave him, Father. He was faithful to death, yet we are so careless with the new life to which he saved us. Forgive us for our unconcern about our sinful attitudes which deny his Lordship over our lives. Increase our responsiveness to our Lord's mission, that his obedience may result in our salvation. In his name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed"
"O Love Divine, What Hast Thou Done"
"O Sacred Head, Now Wounded"
"What Grace, O Lord, and Beauty Shone"
WEDNESDAY IN HOLY WEEK
Second Lesson: Hebrew 12:1-3
Theme:
Encouraged in discipleship
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Life imposes many crosses for us to bear; but our faith gives us the fortitude to press on.
People:
Our faith is in Jesus who defeated the power of his cross, and turned it into victory for all who put their faith in him.
Pastor:
Our Lord's victory has revealed the glory of God's love for those who are steadfast in their discipleship.
People:
We are encouraged by our Lord's example, and strengthened by his Spirit. May our discipleship demonstrate loyalty and depth of faith.
Collect
Almighty God, whose Son faced his cross without wavering, and defeated its power and shame: Grant us renewed faith in our discipleship by his example; that we, too, may endure our crosses with victory, and experience the glory of your love. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We become discouraged so easily, Lord, when our faith is challenged by unbelief, or direct criticism. We want to avoid conflict and so limit our discipleship to the protected areas of life. Forgive us when we have sacrificed our faith on the crosses of opposition and ridicule. Renew our faith, and strengthen our discipleship; that we may be true in all circumstances to our Savior, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross"
"Take Up Thy Cross"
Chorus:
"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus"
"What Wondrous Love Is This?"
WEDNESDAY IN HOLY WEEK
Gospel:
John 13:21-30
Theme:
Judas plans for the betrayal
Call to Worship
Pastor:
As Jesus prepared to eat the Passover meal with his disciples, he knew Judas was planning to betray him.
People:
Judas had made his decision, and Jesus had to face the consequence of the evil plot.
Pastor:
Jesus knew God would use that evil to share his love with our world.
People:
God's love is redemptive in spite of man's evil plans. We claim that redemption, and pray for faithfulness to Christ.
Collect
Heavenly Father, whose Son was betrayed by one of his closest followers: Keep us secure in your love, and firm in our faith, that we may not submit to any form of false allegiance or insincere discipleship. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Dear Father, we pause to consider the hurt that Jesus felt when he was betrayed and crucified. And in our meditation, we feel the finger of accusation pointing at ourselves. Forgive us when we lose hold of faith, making ourselves vulnerable to the persuasive power of selfish gain. Establish us in the faith, strongly committed to Christ as Lord, that we may be true in our discipleship. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Go to Dark Gethsemane"
"In the Hour of Trial"
"More Love to Thee, O Christ"
"O Jesus, I Have Promised"
