THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series III, Cycle A
CALL TO WORSHIP
Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus the Messiah, for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God may call.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Truthful God, patient Teacher, Inspiration of prophets, we confess that we are often dull and sluggish in our thinking, and slow of heart in believing. We prefer to hear what we already know than to think out something we have not heard before. We cherish our mixture of faith and doubt, rather than seek the surer faith that comes with a broader knowledge of the Scriptures. Forgive our use of less than our full intellectual capacities in worship, and less than an adventurous faith in following you; through Jesus Christ,fully human,fully divine. Amen.
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! It was no perishable stuff, like gold or silver, that bought your freedom from the empty folly of your traditional ways. The price was paid in precious blood, as it were of a lamb without mark or blemish - the blood of Christ. Friends, believe the Good News! In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
EXHORTATION
Fix your faith and hope in God, who raised Christ from the dead and gave him glory, the One who judges everyone impartially on the record of his deeds.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Make yourself known to us again, risen Lord, in the breaking of the bread, so that every gathering of your people around your table may be a confirmation of the Good News that you are alive from the dead and accompanying your people in the events of their journey. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
To know you, O God, is our joy. To be released from bondage to lesser "gods" is to be free to enjoy you anywhere and anytime. Our hearts exult in your love. Our spirit rejoices in communion with you. Our bodies are restful in the absence offear when we remember your power over death.
You lead us in the path of life. Your immediate presence will be fullness of joy. The honor you give is more pleasurable than earth's greatest tributes. Thanks is given to you, heavenly Parent,for giving the heavenly Son to the earthly death of the cross. Thanks is given to you, death-defying God, for raising Jesus of Nazareth from the dead, to prove that death could not keep him in its grip. Thanks is given to you, eternal Spirit, for inspiring our hope and our trust in you. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Crucified-Jesus/Risen-Christ, your gift of baptism as a sacrament in the church makes simple washing with water the sign of forgiveness to the repentant, and a gesture of acceptance to our children. Use us and our offerings to maintain the church and all your means of grace, in all the holy names of God. Amen.
PSALM 116:1-4, 12-19
I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my supplications.
Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
The snares of death encompassed me;
the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
Then I called on the name of the LORD:
"O LORD, I pray, save my life!"
What shall I return to the LORD for all his bounty to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD,
I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful ones.
O LORD, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the child of your serving girl.
You have loosed my bonds.
I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice and call on the name of the LORD.
I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people,
in the courts of the house of the LORD,
in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!
Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus the Messiah, for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God may call.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Truthful God, patient Teacher, Inspiration of prophets, we confess that we are often dull and sluggish in our thinking, and slow of heart in believing. We prefer to hear what we already know than to think out something we have not heard before. We cherish our mixture of faith and doubt, rather than seek the surer faith that comes with a broader knowledge of the Scriptures. Forgive our use of less than our full intellectual capacities in worship, and less than an adventurous faith in following you; through Jesus Christ,fully human,fully divine. Amen.
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! It was no perishable stuff, like gold or silver, that bought your freedom from the empty folly of your traditional ways. The price was paid in precious blood, as it were of a lamb without mark or blemish - the blood of Christ. Friends, believe the Good News! In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
EXHORTATION
Fix your faith and hope in God, who raised Christ from the dead and gave him glory, the One who judges everyone impartially on the record of his deeds.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Make yourself known to us again, risen Lord, in the breaking of the bread, so that every gathering of your people around your table may be a confirmation of the Good News that you are alive from the dead and accompanying your people in the events of their journey. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
To know you, O God, is our joy. To be released from bondage to lesser "gods" is to be free to enjoy you anywhere and anytime. Our hearts exult in your love. Our spirit rejoices in communion with you. Our bodies are restful in the absence offear when we remember your power over death.
You lead us in the path of life. Your immediate presence will be fullness of joy. The honor you give is more pleasurable than earth's greatest tributes. Thanks is given to you, heavenly Parent,for giving the heavenly Son to the earthly death of the cross. Thanks is given to you, death-defying God, for raising Jesus of Nazareth from the dead, to prove that death could not keep him in its grip. Thanks is given to you, eternal Spirit, for inspiring our hope and our trust in you. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Crucified-Jesus/Risen-Christ, your gift of baptism as a sacrament in the church makes simple washing with water the sign of forgiveness to the repentant, and a gesture of acceptance to our children. Use us and our offerings to maintain the church and all your means of grace, in all the holy names of God. Amen.
PSALM 116:1-4, 12-19
I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my supplications.
Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
The snares of death encompassed me;
the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
Then I called on the name of the LORD:
"O LORD, I pray, save my life!"
What shall I return to the LORD for all his bounty to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD,
I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful ones.
O LORD, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the child of your serving girl.
You have loosed my bonds.
I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice and call on the name of the LORD.
I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people,
in the courts of the house of the LORD,
in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!
