THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series III
* CALL TO WORSHIP
God calls us to faith in the Christ nailed to the cross, as
wisdom wiser than ours and power stronger than ours. Hear that
call.
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of the law, Christ of the cross, Spirit of purity, we confess
that we have broken your commandments, commercialized your
church, compromised the simplicity of the faith. We are too
ready to choose our favorite commandments and to ignore the
others to minimize our guilt. We excuse our breaking of some of
them by pointing out that we are keeping the others. Forgive any
self-righteousness that ignores the need for the sacrifice of
Christ for our sins and the cleansing of the Spirit for our
holiness. Amen.
* DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! God is not only lawgiver but redeemer and
will cleanse us from the secret sins that have escaped our own
attention. Friends, believe the Good News! In Jesus Christ, we
are forgiven.
* EXHORTATION
Be enlightened by all that God commands. Your spirit will be
revived by God's law and you will find reward in the keeping of
the commandments.
* PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let our zeal for your house, Lord Jesus, be exceeded only by our
desire to be pure in heart and thus enabled to see you in your
ultimate glory. Amen.
* PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
God of wisdom, we praise your name. Christ of the cross, we give
thanks for your loving and forgiving death for our sins.
Purifying Spirit, we celebrate the liberation from our guilt as
you renew and revive our spirits. We are humbled by the dignity
to which you call us despite our faults and failing. Thanks be
to you, O God. Amen.
* PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Your house, O God, is meant to be a house of prayer. May nothing
we do here be inappropriate to that purpose but be supportive of
your purposes in Jesus Christ. Amen.
* PSALM 19:1-14
The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them;
and nothing is hid from its heat.
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul;
the decrees of the LORD are sure, making wise the simple;
the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
But who can detect their errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be
acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
God calls us to faith in the Christ nailed to the cross, as
wisdom wiser than ours and power stronger than ours. Hear that
call.
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of the law, Christ of the cross, Spirit of purity, we confess
that we have broken your commandments, commercialized your
church, compromised the simplicity of the faith. We are too
ready to choose our favorite commandments and to ignore the
others to minimize our guilt. We excuse our breaking of some of
them by pointing out that we are keeping the others. Forgive any
self-righteousness that ignores the need for the sacrifice of
Christ for our sins and the cleansing of the Spirit for our
holiness. Amen.
* DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! God is not only lawgiver but redeemer and
will cleanse us from the secret sins that have escaped our own
attention. Friends, believe the Good News! In Jesus Christ, we
are forgiven.
* EXHORTATION
Be enlightened by all that God commands. Your spirit will be
revived by God's law and you will find reward in the keeping of
the commandments.
* PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let our zeal for your house, Lord Jesus, be exceeded only by our
desire to be pure in heart and thus enabled to see you in your
ultimate glory. Amen.
* PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
God of wisdom, we praise your name. Christ of the cross, we give
thanks for your loving and forgiving death for our sins.
Purifying Spirit, we celebrate the liberation from our guilt as
you renew and revive our spirits. We are humbled by the dignity
to which you call us despite our faults and failing. Thanks be
to you, O God. Amen.
* PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Your house, O God, is meant to be a house of prayer. May nothing
we do here be inappropriate to that purpose but be supportive of
your purposes in Jesus Christ. Amen.
* PSALM 19:1-14
The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them;
and nothing is hid from its heat.
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul;
the decrees of the LORD are sure, making wise the simple;
the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
But who can detect their errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be
acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
