Third Sunday in Lent
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series IV, Cycle B
Call To Worship
Psalm 19:1-2
Leader:
The heavens declare the glory of God;
People:
The skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Leader:
Day after day they pour forth speech;
People:
Night after night they display knowledge.
Leader:
Your word and your handiwork,
People:
Are all around us,
Leader:
Speaking clearly your wisdom and truth.
People:
God of glory, we acknowledge you.
Leader:
Let your praises resound
People:
In heart and voice.
This one reminds us that the heart of faith is not legalistically following laws or rules, but having our hearts changed.
Leader:
Lord, we come not to reaffirm a doctrine;
People:
Not to recite a prayer;
Leader:
Not to satisfy a holy obligation;
People:
Not to proclaim a religious affirmation.
Leader:
No. We come to worship the living God;
People:
To gather together
Leader:
In a place where our hearts can be prepared
People:
To be touched by the eternal;
Leader:
To enter into the mystery
People:
At the center of the universe;
Leader:
To experience God.
People:
We come to worship.
Leader:
We come to receive.
People:
We come to be changed.
Leader:
O God, come to us now.
People:
Yes, Lord, come.
Leader:
Amen!
Here we focus on the true purpose of Lent.
Leader:
The journey of Lent is a journey into the dark depths of the soul.
People:
To the place where sin lurks,
Leader:
And self-centeredness hides;
People:
To the residence of hatred,
Leader:
And bitterness of spirit,
People:
And desires we don't talk about.
Leader:
We take this journey not so that we can feel miserable,
People:
Or beat ourselves up,
Leader:
No, we take the journey so that we might be reminded just how desperately we need the light of the Lord,
People:
To show us the darkness in us,
Leader:
And how much we need the power of God
People:
To clean out all that ruins our lives.
Leader:
So let's enter the journey of Lent, not reluctantly,
People:
But with a spirit of anticipation
Leader:
Of what new thing God can do in us this Lent.
People:
Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Based on the first two commandments.
Leader:
The list is long.
People:
What list is that?
Leader:
The list of the false gods we worship.
People:
Such as?
Leader:
Our dream house, our retirement account,
People:
Our image,
Leader:
Our bodies, the man or woman of our dreams,
People:
Our next thrill,
Leader:
Our work,
People:
Our freedom to do as we choose,
Leader:
And a slew of others.
People:
Lord, we confess our sin
Leader:
Of putting "things" before you.
People:
Forgive us our sin,
Leader:
And teach us anew
People:
That there is no God but you.
Leader:
Amen.
This prayer is a bit more "conversational." It has a flavoring from Romans 7, where Paul discusses how hard sin is to overcome.
Leader:
Okay, so you've sinned, I've sinned, it is our common reality.
People:
We are sinners one and all.
Leader:
No matter what I do, I can't seem to stop sinning.
People:
Me, either.
Leader:
I want to stop, but then I think some terrible thought,
People:
Me, too.
Leader:
Or I say something awful to someone.
People:
Yes. Or I compromise with the world.
Leader:
So many little sins, in my words,
People:
And thoughts,
Leader:
And attitudes,
People:
And actions.
Leader:
So I guess the real question is, "What do we do about it?"
People:
Well, if we can't stop it, I guess we need forgiven for it.
Leader:
Right! Who is going to forgive all that sin?
People:
I've heard that we can have forgiveness through Jesus.
Leader:
Jesus?
People:
They say that he died on the cross and took all our sins away.
Leader:
How did he do that?
People:
I don't know, but they say he did. I've actually met some people who seem to be completely free of their sin.
Leader:
What people?
People:
They call themselves Christians.
Leader:
You know, I'd like to be free from my sin.
People:
Me, too.
Leader:
Maybe we should find out more about this Jesus guy.
People:
Maybe.
Assurance Of Pardon
Right to the point!
Leader:
Forgiveness is sure,
People:
And God's teaching is true.
Leader:
Let us receive the forgiveness,
People:
And surrender to the teaching. Amen.
Prayer For Illumination
Psalm 19:12-14
Holy Spirit, examine our hearts and shine your light on the darkness within. Forgive our hidden faults; our failures and offenses we are not aware of or chose to ignore. Keep us from being deliberately disobedient and allowing our selfishness to be in charge. Purify our lives by the light of your Word penetrating our hearts and minds. May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
This morning, the Pastoral Prayer asks our members to use a bit of body language to speak of their submission to God. As you begin the prayer ask your congregation to bow their heads as a sign of humility before our Creator; and to raise their hands as a sign of openness to God's truth which guides us into the way that we should go. You may even want to talk about posture as prayer. When the people have postured themselves, lead them in a short prayer.
Let us pray: Lord, we come before you with heads bowed in humility, for you are an awesome and overwhelming God. All praise, and glory, and honor to you our Maker. We come before you with hands raised high speaking of our willingness, and indeed our need, to know and follow your truth, for only your truth leads to right understanding and living. In this time of worship, and in this week to come, reveal to us your ways and fill us with the power needed to live accordingly. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Benediction
Psalm 19:7
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.
Let us go out into the world to live according to God's will and ways, so that the world will know his revival.
Hymns
Blood Will Never Lose Its Power, The
Calvary Covers It All
He Is Lord
His Way With Thee
Jesus Paid It All
Nothing But The Blood
There Is A Fountain
There Is Power In The Blood
We Are The Reason
When I Survey The Wondrous Cross
Contemporary Choruses
Everyday, Joel Houston
Holiness
Jesus, Lover Of My Soul, Daniel Grul and John Ezzy
Other Music
Mercy Came Running, Phillips, Craig, and Dean
When we are condemned by the law and our sin, mercy comes to the rescue.
Psalm 19:1-2
Leader:
The heavens declare the glory of God;
People:
The skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Leader:
Day after day they pour forth speech;
People:
Night after night they display knowledge.
Leader:
Your word and your handiwork,
People:
Are all around us,
Leader:
Speaking clearly your wisdom and truth.
People:
God of glory, we acknowledge you.
Leader:
Let your praises resound
People:
In heart and voice.
This one reminds us that the heart of faith is not legalistically following laws or rules, but having our hearts changed.
Leader:
Lord, we come not to reaffirm a doctrine;
People:
Not to recite a prayer;
Leader:
Not to satisfy a holy obligation;
People:
Not to proclaim a religious affirmation.
Leader:
No. We come to worship the living God;
People:
To gather together
Leader:
In a place where our hearts can be prepared
People:
To be touched by the eternal;
Leader:
To enter into the mystery
People:
At the center of the universe;
Leader:
To experience God.
People:
We come to worship.
Leader:
We come to receive.
People:
We come to be changed.
Leader:
O God, come to us now.
People:
Yes, Lord, come.
Leader:
Amen!
Here we focus on the true purpose of Lent.
Leader:
The journey of Lent is a journey into the dark depths of the soul.
People:
To the place where sin lurks,
Leader:
And self-centeredness hides;
People:
To the residence of hatred,
Leader:
And bitterness of spirit,
People:
And desires we don't talk about.
Leader:
We take this journey not so that we can feel miserable,
People:
Or beat ourselves up,
Leader:
No, we take the journey so that we might be reminded just how desperately we need the light of the Lord,
People:
To show us the darkness in us,
Leader:
And how much we need the power of God
People:
To clean out all that ruins our lives.
Leader:
So let's enter the journey of Lent, not reluctantly,
People:
But with a spirit of anticipation
Leader:
Of what new thing God can do in us this Lent.
People:
Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Based on the first two commandments.
Leader:
The list is long.
People:
What list is that?
Leader:
The list of the false gods we worship.
People:
Such as?
Leader:
Our dream house, our retirement account,
People:
Our image,
Leader:
Our bodies, the man or woman of our dreams,
People:
Our next thrill,
Leader:
Our work,
People:
Our freedom to do as we choose,
Leader:
And a slew of others.
People:
Lord, we confess our sin
Leader:
Of putting "things" before you.
People:
Forgive us our sin,
Leader:
And teach us anew
People:
That there is no God but you.
Leader:
Amen.
This prayer is a bit more "conversational." It has a flavoring from Romans 7, where Paul discusses how hard sin is to overcome.
Leader:
Okay, so you've sinned, I've sinned, it is our common reality.
People:
We are sinners one and all.
Leader:
No matter what I do, I can't seem to stop sinning.
People:
Me, either.
Leader:
I want to stop, but then I think some terrible thought,
People:
Me, too.
Leader:
Or I say something awful to someone.
People:
Yes. Or I compromise with the world.
Leader:
So many little sins, in my words,
People:
And thoughts,
Leader:
And attitudes,
People:
And actions.
Leader:
So I guess the real question is, "What do we do about it?"
People:
Well, if we can't stop it, I guess we need forgiven for it.
Leader:
Right! Who is going to forgive all that sin?
People:
I've heard that we can have forgiveness through Jesus.
Leader:
Jesus?
People:
They say that he died on the cross and took all our sins away.
Leader:
How did he do that?
People:
I don't know, but they say he did. I've actually met some people who seem to be completely free of their sin.
Leader:
What people?
People:
They call themselves Christians.
Leader:
You know, I'd like to be free from my sin.
People:
Me, too.
Leader:
Maybe we should find out more about this Jesus guy.
People:
Maybe.
Assurance Of Pardon
Right to the point!
Leader:
Forgiveness is sure,
People:
And God's teaching is true.
Leader:
Let us receive the forgiveness,
People:
And surrender to the teaching. Amen.
Prayer For Illumination
Psalm 19:12-14
Holy Spirit, examine our hearts and shine your light on the darkness within. Forgive our hidden faults; our failures and offenses we are not aware of or chose to ignore. Keep us from being deliberately disobedient and allowing our selfishness to be in charge. Purify our lives by the light of your Word penetrating our hearts and minds. May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
This morning, the Pastoral Prayer asks our members to use a bit of body language to speak of their submission to God. As you begin the prayer ask your congregation to bow their heads as a sign of humility before our Creator; and to raise their hands as a sign of openness to God's truth which guides us into the way that we should go. You may even want to talk about posture as prayer. When the people have postured themselves, lead them in a short prayer.
Let us pray: Lord, we come before you with heads bowed in humility, for you are an awesome and overwhelming God. All praise, and glory, and honor to you our Maker. We come before you with hands raised high speaking of our willingness, and indeed our need, to know and follow your truth, for only your truth leads to right understanding and living. In this time of worship, and in this week to come, reveal to us your ways and fill us with the power needed to live accordingly. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Benediction
Psalm 19:7
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.
Let us go out into the world to live according to God's will and ways, so that the world will know his revival.
Hymns
Blood Will Never Lose Its Power, The
Calvary Covers It All
He Is Lord
His Way With Thee
Jesus Paid It All
Nothing But The Blood
There Is A Fountain
There Is Power In The Blood
We Are The Reason
When I Survey The Wondrous Cross
Contemporary Choruses
Everyday, Joel Houston
Holiness
Jesus, Lover Of My Soul, Daniel Grul and John Ezzy
Other Music
Mercy Came Running, Phillips, Craig, and Dean
When we are condemned by the law and our sin, mercy comes to the rescue.
