5th Sunday in LentLENT CALL TO WORSHIP P: People of the covenant: God does not remember us according to our sins and transgressions. C: God remembers us according to God’s own steadfast love! P: The God of our salvation teaches us right paths and leads us in truth. C: All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness; we put our trust in God. CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS P: Let us pray for the cleansing of our hearts, confessing our sins to the One whose mercy is everlasting. Silence for personal reflection P: Redeeming God, C: we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart, and have not loved our neighbors as we ought; we have strayed from your commandments. Do not remember our sins, but forgive our iniquities, that we may fix our eyes on you and sin no more, through Christ our Lord. Amen. P: Here is God’s grace: Out of love for the whole world, God breaks every snare of sin, washes away our wrongs, and restores the promise of life through + Jesus Christ. You are forgiven in the name of our Messiah. C: Amen. HYMN “As the Grains of Wheat” PRAYER OF THE DAY P: Holy God, by the cross and resurrection of Jesus, you lift the suffering world toward hope and transformation and open the way to eternal salvation. As we move ever closer to the passion of Christ, may your law of love be written on our hearts as he draws all people to himself revealing your love for the world. C: Amen. READINGS Hebrew Bible Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34 31The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. 33But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more. Gospel: John 12:20-33 20Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor. 27“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. 31Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. SERMON HYMN “Now the Green Blade Rises” PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION P: Trusting in God’s promise to reconcile all things, let us pray for the church, the well-being of creation, and a world in need. P: God of the covenant, through the church you draw us into community. We give thanks for the means of grace around which we gather. Inspire writers, musicians, and artists whose creative gifts adorn our worship. Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. P: God of all that exists, you lavish the earth with extravagant beauty. Preserve the rich and complex diversity of living things. Support local and national efforts to protect the environment for future generations. Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. P: God of the nations, you desire peace for all people. Defend those who challenge oppression and expose corruption. Support advocates for human rights, social justice, and the welfare of children. Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. P: God, you restore what is broken. We pray for anyone experiencing estrangement, conflict, or abuse in families or intimate relationships. Protect and comfort all who are vulnerable. Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. P: God of every time and place, you are with us during our times of struggle. We lift up in prayer Julie, Karla, Stephanie, Cammie, Nancy, Beverly, Micala, Murlene, and Brian.. Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. P: God of promise, we give thanks for the saints whose faith inspires us. Grant us faith to trust in your everlasting love. Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. P: Accompany us on our journey, God of grace, and receive the prayers of our hearts, through Jesus Christ, our Savior. C: Amen. LENT OFFERING PRAYER Financial gifts may be sent to the church. During Lent we are collecting bottles of unscented hand lotion for local residents of Senior facilities. P: God our provider, you have not fed us with bread alone, but with words of grace and life. Bless us and these your gifts, which we receive from your bounty, through Jesus Christ our Lord. C: Amen. LORD’S PRAYER Sung by Andy Williams BENEDICTION from St. Patrick P: Christ with you, Christ before you, Christ behind you, Christ within you, Christ below you, Christ above you, Christ on your right, Christ on your left, Christ when you lie down, Christ when you stand up, Christ in the heart of every person who thinks of you, Christ in the mouth of every person who speaks of you, Christ in the eye that sees you, Christ in the ear that hears you. C: Amen. HYMN “Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing” CHARGE P: Go And...Be Intentional! So that you can better love God and your neighbor. C: Thanks be to God. Printed by permission oneliscense.net A-717495
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AuthorRev. Lori E.L. Kitzing Archives
April 2024
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