Faith & Worship Faith & Worship

Liturgy - Lent


The First Sunday in Lent

(Use all or part, add hymns, readings etc as you see fit)


Opening Prayer

Into your presence we come, Father God as your children have done throughout the centuries. In vast Cathedrals, parish Churches, Chapels, homes, warehouses, converted cinemas, in lonely isolated places. Alone or gathered together with others, your Church is wherever your people meet together in worship, in fellowship and in prayer.
Your presence is discernable wherever your Spirit is allowed to enter
All: Be with us now, loving Father

Into your presence we come, Father God, mindful of our own failings; our thoughts, words and actions that have shown nothing of your love
All: Forgive us, loving Father

Into your presence we come, Father God; remembering the sacrifice of your Son on a cruel cross so that we might know freedom from the guilt of sin, and be made right again with our Creator.
All: Thank you, loving Father

 

A Psalm
(These verses from Psalm 91 are effective when read by three persons, but can equally be shared between two)

 

A - He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

B - I will say of the LORD,

C - "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

A - If you make the Most High your dwelling— even the LORD, who is my refuge-

B - Then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.

C - For he will command his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways;

A - They will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

B - You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

C "Because he loves me," says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.”

A - He will call upon me, and I will answer him;

B - I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him.

C - With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

 

Confession and Forgiveness


‘Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord” – and you forgave the guilt of my sin.’
Psalm 32:5


Love
Has its source in you
Creator God
Flows from you like an ocean
into a world as unyielding
as any shoreline cliff
And like the ocean
which batters
erodes
and wears away
even the hardest stone
your love persists
finds cracks and inlets
in hardened hearts
flows inside and works a miracle.
Who would think that water
was more powerful than granite
love mightier
than the hardest heart
Thank you, Creator God
for the power of your love

 

The Lord’s Prayer

We say together the words of the Lord's Prayer.
All: Our Father…


Reading - Luke 4:1-13 - The Temptation of Jesus

 

Circle us, Lord
Circle us with the light of your presence within this dark world
Enable us to be overcomers of fear and temptation
Enable us to be victors over sin and despair
Enable us to become that which you would desire
(Silent prayer)
Lord of creation, Lord of Salvation
ALL: Circle us with the light of your presence

Circle us, Lord
Circle our family within the shelter of your outstretched arms
Protect them in each moment of their daily lives
Protect them in the decisions that they face
Protect their homes and relationships
(Silent prayer)
Lord of creation, Lord of Salvation
ALL: Circle our families with the light of your presence

Circle us, Lord
Circle this world with the joy of your Salvation
Where there is sickness and disease bring healing
Where there is hunger and despair bring hope
Where there is torture and oppression bring release
(Silent prayer)
Lord of creation, Lord of Salvation
ALL: Circle this world with the light of your presence

 

Affirmation


For each step that we might take
Be our guide, O Lord of life
For each load that we might bear
Be our strength, O Lord of life
For each mountain we might face
Be our power, O Lord of life
For each river that might impede
Be our safety, O Lord of life
For each place where we might rest
Be our peace, O Lord of life
For each sunrise and sunset
Be our joy, O Lord of life


Faith & Worship

Faith and Worship

©John Birch · Prayers written by the author may be copied freely for worship. If reproduced elsewhere please acknowledge author/website
Privacy Policy · Links · Author · Donate