Faith & Worship Faith & Worship

Liturgy - Lent


The Fifth Sunday in Lent

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


Opening Prayer

As your family we gather here today
Not because we have to, but because we want to.
We are here to offer you our worship, our prayers
and our lives in service to you and to our neighbour.
We have as our example your Son
who chose not to rule but to serve
Who gave of himself and you a love so strong
that it flowed like a river from his hands and his heart


A Psalm
(These verses from Psalm 119 are effective when read by three persons, but can equally be shared between two)


A - How can a young man keep his way pure?

B - By living according to your word.

C - I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.

A - I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

B - Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees.

C - With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.

A - I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.

B - I meditate on your precepts

C - and consider your ways.

A - I delight in your decrees;

B - I will not neglect your word.

 

Confession and Forgiveness

(A moment or two of quiet where we might make our silent confession to God)

Look upon us, O Lord,
and let all the darkness of our souls vanish before the beams of thy
brightness.
Fill us with holy love, and open to us the treasures of thy wisdom.
All our desire is known unto thee, therefore perfect what thou hast begun,
and what thy Spirit has awakened us to ask in prayer.
We seek thy face,
turn thy face unto us and show us thy glory.
Then shall our longing be satisfied,
and our peace shall be perfect.

(Augustine, 354 - 430)


For those whose lives are broken by distress
ALL: May the God of healing restore you

For those whose lives are broken by fear
ALL: May the God of healing restore you

For those whose lives are broken by anger
ALL: May the God of healing restore you

For those whose lives are broken by pain
ALL: May the God of healing restore you

For those whose lives are broken by illness
ALL: May the God of healing restore you

For those whose lives are broken by sin
ALL: May the God of healing restore you

God of healing
gently touch these lives
with your Spirit
Bring warmth and comfort
life and wholeness
restoration
into fractured lives
and souls

 

The Lord’s Prayer

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



Reading - John 12:1-11 - Jesus Anointed at Bethany

Father God, in whose love we live and move, we pray for a world
crying out to feel loved, wanted, cherished and unique.
ALL: Heavenly Father, source of all love

We pray for a world torn apart by conflict and war.
A world that lives uneasily in a climate of fear
with no clear vision for future days
ALL: Heavenly Father, source of all hope

We pray for a world that thinks less of others than of self.
A world where division between nations, race, religion
neighbour and family leads to distrust
ALL: Heavenly Father, source of all peace

We pray for a world that is short on happiness,
too busy to enjoy this world you have created,
too preoccupied with living to appreciate life.
ALL: Heavenly Father, source of all joy

We pray for a world where spiritual longing is satisfied
by fashionable notions and temporary solutions
with no thought for tomorrow.
ALL: Heavenly Father, source of our Salvation

We pray for a world that needs to know your love, your hope,
your peace, your joy and Salvation. A world that needs to know
it is special, unique and is uniquely loved by a Heavenly Father.

 

Affirmation

In our waking and arising
be the first thought that enters our head
In our eating and drinking
be the first thought that enters our head
In our walking and journeying
be the first thought that enters our head
In our working and serving
be the first thought that enters our head
In our sowing and harvesting
be the first thought that enters our head
In our rejoicing and sorrowing
be the first thought that enters our head
In our resting and sleeping
be the first thought that enters our head

 


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
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