click here for a printable copy of the 2020 Lent Liturgy
GATHERING
ENTRANCE
REFLECTION
For God so loves the world
That she gives us awe,
Shivers on our arms,
Shooting stars.
For God so loves the world
That God gives us
Chrysalis to butterfly,
Horizon lines,
The ability to feel sore
After good work.
For God so loves the world
That he gives us
The day’s first light,
Ancient stories,
The ocean inside a shell.
For God so loves the world
That they give us
Whimsy,
And attention,
Righteous anger,
Winged birds,
Our steps that
Can be heard
Together.
Laura Martin, Associate Pastor
Rock Spring Congregational
United Church of Christ, Arlington, Va.
Used by permission
CANDLE LIGHTING
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Holy Creator of the Universe
we are like dry bones in the desert,
waiting for your life giving breath.
People: Gather us together and
breathe into us that we might live.
Leader: Abundant Spring of Living Water,
you gave water from a rock
to your thirsty people in the desert.
People: Give us your living water
so we will never be thirsty again.
Leader: Eternal Pregnant Mystery,
You have promised us new life –
A life born of the spirit.
All: How can these things be?
OPENING PRAYER
HYMN
WORD FOR THE CHILDREN
SONG AS THE CHILDREN LEAVE FOR CLASS
Jesus loves us as we grow,
meets us on the paths we go,
keeps us safe and keeps us free,
helps us learn who we should be.
Yes, Jesus loves us,
Yes, Jesus helps us,
Yes, Jesus shows us
the best way we can go.
SILENCE
PRAYERS
CONFESSION
Leader: Eternal Creator, every day you fill the world
with shooting stars, with birds and butterflies,
with oceans and mountains, with fields and flowers.
People: How can it be that sometimes
we get so caught up in fear and frustration
that we do not notice
the everyday wonders of creation?
Leader: Eternal Spirit, every day you fill us
with whimsy and attention and righteous anger.
People: How can it be that sometimes
we get so caught up in politics and protest
that we don’t even hear the
sound of our own footsteps?
Leader: Eternal Teacher, how can it be
that you love us every day,
even when we ignore your command
to love one another?
All: Holy One, Holy Three, forgive us
when we forget that you love the world into being.
INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION
ASSURANCE
Leader: The One who loves the world into being
gives us our lives,
sustains us through hardship,
and forgives us
even when we forget the wonders that surround us.
All: Amen.
THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE
INTERCESSION AND PETITION
COMMITMENT
All: O Holy One, we come today
to claim our relationship with you.
We pray for the commitment to grow together,
sharing the gifts you give us with others
here and in the wider world.
Forgive us for the hurt we have inflicted,
and help us forgive those who have hurt us.
Give us strength and discipline
to nurture our relationship with you;
to care for every part of your creation;
to foster justice and be in solidarity with those in need;
to work to end all war, and violence, and discord;
and to respond joyfully when you call,
freely giving our selves as you have shown the way.
We open our hearts to you and your creation
in the name of Jesus, who is the Christ. Amen.
HYMN
THE WORD
SCRIPTURE
SERMON
SILENT REFLECTION
OFFERING
COMMUNION
PREPARATION
Leader 1: This is the table of the Heavenly Feast,
the joyful celebration of the people of God.
Leader 2: We gather now as one body, joined around the table.
Here we celebrate God’s presence among us
united in Christ’s spirit, broken and whole all at once;
All: Nourished and hungry, loved and loving,
sinner and forgiven; we make one circle of knowing,
believing, rejoicing, being,
as God lights and rests among us.
GREAT THANKSGIVING
Leader 1: Gracious God, Mother and Father of All,
we give you thanks for your presence
in every part of this creation,
from the day’s first light to the depths of the night.
People: We give you thanks for Jesus,
who walks with us through the depths of darkness
and the intensity of light.
Leader 2: We give you thanks for your Holy Spirit,
the very breath of your being,
that supports and sustains our being.
All: We give you thanks for your Holy Church,
where your nurturing love can be shared
and the wounds of life healed.
BLESSING THE ELEMENTS
Leader 1: Christ invites everyone to eat the bread of life,
to drink the cup of the new covenant.
Leader 2: Jesus said, I am the bread of life.
You who come to me shall never hunger,
You who believe in me shall never thirst.
Leader 1: On the night he gave himself up, Jesus took bread,
and after giving thanks to God, broke it and said,
This is my body,
broken for the healing of the world.
Whenever you eat it, do so remembering me.
Leader 2: After supper, Jesus took the cup and said,
This is the cup of the new covenant,
poured out for you and for all.
Whenever you drink it, do so remembering me.
All: O Holy One, send down your Spirit
that these gifts of grain and grape,
and work of human hands
may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Unite us with Christ forever
and bring us with the whole creation
to your eternal realm.
SHARE THE ELEMENTS
If you do not wish to receive the elements today you are welcome to join the circle and allow them to pass, or remain in your seat. We serve grape juice in our cups.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND DEDICATION
All: God of abundance and mercy,
we give joyful thanks
for your eternal love and healing presence
in our celebration of bread and cup.
Bless this body of Christ
that we may attend faithfully
to our call to be your servants,
with each other and throughout the world. Amen.
SHARED REFLECTIONS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
HYMN
BENEDICTION
Leader: Let us go out into the world,
giving thanks for the wonders of creation
and giving our lives to the work
of repairing the world together.
In the name of the Holy One –
Creator, Teacher, Spirit –
let us greet one another with signs of peace.
All: Amen.
