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Brandy is a twelve-year...

Illustration
Fifth Sunday in Lent - B
John 12:20-33
Brandy is a twelve-year-old girl who lives in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Having saved for several months she had come up with sixty dollars. Her mother added thirty more, giving her a total of ninety dollars. That was the amount she needed to get the used violin that she had seen at an area pawn shop. Bringing it to school for her music lesson, she proudly showed her teacher the instrument that she had saved so long to get. The teacher noticed a number on the back of the violin and checking, discovered that the violin had been stolen from the school system. The school took back the instrument.
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Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:

The Church of Christ

Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority

The local community

Those who suffer

The communion of saints


These responses may be used:


Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
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Lord, graciously hear us.

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With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
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Whoever does not work should not eat!
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