The life-breathing God
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series II
Exegetical note: This passage from the early exilic period records the well-known (through song) "dry bones" vision and its interpretation. The vision itself, with its reference to body and breath, seems to key on the creation story in Genesis 2. If the interpretation (vv. 11ff.) is any indication, the death here is a figurative reference to the sorry plight of Israel, so that the vision speaks not to resurrection in the specific sense, but to God's power to breathe life into even hopeless causes.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 116)
Leader:
Let us love the God who hears our voices!
People:
LET US CALL UPON GOD AS LONG AS WE LIVE!
Leader:
Even when the throes of death and threats of hell surround us,
People:
GOD HEARS AND BREATHES NEW LIFE!
Collect
Life-breathing God, you fashioned dead clay into the first humans and gave new life to Ezekiel's dry bones. Bring vitality to us and our world: that, being given the new possibilities that only you can offer, we may at least glimpse the divine Reign of yours that is to come through the Christ. In his name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of hopeless causes, we confess that we often feel and act as though we were dead clay or dry bones that have never been touched by the life-giving benefits of your Christ or the revitalizing action of your Spirit. Forgive us, we pray, and fill us with life anew. Help us to overcome all of the death dealing tendencies and traits in our individual, family, social and political lives, and make us agents of your living and life-bearing gospel. In the name of the Bread of Life we pray. Amen
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Second Lesson: Romans 8:6-11
Theme:
Realized resurrection
Exegetical note: Paul here speaks of the life-giving power of the Spirit in relation to the idea of resurrection. But instead of connecting the specific resurrection of Jesus to the future, eschatological, general resurrection of the dead, as he often does, he ties it to the new life that the Christian believer may realize here and now in this life as a release from the "death" that results from devoting oneself to things of the flesh (i.e., of this world).
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 116)
Leader:
Gracious and righteous and merciful is God!
People:
GOD PRESERVES THE SIMPLE AND SAVES THE LOWLY!
Leader:
God has delivered our souls from death, our eyes from tears, and our feet from stumbling!
People:
GOD HAS MADE US WALK IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING!
Collect
God of boundless Spirit, you have declared in scripture and demonstrated in Jesus the power to bring life out of death. Revive us as well: that, the dead parts of our souls and lives thus resurrected, we may become living and breathing testimonies of your gracious ability to save. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of life-giving power, we acknowledge with the deepest regret the deadly hold that we allow the things of the world to have over us, and especially power, possessions, privilege, and prestige; and we admit the misery that we see and sow as a result. Forgive us, we pray, and help us to experience the spiritual resurrection that you offer us, not just after physical death, but during this life. Free us from all that entombs and enshrouds us, and makes us new creations after the example of Christ Jesus. In his holy name we pray. Amen
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Gospel:
John 11:(1-16) 17-45
Theme:
Jesus as life-giver
Exegetical note: John's account of Jesus' raising of Lazarus is in many ways a traditional miracle story. But the evangelist's placement of this event near the end of Jesus' earthly ministry and his addition of the dialogues and discourses give his own theological "spin" to the story. The key Christological assertion comes in Jesus' pronouncement in verses 25 and 26, which portray him as a life-giver, for both the dead and the living!
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 116)
Leader:
Let us offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving!
People:
LET US CALL UPON GOD'S NAME!
Leader:
Let us pledge ourselves to God in this congregation!
People:
IN THE COURTS OF THE HOUSE OF GOD LET US LIFT OUR VOICES IN PRAISE!
Collect
Great Creator God, you sent Jesus the Christ as a life-giver for the dead and the living. Apply his revitalizing benefits to us: that, resurrected and renewed by his death-defying powers, we may ourselves become channels of your regenerative power and love for the rest of the world. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Death-defying God, we sadly confess that we are all like Lazarus, dead and rotting in tombs, though ours are made of sin and constructed by ourselves. Forgive us our preoccupation with death, O God, which turns us into walking corpses and our world into a graveyard at best, and at worst a hell. Help us to feel in our own lives the resurrection of spirit that only you can bring, and to channel to others the new life that is only yours to give. In the miraculous name of Jesus the Christ we pray. Amen
Sixth Sunday in Lent
(When observed as the Sunday of the Passion)
First Lesson: Isaiah 50:4-9a
Theme:
The prophet's perilous profession
Exegetical note: This so-called Third Servant Song of Second Isaiah expresses the author's constant confidence in God despite the anger and abuse that he has had to endure, ostensibly at the hands of his fellow exiled Israelites, to whom his message of faith and hope sounds ridiculous. Yet, the Servant expresses both his determination to convey the message and his certainty of God's sustenance and eventual vindication.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 31)
Leader:
Let us seek refuge in God!
People:
MAY GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS DELIVER US!
Leader:
May God hear us and rescue us!
People:
MAY GOD BE OUR ROCK AND OUR RETREAT!
Collect
Steadfast God, you have always helped your servants to endure anger and abuse, harassment and hardship as they carried your word and will to the world. Sustain us as well: that, encouraged by your presence and power, we may be effective and unswerving witnesses of your grace and love. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Sustaining God, it grieves us to confess how inconsistently we show confidence in you, your power to save the world, and your promise to vindicate those who serve you and your Word; and how easily we are discouraged, distracted, and deterred from doing your will by the least little aggravation or abuse. Forgive us our undependability and lack of heart, O God, and inspire us again with the examples of the prophets and the Christ, who, confident of your promises, served you steadfastly. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 116)
Leader:
Let us love the God who hears our voices!
People:
LET US CALL UPON GOD AS LONG AS WE LIVE!
Leader:
Even when the throes of death and threats of hell surround us,
People:
GOD HEARS AND BREATHES NEW LIFE!
Collect
Life-breathing God, you fashioned dead clay into the first humans and gave new life to Ezekiel's dry bones. Bring vitality to us and our world: that, being given the new possibilities that only you can offer, we may at least glimpse the divine Reign of yours that is to come through the Christ. In his name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of hopeless causes, we confess that we often feel and act as though we were dead clay or dry bones that have never been touched by the life-giving benefits of your Christ or the revitalizing action of your Spirit. Forgive us, we pray, and fill us with life anew. Help us to overcome all of the death dealing tendencies and traits in our individual, family, social and political lives, and make us agents of your living and life-bearing gospel. In the name of the Bread of Life we pray. Amen
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Second Lesson: Romans 8:6-11
Theme:
Realized resurrection
Exegetical note: Paul here speaks of the life-giving power of the Spirit in relation to the idea of resurrection. But instead of connecting the specific resurrection of Jesus to the future, eschatological, general resurrection of the dead, as he often does, he ties it to the new life that the Christian believer may realize here and now in this life as a release from the "death" that results from devoting oneself to things of the flesh (i.e., of this world).
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 116)
Leader:
Gracious and righteous and merciful is God!
People:
GOD PRESERVES THE SIMPLE AND SAVES THE LOWLY!
Leader:
God has delivered our souls from death, our eyes from tears, and our feet from stumbling!
People:
GOD HAS MADE US WALK IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING!
Collect
God of boundless Spirit, you have declared in scripture and demonstrated in Jesus the power to bring life out of death. Revive us as well: that, the dead parts of our souls and lives thus resurrected, we may become living and breathing testimonies of your gracious ability to save. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of life-giving power, we acknowledge with the deepest regret the deadly hold that we allow the things of the world to have over us, and especially power, possessions, privilege, and prestige; and we admit the misery that we see and sow as a result. Forgive us, we pray, and help us to experience the spiritual resurrection that you offer us, not just after physical death, but during this life. Free us from all that entombs and enshrouds us, and makes us new creations after the example of Christ Jesus. In his holy name we pray. Amen
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Gospel:
John 11:(1-16) 17-45
Theme:
Jesus as life-giver
Exegetical note: John's account of Jesus' raising of Lazarus is in many ways a traditional miracle story. But the evangelist's placement of this event near the end of Jesus' earthly ministry and his addition of the dialogues and discourses give his own theological "spin" to the story. The key Christological assertion comes in Jesus' pronouncement in verses 25 and 26, which portray him as a life-giver, for both the dead and the living!
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 116)
Leader:
Let us offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving!
People:
LET US CALL UPON GOD'S NAME!
Leader:
Let us pledge ourselves to God in this congregation!
People:
IN THE COURTS OF THE HOUSE OF GOD LET US LIFT OUR VOICES IN PRAISE!
Collect
Great Creator God, you sent Jesus the Christ as a life-giver for the dead and the living. Apply his revitalizing benefits to us: that, resurrected and renewed by his death-defying powers, we may ourselves become channels of your regenerative power and love for the rest of the world. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Death-defying God, we sadly confess that we are all like Lazarus, dead and rotting in tombs, though ours are made of sin and constructed by ourselves. Forgive us our preoccupation with death, O God, which turns us into walking corpses and our world into a graveyard at best, and at worst a hell. Help us to feel in our own lives the resurrection of spirit that only you can bring, and to channel to others the new life that is only yours to give. In the miraculous name of Jesus the Christ we pray. Amen
Sixth Sunday in Lent
(When observed as the Sunday of the Passion)
First Lesson: Isaiah 50:4-9a
Theme:
The prophet's perilous profession
Exegetical note: This so-called Third Servant Song of Second Isaiah expresses the author's constant confidence in God despite the anger and abuse that he has had to endure, ostensibly at the hands of his fellow exiled Israelites, to whom his message of faith and hope sounds ridiculous. Yet, the Servant expresses both his determination to convey the message and his certainty of God's sustenance and eventual vindication.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 31)
Leader:
Let us seek refuge in God!
People:
MAY GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS DELIVER US!
Leader:
May God hear us and rescue us!
People:
MAY GOD BE OUR ROCK AND OUR RETREAT!
Collect
Steadfast God, you have always helped your servants to endure anger and abuse, harassment and hardship as they carried your word and will to the world. Sustain us as well: that, encouraged by your presence and power, we may be effective and unswerving witnesses of your grace and love. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Sustaining God, it grieves us to confess how inconsistently we show confidence in you, your power to save the world, and your promise to vindicate those who serve you and your Word; and how easily we are discouraged, distracted, and deterred from doing your will by the least little aggravation or abuse. Forgive us our undependability and lack of heart, O God, and inspire us again with the examples of the prophets and the Christ, who, confident of your promises, served you steadfastly. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen
