Fourth Sunday In Lent
Worship
Lectionary Worship Aids
Series VI, Cycle C
Theme: The Israelites Celebrated Passover Before Entering The Promised Land
Call To Worship
Leader: Happy are those whose sins are forgiven.
People: The Lord will forgive all our sins when we confess them.
Leader: The Lord will teach us the way we should go and advise us.
People: We will be glad and rejoice because of what the Lord has done. We will shout for joy. Amen.
Collect
Almighty God, who led your people out of slavery and guided them as they wandered in the wilderness, we pray that we, too, may be freed from slavery to sin. Lead us as we wander in the wilderness seeking that Promised Land where your will is done on earth as it is in heaven. As the Israelites celebrated the Passover before occupying the Promised Land, may we, too, prepare ourselves in this Lenten season to remember that Christ died to free us from our sins and to show us the way to eternal life with you. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Heavenly Father, you have provided for our needs in good times and bad, but we have been ungrateful. Never satisfied, we have selfishly sought more than we need. Forgive us, Lord, and create in us a spirit of thankfulness that will lead us to share what we have with those less fortunate. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
O God, we do not bring these gifts out of our bounty, but from the first fruits of your blessings to us. Use them, we pray, to bless the lives of others, that they, too, may share in your bountiful love and care. Amen.
Hymns
"This Is The Feast Of Victory"
"Where He Leads Me"
"All My Hope Is Firmly Grounded"
Fourth Sunday In Lent
Second Lesson: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Theme: Friendship With God
Call To Worship
Leader: When a great flood of trouble comes rushing in, pray to the Lord in your time of need.
People: God is my hiding place; he will save me from trouble.
Leader: Sing aloud of your salvation, because God protects you.
People: Those who trust in the Lord are protected by his constant love.
Collect
Heavenly Father, through your Son, Jesus Christ, we have become your friends. Through our worship this day equip us to make others your friends also. We know it is your will that all human beings be reconciled to you through Jesus Christ. Help us, we pray, to be fitting messengers of that Good News. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Forgive us, Lord, for those times when we have judged others by human standards, for the occasions when we have forgotten that Christ came to make it possible for all human beings to become new persons. Through the power of your Holy Spirit make it possible for us to see all persons as your children that we might work and live together in harmony and peace. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
O Christ, we recognize you as the head of your Church, which is your Body here on earth. We are part of that Body, and so we bring these gifts to make it possible to continue your work or reconciliation here on earth. Bless them, we pray, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymns
"What A Friend We Have In Jesus"
"Leaning On The Everlasting Arms"
"Jesus, Priceless Treasure"
Fourth Sunday In Lent
Gospel Lesson: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
Theme: The Prodigal Comes Home
Call To Worship
Leader: While we wander far from home, the Father awaits our return.
People: I will get up and go to my Father and say, "Father, I have sinned, and I am no longer fit to be called your child."
Leader: Our Father will welcome us home with open arms and celebrate our return, because we were lost but now we have been found.
People: Praise be to God, our merciful Father, who forgives our sins and restores us to wholeness. Amen.
Collect
Gracious God, our Father, we have all gone astray like lost sheep. We have been lured by the world to squander our blessings. Finally we have come to our senses, and we give you thanks and praise for welcoming us home with open arms. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Heavenly Father, there have been times when jealousy has overcome us. We have resented the good fortune of others, when our own faithful labors seem to go unnoticed. Forgive us, we pray, and help us to live in harmony with all your children. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
O God, accept these gifts, we pray, and use them and us to bring your lost children back home. In Jesus'Êname we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Come Back Quickly To The Lord"
"My God, I Love Thee"
"Softly And Tenderly Jesus Is Calling"
Call To Worship
Leader: Happy are those whose sins are forgiven.
People: The Lord will forgive all our sins when we confess them.
Leader: The Lord will teach us the way we should go and advise us.
People: We will be glad and rejoice because of what the Lord has done. We will shout for joy. Amen.
Collect
Almighty God, who led your people out of slavery and guided them as they wandered in the wilderness, we pray that we, too, may be freed from slavery to sin. Lead us as we wander in the wilderness seeking that Promised Land where your will is done on earth as it is in heaven. As the Israelites celebrated the Passover before occupying the Promised Land, may we, too, prepare ourselves in this Lenten season to remember that Christ died to free us from our sins and to show us the way to eternal life with you. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Heavenly Father, you have provided for our needs in good times and bad, but we have been ungrateful. Never satisfied, we have selfishly sought more than we need. Forgive us, Lord, and create in us a spirit of thankfulness that will lead us to share what we have with those less fortunate. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
O God, we do not bring these gifts out of our bounty, but from the first fruits of your blessings to us. Use them, we pray, to bless the lives of others, that they, too, may share in your bountiful love and care. Amen.
Hymns
"This Is The Feast Of Victory"
"Where He Leads Me"
"All My Hope Is Firmly Grounded"
Fourth Sunday In Lent
Second Lesson: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Theme: Friendship With God
Call To Worship
Leader: When a great flood of trouble comes rushing in, pray to the Lord in your time of need.
People: God is my hiding place; he will save me from trouble.
Leader: Sing aloud of your salvation, because God protects you.
People: Those who trust in the Lord are protected by his constant love.
Collect
Heavenly Father, through your Son, Jesus Christ, we have become your friends. Through our worship this day equip us to make others your friends also. We know it is your will that all human beings be reconciled to you through Jesus Christ. Help us, we pray, to be fitting messengers of that Good News. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Forgive us, Lord, for those times when we have judged others by human standards, for the occasions when we have forgotten that Christ came to make it possible for all human beings to become new persons. Through the power of your Holy Spirit make it possible for us to see all persons as your children that we might work and live together in harmony and peace. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
O Christ, we recognize you as the head of your Church, which is your Body here on earth. We are part of that Body, and so we bring these gifts to make it possible to continue your work or reconciliation here on earth. Bless them, we pray, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymns
"What A Friend We Have In Jesus"
"Leaning On The Everlasting Arms"
"Jesus, Priceless Treasure"
Fourth Sunday In Lent
Gospel Lesson: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
Theme: The Prodigal Comes Home
Call To Worship
Leader: While we wander far from home, the Father awaits our return.
People: I will get up and go to my Father and say, "Father, I have sinned, and I am no longer fit to be called your child."
Leader: Our Father will welcome us home with open arms and celebrate our return, because we were lost but now we have been found.
People: Praise be to God, our merciful Father, who forgives our sins and restores us to wholeness. Amen.
Collect
Gracious God, our Father, we have all gone astray like lost sheep. We have been lured by the world to squander our blessings. Finally we have come to our senses, and we give you thanks and praise for welcoming us home with open arms. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Heavenly Father, there have been times when jealousy has overcome us. We have resented the good fortune of others, when our own faithful labors seem to go unnoticed. Forgive us, we pray, and help us to live in harmony with all your children. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
O God, accept these gifts, we pray, and use them and us to bring your lost children back home. In Jesus'Êname we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Come Back Quickly To The Lord"
"My God, I Love Thee"
"Softly And Tenderly Jesus Is Calling"
