Second Sunday In Lent
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series IV, Cycle A
Hymns
The God Of Abraham Praise (NCH24, UM116, PH488)
Unto The Hills We Lift (NCH466, CBH169, PH234)
Sing Praise To God, Who Reigns Above (PH483,UM126)
God Our Author And Creator (NCH530)
Dearest Jesus, We Are Here (PH493)
Like The Murmur Of The Dove's Song (PH314, UM544)
Christ Upon The Mountain Peak (CBH232, UM260, PH74)
O Wondrous Light, O Vision Fair (NCH184, UM258, PH75)
Anthems
I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes, Leo Sowerby, H. W. Gray
Lenten Meditation, Paul McKleen, handbells
Over All/Sobre Todos, Michael Jothen
God So Loved The World, John Horman
The theme found in scripture is "faith" - faith in God when you cannot understand what is being asked of you.
Call to Worship
Leader: Yahweh told Abram to leave his own country and go where God asked of him.
People: (Singing) The God of Abraham praise, all praised be his name.
Leader: I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, make your name great, so you will be a blessing.
People: (Singing) Who was and is and is to be and still the same.
Leader: So Abram went, as the Lord had told him.
People: (Singing) The one eternal God, the one that now appears.
Leader: Let us worship the God of Abram.
People: (Singing) The first, the last, beyond all thought, for timeless years.
Opening Hymn
The God Of Abraham Praise
Prayer of Invocation
Gracious God, give us the faith of Abraham, who didn't ask "why" when you told him to leave his home. Give us faith to "go where you send us," and do what you ask of us, and even to be able just to hear what you are telling us. Help us in this time of worship to open our eyes, ears, heart, and mind to your Word, so that our faith may be increased. Help us to be faithful people so that the promise you have given us may rest on grace, that we may be benefactors of your grace in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Scripture Readings
Genesis 12:1--4a; Romans 4:1--5, 13--17; John 3:1--17: Read Genesis 12:1--4a to set the mood for the theme of faith - a reminder of what Abraham did. Then read Romans 4:1--5, 13--17. It is confusing but helps reiterate what Abraham did. Finish with John 3:1--17, and do this as a conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus. Props would consist of a table with two chairs, or simply a couple of comfortable low chairs, depending on what can be seen in your sanctuary. Possible script:
Narrator: Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. (Nicodemus might be wearing a clerical collar and all black) He came to Jesus (Dressed to look like himself) by night - so as to not be seen - (The two men sit down) and said to him.
Nicodemus: Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.
Jesus: Truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.
Nicodemus: (Looks amazed and confused) How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter into his mother's womb and be born a second time?
Jesus: I tell you that no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the spirit is spirit. (Nicodemus gets up and walks away from Jesus, looking really confused) Don't be amazed that I said to you, "You must be born from above." (Jesus gets up and follows Nicodemus, puts a hand on his shoulder) The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you don't know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.
Nicodemus: (To Jesus, with amazement) How can these things be?
Jesus: (Becoming a little impatient) Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you don't believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. (Puts arm around shoulder of Nicodemus) For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. (The two of them begin walking down the center aisle) God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (Go out of the sanctuary)
Call to Offering
I lift my eyes to the hills - from where will my help come? Our help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Generously may we give back of what we earn to our God who is our help.
Prayer of Dedication
O God, the psalmist tells us that you are our keeper. So much of the world needs our help. Help us to work at your right hand to keep the world at peace. May our gifts today be used to achieve your goals. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Benediction (based on Psalm 121)
Leader: The Lord is your keeper; Yahweh is your shade at your right hand.
People: The sun shall not strike us by day, or the moon by night.
Leader: Yahweh will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
People: Yahweh will keep our going out and our coming in from this time on and forevermore. Amen.
The God Of Abraham Praise (NCH24, UM116, PH488)
Unto The Hills We Lift (NCH466, CBH169, PH234)
Sing Praise To God, Who Reigns Above (PH483,UM126)
God Our Author And Creator (NCH530)
Dearest Jesus, We Are Here (PH493)
Like The Murmur Of The Dove's Song (PH314, UM544)
Christ Upon The Mountain Peak (CBH232, UM260, PH74)
O Wondrous Light, O Vision Fair (NCH184, UM258, PH75)
Anthems
I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes, Leo Sowerby, H. W. Gray
Lenten Meditation, Paul McKleen, handbells
Over All/Sobre Todos, Michael Jothen
God So Loved The World, John Horman
The theme found in scripture is "faith" - faith in God when you cannot understand what is being asked of you.
Call to Worship
Leader: Yahweh told Abram to leave his own country and go where God asked of him.
People: (Singing) The God of Abraham praise, all praised be his name.
Leader: I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, make your name great, so you will be a blessing.
People: (Singing) Who was and is and is to be and still the same.
Leader: So Abram went, as the Lord had told him.
People: (Singing) The one eternal God, the one that now appears.
Leader: Let us worship the God of Abram.
People: (Singing) The first, the last, beyond all thought, for timeless years.
Opening Hymn
The God Of Abraham Praise
Gracious God, give us the faith of Abraham, who didn't ask "why" when you told him to leave his home. Give us faith to "go where you send us," and do what you ask of us, and even to be able just to hear what you are telling us. Help us in this time of worship to open our eyes, ears, heart, and mind to your Word, so that our faith may be increased. Help us to be faithful people so that the promise you have given us may rest on grace, that we may be benefactors of your grace in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Scripture Readings
Genesis 12:1--4a; Romans 4:1--5, 13--17; John 3:1--17: Read Genesis 12:1--4a to set the mood for the theme of faith - a reminder of what Abraham did. Then read Romans 4:1--5, 13--17. It is confusing but helps reiterate what Abraham did. Finish with John 3:1--17, and do this as a conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus. Props would consist of a table with two chairs, or simply a couple of comfortable low chairs, depending on what can be seen in your sanctuary. Possible script:
Narrator: Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. (Nicodemus might be wearing a clerical collar and all black) He came to Jesus (Dressed to look like himself) by night - so as to not be seen - (The two men sit down) and said to him.
Nicodemus: Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.
Jesus: Truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.
Nicodemus: (Looks amazed and confused) How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter into his mother's womb and be born a second time?
Jesus: I tell you that no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the spirit is spirit. (Nicodemus gets up and walks away from Jesus, looking really confused) Don't be amazed that I said to you, "You must be born from above." (Jesus gets up and follows Nicodemus, puts a hand on his shoulder) The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you don't know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.
Nicodemus: (To Jesus, with amazement) How can these things be?
Jesus: (Becoming a little impatient) Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you don't believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. (Puts arm around shoulder of Nicodemus) For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. (The two of them begin walking down the center aisle) God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (Go out of the sanctuary)
Call to Offering
I lift my eyes to the hills - from where will my help come? Our help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Generously may we give back of what we earn to our God who is our help.
Prayer of Dedication
O God, the psalmist tells us that you are our keeper. So much of the world needs our help. Help us to work at your right hand to keep the world at peace. May our gifts today be used to achieve your goals. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Benediction (based on Psalm 121)
Leader: The Lord is your keeper; Yahweh is your shade at your right hand.
People: The sun shall not strike us by day, or the moon by night.
Leader: Yahweh will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
People: Yahweh will keep our going out and our coming in from this time on and forevermore. Amen.