Second Sunday In Lent
Worship
Lectionary Worship Aids
Series VI, Cycle A
Words Of Assurance
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
Pastoral Prayer
Eternal Spirit, whom we could not seek unless you had first sought us, give us responsive hearts today. Unless you come down the little stairways of our lives into the humble place where we abide, we shall miss you. We pray not for a change in you, but in ourselves. Make us receptive to your presence. Make us sensitive to all that is noblest in our own lives through which you come to us. Make us attentive to the still, small voice by which you speak to us. Give us for the reward of our worship this morning another hour of communion with you, from which we shall go forth knowing that we have been in your presence.
Speak to us through conscience. Let some authoritative word of righteousness come to some heart here that needs it. Startle us out of our complacency. Summon us to ideals that we have forgotten. Refresh us with the memory of knightly hours when we dedicated ourselves to things worth living and dying for. O Spirit of the living God, challenge our consciences.
Speak to us through our ambitions. Shame us from low motives of greed and selfish acquisition. Help us to set our hearts once more on things above where Christ dwells. Lift us up to dream nobler things for our world, and send some young lives from this place, we beseech you, to consecrate their strength and their minds to the building of the kingdom of God.
Our Father, we pray for our church. Let us not become content with present blessings or accomplishments. Lord, we are yours -- may we, therefore, remain restless until everyone is found whom you desire in your flock.
All this we pray in the Spirit of Christ. Amen.
Benediction
If you have heard God's claim upon your life, respond in faith, receiving with joy his promise, and yielding your whole being to his transforming power; and go in peace in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
Pastoral Prayer
Eternal Spirit, whom we could not seek unless you had first sought us, give us responsive hearts today. Unless you come down the little stairways of our lives into the humble place where we abide, we shall miss you. We pray not for a change in you, but in ourselves. Make us receptive to your presence. Make us sensitive to all that is noblest in our own lives through which you come to us. Make us attentive to the still, small voice by which you speak to us. Give us for the reward of our worship this morning another hour of communion with you, from which we shall go forth knowing that we have been in your presence.
Speak to us through conscience. Let some authoritative word of righteousness come to some heart here that needs it. Startle us out of our complacency. Summon us to ideals that we have forgotten. Refresh us with the memory of knightly hours when we dedicated ourselves to things worth living and dying for. O Spirit of the living God, challenge our consciences.
Speak to us through our ambitions. Shame us from low motives of greed and selfish acquisition. Help us to set our hearts once more on things above where Christ dwells. Lift us up to dream nobler things for our world, and send some young lives from this place, we beseech you, to consecrate their strength and their minds to the building of the kingdom of God.
Our Father, we pray for our church. Let us not become content with present blessings or accomplishments. Lord, we are yours -- may we, therefore, remain restless until everyone is found whom you desire in your flock.
All this we pray in the Spirit of Christ. Amen.
Benediction
If you have heard God's claim upon your life, respond in faith, receiving with joy his promise, and yielding your whole being to his transforming power; and go in peace in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
