THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT
Prayer
Psalms And Prayers For Congregational Participation
CALL TO WORSHIP
Approach God with reverence The place where you are standing is holy ground.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
GOD OF OUR ANCESTORS AND OUR GOD, FORGIVE OUR GRUMBLING ABOUT HARD TIMES. YOU HAVE PROVEN YOURSELF ABLE TO BRING YOUR PEOPLE OUT OF SLAVERY AND THROUGH MANY DIFFICULT EXPERIENCES FORGIVE ANY SEXUAL LAXITY OR OTHER APPETITES THAT ALLOW SUCH PASSIONS TO BECOME IDOLS THAT WE SERVE. PARDON ANY OVER-CONFIDENCE THAT SUCH PASSIONS CAN NOT BRING US DOWN; THROUGH YOUR TEMPTED BUT SINLESS SON, JESUS CHRIST. AMEN
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! God comes to free us from slavery to every passion. Friends, believe the Good News! IN JESUS CHRIST, WE ARE FORGIVEN.
EXHORTATION
Repent. God is patient but looks for the fruits of repentance.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
SAVE US, GOD OF THE LIVING, FROM ANY MISCONCEPTION THAT BECAUSE WE SURVIVE AND OTHERS MEET UNTIMELY DEATHS, THAT WE ARE MORE VIRTUOUS THAN THEY. WHETHER OUR LIVES ARE LONG OR SHORT, MAY THEY BE TRULY FRUITFUL, THROUGH THE SPIRIT OF JESUS CHRIST. AMEN
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
REVERENT THANKSGIVING IS OUR RESPONSE TO THE REVELATION OF YOURSELF, GOD OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB, AND THEIR WIVES. WE STAND IN AWE WITH MOSES BEFORE THE BUSH THAT BURNS BUT IS NOT CONSUMED. WE SING WITH WONDER AND GRATITUDE OF THE CROSS THAT TOWERS ABOVE THE WRECKS OF TIME. WE LIVE HOPEFULLY FOR THE SIGHT OF THE TREE WHOSE LEAVES ARE FOR THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. WE PRAISE YOU, LIBERATING GOD, SUFFERING CHRIST, UNIFYING SPIRIT. AMEN
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
HAVING FOUND NEW SPIRITUAL HEALTH IN YOUR HOUSE, HEAVENLY PHYSICIAN, USE US AND OUR OFFERINGS TO
SHARE YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS FOR HEALING AND HEALTH AMONG NEIGHBORS AND NATIONS, TO THE PRAISE OF YOUR NAME. AMEN
PSALM 103:1-13
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
AND ALL THAT IS WITHIN ME, BLESS HIS HOLY NAME.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
AND FORGET NOT ALL HIS BENEFITS.
He forgives all your sins
AND HEALS ALL YOUR INFIRMITIES;
He redeems your life from the grave
AND CROWNS YOU WITH MERCY AND LOVING-KINDNESS;
He satisfies you with good things,
AND YOUR YOUTH IS RENEWED LIKE AN EAGLE'S.
The Lord executes righteousness and judgment for all who are oppressed.
HE MADE HIS WAYS KNOWN TO MOSES AND HIS WORKS TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger and of great kindness.
HE WILL NOT ALWAYS ACCUSE US, NOR WILL HE KEEP HIS ANGER FOR EVER.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
NOR REWARDED US ACCORDING TO OUR WICKEDNESS.
For as the heavens are high above the earth, so is his mercy great upon those who fear him.
AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST, SO FAR HAS HE REMOVED OUR SINS FROM US.
Approach God with reverence The place where you are standing is holy ground.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
GOD OF OUR ANCESTORS AND OUR GOD, FORGIVE OUR GRUMBLING ABOUT HARD TIMES. YOU HAVE PROVEN YOURSELF ABLE TO BRING YOUR PEOPLE OUT OF SLAVERY AND THROUGH MANY DIFFICULT EXPERIENCES FORGIVE ANY SEXUAL LAXITY OR OTHER APPETITES THAT ALLOW SUCH PASSIONS TO BECOME IDOLS THAT WE SERVE. PARDON ANY OVER-CONFIDENCE THAT SUCH PASSIONS CAN NOT BRING US DOWN; THROUGH YOUR TEMPTED BUT SINLESS SON, JESUS CHRIST. AMEN
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! God comes to free us from slavery to every passion. Friends, believe the Good News! IN JESUS CHRIST, WE ARE FORGIVEN.
EXHORTATION
Repent. God is patient but looks for the fruits of repentance.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
SAVE US, GOD OF THE LIVING, FROM ANY MISCONCEPTION THAT BECAUSE WE SURVIVE AND OTHERS MEET UNTIMELY DEATHS, THAT WE ARE MORE VIRTUOUS THAN THEY. WHETHER OUR LIVES ARE LONG OR SHORT, MAY THEY BE TRULY FRUITFUL, THROUGH THE SPIRIT OF JESUS CHRIST. AMEN
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
REVERENT THANKSGIVING IS OUR RESPONSE TO THE REVELATION OF YOURSELF, GOD OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB, AND THEIR WIVES. WE STAND IN AWE WITH MOSES BEFORE THE BUSH THAT BURNS BUT IS NOT CONSUMED. WE SING WITH WONDER AND GRATITUDE OF THE CROSS THAT TOWERS ABOVE THE WRECKS OF TIME. WE LIVE HOPEFULLY FOR THE SIGHT OF THE TREE WHOSE LEAVES ARE FOR THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. WE PRAISE YOU, LIBERATING GOD, SUFFERING CHRIST, UNIFYING SPIRIT. AMEN
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
HAVING FOUND NEW SPIRITUAL HEALTH IN YOUR HOUSE, HEAVENLY PHYSICIAN, USE US AND OUR OFFERINGS TO
SHARE YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS FOR HEALING AND HEALTH AMONG NEIGHBORS AND NATIONS, TO THE PRAISE OF YOUR NAME. AMEN
PSALM 103:1-13
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
AND ALL THAT IS WITHIN ME, BLESS HIS HOLY NAME.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
AND FORGET NOT ALL HIS BENEFITS.
He forgives all your sins
AND HEALS ALL YOUR INFIRMITIES;
He redeems your life from the grave
AND CROWNS YOU WITH MERCY AND LOVING-KINDNESS;
He satisfies you with good things,
AND YOUR YOUTH IS RENEWED LIKE AN EAGLE'S.
The Lord executes righteousness and judgment for all who are oppressed.
HE MADE HIS WAYS KNOWN TO MOSES AND HIS WORKS TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger and of great kindness.
HE WILL NOT ALWAYS ACCUSE US, NOR WILL HE KEEP HIS ANGER FOR EVER.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
NOR REWARDED US ACCORDING TO OUR WICKEDNESS.
For as the heavens are high above the earth, so is his mercy great upon those who fear him.
AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST, SO FAR HAS HE REMOVED OUR SINS FROM US.
