Lent Liturgy: Seek the Silence

Sanctuary lights dim, blinds down, candles in windows, all altar candles lighted;

This service assumes the entire community can come forward and form a circle for Communion. If this isn't possible perhaps you could form several large circles which would commune at the same time. You may also need to remove or move furniture if you can. For example we removed one altar rail and centered another in front of the altar so we had a kneeler for the confession, but could all easily gather around the altar for Communion. Folding chairs might be kept handy for any who cannot stand for any length of time;

Baptismal Font up front in the center aisle, lighted from behind;

Table with “Prayer Candles”(unlit votives), a few individual candles with which to light “Prayer Candles” on the left; labyrinth on floor by pulpit.

In this service let the “Silence” expand. Don’t rush. Give people time to “settle” into the silence and let it flow. Be sure to inform the Readers to take a minute and sit down between readings so people have time to reflect on the scripture.

Order for Worship

Lighting of Altar Candles

Music for Meditation & Prayer Candles:

During the Music for Meditation & Silence, worshipers may come forward to light Prayer Candles as a sign of their prayers.

Silence

When all have come forward to light a votive and returned to their seats, the Pastor and Assistant walk down aisle.

P: Listen to the silence. (pause/short silence)

Hear the Voice of all;

The still, small Voice.

C: The Voice of God.

Silence

A: Seek the silence. (pause/short silence)

Find the Source of all.

That still, small Voice.

C: The Voice of God.

Silence

P: Welcome the silence. (pause/short silence)

Live in the Center of all;

The still, small Voice.

C: The Voice of God.

Silence

Meditation Song: Nothing Can Trouble

Published in North America by GIA Publications, Inc.

(repeat as desired)

Nothing can trouble, ...

God alone fills us.

Silence

Stand

P: Lord of our hearts, God of our lives, hear our prayers: the sighs, the cries, the joys of our deepest thoughts.

C: We share all our thoughts with you, O God, knowing that you hear and answer us, providing us with what is best. Come, O God, and hear us now.

Prayers of the Church

Prayers for Healing & Forgiveness:

P: Lord of all, source of health and healing, we come to you with worries, concerns, fears, wrongs, and sins seeking your compassion, turning over to you all that separates us from you, God of our hectic busyness and petty obsessions, God of our secrecies and our defeats.

A: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Psalm 51:1-2

C: I come to you flawed and unclean, O God. Wash me and make me whole. Take all the darkness, the unrighteousness, the sinfulness I bring to you and forgive me.

Sit

Those who wish, may come forward with their written concerns/confessions and place them in the Baptismal Font.

Silence

When all have returned to their seats the pastor continues:

P: (spoken over music) Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.

C: Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. Psalm 51:9-12

.Response Song: Change My Heart, O God

Tune: CHANGE MY HEART

(entire song)

Change my heart, O God....

May I be like you.

P: (spoken over music) Hear our prayers, O God. Gather us to yourself.

C: I am enslaved.

In my desire to be free I have bound myself to evil.

A: We have cut ourselves off from you, O God.

C: Forgive me, O God, and I will be healed.

Response Song: Change My Heart, O God

Tune: CHANGE MY HEART

(last 8 bars only)

Change my heart, O God. ... May I be like you.

P: (spoken over music) Hear our prayers, O God. Look on us and heal us.

C: I am lost.

In my hurry to experience “reality” my life seems meaningless, a vague, insubstantial illusion.

A: We have cut ourselves off from you, O God.

C: Heal me, O God, and I will be whole.

Response Song: Change My Heart, O God

Tune: CHANGE MY HEART

(last 8 bars only)

Change my heart, O God. ... May I be like you.

P: (spoken over music) Hear our prayer, O God. Restore us to wholeness.

C: I am alone.

In my selfishness to be “me” I have distanced myself from strangers, friends, family, love ones.

A: We have cut ourselves off from you, O God.

C: Restore me, O God, and I will be renewed.

Response Song: Change My Heart, O God

Tune: CHANGE MY HEART

(last 8 bars only)

Change my heart, O God. ... May I be like you.

P: (spoken over music) Hear our prayer, O God. Renew our lives. Heal us.

C: I am ill.

In this world of brokenness my body and mind and spirit cry out in pain.

A: We have cut ourselves off from you, O God.

C: Renew me. Heal me, O God, for you are my only hope.

Response Song: Change My Heart, O God

Tune: CHANGE MY HEART

(entire song)

Change my heart, O God....

May I be like you.

Silence

Those who wish may come forward for a blessing for healing. When all have returned to their seats the Pastor continues.

P: Lord of all, source of health and healing, we trust in your forgiveness and loving kindness. When we are enslaved, give us wisdom and discernment. When we are lost, give us comfort and guidance. When we are alone, give us assurance and support. When we are ill, give us strength and healing. Bless us and grant us freedom from our suffering and distress.

C: Amen.

Stand

P: The Lord be with you.

C: And also with you.

P: Let us pray.

Prayer of the Day is spoken in unison (if possible)

1st Lesson

R: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

Silence

Psalm

R: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

Silence

2nd Lesson

R: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

Silence

Stand

Gospel Lesson

R: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

Sit

Silence

Message

Silence

Stand

Theme Song

Testimony of Faith:

Into the silence of the void the Creator spoke, and the world came into being. The Word of God in the vastness brought light from darkness, matter from nothing, flesh from dust, life from lifelessness.

In the quiet of a small town in Palestine the Word of God came to us. Even though of one being with the Creator, Jesus our Christ, taking on human form, was born, lived, and walked among us, speaking the words of life. He was crucified, died, and was buried. He rose from the dead and speaks to us today. He is the one who saves us from ourselves.

In the stillness of our souls the Spirit of God, who is one with the Creator and the Christ, whispers the Word, and calls us back to the Creator, back to the Christ, back to the wholeness of everlasting life in the unity of the Creator, Christ and Spirit.

Sit

Offering

Stand

Offering Song

Offering Prayer:

A: O God of our being, we give you thanks and praise for the life you have given us.

C: You have created us and restored us, blessing us with more than we can ever name or ever repay. We offer to you, O God, these tokens of love and gratitude: our time, our talents, our possessions. Use them and us as you will for we are yours. Amen.

Eucharist:

P: God of our commonality, God of our calmness, God of our triumphs, we rejoice and sing your praises for you have rescued us from the negligence of our busyness, the sins of our secrecy, the casualties of our obsessions, the bitterness of our defeats, giving us back our lives.

Through the death and resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ, you have won for us the restoration of our selves. In the bread and wine you have given us the wherewithal to receive the sustenance of true life.

For in the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus Christ, took the bread, and after giving thanks, blessed it, broke it, giving it to all to eat saying, “This is my body which is broken for you.”

After the supper, taking the cup, he blessed it and gave it to all to drink saying, “This is the new covenant in my blood which is shed for you.”

Remembering this life saving grace and incredible sacrifice, we join with all creation in praising your name, now and forever.

C: Amen.

Suggested Communion Song: The Trumpets Sound, the Angels Sing

Tune: THE FEAST IS READY

(vs. 1 only )

The trumpets sound, the angels sing,...

the feast is ready to begin.

Greeting of Peace:

P: In giving us back our lives, O God, you have forgiven us more than we deserve. Out of thankfulness and joy we share that gift with those around us as we gather at your table of love, forgiving as you forgave. Peace be with you.

C: And also with you.

All may share a greeting of peace. When all have returned to their seats the pastor continues.

Sit

P: Come for the table is set, the food of grace is waiting for you.

In silence all gather in a circle as a community before the altar for Holy Communion. If you wish you may request a blessing instead of receiving the bread and wine. When all have gathered the Pastor continues with the Lord’s Prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer:

P: Let us pray the prayer Jesus taught us,

C: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

Distribution of Holy Communion

Dismissal from Holy Communion:

P: May the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ be for you the food of everlasting life, sustaining, upholding and keeping you always in the grace of God.

C: Amen.

All return to their seats.

Prayer:

A: You have had mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;

C: According to your abundant mercy you have blotted out my transgressions. You have washed me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleansed me from my sin. You have hidden your face from my sins, and blotted out all my iniquities. You send me forth a new person. Amen.

Blessing:

P: May the Lord God be with you in all things.

In your silences.

In your busyness.

In your joys.

In your sorrows.

May God bless you now and always.

C: Amen.

Sit

Community Announcements

Stand

Sending Song

Dismissal:

A: Go in peace. Serve the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

Postlude