Lent Liturgy: Leave Behind the Pain

Return to the Lord

Baptismal Font should be in the front and 1/4 full with candle lit.

Lights can be on dim. Altar lights can be lighted during the prelude.

There may be one or more Readers for the Confession.

Order for Worship

▲ = Stand as you are able ▼ = Sit

Prelude and Lighting of Candles

Call to Worship: (spoken over music)

▼ P: Return to the Lord.

Leave behind all the pain.

Leave behind all the hate.

Come back to your true life again.

A: Return to the Lord.

Abandon your sins.

Abandon your fears.

Come back to repentance and hope.

P: Return to the Lord.

Discard your old ways.

Give up your old sorrows.

Cling to the hope found in Christ.

I Will Draw You Near Me vs. 1

Tune Name: DRAW NEAR (Collection: As Sunshine to a Garden)

Text Source: Text: Rusty Edwards, based on Jeremiah 31

Music Source: Music: Linda Cable Shute

Confession:

R: Temptation is to want a rulebook of laws which lead to salvation - not Grace. The rules mean “we can do it”. Grace means “God does it”.

C: We are closed, O God. Open us to you.

R: It isn't being faithful, or even contrite, which is the most important thing. It is being "open". Open to acceptance of God's forgiveness, open to letting go of self, open to letting God just happen.

C: We are closed, O God. Open us to you.

R: An author once said that what God needs to work in the world is a person who is an empty cup turned upright. That way, God can pour in and work through us. The cup doesn't know what's being done, because it can't see itself. It has no control over what it receives. This sounds so easy, but it is so terribly hard to do.

C: We are closed, O God. Open us to you.

R: We all work hard to be "perfect before God". In the meantime, we forget that once we have accepted Jesus the work is already done. We have nothing left to do but be ourselves, accept ourselves, and let the Holy Spirit do the rest of the "perfecting".

C: We are closed, O God. Open us to you.

R: An experience of total and complete acceptance of God is rare – that feeling of “Whether we live or die, it is all ok”. Every once in a while, we get a taste of that, but most of the time, we’re too stubborn to just step back and let God in.

C: We are closed, O God. Open us to you.

▲ P: Lord Jesus Christ, you know our faults and have heard our prayers. You have ripped open the barriers that separate us from God and opened us to the grace of God through your sacrifice of love on a cross, and your resurrection from the dead. Promise of God, fill your people and give us peace.

The peace of the Lord be with you.

C: And also with you.

(All share a greeting of peace.)

Blessing For Healing:

Healing Is Flowing, Deep in the Waters (Bunessan) Agape 31

Text: Norman C. Habel, Australia, Copyright Oxford University Press, Music: Bunessan 55 54 D, Traditional, Scotland

Week 1:

Healing is flowing, deep in the waters, . . . oceans of healing, for all the world.

Week 2:

Healing is rising, fresh with the morning, . . heal Earth's deep wounds and rise in this place.

Week 3:

Healing is breathing, life from the Spirit, . . . come, heal our people, body and soul .

Week 4:

Healing is offered, leaves from the life tree,. . . break down the walls, bring peace to our shore.

Week 5:

Healing is flowing, free with Christ's body, . . . heal the world's wounds, still bleeding and red.

P: Things are working toward completion.

The promise of God fulfilled.

We break our covenants

And God mends anew.

The Pastor pours water slowly into the Baptismal Font during the litany.

A: The Waters of Life fountain up daily,

C: To rain upon our parched, dry souls,

A: Running down into the deep wells of emptiness,

C: Swelling the rivers of energy in broken bodies,

A: Bringing new life, new hope.

A. The Waters of Life flow abundantly,

C. To course through every thirsty heart,

A. Rushing into the desolate corners of our existence,

C. Cleansing, restoring, refreshing empty lives,

A. Creating new life, new hope.

P: Things are working toward completion.

The promise of God fulfilled.

▼ Those who wish for a Blessing of Healing may come to the altar.

When all return to their seats the song is sung.

The River Will Rise vs. 1, 2 (Words & Music: Tom Conry, © Oregon Catholic Press)

God of all living and our light, are we not precious in your sight? . . this world will hear, deep in the night, when the river will rise.

Refrain: And the river will rise, deep and free; . . . then peace will flow like a river, and the river will rise.

Hear, then, the crying of your own, who call your name so far from home, . . . this world will hear, deep in the night, when the river will rise.

Refrain (Repeat Refrain)

The Word:

P: The Lord be with you.

C: And also with you.

P: Let us pray,

The Prayer of the Day is spoken.

1st Lesson Celebrate

R: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

Psalm (spoken or chanted)

R: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

2nd Lesson

R: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

▲ Gospel

R: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

▼ Music for Meditation

Message

▲ Theme Song:

Testimony:

I believe in God the Creator, who made me and all things, who set me on my path in this world.

I believe in God the Savior, who is one with the Creator, who rescued me and all creation from the depredations of our violations against God and creation. This man, Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, walked a path through this world, taking on human form having been born of a woman through the power of the Holy Spirit. He lived and worked in this world among people just like me. He walked God’s path to death on a cross, and rose from the dead to open our pathway to eternal life.

I believe in God the Holy Spirit, my counselor and guide, who is one with the Creator and the Christ, who through the body and blood of Jesus brings me into communion with all people, past, present and future; who calls me to walk a sacred way of life through this world, caring for creation and the people I meet on the way, loving them, helping them, welcoming them without prejudice, being God’s hands and feet in the world.

Prayer Song: Let My Prayer Rise Up

Text: Holden Evening Prayer, Marty Haugen, b. 1950, based on Psalm 141

Music: Marty Haugen

Prayers of the Church

▼ Offering of Gifts and Music

▲ Offering Prayer:

A: We stand before you, O God, on the pathways of our lives, and offer you our thanks and praise.

C: God of all power and might, the world and all that is in it belongs to you. Our gratitude and devotion are yours for all the wonders of the sacred life you have bestowed in our care, for the skills, understanding and gifts you have given us to preserve that life. From you comes all good things and out of our gratitude we accept those gifts and use them with joy and care in your name. Grant us the wisdom and knowledge to be your agents, to love and care for the world in all it’s diversity, as you love and care for us, your children. Amen.

Eucharist

Eucharistic Prayer:

P: In great love and wisdom, O God, you created this universe, making the stars to dance and the light to sing, the seas to roar and the waves to leap, the animals to thrive and the plants to flourish. You made humankind to be your children, so that we may walk and talk with you, as the inheritors of your creation.

But we sought freedom and gained bondage to sin. We sought wisdom and found lies. We sought life and found death. Like rebellious children we ran from your presence; distanced ourselves from you and denied our heritage.

In even greater love you let us go, only to reach out to us through your Word, Jesus Christ, who, offering us restoration and healing and life, on the night in which he was betrayed took bread, gave thanks and broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat, this is my body which is given for you. Do this as often as you eat and drink in remembrance of me.” After the supper, Jesus also took the cup and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, “Take and drink, this is cup is my blood which is shed for the many for the forgiveness of sin. Drink all of it in remembrance of me.” Continued

P: God’s grace has called us here, return to the Lord and partake of the feast for all ages.

C: Amen.

▼ Distribution of Holy Communion

▲ Dismissal from Holy Communion:

P: God has filled you with the Holy Spirit and nourished you with the body and blood of Christ Jesus at this feast of love. May you become God’s upright cup of blessing spilling out God’s gifts to all the world. Go in peace and joy knowing you are a child of God.

C: Amen.

Thanksgiving Song:

Blessing:

P: May the God of love and grace keep you safe.

May the God of comfort and healing hold you close.

May the God of peace and joy fill your heart.

C: Amen.

▼ Community Announcements

▲ Sending Song:

A: Go in peace. Serve the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

Postlude