(Taken from John 1:1-5; Genesis 1:1-2:3; Romans 1:18-25. Now that we are sitting together in the pews, I invite you to close your eyes . May our restless hearts not resist you, but continue to search until they find their rest in you. The second is written for use alongside the preaching notes for Christmas Eve that are part of the "God of the Dark and the Light" worship series. This is a new liturgy adapted for use on Easter for the lighting of the Paschal Candle during the opening Easter Hymn. All the rest is Scriptureletting God speak to us directly from his Word. I [Daniel] prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. Amen. We feel sorrow for Christs death on a cross. Just as I Am is another possibility. So they are without excuse. From an Old English word related to lengthen. Laetare is a Latin word that means Rejoice!, On this Sunday, many Christians hear words from Isaiah 66:10, Rejoice, O Jerusalem, and be glad for her,all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy,all you who mourn over her. Reprinted with permission. Please give a donation: If you appreciate the opportunity for free downloads, please consider a donation so we can continue offering guidance to all who seek to broaden their welcome. This week's liturgy reflects the story of the Samaritan woman who meets Jesus at a well. . article. As we journey towards the cross this Lenten season, keep us from temptation and help us to do Your work in our world. . FN"NA9x\wj$? google_ad_slot = "9522159875"; When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. All of it is to show us what he is like, to display his glory and personality. Unlike Advent, where a new candle is lit each week and the light slowly gets brighter, during Lent, each week gets progressively darker until there is complete darkness on Good Friday. We worry and fret about what is happening and what will happen next, rather than trusting in our Savior. We are truly sorry, and we humbly repent. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. By Reverend Mindi Welton-Mitchell. As we journey towards the cross this Lenten season, help us to repent from where we have gone wrong. Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have gathered here, week after week, sharing a common quest for a deeper faith and a deeper experience of the divine. It can be configured differently if you want to include Easter Day. Choices offered by our friends, our families, our culture, our own past. . Your creativity is the only limit]. God made very sure that we could understand who he is, what he is like, and what he wants for us and what he wants from us. Processing with God: Narrative Lectionary, Liturgy, Prayers, Bringing to Light Those Truths Which Have been Neglected. The Lord is risen! So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. But one time he let it loose, so we would know how serious it is to turn our backs away from God and toward the darkness, and so we would know how great his wrath is against sin. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. google_ad_height = 250; All: Draw us together in your love, O God. The first Sunday begins with all six candles lit, the second Sunday with five lit, and . The night when we look back to the Lords Last Supper gets its name from the Latin word mandatumcommandment, remembering Jesus words to the Apostles during the Last Supper, A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another (John 13:34). July 25 1968 Pope Paul VI published his Encyclical letter Humanae Vitae. Reader 1: We have been born into a world of sin. We face the temptation of ignoring problems such as hunger, poverty, war, and disease, with the false hope that they will go away without our intervention. What else does the word confession mean?To confess means to tell the truth, or to be a witness. Candle 1 Temptation We heard about Jesus being tempted in the desert by Satan. If you set up an Advent wreath in your home during December, you might want to try creating a similar place in your home during Lent. . The time is drawing near. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. The true Glory of God shines in the world. Jesus is being drawn to Jerusalem. 2014 Liturgies for Lent is from ministers at other churches that are also doing narrative lectionary. And one of the things Lent teaches is that you, too, are a sanctuary. After Palm/Passion Sunday, only the white candle will remain to light your way through Holy Week. Christ is risen; Christ is risen in us, for wherever we gather in his name, he is there. Please give credit: The person or organization who contributed this resource has made it available for you to download free for use for worship or education in your congregation or faith community. The LORD said in his heart, I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of mans heart is evil from his youth. For example, Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery has a verse for each Sunday in Lent. Pingback: A Liturgy for Extinguishing Lenten Candles Lent 2A | A pastor sings, Pingback: A Liturgy for Extinguishing Lenten Candles Lent 3A | A pastor sings, Pingback: A Liturgy for Extinguishing Lenten Candles Lent 4A (Laetare Sunday) | A pastor sings, Pingback: A Liturgy for Extinguishing Lenten Candles Lent 5A | A pastor sings. . The following Sunday, a new purple candle is lit (one on end of T) along with the first one and both are allowed to burn until extinguished. <> Amen. And if you choose, it also can be used together with seven candles, representing the Light of the World. All of it is to show us what he is like, to display his glory and personality. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. This room is a sanctuary. Candle 3 Confession We recognized that we confess our sins, and we confess the truth that Jesus is Lord. If they offered sacrifices from a heart of worship, they could renew their friendship with God as they proved their reliance on him. There is a place of quiet rest, and it is the place where God dwells within you. Come, see the place where he lay. It is a place of refuge and protection. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. We were into the first week of Lent and I received a question: I remember using a liturgy for a Lenten Ring, similar to the Advent Ring, except that there were six candles around the ring (5 purple and 1 pink) and a white one in the middle. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Amen. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.. Week One: Resistance Reader 1: There are many temptations we face in our lives together. Now we dont have just the written Word, we have the Living Worda real person. Reader 2: We light this candle as a symbol of our trust in Jesus Christ that God will always remain faithful, even when we lack faith. It happened a long time ago, but it happened. There is inside you a place for sacred things, a place where God abides. What is God calling you to do? This Sunday has a place apart amongst the Sundays of Lent. 2023 Jo Anne Taylor, all rights reserved. We read in Romans 10:9, If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Lets remember to confess that Jesus is Lord, even as we confess our sins together now. We come here this morning seeking something else. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. Then on Easter, there are instructions within the reading to light all seven candles. The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. We face the temptation of putting our wants above another's needs. He lived a life acceptable to you, O God. Holy Lent, Earthly Lent: Worshiping in Season. . Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. [Note: The correct number of candles will need to be displayed in preparation for their gradual extinguishing over the period of Lent. Will a professing Christian go to hell if he never shares the gospel? Whenever you use it, please attribute to the contributors as they are named, adding the words, "downloaded at ManyVoices.org." I share it with others in case it may be helpful for you. What does the word confession mean?We confess our sins. No, he gave them a way to be forgiven. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );