Worship Resources for
the Center for Faith and Giving
Lent 3C
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Luke 13:1-9
Call to Worship (from Isaiah 55)
(in 1 voice): Our God will have mercy on all who come into God’s presence.
Even when our thoughts and actions take us away,
the Lord will pardon those who turn back.
God’s ways are higher! God’s thoughts are greater!
So come!
Let’s focus our eyes and hearts on the Lord of all life
as we step into this time of worship.
Opening Prayer
Merciful God, thank you for the gift of this new day, filled with the assurance of your covenantal love for us. We’ve come, ready to listen, and eager to hear your message of life and love. Speak to us through the words of scripture, the proclamation of Good News, the music and our time of prayer. We eagerly await sharing Table time with you, as we eat the bread of life and drink from the cup of salvation.
Moment for Stewardship (from Luke 13)
Jesus is a master story-teller. Often he spoke in parables, using everyday situations to help those listening comprehend more about God.
In Luke 13, Jesus tells of a man with a barren fig tree in his vineyard. That man was annoyed, and eager to get the tree cut down and carted away. However, the one who cared for this tree and the others in the vineyard, pleaded for enough more time and an opportunity to provide manure (“rich dirt” some folks say) for the tree.
Do you recognize our church in this parable? Are we a fully fruitful tree, bearing fruit for the world? Or would you see we’re more like this fig-less tree?
What about if we each ask the question of our own life? As individual “trees” in Christ’s vineyard, do we – do I – bear fruit?
With thanks for the many ways we can be nurtured – and we can nurture – within the life of this congregation. (Name a few specific ways which can be in your own congregation)
Let those who are bearing fruit share our morning offering as a symbol of our fruitfulness. And let those who are currently without fruit commit to seeking ways to be made fruitful.
For one and for all, may the Master Gardener strengthen each of us for active and fruitful ministries in the days to come.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
All things come from you, God of all Creation.
Please receive these gifts as signs of our desire to be fruitful and productive
parts of your created world. Do not cut us down, but offer us opportunities to be proclaimers of life through Jesus, in whose name we pray, AMEN
Invitation to Communion
The prophet Isaiah lifts up the image of a great banquet for everyone who thirsts, and all who have no money (as was the custom for a King at his inauguration). God is described as the One who will make an everlasting covenant with the people, just as God did with David, long ago.
Good news! We have a table before us, and all are invited to share in the gifts of bread and juice. There is no ticket cost. Enough places are available for all who will come. The covenant is shown to us in the bread which is broken and the cup which is poured out.
Come! Even in this Lenten season of penitence, the feast is prepared, and you are welcome here. May joy and peace be our companions!
(Isaiah 55:12 has been set to music and could be a wonderful way to send people out from worship after communion. Here’s one music video version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH0XbpNY2g8)