March 26, 2023

Worship Resources for 
the Center for Faith and Giving

Lent 5A

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Psalm 130

Romans 8:6-11

 John 11:1-45

Call to Worship  (inspired by Psalm 130)

Together, let us worship God!
In the Lord, we find hope,
In the Lord, we recognize steadfast love.
It’s because the Lord has great power, to redeem each one.
  
Together, let us give thanks to the Lord our God,
in whom we know forgiveness.

So let us wait, with eager and expectant hearts,
for the Lord our God will redeem us all.

Opening Prayer  

Steadfast Lover of all creation, we turn to you this morning, eager to see the ways in which reveal yourself to us.  
Because you are a listening God, we believe you hear our prayers.
Because you are a redeeming God, we can stand before you without fear.
Because you are a forgiving God, we can hope for a new start.

So stand with us in this hour.  Lift us up to our feet, 
and send us out to bear witness to your loving presence,
which we know most clearly 
  in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ.   AMEN

Moment for Stewardship  

In John 11, Jesus tells of giving Lazarus the gift of life.  Martha and Mary, sisters of Lazarus, had called for Jesus to come, but he arrived four days after Lazarus did and was put into his tomb.

Yet Jesus prayed, and commanded Lazarus, “come out!”  
It’s almost impossible to imagine the joy and gratitude of Martha and Mary, when Lazarus walked out of the tomb, wrapped in burial cloths.  

Perhaps you’ve had the experience of a loved one being restored to health after a serious health crisis.  If so, you may count yourself as someone SO grateful, seeking ways to say “thank you” to those who helped end the critical time.  Prayers of gratitude, notes to the medical personnel, flowers for the nursing station, financial contributions to the hospital’s foundation:  we can, and often do, overflow with glad thanksgiving!

For many of us, when we recognize how our lives are enriched because of Jesus enacting God’s amazing love, thanksgiving bubbles to the surface of our mind.  How amazing!  How can we act out our gratitude?  

Today, we can present our gifts of time, talent and treasure for the morning offering.  With grateful hearts, let us bring our tithes and offerings.

(if you have someone who can provide a solo, consider these verses of CH #195, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, as on offertory)

When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
save in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them through his blood.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
Love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.


Prayer of Thanksgiving

With gratitude, Lord, we offer these gifts to you.  
Thank you for the many ways you continue to love and redeem us.  
Thank you for the life-giving power you offer us through Jesus, the Christ.
Please help us use these resources to spread the Good News of your Realm to those in this community, in our country, and throughout the world.  AMEN

Invitation to Communion  

The 40 day season of Lent began as one way of helping people re-connect to the regular life of the church, and to a life of stronger discipleship.  Some believers then, and some today, use Lent as a time of “fasting” – often “giving up” something otherwise enjoyed on a regular basis.  

Also, for some, the effort to discipline themselves (the work of a “disciple”) includes fasting on Sunday until after they receive the bread and cup of communion.  This tiny morsel of bread and sip of juice thereby becomes the first food/drink consumed by these believers on Sunday.  

Whether you’ve come to this table physically hungry, (having fasted from food and drink since last night) or you’ve come after consuming a big week-end breakfast, you are welcome at this table.  

Here, find in these elements the symbols of Jesus’ body and blood, poured out for you.  
Here, discover once more the amazing love of our God, made clear to us in the life, the death and the resurrection of Jesus.  
Here, be filled with gratitude, and nourished for the life of love, service and thanksgiving to which God is calling you!