Worship Resources for
the Center for Faith and Giving
Lent VB
Call to Worship (unison, adapted from Psalm 51)
From north and south, east and west, we gather to praise God!
This God teaches wisdom, washes us clean, and puts a right spirit
within each of us.
So we sing our joy, grateful for the ways God’s abundant mercy
renews each and all.
Opening Prayer (unison)
From the varied places of our lives,
we’ve come together in THIS place and THIS time.
In the face of covenantal challenges and dawning spring delights,
even when we live in too much silence or too much chaos,
we pray: God, create clean hearts in us!
Put a new and steadfast spirit in us!
Restore in us the joy of your salvation
and sustain a generous spirit in each of us,
even as we worship you, Rock of Ages. AMEN
Moment for Stewardship (in response to Psalm 51 and Jeremiah 31)
In today’s texts, both the Psalmist and Jeremiah speak of hearts.
The Psalmist prays for a “clean heart”.
Jeremiah, speaking for the Lord, declares:
“I will put my law within (the people) and I will write it on their hearts.”
In this Lenten season, we’re invited to open our lives to God’s law of love, which can still be written on our hearts. For many of us, these 40 days also provide time for us to sweep out anger and break apart the hard-hearted crust which we grow to protect our hearts from hurt or pain.
What happens in a clean heart?
As we mark St. Patrick’s Day, do you remember the story? Tradition has it that the British young Patrick was kidnapped in the early 400s, and taken to Ireland at age 16. Working as a slave for 6 years, he finally escaped and returned to Britain, only to hear God calling him to ministry. After training, he asked to be returned to Ireland. Why?
Patrick’s heart was filled with love. He began preaching, teaching and wooing the Irish to become followers of Jesus, the Christ. He gave his life to the people of Ireland, sharing the Gospel of God’s love.
We may not be 21st century Patricks, but each of us has been given a heart inscribed with God’s new covenant. The Creator of the universe will be our God, and we are to be God’s people.
With gratitude for our autographed hearts, let us receive our morning tithes, gifts and offerings!
Prayer of Thanksgiving
From the abundance of your love, Gracious God, you pour your spirit as a covenantal inscription across our hearts. Receive our thanks, symbolized in these resources. Accept not only this treasure, but also our time and our talent and inspire us to stretch our giving muscles as we continue to journey with your beloved Son through these days of Lent. AMEN
Invitation to Communion
In John’s Gospel, Jesus speaks about his death, saying “when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself”.
While many of us might not be able to quote that text, we may recognize and appreciate contemporary composer Michael W. Smith’s song “Open the Eyes of My Heart” (if you can, play the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnqb7Vn4AEE).
“To see (Jesus) high and lifted up” is what we seek when we come to this table.
In these gifts of bread and juice, emblems of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we’re given opportunity not only to see, but to touch, taste, smell, and KNOW the “high and lifted up” One.
Come! For Jesus welcomes you to this table.
Come! This is where we give thanks for the Holy One!
Blessing
As a nod toward St. Patrick’s day (March 17), consider using part of this Irish blessing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TascsWZPj8U
Beginning about 4:45, the prayer of St. Patrick could serve as a benediction.