Worship Resources for
the Center for Faith and Giving
First Sunday of Lent
Consider changing the elements in the front of the sanctuary for Lent. Add purple color. Start with 6 lit candles in the front and a Christ candle in their midst. Tell the congregation each Sunday one more candle will be left UNLIT (and blow out the first one at the end of today’s service) until only the Christ candle remains lit at the end of Palm/Passion Sunday (and it is doused in a Maundy Thursday or Good Friday service).
Call to Worship (from Luke 4)
One: Come! Let us worship the Lord our God!
Many: It’s the first Sunday of our journey called “Lent”.
One: Today we’re reminded how Jesus wrestled with temptation;
he fasted,
he prayed,
he responded with scripture
to what was offered in the wilderness.
Many: As we begin this season of Lent, we want to grow more like Jesus,
so we pray for a new or a renewed passion in our faith.
One: Through all the days ahead
Many: let us follow the One who resolutely turned to God with
body, mind, heart and soul.
Opening Prayer
God, our refuge and strength, we gather today, noticing the changes in this space and the _______________ (tone? color? somber spirit? what is different as you begin these next 6 Sundays?).
We know this Lent may challenge us.
Some of us come with the body memory of ash on us.
Some of us wonder what these next days will bring.
We pray you will walk with us even when it’s tough because
at least some of us yearn to grow in our faith.
We want to be made one in Jesus Christ.
So walk with us through this hour, through this week, through this season, and do not desert us, for you are the Holy One whom we trust. AMEN
Moment for Stewardship
There’s something empowering about beginning a new period of life. School semesters launch with such possibility! New Year’s day so often dawns with intentionality for a positive start, with white pages before us on the calendar. And Lent begins with an encouragement for us to fast, pray and share alms (our finances).
Do you have a plan for taking on any of the traditional actions of Lent? How are you stepping into this season? Here, we ___________________ . (What is it your congregation is doing? What emphasis do you have? What project or pattern are you asking people to take up? Name that here.)
Each Sunday, we’ll gather to give a nod to the progress we’ve made, and repent for the ways we’ve fallen behind. Each Sunday, we’ll begin anew, inviting participation for one day at a time, one week at a time…for this season of Lenten life.
This is our time to give what we’ve decided to share. With joy-full hearts, let us offer our gifts to God.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Generous God, you reach out to all – doubting and faith-filled, strong and weary, articulate and stammering. We want to show with our lives what we believe in our hearts.
Today we offer you these gifts, symbols of our whole lives.
Thank you for your constant giving, modeling true generosity!
As we respond, we ask you to receive this offering and receive us once more as your beloved ones, for we believe with our hearts,
confess with our mouths,
and rejoice as we grasp your Good News:
your love keeps on saving us for abundant life in you!
In stammering yet strong gratitude, we pray, AMEN
Invitation to Communion
Luke reports when Jesus had fasted for forty days, he was famished. Most of us have thought or said out loud: “I’m famished!” when we’ve not eaten for a day, or for several days.
And most of us have experienced a “hangry” personality change when we’re really hungry.
Jesus, even after a lengthy fast, faced deep temptation, yet affirmed
“one does not live by bread alone” (Deuteronomy 8:3),
and turned aside from turning stones into bread.
Our temptation might be to take this meal for granted, knowing we have opportunity to come to this table every Sunday. Without fail, every Sunday, bread is broken and the wine (juice) is poured, that we might feast on these symbols of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.
Before we taste the bread or tip the thimbleful of juice to our lips, I ask you to think about our privilege: gifts here, prepared, abundant.
Consider what it would mean to come to this table truly hungry.
During these Lenten Sundays, I invite you to fast (if you are able), from Saturday evening until church time, do not eat or drink anything until you take communion.
That will help you remember! Hangry, tempted, even faced with huge challenges, Jesus will meet us at the table where we receive the Bread of Life and the cup of salvation.
Come! You’re invited to this feast; here your own deep hunger will be filled!
