Worship Resources for
the Center for Faith and Giving
Second Sunday of Lent
Call to Worship (from Psalm 27)
One: We’re here, eager to give thanks to God, the stronghold of our lives.
Many: We come without fear!
One: Confident in God’s goodness, we lift our hearts and voices.
Many: Together let’s sing out our joy
for the goodness of the Lord is all around us!
One: So let us worship the Lord our God!
Opening Prayer
God of action and of might, we see your goodness and our hearts take courage. Thank you for this opportunity to gather in your house.
Quiet our racing minds as we eagerly seek your loving presence to be made known in each and in all.
Enliven us once more, so fear will not distract us.
Encourage our God-allegiance to show in everything we say in all we do. AMEN
Moment for Stewardship
Paul, writing to the Christians in the church at Philippi, invites them to follow his example as they decide how to live their lives.
Paul encourages us, as we read these words, to recognize no matter where we were born, our true citizenship is in heaven. We’re beloved children of the Most High. Each of us, and all of us, are encouraged to stand firm in the Lord.
Not many of us would be willing to be like Paul, traveling place to place to preach and teach. But all of us can find ways to share our identity as Christians through the ways we use our resources: time, talent, treasure.
Consider how you might share time this week, using the model of Paul.
Will you offer time to teach Sunday School, or lead in Vacation Bible School?
Imagine ways you can offer your talent: come in to repair something you’ve noticed is broken, or clean something you see needs attention. Offer child-care to a worn-out young parent in your neighborhood. Cook a meal for someone just coming home from the hospital. Draw a picture for the bulletin or finish crocheting a blanket you then donate to your local shelter for folks who are unhoused.
And what treasure will you offer? Weekly giving to this congregation? Food for the food pantry? Support for Week of Compassion in response to recent tornados or fires?
Take up the example of Paul, become an active steward with your time, talent and treasure as you plant your feet firmly in the Way of Jesus.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
God of all good gifts, because you have first provided for us, we return to you a portion of what we’ve received. Please use these gifts, and help us live up to being strong imitators of Paul. Multiply what we’ve offered, and strengthen us to rejoice as we live in gratitude, AMEN.
Invitation to Communion (from Luke 13)
In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus uses a common image of care to speak of his yearning for the people of Jerusalem: “How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”
What a gift it is to be invited to come together at this table. Here we find signs of Jesus’ love; the bread of life and the cup of salvation. With communion, we are nurtured, as a hen nurtures and protects her chicks.
Are you willing to come?
All are welcome.
In this Lenten season, take these symbols and be refreshed!
Paraphrase (in 2 voices) of Philippians 3:17-4:1 (Original source here.)
Reader 1: Brothers! Sisters! Do what I do. Live your lives together after my
example. Imitate those who imitate me.
Reader 2: The thing is, there are many who don’t do that. They live their
lives as if they are enemies of the cross of Jesus. It pains me to
tell you this – it brings tears to my eyes to think this is the case.
But I’ve told you before, and now I feel like I must make it clear
again.
Reader 1: They are making wrecks of their lives. They are headed for
destruction. Their god? Their god is their belly, their insatiable
appetite for the things of this world, the things by which their
minds are consumed. And, as a result, they make glorious what is
actually shameful.
Reader 2: But we are citizens of heaven, you and I. And it is from heaven
that we await our coming Savior – the Lord, Jesus Christ. And
therefore, unlike them, we don’t act like our shame is somehow
glorious. Instead, we let the Lord change our shame into a glory
like his.
And how does he do that?
By the very same power he uses to bring all things under his
control.
Reader 1: And therefore, sisters. And, therefore, brothers. You whom I love.
You whom I miss. My joy and my crown. My beloved.
Readers 1&2: Stand firm, in the power of the Lord.