Lent is the season of spiritual preparation for the celebration of Easter. It begins with Ash Wednesday and continues for forty days until Palm Sunday. In Lent we remember Jesus' forty days of fasting in the wilderness prior to beginning his ministry. We are called to participate in forty days of discipline and reflection.
Historically preparation for Easter involved penitence; instruction of converts, who were then baptized on Easter; and a focus on Christ's redemptive work through meditation and prayer. This liturgy reflects the penitential character of the season with a more somber tone in music and text. We recall the period of instruction by stating the Law of God and by using the ancient baptismal (or Apostles') creed. Throughout the liturgy we focus on the suffering and the redemptive work of Christ. This service is shared in connection with the article: "Let the Words Sink In: Advice for Weary Worship Committees."
Service Outline
Opening Hymn
The people rise.
Come to the LORD, who is rich with grace; approach our God, who is full of mercy.
We will praise God with all our hearts, and glorify the name of the LORD forever.
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age,
according to the will of God, to whom be glory for ever and ever.
Amen.
As we have received God's peace, let us share the peace with each other.
The people pass the peace to each other, saying "The peace of God be always with you" and responding "and also with you"
Hymn
The people are seated.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, our God keeps covenant with us and shows mercy to those who love the LORD and seek to follow the law. We have sinned and done wrong; we have acted willfully and rebelled against the LORD our Maker. Yet to our God belong mercy and forgiveness. People of God, let us confess our sins.
"Lord, Hear Us When We Pray"
Silent Confession
The people sing st. 2 of the above song:
Create in us, O Lord, willing obedience.
Renew us with your Spirit, grant us peace,
and fill us with the joy of salvation.
Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the offenses of your people? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. Once again you have compassion on us. You tread our sins underfoot and hurl our transgressions into the depths of the sea.
The people rise.
Hymn
"Christ, the Life of All the Living," (st. 1) Homburg
As forgiven people, let us now hear God's law for our lives.
[Leader proclaims the Law, concluding with "This is the law of our God"]
Write your law upon our hearts, O God.
Let us pray for the presence of the Spirit.
Send your Spirit among us, O God, as we meditate on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Prepare our minds to hear your word. Purify our hearts to accept what we hear. Inspire our steps to obey in joy and faith. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The people are seated.
Old Testament Lesson
[Read by another worship leader. The reader concludes with "This is the Word of the Lord"]
Thanks be to you, O God.
New Testament Lesson
[Read by yet another person, and again concluding with "This is the Word of the Lord."]
Glory be to you, O Lord.
Children's Processional
Hymn or Psalm
Sermon
Followed by meditative silence
Hymn
"Breathe on Me, Breath of God," (st. 1–2) Hatch
The people rise.
Let us express our unity with the church of all ages by professing our faith in the words of the Apostles' Creed.
The congregation recites the Apostles' Creed in unison, after which they are seated.
Intercessory Prayer
[Led by a member of the congregation]
The Lord's Supper
The people rise.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, the gospel tells us that on the first day of the week, the same day on which our Lord rose from the dead, he appeared to the disciples in the place where they were gathered and was made known to them in the breaking of bread.
Come to the joyful feast of the Lord. Let us prepare the table with the offerings of our life and labor.
[The worshipers come forward and place their offerings in the collection baskets on the communion table. Then a family brings forward the bread and wine for the communion.]
Hymn
"What Shall I Render to the LORD?" (st. 1,4) Unknown
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is fitting for us to give thanks. It is right and fitting, our joy and our salvation, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to you, O Lord, Holy Father, almighty, everlasting God, through Christ our Lord.
Jesus Christ is the servant of the Most High, who remained obedient even to death by crucifixion. Whoever serves him
is liberated for life.
Lord, lead us to true obedience.
Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. Whoever accepts his sacrifice is forgiven before God.
Lord, move us always to receive this gift.
Jesus Christ is the bread of life, who came down from heaven to give life to the world. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.
Lord, give us always the bread of life.
For his sacrifice the saints and angels praise you, dominions worship you, and powers stand in awe. With their song we join our voices in one proclamation of your praise, and sing:
Hymn
"Heavenly Hosts in Ceaseless Worship" (st. 2) Unknown
The people are seated.
We give thanks to God that our Savior Jesus Christ, before suffering, gave us this memorial of his sacrifice until his coming again.
On the night of his arrest Jesus took bread, gave thanks to God, and broke it saying, "This is my body, which is for you; do this to remember me."
In the same way he took the cup after supper and said, "This cup is the new covenant sealed by my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this to remember me."
Your death, O Christ, we proclaim.
Your resurrection we declare.
Your coming we await.
Glory be to you, O Lord.
In your love and mercy, O God, grant us your Spirit, so that through these gifts of bread and wine we may be united more fully with Christ and with each other. Lift our hearts so that in all the troubles and sorrows of this life we may continue in hope for the new life of your eternal kingdom.
The people sing:
Hymn
"O Christ the Lamb of God" Unknown
The bread which we break, is it not a sharing in the body of our Lord Jesus Christ?
We who partake of one loaf are one with our suffering Lord.
The cup for which we give thanks, is it not a sharing in the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ?
We who partake of the cup are one in Christ, who bled and died and arose.
The people rise.
Hear the words of our Lord: "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
Come, then, for all is ready.
Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
We come not because we ought,
but because we may,
not because we are righteous,
but because we are penitent,
not because we are strong,
but because we are weak,
not because we are whole,
but because we are broken.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. The gifts of God for the people of God.
[The people come forward and are served in groups. As they pass the bread and wine, they say to each other, "the body of Christ for you" and "the blood of Christ for you" or other appropriate words. Throughout, hymns are sung]
Congregation in Jesus Christ, since the Lord has fed us at his table, let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
We offer you ourselves as a living sacrifice, to live to your will and die to our own.
People of God, go forth into the world in peace. Be of good courage, hold fast to that which is good, help the afflicted, honor all people, and love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.
Hymn
"Lift High the Cross" (st. 4, 6) Kitchin
