Liturgy

It is our greatest joy to offer you praise,
God of all hope and power:
you whispered your goodness,
and the stars shimmered in adoration;

you spoke your tenderness,
and all creatures sang your name;
you sang your love,
and we were created in your image.

But placed in the Garden of heavenly delights,
we hungered for the unfruitful ways of the world.
Bathed in the radiance of Eden’s light,
we walked into the shadows of our sin.

But your mercy is like the river
which flows through the new Jerusalem,
and never fails to bring us hope.

So, with the choirs of angels
and with every generation of believers,
we proclaim your glory, worshipping

in the name of the Father, of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Congregational Prayer

In this season of Lent, let us pray and confess to God as a community.

Lord, we have come to see that our lives fall far short of your glory.
Have mercy and forgive us.

You have given your life for us, and poured out your Spirit,
yet we fail to return your love to others with all our heart.
Have mercy and change us.

Too often we are selfish and proud,
ignoring you, Lord, and neglecting others for our own causes.
Have mercy and cleanse us.

Lord, when we do not truly trust and obey you,
we are overwhelmed by self-pity, fear and worry.
Have mercy and deliver us.

In Christ we are given a sure hope and secure love,
yet we follow the false hopes and desires of this world.
Have mercy and forgive us.

Father, through the redeeming death of your Son on the cross,
by your Spirit and through your word,
transform and renew us to follow you with joy.

All this we ask, confident in your unchanging faithfulness,
God in community, holy in One. Amen.

Reflection

How does reflecting on the Passover remind us of the actions that Christ lived out?
What does it look like to live out forgiveness?

Benediction

God of mystery, we journey with Jesus
during this Lenten season with the certain hope
that you will recreate our world
so that all people will live in peace and justice.

Call us out of the wilderness of apathy
and help us to reach out to those
who lack hope or love.

Hear the longings of our hearts
and the cries of those who yearn
to live in peace and justice.

Let Easter burst into a world waiting to be re-created.

We leave to serve in the name of the Father,
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Go in peace and live the church.
See you throughout the week.

[Photo by AlanGradilla @ Flickr]