Liturgy

Christ Jesus, may we follow you on the pilgrim way of Lent,
May we journey with you into the wilderness,
Willing to move beyond the ordinary,
So that we can discover your unexpected sacred places in our world.

Christ Jesus, may we wash our hands and purify our hearts,
Learning to thirst after righteousness and hunger after justice,
May we humble ourselves before you,
Expecting to see you revealed in a new light.

And Christ Jesus, may we walk with you no matter how challenging the path,
Learning to be patient with darkness and growth,
Willing to live with not knowing,
Until your ways in us take root and sprout into life.

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

Congregational Prayer

In prayer, let us confess to God as a community.

Lord, in this season of Lent,
we look within ourselves and find that we are still far from your ways.

With sorrowful hearts,
we come before you, O God,
to confess what you already know—
we have failed to keep your laws.
Lord of mercy and of might, hear our prayer to you.

Again and again,
we have followed our own selfish desires,
rather than your holy and life-giving will for our lives.
Lord of mercy and of might, forgive us.

We have twisted your decrees and teachings
to suit our preconceptions and interests rather than your own,
and so, we limit ourselves and have failed to love our neighbors.

Have mercy and forgive us, O God,
and cleanse us from hidden faults,
that the words of our mouths,
and the meditations of all our hearts,
may be acceptable to you,
our Rock and our Redeemer.

We ask in the name of the Father
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Reflection

How can we prepare ourselves during this season on Lent?
What might be the good things in our lives that we are tempted with that keep us from God?

Benediction

Go now, with God’s foolishness and weakness
as your only wisdom and strength.

Proclaim Christ crucified through the work that you do,
and seek riches only in the love of God’s Word
and in zeal for God’s kingdom.

And may God’s just demands be your nourishment and delight.
May Christ be the power and wisdom of God to you.
And may the Holy Spirit keep you, in thought and word,
in God’s good grace.

We go 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 Sarah Kate Vuona @ Flickr]