Hopes' Liturgies for Lent 2019

The Service for the Lord’s Day 

The First Sunday in Lent + March 10, 2019

The Second Sunday in Lent + March 17, 2019

The Third Sunday in Lent + March 24, 2019

The Fourth Sunday in Lent + March 31, 2019

The Fifth Sunday in Lent + April 7, 2019

Palm/Passion Sunday + April 14, 2019

GATHERING

3/10, 3/17, 3/24, 3/31, 4/7 (On 4/14 the service begins differently; see below)

Gathering Music:

Welcome & Announcements

*Entrance Song: “Kum Ba Yah” 338/472

*Call to Worship 

Blessed is the Kingdom,

of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

both now and forever,

and unto the ages of ages.

Amen.

*Opening Prayer

God of grace:

unto whom all hearts are open,

from whom no secrets are hid,

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts 

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name.

Amen.

*Prayer of the Day BCW, 2018

3/10

Almighty God:

your Son fasted forty days in the wilderness,

and was tempted as we are but did not sin.

Give us grace to direct our lives

in obedience to your Spirit,

that as you know our weakness,

so may we know your power to save;

through Jesus Christ our Redeemer, who lives and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

One God, now and forever.

Amen.

3/17

Almighty God,

whose Son was revealed in majesty

before he suffered death upon the cross:

Give us faith to perceive his glory,

that we may be strengthened to bear our cross,

and be changed tiny his likeness,

from glory to glory:

through Jesus Christ our Lord, 

who lives and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

One God, now and forever.

Amen.

3/24

Eternal God:

Your kingdom has broken into our troubled world

through the life, death, and resurrection of your Son.

Help us to hear your Word and obey,

that we may become instruments of your saving love;

through Jesus Christ our Lord, 

who lives and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

One God, now and forever.

Amen.

3/31

Gracious God:

in order that the children of earth

might discern good from evil

you sent your Son to be the light of the world.

As Christ shines upon us,

may we learn what pleases you,

and live in all truth and goodness;

through Jesus Christ our Lord, 

who lives and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

One God, now and forever.

Amen.

4/7

Almighty God, our Redeemer:

in our weakness we have failed

to be your messengers of forgiveness and hope.

Renew us by your Holy Spirit,

that we may follow your commands

and proclaim your reign of love;

through Jesus Christ our Lord, 

who lives and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

One God, now and forever.

Amen.

*Filling the Baptismal Font 

The celebrant fills the font with water and says one of the following.

Do you not know that all of us 

who have been baptized into Christ Jesus 

were baptized into his death? 

Therefore we have been buried with him 

by baptism into death, 

so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead 

by the glory of the Father, 

so we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:3, 4

Remember your baptism, and be thankful!

*Hymn:  

3/10 “Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days” 81/166

3/17 “Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley” 80/insert

3/24 “How Firm a Foundation” 361/463

3/31 “Hope of the World” 360/734

4/7 “Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me” 366/703

Prayer for Wholeness 

3/10 

God of abundance:

you lead us into the desert.

Let our desire for always more

be satisfied by your Word alone.

Let our drive for more power

be released in our obedience to you.

Let our schemes for fame and approval

dissolve in our desire only to follow you.

In this season

turn our hearts away from what we may gain and acquire.

For our true worth is found in what we lose

so that, empty of distractions and obstructions,

your love may pour through us

in Jesus Christ.

3/17

God of silence:

in this season we confront ourselves.

We exist in a network of lies

of our own invention

separating us from you,

from others, and from our true selves.

We cower in fear, 

paralyzed by suspicion and dark fantasies.

We lash out in anger

with violent words and actions.

We hide in shame,

stoking hatreds over imagined assaults.

Let us turn our hearts to you

ever open to your saving love

revealed in Jesus.

Let your love, peace, and joy

overflow in our hearts.

May we be agents of your Truth.

3/24

Great God of power:

We admit to our anger

boiling in our bellies

in righteous indignation

pouring out in violence

of word and act.

We express it in unchained desire

that consumes and wastes

nature and people.

We deny it 

so it festers in our hearts

paralyzing us in silent rage.

We repress it in a self-righteous resentment

and condemning perfectionism.

We want to make a better world

by our own strength and will…

which only makes the world worse,

a wasteland of dashed hopes

and broken dreams. 

And we languish in the smoking ruin

of a world we destroyed in order to save.

O God, our Creator,

have mercy on us.

3/31

God of goodness and love:

We admit to our shame

twisting our hearts

in neediness and grief,

craving attention and affection

in which it is all about us.

We repress it by glomming on to others 

to make them need us.

We deny it by dedicating ourselves 

to success and distracting achievement.

We express it in a deluded individualism

aglow with our own specialness and independence.

Addicted to approval

we forget who we are,

becoming what we think will sell.

And our own emptiness

threatens to consume us. 

We corrupt love into a commodity,

and lose our own souls.

O God, our Creator,

have mercy on us.

4/7

God of light:

We admit that we are in darkness

and trapped in fear. 

We cower in an anxiety

causing us to placate and protect

against the unknown.

We express our fear by hoarding

and building unassailable walls of knowledge.

We repress it in schemes of insurance

and selling ourselves in loyalty to protectors.

We deny it by filling our time

with distracting new and better experiences.

Finally “safe” we dissolve in loneliness,

behind and within a thick and complex net,

choked and strangled

by what we can’t release.

We whimper in an impenetrable darkness

of our own making.

O God, our Creator,

have mercy on us.

(The service continues with the Kyrie, below.)

________________________________________

4/14

The people gather in the narthex with palm branches.

*Opening Prayer

We praise you, O God, 

for your redemption of the world through Jesus Christ. 

Today he entered the holy city of Jerusalem in triumph 

and was proclaimed Messiah and king 

by those who spread garments and branches along his way. 

Let these branches be signs of his victory, 

and grant that we who carry them 

may follow him in the way of the cross, 

that, dying and rising with him, 

we may enter into your kingdom; 

through Jesus Christ, 

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 

now and forever.  Amen.

*Proclamation of the Entry Into Jerusalem  

The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting,

‘Hosanna!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord—

   the King of Israel!’ 

Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written: 

‘Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion.

Look, your king is coming,

   sitting on a donkey’s colt!’ 

His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him. So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify. It was also because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him. The Pharisees then said to one another, ‘You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!’ John 12:12-19

*Procession with Palms:  “All Glory, Laud, and Honor” 88/196

The people process into the Sanctuary.

Welcome & Announcements

Call to Worship 

Blessed is the Kingdom,

of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

both now and forever,

and unto the ages of ages.

Amen.

Opening Prayer

God of grace:

unto whom all hearts are open,

from whom no secrets are hid,

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts 

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit

that we may perfectly love you

and worthily magnify your holy name.

Prayer of the Day

Everlasting God:

in your tender love for the human race 

you sent your Son to take our nature,

and to suffer death upon the cross.

In your mercy enable us to share

in his obedience to your will

and in the glorious victory of his resurrection;

through Jesus Christ our Lord, 

who lives and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

One God, now and forever.

Amen.

Filling the Baptismal Font

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus 

were baptized into his death? 

Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, 

so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, 

so we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:3, 4

Remember your baptism, and be thankful!

*Hymn: “This Is the Day the Lord Has Made”     230/681

Prayer for Wholeness

Talk is cheap.

It is easy to placate you with promises, O God,

We agree to go,

But then we stay.

We promise to do as you say,

Then we do as we please.

We welcome you on Sunday,

And we abandon you by Friday.

We expect a reward for our fine, faithful words,

While we hope you don’t see our sorry, selfish actions.

Yet your arms reach out to embrace us, even on the cross,

Ready to receive us when we finally do turn to you.

When you send us into the world with good news:

Help us to trust in you and to obey.

_______________________________________________________

Kyrie: “Lord, Have Mercy” ——/579

Invocation of the Trinity

O Holy God, you dwell among us, 

worshiped by all the heavenly powers. 

You have brought all things out of nothing into being. 

You have created man and woman in your image and likeness 

and adorned them with all the gifts of grace. 

You give wisdom and understanding to those who ask,

and have established repentance as the way of salvation. 

You have enabled us to offer to you due worship and praise. 

Master, accept our prayers  

and visit us in your goodness. 

Forgive our voluntary and involuntary transgressions, 

sanctify our souls and bodies, 

and grant that we may worship and serve you 

in holiness all the days of our lives.

Amen. Eastern Orthodox, alt.

*Gloria: “Holy God, We Praise Your Name” (verse 4) 460/4

TF *Procession of the Word

A child processes into the Sanctuary carrying a Bible, as the people sing the Gloria.

*The Peace

Christ is in the midst of us.

He is and ever shall be.

May the grace and peace of Christ our God be with all of you.

And also with you.

The people exchange words and signs of God’s peace.

*Spiritual: “I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me” (verse 1) 369/700

THE WORD

TF (Our young disciples continue worship and learning downstairs.)

Prayer for Understanding

Enlighten our hearts and minds by your Word, O God.

Open our eyes to the truth of your saving love, revealed in Scripture,

Move our legs to walk in your way of peace.

Open our hands to do your work,

and our arms to welcome others in your name.

For you are the enlightening of our souls and bodies, O Christ our God, 

and to you we give glory, now and forever.  

Amen. 

Hebrew Scriptures

3/10 Deuteronomy 26:1-11

3/17 Genesis 15:1-12. 17-18

3/24 Isaiah 55:1-9

3/31 Joshua 5:9-12

4/7 Isaiah 43:16-21

4/14 Isaiah 50:4-9a

Psalm

3/10 “You Who Dwell in the Shelter of the Lord” Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 ——/43

3/17 “Wait for the Lord” Psalm 27 ——/90

3/24 Psalm 63:1-8

3/31 Psalm 32

4/7 Psalm 126

4/14 Psalm 31:9-16

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;

   my eye wastes away from grief,

   my soul and body also. 

For my life is spent with sorrow,

   and my years with sighing;

my strength fails because of my misery,

   and my bones waste away. 

I am the scorn of all my adversaries,

   a horror to my neighbors,

an object of dread to my acquaintances;

   those who see me in the street flee from me. 

I have passed out of mind like one who is dead;

   I have become like a broken vessel. 

For I hear the whispering of many—

   terror all around!—

as they scheme together against me,

   as they plot to take my life. 

But I trust in you, O Lord;

   I say, ‘You are my God.’ 

My times are in your hand;

   deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors. 

Let your face shine upon your servant;

   save me in your steadfast love.

New Testament

3/10 Revelation 3:14-21

3/17 Revelation 4:1-11

3/24 Revelation 5:1-5

3/31 Revelation 5:6-10

4/7 Revelation 5:11-14

4/14 tba

Sermon

*Apostles’ Creed (Traditional) p. 14/p. 35

Prayers of God’s Creation and People

Invitation

O Great Healer:

let your Spirit swing 

around us and through us,

over us, under us, and among us,

with healing in her wings,

making us whole

and restoring us to our created goodness.

Intercessions

In the Name of the Lord Jesus,

who is the Presence of the Creator in the creation,

we also pray for all this magnificent garden you have placed in our care.

For the great oceans,

for deserts, wetlands, forests, and glaciers,

for mountains and flatlands;

For the vast and glowing atmosphere,

for plants, birds, insects, and animals,

especially those being driven to extinction…

or abused in industry or by our cruelty or carelessness.…

O Deep Mystery:

Bless all of us here today, 

as we offer our worship and praise to you,

and for all those baptized into your Name of every time and place

who have sought to trust and follow you.

We pray especially for disciples chosen for leadership in your church….

And as we gather we also lift up our whole community, especially: 

those who serve in government or the courts….

all first responders…

travelers… 

workers… 

the aged and infirm…

the grieving and abandoned…

the sick and the addicted…

the poor and the oppressed…  

the unemployed and the destitute…

the incarcerated…

the undocumented, migrants, and refugees…

indigenous peoples…

victims of war and terrorism… 

victims of natural disasters…

victims of domestic abuse…

and all who remember and care for the needy among us…. 

As you commanded, O Lord,

we pray for our enemies and those who wish us harm.

We gather as well with all those who have died in the hope of resurrection,

and are now at rest….

Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

In the communion of all the saints, 

we commend ourselves, one another, 

and our whole life to you, O Christ our God,

and to you we render glory

now and forever.

Amen.

THANKSGIVING

Minute for Mission, One Great Hour of Sharing

Offering   

The Earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof,

the world and all that dwell therein.            Psalm 24:1 

Offertory Music: “” 

TF The bread and wine for communion are carried to the Table as the congregation sings:

*Doxology: “O What Shall I Render?” (verse 1) 557/insert

In Tinton Falls we will be celebrating the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper every Sunday.  In Lakewood we will be celebrating it on March 10, April 7, and April 14.  When we do not celebrate the Sacrament, the order skips to the Prayer of Thanksgiving, below.

Invitation to the Lord’s Table

This is the meal of paradise!

The foretaste of the blessings coming to us,

a sign of abundance and generosity,

forgiveness and deliverance. PfR 

This is the Lord’s table.

Our Savior invites those who trust in him

to share in the feast

which he has prepared.

Opening Dialogue

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 right to give our thanks and praise.

Communion Preface

We need not hide ourselves from you, 

before whose justice no one can stand. 

Your mercy was proclaimed by the apostles and the prophets, 

and shown forth to us in Jesus Christ. 

You give your law to guide us, 

and you promise new life for all, 

that we may live to serve you among our neighbors 

in all we do and say. BCW

Sanctus 

And so we join our voices 

with those of all your people

in every time and place,

in the angels’ song of praise to you:

Holy, holy, holy Lord

God of power and might.

Heaven and earth are full of your glory

Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is he, O blessed is he 

who comes in the name of the Lord!

Hosanna in the highest,

Hosanna in the highest! “St. Anne Sanctus”

Eucharistic Prayer

We give you thanks, O God,
through your beloved Servant, Jesus Christ, 

whom you have sent in these last times
as savior and redeemer,
and messenger of your will.
He is your Word,
inseparable from you,
through whom you made all things
and in whom you take delight. 

You sent him from heaven into the Virgin’s womb, 

where he was conceived, and took flesh.
Born of the Virgin by the power of the Holy Spirit, 

he was revealed as your Son. 

In fulfillment of your will
he stretched out his hands in suffering
to release from suffering those who place their trust in you, 

and so won for you a holy people. 

He freely accepted the death to which he was handed over, 

in order to destroy death
and to shatter the chains of the evil one;
to trample underfoot the powers of hell 

and to lead the righteous into light; 

to fix the boundaries of death
and to manifest the resurrection. 

And so he took bread, gave thanks to you, 

and said: “Take, and eat;
this is my body, broken for you.”
In the same way he took the cup, saying: 

“This is my blood, shed for you.
When you do this, do it for the remembrance of me.” 

Remembering therefore his death and resurrection, 

we set before you this bread and cup,
thankful that you have counted us worthy
to stand in your presence 

and serve you as your priestly people. 

We ask you to send your Holy Spirit
upon the offering of the holy church.
Gather into one all who share these holy mysteries, 

filling them with the Holy Spirit
and confirming their faith in the truth,
that together we may praise you and give you glory, 

through your Servant, Jesus Christ. 

Through him all glory and honor are yours, almighty Father, 

with the Holy Spirit in the holy church, 

now and forever. 

Amen. Hippolytus of Rome

O God,

like chicks fed by a mother bird,

so our mouths are open to receive you.

And so we are bold to pray in the words Jesus taught us,

saying: Our Father….

Agnus Dei: “Holy Lamb of God” ——/602

The Breaking of Bread 1 Corinthians 10:16

The bread we break: 

is it not a communion in the body of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?

   

The minister breaks the bread.

The cup we bless: 

is it not a communion in the blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? 

The minister fills the cup.

The Holy Communion of the People of God

With hearts trusting in an awesome God, 

come to the Table.  

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.

Receive the Body of Christ:

taste the fountain of immortality.

Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia! Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

The people come to the Table to share in Christ’s body and blood by intinction:

taking a piece of bread, dipping it into the cup, and eating it.

TF Those who wish to pray with the pastor before or after communion

may meet with him to the side.

May the Body and Blood of Christ our God bring you to everlasting life.

Communion Music: “Just as I Am” 370/442 

Closing Prayer/Prayer of Thanksgiving

Gracious God,

we give you thanks

that in Jesus Christ,

who is your Word,

you have emptied yourself,

becoming flesh to dwell among us

full of grace and truth.

He brings good news to the poor,

proclaims release to the captives,

gives sight to the blind,

liberates the oppressed,

makes the lame walk,

welcomes sinners, 

and even raises the dead.

In giving his life for the life of the world

he sets us free from sin and death.

And he gives us your Holy Spirit

by whom he is present with us even now,

gathering us into one beloved community.

and sending us into the world

with the good news of your love.

And, when we do not celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper:

O God,

like a woman searching for a lost coin,

so do you seek us.

And so we are bold to pray in the words Jesus taught us,

saying: Our Father….

*Hymn: 

3/10 “Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love” 367/203

3/17 “Be Thou My Vision” 339/450

3/24 “Blessed Assurance” 341/839

3/31 “Christ of the Upward Way” 344/insert

4/7 “Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive” 347/444

4/14 “Lamb of God” ——/518

SENDING

*Charge 

4/7

God spoke all these words, saying, I am the Lord your God.

You shall have no other gods before me.

You shall not make for yourself an idol....

You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God.

Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy.

Honor your father and your mother.

You shall not kill.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

You shall not covet... anything that belongs to your neighbor.         From Exodus 20:1-17

3/10, 3/17, 3/24, 3/31, 4/14

Blessed are the poor in spirit, 

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  

Blessed are those who mourn, 

for they will be comforted.  

Blessed are the meek, 

for they will inherit the earth.  

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 

for they will be filled.  

Blessed are the merciful, 

for they will receive mercy.  

Blessed are the pure in heart, 

for they will see God.  

Blessed are the peacemakers, 

for they will be called children of God.  

Blessed are those who are persecuted 

for righteousness' sake, 

for theirs is the kingdom of  heaven.  

Blessed are you 

when people revile you and persecute you 

and utter all kinds of evil against you 

falsely on my account.  

Rejoice and be glad, 

for your reward is great in heaven, 

for in the same way 

they persecuted the prophets who were before you.             Matthew 5:3-12                                                                                                    

*Benediction

And now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the love of God,

and the communion of the Holy Spirit

be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:13

*Choral Benediction: “Jesus, Remember Me” (3x) 599/227

*Dismissal

Go in peace

to love and serve the Lord.

Amen.

*Postlude:

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