Lenten Liturgy March 2011 Tomusiak

Here I am to Worship – 5:22 min s&feature=fvwrel Gathering Song

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As we enter this season, God makes his promise to us: “I make all things new” Rev. 21:5 Lent is meant to be a spiritual springtime for us…A time when we are made new. We are in a very special position in Lent. We can allow the Grace of God to change our lives and make us new. The choice is ours. Let’s keep our hearts open to what God wants to do in our lives. God will act and keep the promise that was made to us. We have the assurance that God will be faithful.

We will be made new unless the grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies it bears much fruit. John 12:24 Several times this day, close your eyes and picture God smiling on you. Ps 118:27 God of the Dark and Light, I open my arms as wide as I can to receive you in all the ways you wish to come to me. Open my eyes and heart to see and feel your many blessings.

Loving God, we thank you for giving us Your Son, Jesus. You could have saved us and given us the right to eternal life by requiring much less than the “ultimate gift” of Jesus on the cross. By the sacrifice on the Cross you showed your great love for us. Amen.

A reading taken from Jeremiah 7:23-28 Class response: Glory to you o Lord. 23 My one command to them was this: Listen to my voice, then I will be your God and you shall be my people. In everything, follow the way that I mark out for you, and you shall prosper.will Godmark 24 But they did not listen, they did not pay attention; they followed their own devices, their own stubborn and wicked inclinations, and got worse rather than better.

25 From the day your ancestors left Egypt until today, I have sent you all my servants the prophets, persistently sending them day after day.Egypt 26 But they have not listened to me, have not paid attention; they have deliberately resisted, behaving worse than their ancestors. 27 So you will tell them all this, but they will not listen to you; you will call them, but they will not answer you."will 28 Then you are to say to them, "This is the nation that will neither listen to the voice of Yahweh its God nor take correction. Sincerity is no more, it has vanished from their mouths.willYahweh God This is the word of the Lord. Response: Thanks be to God

Psalms 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 Reader: The response is “Lord here our prayer” Response – class says: “Lord here our prayer.” 1 Come, let us cry out with joy to Yahweh, acclaim the rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving, acclaim him with music. RESPONSE: LORD HERE OUR PRAYER 6 Come, let us bow low and do reverence; kneel before Yahweh who made us!Yahweh 7 For he is our God, and we the people of his sheepfold, the flock of his hand If only you would listen to him today! RESPONSE: LORD HERE OUR PRAYER 8 Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as at the time of Massah in thetime desert, 9 when your ancestors challenged me, put me to the test, and saw what I could do! RESPONSE: LORD HERE OUR PRAYER

Gospel: A reading from the Gospel of Luke 15:11-32 Class Response: Glory to you o Lord. After reading of Gospel one member of class comes forward to light a candle and says “Jesus offers us forgiveness as a light to heal broken relationships.” Teacher says: “Jesus, you say to me today that I am the lost son, the one who needs forgiveness seventy times seven. Entire class says: “Lord help us to seek forgiveness.”

Teacher asks another student to come forward and says “Jesus offers us forgiveness as a light to heal broken relationships.” Student lights candle and says “Jesus, help us to experience our own need for forgiveness before each other and before God. Class responds: “Lord, help us to offer forgiveness to others.”

Teacher hands asks another student to light a candle and says “Jesus offers us forgiveness as a light to heal broken relationships.” Student light candle and says “Jesus, help us to become persons of healing.” Class responds “Lord, help us to offer forgiveness to others.” Teacher says: “Jesus, may your forgiveness be a light for us, that we might forgive one another and create new life in our world.” All respond: Amen

Teacher: We have listened to the word of God. Let us now ask God to listen to us, to bless our words of prayer which we offer for the people of the world. Reader: The response is “Lord, here our prayer.” Student 1: For leaders of the Church and government, for heads of institutions, for heads of homes and households…that they will lead us and guide us in the search for God and the good life, in the search for peace and joy, in the search for love among us, let us pray to the Lord. (Response)

Student 2: For all young people struggling with their faith, for the Holy Spirit to guide them onto the right path of spirituality, let us pray to the Lord. Response: Lord here our prayer. Student 3: For our relatives and friends who walk with us on life’s journey and for those who have gone before us to the other side of life. For the fulfillment of all their unfulfilled desires, let us pray to the Lord. Response: Lord here our prayer.

Lord Jesus, during this Lent may your Spirit change me, bless me and guide me. All Males Say: May your spirit change me. Take the veil from my eyes, take the cotton from my ears, take the gloves from my hands, take the weights from my feet, and take the sadness from my heart.

All Females Say: May your spirit bless me. Give me faith to know you, give me hope to desire you, give me wisdom to choose you, give me grace to accept you, give me courage to follow you, and give me strength to imitate you. Entire class says: May your spirit guide me Help me see as you see, help me listen as you listen, help me to welcome as you welcome, help me to serve as you serve, help me rejoice as you rejoice, help me love as you love. Teacher: “Lord Jesus, during this lenten season let your Spirit change me, bless me, and guide me. Amen.”

Cold Play – Fix You (5:40) l4i5rM