Showing posts with label Lent 4 B. Show all posts

Benediction: John 3: 16-17

Here’s a benediction based on John 3:16-17. It comes from the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways website.

Benediction

(based on John 3: 16-17)

Just as God’s Word was sent into the world

to heal and redeem,

so God sends you into the world this day

to be light and love, healing and hope.

Go now to be light for the world!

And may the grace and peace of God the Creator,

the Redeemer, and the Sustainer

come upon you this day

and remain with you always. Amen.

— taken from “O Merciful God: God of Wisdom: Prayers for the Fourth Sunday in Lent,” written by Rev. Kathryn Matthews Huey and the Rev. Susan A. Blain. Posted on the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways website.

Prayer: Abundant Life

“For God so loved the world

that he gave his one and only Son….” John 3:16

God, you loved this world so much

that you sent your own son, Jesus Christ

to live and die among us,

in order that we might have life.

Forgive us for keeping that abundant life to ourselves,

for jealously hoarding your generous gifts,

for choosing self-interest over compassion and justice.

Teach us what it means to live as children of the light,

generously sharing your abundance

with our brothers and sisters in need. Amen.

— Christine Longhurst, posted on the Canadian Foodgrains Bank website.

For more prayer resources on this blog, see the Scriptural Index of Prayers at the upper right side of the page.

Reflection: John 3: 16

Here’s a thoughtful reflection inspired by John 3:16. It was written by Roddy Hamilton.

A Story of Love

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son….” John 3:16

gather round
I have a story to tell
of one who reached inside himself
and took a handful of love
like a pile of stardust
and said: this is for you
it is all you need
it is all you will ever need
there is enough here
to change the whole world
take it

many laughed at him
mocked him
and ignored the invitation

but some dared to take it
and those who did
noticed something about this love
they found they could do what the gift-giver could do
they could stand with the lost
welcome the traveler
eat with the hungry
they found themselves doing what the man first did to them
give something of themselves to others
they became like the man
offering themselves
and as they offered themselves
others took the invitation
and many still do
and many still trust
it is enough to change the whole world

~ written by Roddy Hamilton, and posted on Listening to the Stones. http://newkilpatrickblog.typepad.com/nk-blogging/mucky-paws/

Prayer Reflection: Ephesians 2: 1-10

Here’s a prayer reflection inspired by Ephesians 2: 1-10. It was written by Jan L. Richardson, and posted on The Painted Prayerbook.

Reflection: Even then, grace

But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which God loved us,

even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.

- Ephesians 2.4-5a

Even when we were dead, Paul writes.

Even when we turned away from the One who had created us.

Even when we lived in the grip of what drew our gaze from God.

Even when we were oblivious.

Even when we followed a path fashioned of nothing

but our own desires.

Even when we wandered far and willfully away.

Even when we forgot to look past our own feet and to see

the wonders not of our making.

Even when we failed to stand in awe, to breathe thanks,

to lean into the love that had waited long for us.

Even when, Paul writes.

Even when,

even then:

grace.

~ written by Jan L. Richardson, and posted on The Painted Prayerbook. http://paintedprayerbook.com/

Confession: John 3: 14-15

Here’s a thoughtful invitation into confession from Steve Garnaas-Holmes. It was posted on Unfolding Light.

Invitation to Confession

(inspired by John 3:14-15

Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,
so must the New Human be lifted up,
that whoever trusts may have eternal life.
~ John 3.14-15

You have to look your evil in the face to be healed.
The snakes that plagued the Hebrews in the desert
were their betrayal come back to bite them,
their being Eden's serpent.
The cure was to gaze at their sin.

So we gaze upon the Crucified One, our victim,
and look our awfulness in the eye
and only there grasp forgiveness,
and only then become truly alive.

On the cross is lifted up
our racism, our violence, our materialism,
our deep seated me-first-ism.
Posted there is our last text to God,
“I'll let you know when I need you.”
We look at it, look at it hard,
to get free of the lie that we're just fine,
the lie that keeps us from knowing
how deeply we are forgiven,
how vastly we are blessed,
how infinitely we are loved.

~ written by Steve Garnaas-Holmes and posted on Unfolding Light. https://www.unfoldinglight.net/

Prayer of Confession: Walking with God

Here’s a prayer of confession from Rev. Mindi’s Rev-o-lution website.

Prayer of Confession

Almighty God,

You have set before us the path

but we have wandered on our own

to try to find our way.

Sometimes we are like toddlers

and we hear Your call and come back.

Other times, we are children testing boundaries,

ignoring Your call until fear finally makes us look back.

And still other times we are full of youthful rebellion,

demanding to be cut loose and set free,

not knowing how much we still need

to seek Your wisdom and guidance.

But most of all, too often we think we are adults

and have figured it all our and know our own way,

only to stumble and stray so far.

Remind us, parental God,

that we are always Your children,

that we are never fully grown up in Your sight,

that we always have much to learn.

Help us to seek You every day,

to acknowledge that we need Your wisdom and guidance,

and help us to return to the path and walk with You.

In the name of Christ,

who is our companion on this journey of faith, we pray. Amen.

~ written by Rev Mindi, and posted on Rev-o-lution. http://rev-o-lution.org/

Call to Worship: John 3

Here’s an opening for worship (and brief prayer of invocation) inspired by the events of John 3:1-21, where Nicodemus encounters Jesus. It was written by Tim Graves and posted on LiturgyBits.

Call to Worship

(inspired by John 3:1-21)

It had been a long day.

The heat.

The crowds.

The life as it is expected.

He sensed something new with this man.

A breath,

a wind swirled and blew.

They met as the noise of the day faded.

A patient breath taught a perceiving heart.

“So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Open our hearts

to the wind sweeping through this room.

Open our whole selves to your abundant love. Amen.

~ written by Tim Graves, and posted on LiturgyBits. https://liturgybits.wordpress.com

John 3:16: A Prayer Paraphrase

Here’s a prayer paraphrase of John 3:16 from Steve Garnaas-Holmes. It was posted on Unfolding Light.

Prayer Paraphrase of John 3:16

Infinite Love, heart of all life,
you loved this word into being
with such love
as to birth yourself among us,
Love begotten as the Beloved.

Opening ourselves to your love
we live beyond our mortal selves
and join your eternal Oneness.

Your presence does not separate but unites;
love does not push away, but embraces;
you do not condemn, but save.

Trusting this we know
we are loved, never rejected.
When our trust fails we are doomed:
withdrawing into ourselves
we aren't open to love,
the only source of life.

~ written by Steve Garnaas-Holmes and posted on Unfolding Light. https://www.unfoldinglight.net/

Call to Worship: John 3: 14-21

Here’s a call to worship inspired by John 3:14-21. It was written by Ann Siddall and posted on the Stillpoint Spirituality Centre website.

Call to Worship

(inspired by John 3:14-21)

Friends of God, believe this –

God loved the world,

God loves the world,

we are the beloved!

May the truth of this great love story,

shine through our worship today,

and renew our sense of calling.

So come, with your tiredness,

your frustrations and your discouragements;

come with your doubts, your fears,

and your longings;

come, to discover yet again

how Jesus reveals God’s love and mercy.

Come, in friendship to God

and to each other,

and in friendship to the world,

to listen for God’s Word to us,

to offer our prayers,

and to renew our calling.

Friends of God,

let us worship!

~ written by Ann Siddall, and posted on the Stillpoint Spirituality Centre website. https://stillpointsa.org.au/

Prayer: Defying Expectation

We are sinners…

we are not only sinners
We are weak…

we are not only weak
We fail…

we are not always failures
We have destroyed…

also we have loved

You, God, do not limit us

to the stories by which the world knows us

You see much more in us

than the labels we give ourselves

Give us courage to defy all expectations –

especially our own –

and in your love

become all of who we are.

~ written by Cheryl Lawrie and posted on [hold this space]. http://holdthisspace.org.au/

Call to Worship: God So Loved the World

Here’s a call to worship inspired by John 3:14-21 and Ephesians 2: 1-10. It was written by Bruce Prewer and posted on Bruce Prewer’s Home Page.

Call to Worship

(inspired by John 3:14-21 and Ephesians 2:1-10)

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son

that whoever believes in him should not perish

but have eternal life.

Let those who know they are redeemed celebrate it!

Those who have been reclaimed from deep trouble!

Though we were as good as dead,

God made us alive with the grace of Christ

through whom we are rescued and healed.

O give thanks to God for such unswerving love,

for such wonderful deeds for the children of earth.

~ written by Bruce Prewer, and posted on Bruce Prewer’s Home Page. http://www.bruceprewer.com/.

Prayer of Confession: Lent 4, Year B

Here’s a prayer of confession, followed by Words of Assurance for the 4^th Sunday of Lent, Year B. It comes from the United Church of Christ website.

Prayer of Confession

(inspired by Numbers 21:4-9 and John 3:14-21)

O God of Comfort and God of Challenge,

we come to you this morning the way the Israelites did,

full of complaints and dissatisfaction.

Nothing is enough;

we do not recognize your blessing at work in our day to day lives.

Forgive us when we become so comfortable

that we moan and groan about

the most insignificant details of our lives.

In our complaints, challenge us as you did the Israelites,

to consider the bigger picture

of oppression, injustice, and inequality around us.

Forgive us when we close our eyes for fear of what you might show us;

keep sending loving and compassionate leaders

to open our eyes until we see what you see in our world.

Words of Assurance

You are blessed because God’s image resides deep within each of you.

So return God’s blessing by the way you love others.

~ written by Rev. Dr. Ginny Brown Daniel, in So Loved: Service Prayers for the Fourth Sunday of Lent. Posted on the Worship Ways page of the United Church of Christ website. http://www.ucc.org/worship_worship-ways

Prayer of Confession: Lent 4 B

Here’s a prayer of confession inspired by two of the suggested scripture readings for Lent 4, Year B – Numbers 21:4-9 and John 3:14-16. It was written by Amy Loving and posted on The Worship Closet. See below for link.

Prayer of Confession

(inspired by Numbers 21:4-9 and John 3:14-16)

God,

we confess that we are an impatient and selfish people.

When you offer us the promise of a new future,

we complain that you don’t get there fast enough.

When you provide for our needs,

we complain that it isn’t enough.

And when our bad attitudes and negative outlooks cause us to stumble,

we blame you.

Holy God, forgive our sinful ways.

Teach us to be patient.

Instruct us to be grateful.

Guide us to be responsible and humble.

As we turn ourselves around and look to the cross,

let us experience your grace and your gift of new life.

In the name of Christ our Savior, we pray. Amen.

~ written by Amy Loving, and posted on The Worship Closet: The Place for Creative Worship Ideas. http://worshipcloset.com/baptism-of-the-lord-sunday-year-b-words-for-worship/

Benediction: John 3: 16

Here’s a closing benediction for the 4^th Sunday of Lent from Rev. Dr. Ginny Brown Daniel. It was posted on the Worship Ways page of the United Church of Christ website.

Benediction

(inspired by John 3:14-21)

Let us rejoice: God so loves the world!

May God your Maker

send you back into the world with creative energies refreshed.

May Christ the Light

illuminate your darkest moments.

And may the Holy Spirit of steadfast love

guide you until we worship together again.

This day and forevermore. Amen!

Prayer for Others: John 3

Here’s a prayer of intercession, written by Bruce Prewer in conjunction with John 3:14-21. It was posted on http://www.bruceprewer.com/.

Prayer of Intercession

(inspired by John 3:14-21)

Today, Christian friends, I ask you to especially pray for those people for whom we hold scant respect. The ones we tend to write off as no hopers. I ask you to pray for them because God loves each one of them just as much as each of us, and it is not God’s desire that even the worst rogue should perish.

Let us pray.

God of the whole human family, we pray for drug addicts, dealers, alcoholics, gamblers, those who cheat and rob their own families, and those who mug vulnerable passers-by.

In your mercy, gracious God,

Hear our prayer

We pray for violent teenage gangs, for rebellious kids who run away for good homes, those who milk the social welfare system, and respectable business men who cheat the elderly out of their life savings.

In your mercy, gracious God,

Hear our prayer

We pray for prostitutes, pimps and their customers, for paedophiles, those who exploit children to make porn movies, and those who employ illegal immigrants in sweat shops.

In your mercy, gracious God,

Hear our prayer

We pray for terrorists in many lands, for underworld bosses, minders and hit men; for rapists, stalkers, seducers, and those who commit domestic violence.

In your mercy, gracious God,

Hear our prayer

We pray for bank robbers and tax evaders, shop lifters and vandals, con-men, pickpockets, computer criminals, and burglars who bash the elderly in their homes.

In your mercy, gracious God,

Hear our prayer

We pray for people who gravely abuse their positions of trust or power; corrupt lawyers, doctors, politicians, teachers, police officers, prison officers and ministers of religion.

In your mercy, gracious God,

Hear our prayer

Most loving God, please do not allow us to become defeatist and bitter. Make us more eager for redemption rather than retribution, and encourage us to employ the tough love of Christ in the affairs of our neighbourhood and nation. For your name’s sake. Amen.

~ written by Bruce Prewer, and posted on Bruce Prewer’s Home Page. http://www.bruceprewer.com/.

Prayer: Secure Our Steps, O God

Here’s a prayer of petition and intercession from reverendmother. It was posted on RevGalBlogPals.

Prayer

Secure our steps, O God—
on rough terrain,
on shifting sands,
on fine, wide roads,
on narrow paths.
Make our footsteps firm.

Secure our steps, O God—
in the boardroom,
at the water cooler,
in the school yard,
in the checkout line.
Make our footsteps firm.

Secure our steps, O God—
chasing after deadlines,
trailing after toddlers,
scrambling toward the finish line,
clamoring for security.
Make our footsteps firm.

Secure our steps, O God—
pacing through hospitals,
wandering through the hurt,
tripping over the unforeseen,
meandering through the grief.
Make our footsteps firm.
Amen.

~ Posted by reverendmother on RevGalBlogPals. http://revgalblogpals.blogspot.ca/

Litany: God Loved the World So Much

Here’s a litany inspired by John 3:16. It was written by Roddy Hamilton

Litany

(inspired by John 3: 16)

1:         God loved the world so much
            that God sent Jesus the son
            so that all who believed in him
            would have eternal life

2:         God loved the world so much
            love gave everything it had
            that anyone who grasped the story of love
            would be grasped by love’s story
            and find what is eternal

1:         God loved the world so much
            heaven opened up itself completely
            so that whoever welcomed the kingdom in
            through works of love and justice
            would find the lasting wholeness of life

2:         God loved the world so much
            Jesus put on flesh and lived among us
            so that the face of God would be clear to humanity
            and the word of God would be clearly heard
            that no life is cheap enough to destroy

1:         God loved the world so much
            God went there Gods-self
            so that anyone who banked on love
            would discover life’s ultimate value
            and in so doing live in its fullness

2:         God loved the world so much
            God let Jesus gamble everything on love
            through to crucifixion and death
            so that all who ventured to love in that way
            would know what had been distilled in eternity

1:         God loved the world so much
            that God sent Jesus the son
            so that all who believed in him
            would have eternal life

~ written by Roddy Hamilton, and posted on Mucky Paws. http://www.nkchurch.org.uk/index.php/mucky-paws

Psalm 107 Litany

Here’s a responsive litany inspired by Psalm 107. It comes from Kristin Holbrook.

Litany

(inspired by Psalm 107)

O give thanks to the LORD, for the LORD is good;

God’s steadfast love endures forever.

Let the redeemed of the LORD say so.

God has redeemed us from trouble.

Some wandered in the desert,

Dying of hunger and thirst.

They cried out to the LORD;