22A – Lent 4A

21A - Lent 3A23A - Lent 5A
 
See also my posts from 2014, 2017, 2020, 2023

 
PSALM 23
LORD God, divine shepherd;
in the days ahead, just as it has been all my life,
I shall not want for anything.
You will rest me in rich pasture
and lead me beside calm waters.
You will bring my inner being back where it belongs,
and lead me along the right paths,
for the sake of your name.
Even when things seem at their darkest,
sensing your presence, I fear nothing;
you are sure of the way ahead, and you protect me.
Indeed, in spite of the adversity surrounding me
you continue to provide abundantly for my well-being;
anointing me with your hospitality
and pouring out blessing upon blessing.
Surely good and lovingkindness will pursue me all my days,
I will return, and you, O LORD,
shall be my dwelling-place for days without end.

OFFERING
Source of life,
receive the gifts we offer;
and let all our service,
inspired by the Breath of life
give you glory and praise;
in the name of the Word of life. Amen

For use in worship, with acknowledgement. © Jeff Shrowder 1999.


A CREATIVE MOMENT – 1 Samuel 16:1-13 and John 9:1-41
Continue using the purple cloth from last week. It could be hung as a large plain banner or draped in a manner appropriate for your worship space. Place a small glass jug of water, a small pile of dirt and a small jug of oil on the worship/communion table: oil of anointing, water and soil for the mud of healing.
The gospel reading is quite long, but the numerous characters in it offer the opportunity for it to be presented in a dramatised form.
Today might be an occasion for a healing service, or a service which contains elements of such a service.

Click here for some ideas for worship in Lent and Easter gleaned from the pages of “On the Move” (now out of print) originally published by the Joint Board of Christian Education, Melbourne, Australia.


THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
(A prayer, usually with connection to one or more of the lections for the day, to gather the spoken and silent concerns/joys/thanks expressed by the congregation and lead into a more structured Intercession. Sometimes this prayer also borrows lightly from other sources e.g. Uniting in Worship 2 or publications of the Iona Community.)

Loving God,
let the light of your Word, and the warmth of your Spirit
rejoice with those for whom life has begun anew,
dry the eyes of all who are weighed down with grief,
strengthen the weak and the lonely;
those we have named on our lips and in our hearts
and those whose troubles are known only to you;
that they may know your peace …
         (The Prayers of the People continue)


Looking for contemporary music and song resources?
Try David MacGregor’s Together to Celebrate
Or metrical psalms? Try Dale A. Schoening’s Sing the Psalms

HYMN SUGGESTIONS FOR LENT 4 – YEAR A
Christ whose glory fills the skies TIS 212
Sing praise and thanksgiving, TIS 107
Your words to me are life and health TIS 430
Your hand O God has guided TIS 456
1 Samuel 16:1-13
Hail to the Lord’s anointed TIS 275
Lord, I come to you TIS 685
Lord, let me see, see more and more TIS 681
This day God gives me TIS 642
Psalm 23
I know that my Redeemer lives TIS 376
I know that my Redeemer TIS 202
I set the Lord before my eyes TIS 673
I will sing the wondrous story TIS 233
In all my ways, in every task TIS 553
Jesus, my Lord, let me be near you TIS 656
O come, O come, Emmanuel TIS 265
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King TIS 111
The Lord is my shepherd, and I want to follow TIS 659
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothin TIS 11
The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want TIS 10
The king of love my shepherd is TIS 145
Ephesians 5:8-14
Awake, my soul, and with the sun TIS 557
Blessed Jesus, at your word TIS 437
God be in my head TIS 549
I want to walk as a child of the light TIS 643
Jesus comes with all his grace TIS 219
Jesus the name high over all TIS 218
Sing praise and thanksgiving TIS 107
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy TIS 136
Wake, awake! for night is flying TIS 266
John 9:1-41
Christ is the world’s light, he and none other TIS 246
Eternal light, shine in my heart TIS 548
I’ll praise my Maker while I’ve breath TIS 90
Jesus the Lord said, ‘I am the bread’ TIS 239
Lord, the light of your love is shining TIS 675
Lord, your almighty word TIS 447

2 thoughts on “22A – Lent 4A”

  1. Thank you for this wonderful resource. I am a trainee Lay Preacher and in my learning process it’s good to have quality resources. Well done!
    Judith

    1. Thank you Judith. It’s always gratifying to hear how these resources help in preparing worship.
      Blessings as you continue in your training for the important ministry of Lay Preacher.
      – Jeff

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