22C – Lent 4C

21C - Lent 3C — 23C - Lent 5C
 
See also my posts from 2013, 2016, 2019, 2022

 
PRAYER OF CONFESSION from PSALM 32  (a version for today)
A real sense of contentment comes to the person
from whom the burden of rebellion against the compassionate One
has been lifted,
whom the holy One has acquitted.
I kept silent;
I hoped it would all go away;
but my body grew old before its time,
as I struggled with the load I carried.
Day and night, day and night,
and my tongue was hard and cracked,
like a drought-baked paddock.
But then I came to my senses,
and admitting that I could not blot out my wrongs.
I said, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD”,
and then you lifted its weight from me
Our following in the way of Jesus is flawed
yet still we are assured of the liberating embrace
of your lovingkindness.

OFFERING
God who makes all things new,
you have entrusted to us
a ministry of reconciliation.
Empowered by your Spirit
may we use our gifts and our living
exercising that ministry
in Jesus’ name. Amen.

For use in worship, with acknowledgement. © Jeff Shrowder 1998, 2013.

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A CREATIVE MOMENT – Joshua 5:9-12
During Lent the primary focus of these creative moments is on the lections from the Hebrew Scripture, in which we see God’s steadfast, sure love expressed in covenant, promise and abundant provision.

Create a banner/graphic depicting last week’s symbols of bread, wine and milk to add to the banners/graphics from the previous two weeks. This week’s symbol of unleavened bread could be represented in several ways. Choose one appropriate to your local culture.

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

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THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
(A prayer to gather the spoken and silent concerns/joys/thanks expressed by the congregation and lead into a more structured Intercession with connection to the lections for the day. Sometimes this prayer borrows lightly from other sources e.g. Uniting in Worship 2 or publications of the Iona Community.)
God of all grace,
in you is hope and life.
In that hope we remember
those we name on our lips
and in our silence…..
Help us sit quietly with the weary and grieving …
return to our memory those whom we have forgotten …
and In your steadfast love
be present to those who have no-one …
      (The Prayers of the People continue)

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Looking for contemporary music and song resources?
Try David MacGregor’s Together to Celebrate

HYMN SUGGESTIONS FOR LENT 4 – YEAR C
Joshua 5:9-12
For the fruits of all creation	TIS 168
God whose farm is all creation	TIS 159
Jesus invites his saints	TIS 505
Robe yourself my soul, with gladness	TIS 503
Shout for joy! The Lord has let us feast	TIS 545
This is a day of new beginnings	TIS 653
Through all the changing scenes of life	TIS 112
Psalm 32
How blest are those whose great sin	TIS 20
I greet you, my Redeemer sure	TIS 198
Jesus, lover of my soul	TIS 211
You are my hiding place	TIS 754
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Alleluia… The Word of the LOrd lasts	TIS 257
Come to be our hope, O Jesus	TIS 688
Forgive our sins as we forgive	TIS 635
God gives us a future	TIS 687
God sends us his Spirit to befriend and help us	TIS 412
God! When human bonds are broken	TIS 683
In great thanksgiving	TIS 632
Love divine, all loves excelling	TIS 217
No weight of gold or silver	TIS 249
O breath of life, come sweeping through us	TIS 409
The Word of God lasts for ever	TIS 257
The love of God is greater far	TIS 151
They that believe and are baptised	TIS 479
We are your people, Lord, by your grace	TIS 468
We know that Christ is raised and dies no more	TIS 248
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
Come as you are, that’s how I want you	TIS 693
Come, let us to the Lord our God	TIS 577
Hail, our once-despised Jesus	TIS 373
I come with joy to meet my Lord	TIS 533
I danced in the morning when the world was be	TIS 242
I need you, Lord, for I have seen	TIS 625
Lord, I come to you, let my heart be changed	TIS 685
Lord of Creation, to you be all praise	TIS 626
Praise with joy the world’s Creator	TIS 179

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