Prayers & Liturgy written by Rev. Dr. Barb Hedges-Goettl, all available for use with credit.
More resources for Lent available here.
John 18:12-27 and Psalm 17:1-7
Prayer of Great Thanksgiving
One: The Lord be with you.
Many: 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.
O God, since speaking Creation into being,
you have spoken openly to the world.
You teach your people wherever they come together.
You do nothing in secret.
You speak aloud rightly to all who would hear,
You use the testimony of those who hear what you say.
Sometimes, we are able to testify to your love and your works.
At other times, we are not even sure we know you.
At times, belonging to you is a joyful affirmation.
At other times, belonging to you is more of an accusation.
We doubt our ability to stand with you when danger arises,
We are immobilized by our doubt.
But your faithfulness and love are not dependent on us.
You proclaim them regardless of our feelings and participation.
When our commitment is in doubt, your commitment is sure.
When we deny your claim on us, you claim us still.
You act with justice and mercy to redeem all creation.
In everlasting love, you choose your people as your own.
Hearing our cries of fear and doubt,
you deliver us from the house of bondage.
Loving us still, you make us heirs with Christ of the covenant.
Like a mother, you do not forsake your nursing child.
Like a father, you run to welcome your prodigals home.
ALL: You are faithful still.
Despite our unfaithfulness,
in spite of the moments when we deny you,
you claim us.
You sent your Son: born to among us as one of us.
He lived among us, full of grace and truth,
your servant and the servant of the people you created,
speaking and healing, leading and comforting.
He was crucified, one person dying for the people;
he rose from the dead, conquering death and evil,
and all that separates us from you and from each other.
He promised the full coming of your Kingdom,
and emboldened those he left behind to walk and witness to your way.
We praise you for your great and glorious work,
joining our voices with all who came before us—
prophets and martyrs, disciples and followers,
and with all the people belonging to you in every time and place,
who forever sing the glory of your name.
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,
speaking openly so all may hear.
Hosanna in the highest.
O God, send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts of bread and cup,
that they may be for us the body and blood of your Son,
joining us to him and to you and to one another.
May your faithfulness inspire our faithfulness,
making our witness potent and powerful,
enabling us to testify to being your people,
who are called to proclaim and practice all that Christ said and did.
We pray the only way we can—
through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ,
by his power, grace and mercy.
We pray in the only unity that holds:
in the unity of the Holy Spirit.
We pray to you, the only one worthy of glory and honor;
all glory and honor are yours, almighty God,
now and forever. Amen.
Prayer After Communion
Lord, we thank you that we belong to you even when we are not sure.
May this bread and cup be for us tangible evidence of our relationship to you,
showing us your call and claim on us individually
and as the church, your body.
May we offer bread and body, cup and service, to your people,
carrying them and their burdens as you have carried us.
Potential hymns:
Ah, Holy Jesus
Before the Cock Crew Twice
Bitter Was the Night
Christ, the Life of All the Living
Guide me Ever, Great Redeemer/Guide me, O Thou Great Redeemer
Here, Lord, We Take the Broken Bread
My Song is Love Unknown
O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High
O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
O Sacred Head Surrounded/O Sacred Head Now Wounded
Psalm 31:9-16
Sharing Pascal Bread and Wine/Shadows Lengthen into Night
This is The Night. Dear Friends, The Night for Weeping
‘Tis Finished! The Messiah Dies
When My Love to God Grows Weak
When We Are Tempted to Deny Your Son
Potential art
Jesus Before Caiaphas http://www.pitts.emory.edu/dia/bridge.cfm?ID=450
The Denial of St. Peter (Carvaggio, Baroque period)
https://honorsartatthemet.ace.fordham.edu/files/original/2425ce4528557ba00b62e31482fde4e9.jpg
Denial of St. Peter by Adam de Costner (this one may be here > once; this is better image)
The Denial of St. Peter c. 1623
https://collections.artsmia.org/art/1886/the-denial-of-st-peter-gerrit-van-honthorst
Peter Denies Jesus But Receives God’s Forgiveness
https://hopestreamradio.com/peter-denies-jesus-but-receives-gods-forgiveness/
Peter About to Be Struck in Front of the High Priest Annas
The Repentant Peter (El Greco)
https://www.wga.hu/support/viewer/z.html
Peter Denying Christ (Rembrandt)
http://www.abcgallery.com/R/rembrandt/rembrandt5.html
Denial of St. Peter ( (Tournier)
https://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/t/tournier/denial.html
Condemnation of Christ and the Denial of St. Peter
Diatessaron (conflated gospels) Denial of Peter
Contemporary version Denial of Peter
Another contemporary version
Church of St. Peter/Gallicantu. Jerusalem
Contemporary Metal Sculpture at Church of St Peter/Gallicantu, Jerusalem
Contemporary clay sculpture, Church of St. Peter/Gallicantu, Jerusalem
Peter After His Denial of Christ
Denial of St. Peter (Renaissance)
St. Peter’s Repentance
Black & white contemporary line drawing
The Cock
Third Denial (Tissot)
Denial of St. Peter (Preti)
Passion of Jesus
katyandtheword 
2 thoughts on “When in Doubt: Peter’s Denial #worship and #liturgy resource, including Communion”