When in Doubt: Peter’s Denial #worship and #liturgy resource, including Communion

Prayers & Liturgy written by Rev. Dr. Barb Hedges-Goettl, all available for use with credit.

More resources for Lent available here.

lent

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

What Wondrous Love is This  

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)

https://www.google.com/search?q=The+Condemnation+of+Christ+and+the+Denial+of+Saint+Peter&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiqvrugjJrZAhVhw1kKHee9DCMQ7AkIXw&biw=1242&bih=535&safe=active&ssui=on#imgrc=6HtF3_kMJLdxHM:

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanhedrin_trial_of_Jesus#/media/File:Jes%C3%BAs_en_casa_de_An%C3%A1s_Museo_del_Prado_Jos%C3%A9_de_Madrazo.jpg

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

https://www.google.com/search?q=The+Condemnation+of+Christ+and+the+Denial+of+Saint+Peter&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiqvrugjJrZAhVhw1kKHee9DCMQ7AkIXw&biw=1242&bih=535&safe=active&ssui=on#imgrc=oCUme6ZMInYDZM:

Diatessaron (conflated gospels) Denial of Peter

https://www.google.com/search?q=The+Condemnation+of+Christ+and+the+Denial+of+Saint+Peter&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiqvrugjJrZAhVhw1kKHee9DCMQ7AkIXw&biw=1242&bih=535&safe=active&ssui=on#imgrc=tdOmyW4Y5w2bDM:

Contemporary version Denial of Peter

https://www.google.com/search?q=The+Condemnation+of+Christ+and+the+Denial+of+Saint+Peter&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiqvrugjJrZAhVhw1kKHee9DCMQ7AkIXw&biw=1242&bih=535&safe=active&ssui=on#imgrc=rsUOQtmJQwY7CM:

Another contemporary version

https://www.google.com/search?q=The+Condemnation+of+Christ+and+the+Denial+of+Saint+Peter&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiqvrugjJrZAhVhw1kKHee9DCMQ7AkIXw&biw=1242&bih=535&safe=active&ssui=on#imgrc=3K8T8EwYH0ydCM:

Church of St. Peter/Gallicantu. Jerusalem

https://www.google.com/search?q=The+Condemnation+of+Christ+and+the+Denial+of+Saint+Peter&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiqvrugjJrZAhVhw1kKHee9DCMQ7AkIXw&biw=1242&bih=535&safe=active&ssui=on#imgrc=shpcvwX7WpmwxM:

Contemporary Metal Sculpture at Church of St Peter/Gallicantu, Jerusalem

https://www.google.com/search?q=The+Condemnation+of+Christ+and+the+Denial+of+Saint+Peter&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiqvrugjJrZAhVhw1kKHee9DCMQ7AkIXw&biw=1242&bih=535&safe=active&ssui=on#imgrc=b2dmi82lx0YCDM:

Contemporary clay sculpture, Church of St. Peter/Gallicantu, Jerusalem

https://www.google.com/search?q=The+Condemnation+of+Christ+and+the+Denial+of+Saint+Peter&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiqvrugjJrZAhVhw1kKHee9DCMQ7AkIXw&biw=1242&bih=535&safe=active&ssui=on#imgrc=68IZNHGVFmaUBM:

Peter After His Denial of Christ

https://www.google.com/search?q=The+Condemnation+of+Christ+and+the+Denial+of+Saint+Peter&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiqvrugjJrZAhVhw1kKHee9DCMQ7AkIXw&biw=1242&bih=535&safe=active&ssui=on#imgrc=FbtLo-z-XdTuMM:

Denial of St. Peter (Renaissance)

https://www.google.com/search?q=The+Condemnation+of+Christ+and+the+Denial+of+Saint+Peter&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiqvrugjJrZAhVhw1kKHee9DCMQ7AkIXw&biw=1242&bih=535&safe=active&ssui=on#imgrc=vhurCdiQ7H0g_M:

St. Peter’s Repentance

https://www.google.com/search?q=The+Condemnation+of+Christ+and+the+Denial+of+Saint+Peter&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiqvrugjJrZAhVhw1kKHee9DCMQ7AkIXw&biw=1242&bih=535&safe=active&ssui=on#imgrc=rPRmbme3q4YHqM:

Black & white contemporary line drawing

https://www.google.com/search?q=The+Condemnation+of+Christ+and+the+Denial+of+Saint+Peter&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiqvrugjJrZAhVhw1kKHee9DCMQ7AkIXw&biw=1242&bih=535&safe=active&ssui=on#imgrc=Bwqkw2ybmpNUwM:

The Cock

https://www.google.com/search?q=The+Condemnation+of+Christ+and+the+Denial+of+Saint+Peter&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiqvrugjJrZAhVhw1kKHee9DCMQ7AkIXw&biw=1242&bih=535&safe=active&ssui=on#imgrc=P7yyfRA986FvXM:

Third Denial (Tissot)

https://www.google.com/search?q=The+Condemnation+of+Christ+and+the+Denial+of+Saint+Peter&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiqvrugjJrZAhVhw1kKHee9DCMQ7AkIXw&biw=1242&bih=535&safe=active&ssui=on#imgrc=FcppgOxJYMjxyM:

Denial of St. Peter (Preti)

https://www.google.com/search?q=The+Condemnation+of+Christ+and+the+Denial+of+Saint+Peter&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiqvrugjJrZAhVhw1kKHee9DCMQ7AkIXw&biw=1242&bih=535&safe=active&ssui=on#imgrc=WK7ab8w-zw-A8M:

Passion of Jesus

https://www.google.com/search?q=The+Condemnation+of+Christ+and+the+Denial+of+Saint+Peter&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiqvrugjJrZAhVhw1kKHee9DCMQ7AkIXw&biw=1242&bih=535&safe=active&ssui=on#imgrc=LJ8_HD4vfPZQWM:

Author: katyandtheword

Pastor Katy has enjoyed ministry at New Covenant since 2010, where the church has solidified its community focus. Prior to that she studied both Theology and Christian Formation at Princeton Theological Seminary. She also served as an Assistant Chaplain at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital and as the Christian Educational Coordinator at Bethany Presbyterian at Bloomfield, NJ. She is an writer and is published in Enfleshed, Sermonsuite, Presbyterian's today and Outlook. She writes prayers, liturgy, poems and public theology and is pursuing her doctorate in ministry in Creative Write and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. She enjoys working within and connecting to the community, is known to laugh a lot during service, and tells as many stories as possible. Pastor Katy loves reading Science Fiction and Fantasy, theater, arts and crafts, music, playing with children and sunshine, and continues to try to be as (w)holistically Christian as possible. "Publisher after publisher turned down A Wrinkle in Time," L'Engle wrote, "because it deals overtly with the problem of evil, and it was too difficult for children, and was it a children's or an adult's book, anyhow?" The next year it won the prestigious John Newbery Medal. Tolkien states in the foreword to The Lord of the Rings that he disliked allegories and that the story was not one.[66] Instead he preferred what he termed "applicability", the freedom of the reader to interpret the work in the light of his or her own life and times.

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