Matthew 25:1-13 and/or Matt 25:14-30, and Psalm 43:3-4
Suggested Resource: Nicene Creed
Call to Worship
Lord, you teach us how to prepare,
Every valley shall be exalted
You remind us to gather the supplies we need light the fires & to risk and spend money for the kingdom
And every mountain and hill made low
You remind us to clothe the naked and care for the sick
And the crooked shall be made straight
You remind us to feed the hungry and give the thirst something to drink.
And the rough places plain,
Help us to make a preparation for you today we pray.
Call to Worship
Lord you tell us to prepare for you
Help us to plant the seeds, to do the work
We would rather be safe, but you teach us to trust and grow
Let us praise the Creator, the Gardener, the Tender of all Good today.
Call to Worship:
God you are my help and my hope.
Light us with your light.
Your truth shines on.
I shall again praise my creator today.
Confession: God, are wicks are not lit, we have no spare oil, sometimes we are not able to do the tasks you set before us. Send the Holy Spirit to us, so our fire will not go out we pray.
Confession: Lord, we confess we suck at waiting, its hard work, and it speaks to a maturity that we don’t often have. Teach us how to wait, lord give us patience, we pray.
Confession: Gardening God, sometimes we are afraid to invest, so we don’t plant the seeds that need to be planted. God of Growth Sometimes we don’t want risk, so we bury money instead of planting seeds; we don’t give the time, money or effort needed. Generous God, sometimes we just throw the extra your way, forgetting to make a real commitment Help to do the work and to make the right commitments in the right way we pray. (Silent Prayer)…Amen
Prayer of Dedication/Prayer of the Day: Lord, we are asking for your light and truth today. Send it out, we pray. Let it lead us to your holy hill, bring us to your dwelling place, loving God.
Prayer of Dedication/Prayer of the Day: God of God, Light of Light, Very God from Very God, encourage use to seek your light and truth, and help us to prepare for you we pray. Amen
Prayer of Dedication: God of God, Light of Light, Very God from Very God, help us to prepare for you by investing in your work, and help whatever seeds we plant, whatever money we invest, whatever faith we practice, to grow and flourish we pray in your most Holy Name. Amen.
Full List of Lent Abundance Resources some prayers may work for more than one text this season
Hymns
We Give Thee But Thine Own
Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord, almost any version/hymn 😉