Category: Lent: Finding the Way to Jerusalem

Lent 6: Palm/Passion Sunday Prayers

Journey to Jerusalem

March 28

Lent 6: Palm/Passion Sunday

Triumphal Entry

Luke 19:29-44

Psalm 118:19-23

Call to Worship

Hosanna, in the Highest!

Blessed is the One who come in the name of the Lord

Save us Lord! We need help!

Come Savior, teach us the ways of Peace.

Blessed is the Kind who comes in the name of Lord

Peace in heaven and glory in highest Heaven

Invitation: Let have all who are burdened confess those burdens to God who is loving and merciful.

Confession: God, I confess that I do not always let it be known that I need Saving. It is a strange idea to me to go into the streets and shout “Hosanna, Save us.” But you know that we need saving. We still do not know all of the ways of peace. We are distraught and lonely. We often don’t know how to connect to each other and to you. We squabble, we worry, we judge. Help us, we pray. Teach us the ways of peace, so that the rocks don’t need to shout out, because we are doing it instead. Lord, forgive us and teach us we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: God’s steadfast love endures forever! Let us all know and proclaim that God’s steadfast love endures forever. And because of this, we know the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen. 

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: Lord, this is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Let us give thanks to the Lord for God is Good all the Time! Let us proclaim that God’s steadfast love endures forever!

Hymns: Lift High the Cross, Take My Life, There is a Balm in Gilead, In the Cross of God I Glory,

Taize: Nada te Turbe: nothing disturb you

For the Complete List of Narrative Lectionary Lent Resources can be found here including a way to receive a doc copy

Lent 5 Topical Prayer

Topical Prayer: God it is so hard to hear what you had to endure in order to save us. We want to be like the disciples and dismiss it. But over and over again you show us that you want to save everyone. The blind begged who is sitting at the side of the road, the short and smarmy tax collector Zacchaeus, and us. Help us to grasp the facts that Jesus, as the Son of Man, was handed over to the government to be mocked, insulted, spat upon and flogged. And that he will then be killed. And the third day he will rise again. Give us ears to hear this to be true, we pray. Amen. 

For the Complete List of Narrative Lectionary Lent Resources can be found here including a way to receive a doc copy

Lent 5 Prayers

Journeying to Redemption 

March 21

Lent 5

Zacchaeus

Luke 18:31-19:10: http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=476535940

Psalm 84:1-4, 10-12: http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=476535968

Call to Worship: 

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!

My soul is longing and fainting for it

Happy are those who live your house, God

My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. 

A day in your courts, is better than a thousand elsewhere, God

God, you give us such good things, let us rejoice in our trust for you! 

Invitation: All you have to say is “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! and Jesus will heal and save you! Come let us confess ourselves to God

Confession: God, I confess that I am but a frail human, my body does not always work the way I want it to. Also, I confess that I worry about the future so I am not always generous with my time or my talent or my wealth. I know that you are calling me to greater things. Please heal me like the blind man and show me how to be more generous like Zaccheus, I pray. Amen. 

Assurance fo Pardon: Hear the Good News: Your faith has saved you! In Jesus Christ you are forgiven! Amen. 

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God we are nearing the end of our journey with Christ to Jerusalem, but Jesus does not stop his preaching and healing. Help us to hear and see and feel his grace that imbued him as he journeyed, we pray. Amen. 

Communion Prayer: Lord God, we know that your crucifixion is imminent. We can feel the long journey to Jerusalem coming to an end. Please gather our hearts together in this communion so that we can complete the journey to the cross together. Send your Holy Spirit so that we can celebrate Christ’s death with his Holy presence we pray. Amen. 

Hymns: Live Into Hope, Called as Partners in Christ’s Service, Guide My Feet, I Love the Lord Who Heard My Cry, Just as I am Without One Plea, There is a Balm in Gilead, O Wondrous Sight, O Vision Fair, We walk By Faith but Not By Sight, 

Taize: Seigneur, Tu gardes mon âme

you know my heart, lead me to eternity

For the Complete List of Narrative Lectionary Lent Resources can be found here including a way to receive a doc copy

Lent 4 Topical Prayers

Topical Prayer: God, we admit that today’s message is a hard one to take in. We do not want to know that there are times we have forgotten or ignored the poor, or refused to treat one another as human beings. You remind us, pointedly, that this ignorance is our own. However, you also give us, even in this passage, the hope of the resurrection. Help us to find something to hang onto in the resurrections, so that we can reshape who we are into followers of Christ, we pray. Amen. 

For the Complete List of Narrative Lectionary Lent Resources can be found here including a way to receive a doc copy

Lent 4 Prayers

Journeying with ghosts: The Christmas Carol

March 14

Lent 4

Rich Man and Lazarus

Luke 16:19-31

Psalm 41: 1-3

Call to Worship:

Blessed be the Lord, The God of Israel

God is from everlasting to everlasting

The Lord our God is gracious and healing

Nothing can separate us from the love of God

Come Let us worship God

Invitation: God will hear all of our prayers, give us the courage to confess our failings today. 

Confession: Lord God, we confess that we are often like the rich man, leaving the poor out of what we have. Truly you command us over and over again to take care of the poor but it feels too hard. Help us God, to see, hear and comfort those who have less than us. Help us we pray.

Assurance of Pardon: God will never abandon you. For we have seen and known the resurrection of Jesus Christ! Know the truth every single time we confess our sins, we are forgiven. Let us tell one another the good news: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God, deliver those who are in pain or ill. Sustain those who are dealing with longterm effects of coronavirus or cancer or dementia or mental illness. Help those too who are poor, those who deal with longterm illness often deal with poverty and vice versa, but we know they are not the same thing. Walk with them, Jesus, Sustain those who are suffering in any way we pray. Amen. 

Communion Prayer: God you commanded Peter and your disciples not once, not twice, but three times to “Feed My Sheep” and then you showed us how by sharing the bread and cup even on the very night that you were betrayed, to every single person present, even your betrayer. Help us to be as generous with your meal, we pray. Send your Holy Spirit upon this food and cup that we might spill out your grace to all people, and nourish us in your grace and love, we pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Hymns: When Israel Was in Egypt’s Land, O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee, I Want Jesus to Walk with Me, Make Me a Captive Lord, When I Had Not Yet Learned of Jesus, Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed,  

Taize: De Noche Iremos: By night we hasten in darkness to search for living water, only our thirst leads us onwards

For the Complete List of Narrative Lectionary Lent Resources can be found here including a way to receive a doc copy

Lent 2 Prayers

Sustenance for the Journey (More nourishment when we falter)

February 28

Lent 2

Lament over Jerusalem

Luke 13:1-9, 31-35

Psalm 122

Call to Worship:

Gather us together Jesus

That we might take shelter under your wings. 

For I was glad when they said unto me, let us god into the house of the Lord

Our feet are standing within your gates, O God. 

Peace be within you family and friends

For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, let us seek good!

Invitation: For all those who feel empty, God invites us to lay to God in confession too. 

Prayer of Confession: God, we confess that sometimes we feel like we don’t produce enough and we deserve to be cut down. We admit that sometimes  we view ourselves, or others as a waste of space. Remind us that some years are barer than others. That sometimes, like the fig tree, we need more room and care to grow. Help us to give ourselves, and others what is needed to grow we pray.

Assurance of Pardon: God will always welcome us home and gather us under her wings, so we may be comforted by the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God loves and cares for us, sending Jesus to nourish us and wrap us under the wings of the Holy Spirit Help us God when we are bare or barren, or sick or lament Help us not to chop each other down, but to build each other up we pray. Amen.

Communion Prayer: Dear Jesus, it is a blessing to be gathered here, like your brood under your wing, through the celebration of Communion. Before you left, you gathered one last time, and left it as an invitation for any or all who wish to join in the protection of the Lord. Send your Holy Spirit upon this communion so that we might experience a moment of peace, and bless us with the nourishment we need along the way we pray. Amen. 

Hymns: Be Thou My Vision, Jesus Thy Boundless Love to Me, My Hope is Built on Nothing Less, Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us

Taize: Bless the Lord, My Soul, that leads me into life

For the Complete List of Narrative Lectionary Lent Resources can be found here including a way to receive a doc copy

Lent 2 Topical Prayer

Topical Prayer: God, this the time when Jerusalem needs more love and care. Jesus, you have been wandering for three years, and know that the moment you go to the prophet’s home of Jerusalem, you will be killed. How do you come to terms with that Jesus? And yet, I know that you are planting trees, and tending the sick ones with more space and more nourishment. I know that you respond to hate with love. It is for this reason you long to hug us under your wing. Please wrap us in your wings today. Give us nourishment and sanctuary so that we have enough love to produce fruit. Let us journey with Jesus towards Jerusalem we pray. 

For the Complete List of Narrative Lectionary Lent Resources can be found here including a way to receive a doc copy

Lent 3 Topical Prayer

Topical Prayer: God sometimes we feel like the lost coin or the lost sheep or the lost son, wandering and lonely. We are on the journey, and then suddenly we get lost along the way. Other times we feel like the older brother doing all of the right things with little recognition and credit. However, you invite us to be the widow and the shepherd and the parent: ebullient with welcome! You celebrate with those who are celebrating, God for you are there for every step of the journey. Dancing in the streets and striving to include and find every single person who feels lost. You want us to be the living invitation of your love and belonging. Our job is not to judge—thank God—but instead to celebrate and welcome. Help us, grant us your Holy Spirit so we can  be your open door of welcome today and everyday we pray. Amen.

For the Complete List of Narrative Lectionary Lent Resources can be found here including a way to receive a doc copy

Lent 3 Prayers

The Possibility of Journeying Home

March 7

Lent 3

Lost Sheep, Coin, Son

Luke 15:1-32

Psalm 119:167-176

Call to Worship: 

God you call us home

And whenever one of us is missing, you search for us without ceasing

Lord, you are welcoming

When one us is discluded or left out, you immediately welcome us to the table.

Lord, you are the father, running to embrace us and welcome us home!

Come let us celebrate as the children of God today. 

Invitation: God is always inviting us to return home. Come let us bring our full selves home to God.

Prayer of Confession: God I confess that when I feel lost, it is hard to return to you. All my imperfections scream at me, telling me that I am not deserving of your love. And sometimes those fears are confirmed by my experience of human judgement or prejudices. Remind me that you are never prejudiced God, you welcome me home and renew me every single time I ask for forgiveness. Forgive me for all that I did that was wrong and all the things I have not done that I ought to have done. Forgive me for forgetting that nothing can separate me from your love, and help me to return to your loving embrace I pray. Amen. 

Assurance of Pardon: Our God will always leave a light on for us, that light is Jesus Christ. Know the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven

Prayer of the day/Dedication: Lord, every single time someone enters into your presence, you welcome them with a party. Help us to party people into your Kingdom we pray!

Communion Prayer: God, you never forget us or leave us behind. When we seemed lost and alone you sent your only son Jesus, love incarnate to find us, call us by name, love us and teach us. Send your Holy Spirit onto these elements, so that when we feel lost or alone, we might be nourished by Jesus Christ. We pray this in God’s most Holy Name. Amen. 

Hymns: Seek Ye First, Jesus Priceless Treasure, Lord I Want to Be a Christian, Love Divine All Love Excelling, O Love that Wilt Not Let Me Go, O Jesus I Have Promised

Taize: Ubi Caritas: where there is goodness and love there is God

For the Complete List of Narrative Lectionary Lent Resources can be found here including a way to receive a doc copy

Lent 1 Topical Prayer

Topical Prayer: Holy God, we confess that it is much easier to see your holiness in other places—beautiful countrysides, exciting trips to lands that we deem exotic, pristine and well kept buildings. It is harder to see God in the neighborhood. We know it’s flaws too well—we are too familiar with it. Who is my neighbor God? Anyone who is close enough to annoy us. Because if they are close enough to annoy us, then we are are close enough to love and help them. You are the God who is in the details, in the dusty and complicated relationships of those closest to us. In the vast outreaching arm for those far away that we feel compassion for. Truly, you are the God that creates neighbors, even between the competing religions the Samaritans and the Hebrew Jews, the Muslims and the Christians, the black churches and the white churches. Help us to be in true conversation and relationships with one another. Because that is the only way we are getting through this. Teach us to be neighbors we pray. Amen. 

For the Complete List of Narrative Lectionary Lent Resources can be found here including a way to receive a doc copy