Tag: narrative lectionary

Narrative Lectionary Lent: Luke

Finding the Way to Jerusalem; or Getting Lost

During this journey to Jerusalem, Jesus practices the grace that is found within his death and resurrection, twice. First he is rejected by Samaria, the shorter way to Jerusalem (Lent 1) and then he reclaims them as his neighbor (Lent 2), he reclaims them even as he journeys onward. Then we get los (and found), die and see ghost, and then, finally are reclaimed and found with Zaccheus. Journeying to Jerusalem is an exercise in getting lost, dying and resurrecting together.

Feel free to use/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta 

Lent Kit (most items can be found at home)

Ashes to Ashes: Lent/Ash Weds Prayer

Ash Wednesday: Bulletin Prayers & Hymn/Taize Suggestions, Topical Prayer, Video of Topical Prayer

Lent 1: Bulletin Prayers & Hymn/Taize Suggestions, Topical Prayer, Video of Topical Prayer

Lent 2: Bulletin Prayers & Hymn/Taize Suggestions, Topical Prayer, Video of Topical Prayer

Lent 3: Bulletin Prayers & Hymn/Taize Suggestions, Topical Prayer , Video of Topical Prayer

Lent 4: Bulletin Prayers & Hymn/Taize Suggestions, Topical Prayer, Video of Topical Prayer

Lent 5: Bulletin Prayers & Hymn/Taize Suggestions, Topical Prayer, Video of Topical Prayer

Lent 6: Bulletin Prayers & Hymn/Taize Suggestions, Topical Prayer, Video of Topical Prayer

Mandy Thursday: Bulletin Prayers & Hymn/Taize Suggestions, Topical Prayer, Communion Worship Bulletin juxtaposing Psalm 23, Video of Topical Prayer

Good Friday: Worship Bulletin juxtaposing The Lord’s Prayer

Easter Sunday: Bulletin Prayers & Hymn/Taize Suggestions, Topical Prayer, Video of Topical Prayer

Children Ideas

Lenten Devotional Calendar: Feel free to email for doc version and link for google calendar (Katyandtheword at gmail)

Video Collection of Topical Prayers

Life in Slow Motion: A Lenten Prayer

Additional Holy Week Prayers

Feel free to use/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta 

If you need a doc version of all of this for easier formatting, email me at katyandtheword at gmail with the topic line “Lent” and I will send you a copy

If you appreciate my work and want to support me, please contribute to my Doctorate in Divinity in Creative Writing. I have a stretch goal of $2500 by June. and am more than 80% there! Any Amount is appreciated, and I am so thankful where they have gotten me so far!

Good Friday Communion Bulletin Juxtaposing the Lord’s Prayer

Journeying Alone

April 2

Good Friday

Crucifixion

Luke 23:32-47

Psalm 31:5-13

All: Our Father, Who art in Heaven, Hallowed by Thy Name

Arrest

Then Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered, “You say so.” Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. 24So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. 26As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus Luke 23:3-4,23,26

All: Give us this day our Daily Bread

Mourning

A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. 28But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ Luke 23: 27-29

Communion (Celebrate appropriate to your context)

Confession

All: Forgive Us Our Debts as we Forgive Our Debtors

(Silence for Confession)

Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23: 32-34

Option: To Nail Sins to the Cross or Blow out candles now

Assurance of Pardon

All: Lead Us Not Into Temptation, But Deliver us from Evil

The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Luke 23:36-43

Optional Taize: Jesus Remember Me, When You Come Into Your Kingdom or Were You There When They Crucified the Lord 

Darkness

All: For Thine is the Kingdom and The Glory and The Power Forever, Amen. 

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” Luke 23:44-47

Amen

Option: To Blow Out all of the rest of the Candles 

Music is optional to add wherever, since everyone is handling it differently, suggestions below

Hymns: Take Up Your Cross the Savior Said, Precious Lord Take My Hand, Why Has God Forsaken Me, Alas And Did My Savior Bleed


Taize: Jesus Remember Me When You Come into your Kingdom, Per Crucem 

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

Lent 6: Palm/Passion Sunday Topical Prayer

Topical Prayer: Jesus, you have done it. You have reached the end of your journey to Jerusalem. Thank you for letting us to journey with you. Thank you for letting us enjoy the full moment of your arrival with a festive parade and hope. Thank you for standing up to the officials and not letting them stop the celebration. Even though you know that things will spin to ugly very soon, you let us be our full human selves and do this Palm Sunday too. Grant us the courage and endurance for Holy Week. Help us to see ourselves there, so we can witness your life and death and sacrifice. Help us not skip straight to the resurrection 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 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 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

Ash Wednesday Topical Prayer

Topical Prayer

Lord, you are the God of Ashes. So that when food tastes like dust upon the tongue, When we feel grubby and soiled, when we feel defeated—you’ve already been there. taking the long walk to death, walking grubby, dry-mouthed and alone. And you invite us, each and every year, to take the journey with you, so that neither of us are alone. You invite us to walk in our own stumbling way, with our own deaths. And you remind us—that we are but dust and to dust we will return. And it’s good to remember and process that fact. Because though we are dust, we are also the beloved siblings of Christ. And so, we will walk the path to Jerusalem together, because it is a journey worth taking. Be with us and we journey we pray, O God. Amen. 

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