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Lent

Prayer: you invite us to follow

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Though people may turn
their backs on us,
you do not hide
your face from us.
Though others may try
to take away our hope,
you assure us of
that future waiting for us.
You speak your name,
Inscrutable Creator,
and it is enough.

When we try to dictate
our fears to you,
you invite us to follow you
into self-denial and service.
As we struggle to shape
our lifestyle to yours,
you carry us with you
wherever we go.
You speak your good news,
Teacher of open hearts,
and it is enough.

Though we have done
nothing to earn them,
you pour out the gifts
of grace and mercy upon us.
When we stumble
over our lack of trust,
you set us back on our feet,
to follow you into the kingdom.
You speak your peace,
Breath of Holiness,
and it is enough.

God in Community, Holy in One,
it is enough that you hear us
even as we pray as we are taught,
Our Father . . .

 

Submitted by Rev. Thom Shuman, author of Lectionary Liturgies.

confession: disbelief and distrust

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God of our ancestors in the faith, we are a people
who have known the hurt of broken promises, and have
spoken words we could not keep.  We are quick to
condemn those who make wrong choices, but want
only gentle criticism directed our way.  We let our
lives be guided so much by our past, rather than
opening our eyes, our hearts, our hopes to your
amazing future.
Forgive our distrust of the vows you have made
to us, God of Sarah.  Forgive our disbelief that you
can bring hope to those places where we see only
despair, God of Abraham.  Forgive our hesitancy
in denying all that keeps us from committing ourselves
completely to you, God of Peter and the psalmists.
Forgive us, so we may take up the life you offer
to us in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

 

Submitted by Rev. Thom Shuman, author of Lectionary Liturgies.

CTW: Lent call

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L:    Pilgrims, we are invited to journey through
this season of Lent
P:    towards the One who calls us each by a new name.
L:    Disciples, we walk with Jesus wherever he leads us,
P:    pulling our fears, our doubts, our longings behind us.
L:    Believers, we seek to trust the God who always
surprises us,
P:    whose promises take on flesh and blood
        in the good news called Jesus.

 

Submitted by Rev Thom Shuman, author of Lectionary Liturgies.

litany for Lent: stop in the name of Love

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Stop! In the Name of Love.
Let us stop, pause, reflect, and discern just who we are
and where we are going as we embark in this season of Lent.

Stop! In the Name of Love.

“In many cultures there is an ancient custom of giving a tenth of each year’s income to some holy use. For Christians, to observe forty days of Lent is to do the same thing with roughly a tenth of each year’s days. After being baptized by John in the River Jordan, Jesus went off alone into the wilderness where he spent forty days asking himself the question what it meant to be Jesus. During Lent, Christians are supposed to ask one way or another what it means to be themselves.” (- Frederick Beuchner)

Stop! In the Name of Love.

“Suffer us not to mock ourselves with falsehood.
Teach us to care and not to care” (- T.S.Elliot)

Stop! In the Name of Love.

“Stop! In the name of love
Before you break my heart… Think it over” (- Diana Ross & the Supremes)

Stop! In the Name of Love.

God of Eternity, break into this time and space.
Move in us and among us in ways
that stir our hearts and capture out attention.
Slow us down from just enough
so that your claim upon our lives can catch up with us,
and we remember once again just who we are.
Amen.

Submitted by Rev. Jon Brown, Pastor, Old Bergen Church, Jersey City, NJ

confession: search and miss

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You call us to love you with all our heart, all our mind, all our strength.
But sometimes we aren’t even sure what that means.
What are you looking for?
What are we looking for?
We search for many things, but miss you in our midst.
We listen to many things, but do not hear your voice.
We forget to look to you, and even when we look, our vision is clouded.
Clear the chaos within us, O God,
that we may focus on you.
We will seek you with our whole hearts.
Amen.

 

Submitted by the Rev. Teri Peterson, Ridgefield Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church, Crystal Lake IL.