Sundays of Lent - Mornings - Christian Worship Tools

(These are five of the six Sundays prior to Easter.)

“FOR FORTY DAYS HE WAS TEMPTED”

Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13

GREETING (Adapted from Psalm 24:3-6 and 51:7-10)

Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?

And who shall stand in his holy place?

Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,

who do not lift up their souls to what is false,

and do not swear deceitfully.

Holy and Righteous God, wash us.

Create in us clean hearts, O God,

and put a new and right spirit within us.

HYMN

Week One 269 “Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days”

Week Two 348 “Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling”

Week Three 340 “Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy”

Week Four 124 “Seek the Lord”

Week Five 292 “What Wondrous Love Is This”

PSALM

Week One 32

Week Two 121

Week Three 95

Week Four 23

Week Five 51:1-12

PRAYER

Compassionate Forgiver,

we follow Jesus with the church’s ancient Lenten practice.

We do not walk alone, the whole church walks the same path.

And as always, Jesus leads the way to resurrection and eternal life.

Healer of Broken Souls,

guilt and brokenness weigh heavily upon us as we travel.

Let Jesus lighten our hearts, so we can get back to you, God.

Hear our confession, Father, and let Jesus carry away all our guilt.

Forgive us, All-Caring One,

for putting self in the center of our daily living. (Pause to confess.)

Forgive us, Humble Greatness,

for proudly holding ourselves above others. (Pause to confess.)

Forgive us, Source and Savior,

for frivolously wasting time and resources. (Pause to confess.)

Forgive us, Truth and Right,

for dishonesty to others, ourselves and to you. (Pause to confess.)

Forgive us, God of Justice,

for our part in creating injustices for others. (Pause to confess.)

Forgive us, Faithful Creator,

for our unfaithful use of your gift of sexuality. (Pause to confess.)

Forgive us, Steadfast Power

for our surrender to controlling addictions. (Pause to confess.)

Forgive us, All-Generous God,

for our obsessive desire for more and more. (Pause to confess.)

Forgive us, Perfect Love,

for not loving others as Christ has loved us. (Pause to confess.)

Forgive us, Self-Giver,

for failing to make sacrifices to benefit others. (Pause to confess.)

Forgive us, Welcoming Presence,

for allowing distractions to keep us from you. (Pause to confess.)

Forgive us, Holy One,

most of all for our sin separating us from you. (Pause to confess.)

God of Mercy and Love,

your Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted.

we also feel your Spirit driving us into that same wilderness,

not to be tempted, but to escape the temptations that control us.

God of Good Friday and Easter,

Jesus spent forty days fighting evil’s deadly temptations.

Use Lent’s forty days to deliver us from our own temptations,

and let Jesus create Easter again in our hearts, words and deeds. Amen.

GATHER WITH A CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIANS

TO CONTINUE THE WORSHIP OF GOD

ON THIS DAY OF JOYFUL RESURRECTION.