The 4th Sunday of Lent: 11 Mar – John 3:14-21 ~ come into the light

The Fourth Sunday of Lent

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Prayer

O God, rich in mercy, You so loved the world that, when we were dead in our sins, You sent Your only Son for our deliverance. Lifted up from the earth, He is light and life; exalted upon the cross, He is truth and salvation.

Raise us up with Christ and make us rich in good works, that we may walk as children of light toward the paschal feast of heaven.

We ask this through Christ, our deliverance and hope, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, holy and mighty God for ever and ever. Amen.
__________

“Lift High The Cross”

__________

Gospel Reading: John 3:14-21 (NLT)

And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”
__________

Prayers of Intercession:

Gracious God: Fill us with the Light of Christ, that we may live as You want us to live. And, in Your mercy, hear our prayers –

+ For the Church of Christ –

Lord, You formed us for Your glory. Forgive the discontent and dissension which has arisen in Your Church. Let your light so shine before us that all eyes are lifted to see the salvation of the Cross. Give us hearts to long for You, grace to discern You and courage to proclaim You….

• Lord, shine Your light into every corner of our world.

+ For Creation, Human Society, and All in Authority –

Lord, You are with us through all our bewilderment, redeeming our wastes and our sorrows. We go astray in the wilderness; but You set our feet on a path we had not seen, and You lead us to a place we can make our own. You break the chains that keep us imprisoned and lead us gently into the light….

• Lord, shine Your light into every corner of our world.

+ For Our Neighborhood –

Lord, grant us the vision to reach out beyond ourselves and share our lives with others. Stretch our capabilities, our awareness of where we can help. Help us to know that when we give to others we do so from a well deep within ourselves that can never run dry….

• Lord, shine Your light into every corner of our world.

+ For All who Suffer –

Lord, You have heard our cries and born our pain and suffering on the cross. Strengthen our faith that You are always with us, just as You promised. Make us bearers of good news to the poor, comfort to the broken-hearted, freedom to the captives, and light to those living in darkness….

• Lord, shine Your light into every corner of our world.

+ For the Communion of Saints –

Gracious God: out of love, You gave us Your Son to lead us into Your kingdom. We pray for all who have died in Christ, that they may experience the joy of living in the light of Your endless glory forever….

• We ask all this in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, holy and mighty God for ever and ever. Amen.

__________

“Crowder – All My Hope” – ft. Tauren Wells

__________

Blessing – Jude 24-25

“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”
__________

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!