+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Sentence
Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. (Isaiah 55:6)
Morning Reading: Matthew 23:1-12 (NLT)
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.
“Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels. And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’
“Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters. And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father. And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah. The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Morning Prayer
Gracious God: you gave your own Son, the Word made flesh, to be our bread of life. Satisfy our hunger for you during this season of Lent.
+ May the message of Christ, in all its richness, live in our hearts.
+ May we hear your voice and journey with Christ from death to life.
+ May we celebrate his resurrection at Easter with great joy and love.
+ Teach us to live by your Spirit and help us to encourage faith in those who doubt.
+ May the knowledge of Christ penetrate our minds and hearts and find expression in all our ways of living.
Consecrate us, Lord God, and make your Church the living witness of your presence in the world. Watch over your people with unfailing compassion. Left to ourselves, we are prone to evil. By your grace, turn us away from all that is harmful and direct us into the way of life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
“Broken Vessels” – Hillsong Worship
Closing Sentence
Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. (Isaiah 55:7)
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Sentence
Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. (Isaiah 55:6)
Morning Reading: Matthew 16:13-19 (NLT)
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
“Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”
Morning Prayer
Heavenly Father: thank you for the heavenly inheritance your people have received through the prophets and apostles by faith. Together with them, and the angels in glory, I sing your praises.
+ Praise to you Lord God, for the gift of Christ’s body and blood, received in Holy Communion, which gives me strength and life.
+ Praise to you Lord God, for your word, delivered by the prophets and apostles, which brings me light and joy.
+ Praise to you Lord God, for your Church in all its expressions around the world which makes me a member of one body.
+ Praise to you Lord God, for the workings your Spirit, through confession and the grace of forgiveness, which cleanse my heart from sin.
Almighty God: you built your Church on the profession of faith in Jesus Messiah, the Son of the Living God. Grant me that same firm foundation; may I hold fast in every storm. Through my Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
“In The Presence of Angels” – Roy Fields
Closing Sentence
Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. (Isaiah 55:7)
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Blessed be the Lord of glory, who leads me through the darkness of Lent to the light of Easter.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening Prayer:
God of the covenant, your presence fills me with awe, your word gives me unshakeable hope. Fix in my heart the image of your Son in glory that I may walk with him in newness of life as a citizen of heaven. Grant this through Christ, my 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.
__________
Hymn: “Come People of the Risen King” – Stuart Townend, Lou Fellingham & Band
__________
A Reading from the Old Testament: Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18 (NLT)
[A covenant was made between God and Abram, who became Abraham, our father in faith.]
Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”
And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.
Then the Lord told him, “I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as your possession.”
But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, how can I be sure that I will actually possess it?”
The Lord told him, “Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” So Abram presented all these to him and killed them. Then he cut each animal down the middle and laid the halves side by side; he did not, however, cut the birds in half. Some vultures swooped down to eat the carcasses, but Abram chased them away.
As the sun was going down, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a terrifying darkness came down over him.
_____
After the sun went down and darkness fell, Abram saw a smoking firepot and a flaming torch pass between the halves of the carcasses. So the Lord made a covenant with Abram that day and said, “I have given this land to your descendants….”
__________
A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 27:1, 7-9, 13-14 (NLT)
The Lord is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?
_____
Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me!
My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”
Do not turn your back on me. Do not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my helper. Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, O God of my salvation!
_____
Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.
Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
“Psalm 27” – James Block
__________
A Reading from the Letters: Philippians 3:20—4:1 (NLT)
[Paul encourages us to remain faithful, remembering that our true homeland is in heaven.]
But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work.
__________
A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 9:28-36 (NLT)
[Jesus is transfigured in the presence of Peter, James and John – the three who were to be with him in Gethsemane.]
“The Saviour’s Transfiguration” an early-15th century icon, attributed to en: Theophanes the Greek from the Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow
Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly, two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus. They were glorious to see. And they were speaking about his exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem.
Peter and the others had fallen asleep. When they woke up, they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with him. As Moses and Elijah were starting to leave, Peter, not even knowing what he was saying, blurted out, “Master, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But even as he was saying this, a cloud overshadowed them, and terror gripped them as the cloud covered them.
Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him.” When the voice finished, Jesus was there alone. They didn’t tell anyone at that time what they had seen.
__________
Hymn: “The Lord Is My Light” – by Christopher Walker
__________
Intercessions:
Lord God: you are my light and my help. Hear the cries of my heart.
+ That I may persevere on my Lenten journey…. Lord, hear me.
+ That I may cultivate and care for your creation…. Lord, hear me.
+ That adults preparing for baptism at Easter may grow in faith…. Lord, hear me.
+ That all believers may value our citizenship in heaven…. Lord, hear me.
+ That those for whom God is distant or irrelevant, may find Jesus…. Lord, hear me.
+ That anyone in need may find help and relief…. Lord, hear me.
+ That those who have died and gone before us may share the glory of Jesus…. Lord, hear me.
O God, in you I hope — you are my constant help, hear my prayers, through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.
__________
Hymn: “My Hope” – Hillsong
Benediction:
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Sentence
Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. (Isaiah 55:6)
Morning Reading: Matthew 5:43-48 (NLT)
“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Morning Prayer
Christ the Lord has made me into a new creation. He gives me a new birth in the waters of baptism and nourishes me with his word and his Spirit. Glory to you, Lord Jesus, you are gentle and humble in spirit, renew me by your grace.
+ Teach me to be a good neighbor to the sad and the needy – that I may imitate you.
+ Grant me something of your compassion towards those who are suffering.
+ Grant me something of your kindness towards those who are needy.
+ Grant me something of your patience towards those who are frustrating.
+ Grant me the gift of your mercy, forgive my sins and deliver me from the evil one.
Turn my heart to you, eternal Father, so that, always seeking the one thing necessary and devoting myself to acts of kindness, I may worship you in spirit and in truth. Through my Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
“Be Thou My Vision” – Anna Weatherup
Closing Sentence
Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. (Isaiah 55:7)
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Sentence
Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. (Isaiah 55:6)
Morning Reading: Ezekiel 18:31 (NLT)
Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.
Morning Reading: Matthew 5:20-26 (NLT)
“But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!
“You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.
“So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.
“When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison. And if that happens, you surely won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny.
Morning Prayer
Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ: you died on the cross that I might live. Lord, hear the longings of my heart.
+ In your living, you were the example of an abundant life – teach me to joyfully follow your lead.
+ In your dying, you brought me life – take away my sinful inclinations that I may continually choose life.
+ You call on me to feed the hungry – show me how to deny myself today to help others in their need.
+ End the rebellion within my heart – give me a spirit of generosity and willingness to share what I have.
Lord God, I accept from your hands this day of Lent; may I make it yours by deeds of love. Bend my will, Lord, so that by this Lenten observance I may be fully prepared to enter into the joy of Easter; renew me in body, mind and spirit. Through my Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
“Closer” – Bethel Live
Closing Sentence
Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. (Isaiah 55:7)
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
The Peanut Gallery 