Third Wednesday in Lent

Date
March 3, 2021
Author
Don Bennett
Category
Bulletins

Created, saved and gifted by God, we seek, serve and share Jesus Christ.

Third Wednesday in Lent
March 3, 2021
7:00 p.m.

Holden Evening Prayer
Reaching Agreement with God Even in Adversity

GATHERING

The disciples urged Jesus strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

PRELUDE

WELCOME

PROCESSION

Jesus Christ, you are the light of the world;
the light no darkness can overcome.
Staynwith us now, for it is evening;
and the day is almost over.
Let your light scatter the darkness,
and shine within your people here.

THE GRACE

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you
Almighty God to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from who no secrets are hidden
Lord, we open our hearts to you this night.
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit
Lord, we are desperate and darkness has enveloped us. We are lost and look to You for light and life. Forgive us, cleanse us, change our directions and focus, and heal us as we come before You.
That we may perfectly love You, and worthily magnify Your Holy Name
Through Christ our Lord, Amen

EVENING HYMN

Joyous light of heav’ly glory, loving glow of God’s own face,
you who sing creation’s story, shine on ev’ry land and race.
Now as evening falls around us, we shall raise our songs to you,
God of daybreak, God of shadows. come and light our hearts anew.

Int he stars that grace the darkness, in the blazing sun of night,
make us shine with gentle wisdom, we can heat your quiet song.
Love that fills the night with wonder, love that warms the weary soul,
Love that bursts all chains a sunder, set us free and make us whole.

You who made the heaven’s splendor, ev’ry dancing star of night,
make us shine with gentle justice, let us each reflect your light.
Mighty God of all creation, gentle Christ whe lights our way,
Loving ‘spirit of salvation, lead us on to endless day.

THANKSGIVING

May God be with you all,
and also with you;
Let us sing our thanks to God,
It is right to give God thanks and praise.

Blessed are you, Creator of the universe
from old you have led your people by night and day.
May the light of your Christ make our darkness bright,
for your word and your presence are the light of our pathways,
and you are the light and life of all creation.
Amen.

PSALM – Psalm 141

Let my prayer rise up like incense before you,
the lifting up of my hands as an offering to you.

O God, I call to you, come to me now;
O hear my voice when I cry to you.
Let my prayer rise up like incense before you,
the lifting up of my hands as an offering to you.

Keep watch within me God;
deep in my heart may the light of your love be burning bright.
Let my prayer rise up like incense before you,
the lifting up of my hands as an offering to you.

All praise to the God of all– Creator of life;
all praise be to Christ and the Spirit of love.
Let my prayer rise up like incense before you,
the lifting up of my hands as an offering to you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Almighty and ever-living God,
you hate nothing you have made, and you forgive the sins of all who are penitent. Create in us new and honest hearts, so that, truly repenting of our sins, we may receive from you, the God of all mercy, full pardon and forgiveness through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

WORD

Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, Jesus interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

FIRST READING – Romans 1:28-2:11

A reading from the book of Romans.
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind and to things that should not be done. They were filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, covetousness, malice. Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, craftiness, they are gossips, landerers, God-haters, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, rebellious toward parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. They know God’s decree, that those who practice such things deserve to die — yet they not only do them but even applaud others who practice them.
Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. You say, “We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth.” Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judg- ment will be revealed. For he will repay according to each one’s deeds: to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; while for those who are self-seeking and who obey not the truth but wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be anguish and distress for everyone who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.
Word of God, word of life.
Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL READING John 5:1-18

The holy gospel according to John.
Glory to you, O Lord.
After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. In these lay many invalids — blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me.” Jesus said to him, “Stand up, take your mat and walk.” At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk.
Now that day was a sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been cured, “It is the sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.” But he answered them, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your mat and walk.’” They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take it up and walk’?” Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had disappeared in the crowd that was there. Later Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you have been made well! Do not sin any more, so that nothing worse happens to you.” The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. Therefore the Jews started persecuting Jesus, because he was doing such things on the sabbath. But Jesus answered them, “My Father is still working, and I also am working.” For this reason the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because he was not only breaking the sabbath, but was also calling God his own Father, thereby making himself equal to God.
Hear ends the reading of the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

MESSAGE

LITANY AND PRAYERS

In peace, in peace, we pray to you:
God of mercy, hold us in love.
For peace and salvation, we pray to you:
God of mercy, hold us in love.
For peace between nations, for peace between peoples:
God of mercy, hold us in love.
For us who are gathered to worship and praise you:
God of mercy, hold us in love.
For all of your servants who live out your gospel:
God of mercy, hold us in love.
For all those who govern that justice might guide them:
God of mercy, hold us in love.
For all those who labor in service to others:
God of mercy, hold us in love.
Grant weather that nourishes all of creation:
God of mercy, hold us in love.
Keep watch on our loved ones and keep us from danger:
God of mercy, hold us in love.
For all the beloved who rest in your mercy:
God of mercy, hold us in love.
Help us, comfort us, all of our days:
Keep us, hold us, gracious God.

LORD’S PRAYER

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into tempta- tion, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

SENDING

When Jesus was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him.

BENEDICTION

The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.
Amen.

FINAL BLESSING

Let us bless our God:
praise and thanks to you.
May God, creator bless us and keep us,
may Christ be ever light for our lives,
may the Spirit of Love be our guide and path,
for all of our days.
Amen.

DISMISSAL

You are the body of Christ raised up for the world. Go in peace. Share the good news.
Created, saved and gifted by God, we seek, serve and share Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God!

Make a commitment to not only worship each week but also try to find a way to serve in the congregation and seek out a way to serve our community.

YOU ARE NOW ENTERING THE MISSION FIELD

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.