Fourth Wednesday in Lent

Date
March 10, 2021
Author
Don Bennett
Category
Bulletins

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

Fourth Wednesday in Lent
March 10, 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.
Stay with 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 Jeremiah 8:4-7, 18 – 9:6

A reading from the book of Jeremiah.
You shall say to them, Thus says the LORD: When people fall, do they not get up again? If they go astray, do they not turn back?
Why then has this people turned away in perpetual backsliding?
They have held fast to deceit, they have refused to return.
I have given heed and listened, but they do not speak honestly; no one repents of wickedness, saying, “What have I done!”
All of them turn to their own course, like a horse plunging headlong into battle.
Even the stork in the heavens knows its times; and the turtledove, swallow, and crane observe the time of their coming; but my people do not know the ordinance of the LORD.
My joy is gone, grief is upon me, my heart is sick.
Hark the cry of my poor people from far and wide in the land: “Is the Lord not in Zion? Is her King not in her?”
(“Why have they provoked me to anger with their images, with their foreign idols?”)
“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”
For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt, I mourn, and dismay has taken hold of me.
Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?Why then has the health of my poor people not been restored?
O that my head were a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears, so that I might weep day and night for the slain of my poor people!
O that I had in the desert a traveler’s lodging place, that I might leave my people and go away from them!
For they are all adulterers, a band of traitors. They bend their tongues like bows; they have grown strong in the land for falsehood, and not for truth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know me, says the LORD.
Beware of your neighbors, and put no trust in any of your kin; for all your kin are supplanters, and every neighbor goes around like a slanderer.
They all deceive their neighbors, and no one speaks the truth; they have taught their tongues to speak lies; they commit iniquity and are too weary to repent. Oppression upon oppression, deceit upon deceit! They refuse to know me, says the LORD.
Word of God, word of life.
Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL READING John 8:21-32

The holy gospel according to John.
Glory to you, O Lord.
Again he said to them, “I am going away, and you will search for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” Then the Jews said, “Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” He said to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he.” They said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Why do I speak to you at all? I have much to say about you and much to condemn; but the one who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me. And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.” As he was saying these things, many believed in him.
Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
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.