VERSION: 9 April 2002
MIDWEEK LENTEN DEVOTIONAL SERVICE 1
(in the week following the First Sunday in Lent)
OPENING VERSES
My servant will succeed in his task;
he will be highly honoured.
Many people were shocked when they saw him;
he was so disfigured that he hardly looked human.
But now many nations will marvel at him,
and kings will be speechless with amazement.
They will see and understand
something they had never known. (Isa 52:13-15 TEV)
Alternative opening verses could be taken from the beatitudes (Matt 5:3-10), Philippians 2:5-11, selected verses from Habakkuk 3, or Isaiah 38:10-20. The opening sentences of Vespers could be used, or the 'Lamb of God' from the liturgy (LHS p 19 or p 73).
OPENING PRAYER
Let us pray (that God will renew us in the image of Christ).
(Silent prayer)
Heavenly Father,
teach us to welcome the discipline of the gospel,
and conform us to the image of your Son,
so that we may be kind in thought,
gentle in speech
and generous in action.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
HYMN
FIRST PASSION READING AND RESPONSE
YEAR A: Matthew 26:(31-35)36-46 (Peter's denial foretold and) Jesus prays in Gethsemane
(Silent meditation followed by:)
On the Mount of Olives, Jesus prayed to his Father:
My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me.
The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Stay awake and pray that you may not come into temptation.
The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
YEAR B: Mark 14:1-9 The plot to kill Jesus and the anointing at Bethany
(Silent meditation followed by:)
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together
against the Lord and his Anointed.
Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain
against the Lord and his Anointed?
YEAR C: Luke 22:1-23 Judas prepares to betray Jesus, and the last supper
(Silent meditation followed by:)
Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me. Woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed.
It would have been better for that one not to have been born.
The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.
It would have been better for that one not to have been born.
PSALM 31 or 32
Musical settings of selected verses of Psalm 31 are in Miusic Packages 2, 5 and 8.
OR, TIS 19 By your saving power deliver me is a version of Psalm 31:1-4,7.
OR, the following metrical version of Psalm 31:1-5, 9-16 by David Sch¸tz may be sung to the tune 'Von Gott will ich (Erfurt)' (LH 400) - or, if that tune is too difficult, 'Von Gott will ich (Cr¸ger)' (LH 130). If reproducing this version, please put ‘Words © David Sch¸tz’ at the beginning or the end of the psalm.
In you, Lord, I seek refuge;
don't let me be ashamed.
In righteousness, Lord, save me,
incline your ear to me.
Come quickly to my help,
and be my rock of refuge,
a fortress to protect me,
for you're my rock and fort.
For your own name's sake, lead me
and guide me in your paths.
From hidden traps, Lord, free me,
for you are my defence.
Into your open hands,
Lord, I commit my spirit,
for you, in grace, redeemed me,
O Lord, my faithful God.
O Lord, be gracious to me,
for I am in distress.
My eyes are sore from crying,
my soul and body too.
My life is spent in grief,
my years are spent with sighing,
I'm weak from all my troubles,
my bones all waste away.
My enemies reproach me,
my neighbours run in fear,
my friends are frightened of me,
and all who see me flee.
Forgotten like the dead,
I'm like a broken vessel.
I hear the whisp'ring schemers:
they plot to take my life.
And yet, O Lord, I trust you,
I say, 'You are my God'.
My life and times and future
are all held in your hand.
Deliver me, O Lord,
from those who seek to harm me,
and let your face shine on me,
and rescue me in love.
OR, Psalm 31: 1-5, 7 may be sung as in ATO 339 'In you, O Lord, I found refuge'.
OR, musical settings of Psalm 32 may be found im Music Packages 2, 8 and 9.
OR, TIS 20 is a metrical paraphrase of Psalm 32.
OR, Psalm 32 may be sung in the following metrical version by David Sch¸tz either to the folk tune as at AT 407 or to the tune St Clement (LH 549, TIS 458). If reproducing this version, please put ‘Words © David Sch¸tz’ at the beginning or the end of the psalm.
How blest are those who are forgiven,
whose sin is covered by God's grace.
How blest are those the Lord calls righteous,
who look to him with honest face.
My soul and body groaned in anguish,
while I stayed silent through the day;
for day and night your hand was on me,
and in the end, my strength gave way.
Then I confessed my sin before you;
I did not hide my guilt with words.
I said that I would make confession,
of my transgression to the Lord.
Then you forgave all my wrong-doing,
and you forgave me all my sin;
my pain is gone, my guilt is ended,
and now a new day can begin.
So then let all those who are faithful
lift up to you their heart-felt prayers.
The raging waters shall not reach them,
they won't be swamped by endless cares.
You are my hiding place and refuge,
I run to you in times of need,
and you preserve me from all trouble,
and now I sing, for I am free.
For you have said, 'I will instruct you,
teach you to see which way to go;
I always keep my eye upon you,
I teach you what you need to know.'
So never be like horse or donkey,
without a clue of what to do;
for they need curbs of bit and bridle,
or else they won't stay close to you.
All kinds of trouble strike the wicked,
for they have no-one on their side.
But steadfast love surrounds your people,
who put their trust in you as guide.
And so be glad in him, you righteous,
and in the Lord, find peace at last;
and shout for joy, and give him glory,
for he gives peace within your hearts.
SECOND PASSION READING AND RESPONSE
YEAR A: Matthew 26:47-56 Jesus betrayed and arrested
(Silent meditation followed by:)
Judas, the traitor, betrayed the Lord with a kiss.
Like an innocent lamb, he did not refuse the kiss of Judas.
For thirty silver coins, he delivered Christ to those who wanted to kill him.
Like an innocent lamb, he did not refuse the kiss of Judas.
YEAR B: Mark 14:10-21 Judas prepares to betray Jesus and the Passover is prepared
(Silent meditation followed by:)
Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me. Woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed.
It would have been better for that one not to have been born.
The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.
It would have been better for that one not to have been born.
YEAR C: Luke 22:24-38 Jesus' words after the supper
(Silent meditation followed by:)
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together
against the Lord and his Anointed.
Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain
against the Lord and his Anointed?
ADDRESS/MEDITATION
PRAYERS
Prayers may be preceded by this response:
Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.
Prayers may be selected from the following, or the litany may be prayed.
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
you sent your Son to reveal your love to us
and to show us the way to life.
Change our ungrateful hearts
to respond to your gift of grace with thanks and praise,
so that we may live with joy
despite the difficulties and trials we experience.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ,
for our sake you experienced deprivation, shame, and pain.
We confess the times
when we have refused to carry the burden of your cross,
the times when we have denied you
rather than face insult,
and the times when we have sought comfort and security
rather than answer the challenge and risk of the gospel.
Forgive our sin,
help us to do better,
and give us courage to endure.
Amen.
Heavenly Father,
give calmness and control of thought
to all who are facing uncertainty and anxiety;
let their hearts be firm,
believing in the Lord.
Be all things to all people,
knowing all individuals and their prayers,
each house and its need;
for the sake of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Almighty God,
you have shown us in the life and teaching of your Son
the true way of happiness.
You have also shown us in his suffering and death
that the path of love may lead to the cross,
and the reward of faithfulness may be a crown of thorns.
Help us to learn these hard lessons.
May we take up our cross and follow Christ
in the strength of patience
and the loyalty of faith.
By our fellowship with him in his sorrow,
may we know the secret of his strength and peace,
and, even in our darkest hour,
always see the beauty of his eternal light;
for he lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Look on us, Lord,
and let all our darkness vanish in your brightness.
Fill us with holy love,
and open to us the treasures of your wisdom.
All our desires are known to you;
so make perfect what you have begun
and what your Spirit has awakened us to ask for.
We seek your face;
turn your face towards us and show us your glory,
so that our longing is satisfied
and our peace is made perfect;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
For your long-suffering with the sins of humankind,
we thank you, Lord.
For the suffering of Christ on earth
and for his intercession for human beings in glory,
we thank you, Lord.
For the redemption of the world
through the shame of the cross and the pain of death,
we thank you, Lord.
For all who have suffered in their own bodies
for love of Jesus and their fellow human beings,
we thank you, Lord.
For the martyrs and confessors;
for all who have chosen poverty or solitude for your sake;
for all people of prayer;
and for all saints in common life;
we thank you, Lord.
For all suffering dared and endured for the sake of justice,
and for all pain bravely borne and turned to patience of character and purity of life,
we thank you, Lord.
From all misunderstanding of your purpose in pain;
and from complaining that you do not care about our suffering;
good Lord, deliver us.
From refusing to share the sufferings of the world;
and from forgetting the pain and sorrow of others;
good Lord, deliver us.
From seeking comfort and pleasure above your will;
from refusal to share the burdens of others;
and from neglect of our Christian duty;
good Lord, deliver us.
From the selfishness which brings needless sorrow and pain,
good Lord, deliver us.
Almighty Father,
you suffer in the sufferings of your people
and are full of compassion and tender mercy;
hear us as we pray for those who suffer;
hear us, good Lord.
For all who are handicapped in the race of life through no fault of their own,
for all who suffer permanent disability from injury or illness,
and for all are suffering a terminal disease,
hear us, good Lord.
For those whose livelihood is insecure: the unemployed, the overworked, the hungry, and the destitute,
and for those who have been oppressed, ruined, or driven to despair,
hear us, good Lord.
For children whose surroundings hide from them your love and beauty,
and for all those who have no parents to care for them,
hear us, good Lord.
For those who bear their burdens alone,
and for all who have lost those whom they love,
hear us, good Lord.
For those who are in doubt and anguish,
and for those who are oversensitive and afraid,
hear us, good Lord.
For those whose suffering is unrelieved by the knowledge of your love,
hear us, good Lord.
For those who suffer through their own wrongdoing,
Hear us, good Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
LORD'S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and forever. Amen.
BLESSING
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with you/us all.
Amen.
SILENT PRAYER
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