VERSION: 9 April 2002
MIDWEEK LENTEN DEVOTIONAL SERVICE 2
(in the week following the Second Sunday in Lent)
OPENING VERSES
Who would have believed what we now report? Who would have seen the Lord's hand in this?
It was the will of the Lord that his servant should grow like a plant taking root in dry ground.
He had no dignity or beauty to make us take notice of him. There was nothing attractive about him, nothing that would draw us to him.
We despised him and rejected him; he endured suffering and pain.
(Isa 53:13a 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 (for forgiveness).
(Silent prayer)
Lord and Father,
to you alone those in great debt can come
with hope of mercy.
Have mercy on us, Lord,
for we have nothing with which to repay you.
Forgive us all our debt,
forgive us all our sins,
and make us merciful to others;
for the sake of 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 26:57-68 Jesus before the high priest
(Silence)
This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign,
but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.
For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation;
but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.
YEAR B: Mark 14:22-31 The last supper and Peter's denial
(Silence)
Jesus said: 'This very night you will all be offended by me.'
God will strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.
'Before the cock crows, you will say three times that you do not know me.'
God will strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.
YEAR C: Luke 22: 39-46 Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane
(Silence)
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.
PSALM 42 AND/OR 43
For musical settings, see Music Package 9.
OR, see TIS 25, 26, and 27.
OR, the metrical version of Psalm 42 by David Schubert (LHS 869) may be used. The following metrical version of Psalm 43 by David Sch¸tz to the same tune may also be used. If reproducing this version of Psalm 43, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.
Vindicate me, God,
defend my cause,
and deliver me
from unjust hands.
Since you are my God,
why cast me off?
Why should I be sad
and so weighed down?
Why should I be sad, why troubled so,
I will trust and praise my Saviour God.
O send out your light,
send out your truth;
let them bring me to
your holy hill.
So I will approach
your altar, Lord.
I will praise you, God,
upon the harp.
Why should I be sad, why troubled so,
I will trust and praise my Saviour God.
SECOND PASSION READING AND RESPONSE
YEAR A: Matthew 26:69-75(27:1,2) Peter denies Jesus
(Silence)
Jesus said: 'This very night you will all be offended by me'.
God will strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.
'Before the cock crows, you will say three times that you do not know me.'
God will strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.
YEAR B: Mark 14:32-52 Jesus' prayer and arrest in Gethsemane
(Silence)
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 C: Luke 22:47-54a Jesus is betrayed and arrested
(Read to 'They arrested him and took him away'.)
(Silence)
Judas, the traitor, betrayed the Lord with a kiss.
Our Lord was like an innocent lamb.
For thirty silver coins, Judas delivered Christ to those who wanted to kill him.
Our Lord was like an innocent lamb.
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:
Most merciful Lord,
bless the preaching and hearing of your word
among the people of your household.
Give courage to those who struggle,
wisdom to the perplexed,
endurance to sufferers,
fresh vigour and interest in life to those who have lost heart,
and a sense of your presence to the lonely;
through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Lord, when we are tempted,
help us to resist the devil;
when we are worried,
help us to cast all our care on you;
when we are weary,
help us to seek our rest in you;
so that in all things
we may live our days to your glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Our Lord Jesus Christ,
you chose the costliest way
of following your Father's will:
by suffering the pain and agony of the cross.
Set your word plainly in our hearts,
so that we may be led to live it in our lives;
for the sake of your holy name.
Amen.
O God, your holy and beloved Son
freely chose to be born as we are born,
to live as we live,
to suffer as we suffer,
and to be tempted in every way as we are.
Strengthen us by his help and example
in the many temptations we face,
so that, like him,
we also may be without sin;
for he lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
God of love,
through your only Son,
you have given us a new commandment
that we should love one another
just as you have loved us.
Help us to forget the wrongs that we have suffered,
and give us pure consciences and sincere hearts,
so that we love our brothers and sisters;
for the sake of Jesus Christ, your Son,
our only Lord and Saviour.
Amen.
Lighten our darkness, Lord,
and in your great mercy
defend us from all perils
and dangers of this night,
for the love of your only Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
You have taken away the sins of the world, O Christ;
have mercy on us.
You sit at the right hand of the Father;
receive our prayer.
You were silent before your accusers;
open our lips to sing your praise.
You prayed for your enemies;
fill our hearts with love towards all people.
You proclaimed God's truth before the world;
help us to bear witness to you, our Lord and our Redeemer.
You humbled yourself;
teach us true humility.
You willingly bore your cross;
help us to accept whatever cross may be placed on us.
You said: I am the Son of God;
hallowed be your name.
You said: I am a king;
your kingdom come.
You prayed: Father, not my will but your will be done;
your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
You cried: I thirst;
give us today our daily bread.
You asked forgiveness for your enemies;
forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
You were tempted in the desert;
lead us not into temptation.
You committed your spirit into the hands of your Father;
deliver us from evil.
You were crowned with thorns;
the kingdom is yours.
You sank into the arms of death;
the power is yours.
You redeemed us from sin, death, and hell;
the glory is yours, now and forever. Amen.
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
|