Lukan Lessons and Carols for Lent: Third Sunday in Lent (March 20, 2022)

(This is the fourth liturgy in a series of Lukan Lessons and Carols for Lent. The Ash Wednesday Liturgy and a more detailed explanation of the series can be found here; Lent 1 & 2 can be found here and here. I am excluding parts of the worship that were not directly connected to the series as well as parts that I give extemporaneously.)

I will post the liturgies for ensuing weeks as I write them. I'm happy for anyone to use any part(s) of this series in their own worship contexts with proper attribution, but I would request that you let me know in the comments that you're doing so.

*NB: Our services have gone long the last two weeks, so we decided this week to cut the final hymn.*

  

(I created these worksheets as bulletin inserts to help with notetaking)

Liturgy by Rev. Katey Schwind Williams

*Call to Worship (based on Luke 9:18-20)
Leader: Who do the crowds say that Jesus is?
People: Some say “John the Baptist”; others say “Elijah”.
Leader: And who do YOU say that he is?
People: He is the Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah.
Leader: The Lord be with you!
People: And also with you!
Leader: Let us worship the Lord.

Call to Confession (based on Luke 9:23-24)
Leader: All who want to be disciples must take up their cross daily and follow Jesus. We are weighed down by our sin, but we are burdened even more by denial of our wrongdoing. We cannot offer true testimony to our Lord and Savior if we cannot bear witness to our own truth. Do not be afraid: those who lose their life for Jesus’ sake will save it. So let us confess our sins before God and one another.

Confession of Sin (based on Luke 8:4-15)
People: Lord of the Great Harvest, you sow your Word among us generously, and yet we do not hear. We abandon your Word to those who would steal it away like birds plucking seeds from a path. Our hearts are rocks into which your Word cannot put down roots. We allow your Word to become choked by the thorny weeds of our worries and the temptations of this world. Forgive us. Help us not only to hear your Word, but to embrace it, to hold fast to it, and to live it fully through our love for you and for one another. In your mercy, hear our prayer… 

[Silent prayers of personal forgiveness]

Declaration of Forgiveness (based on Luke 7:18-23)
Leader: We know that the anointed one has come to us because of all that we’ve heard: those who were blind are able to see; those who were dead are raised up, and good news is preached to the poor. We do not have to wait for another; our salvation is here! In Jesus Christ, we are all forgiven. Thanks be to God!

The Peace
Leader: The Peace of Jesus Christ be with you all!
People: And also with you!
[Share the peace of Christ during the “Textology”]*

In Other Words… **

Lessons & Carols:***
Jesus Sends the 72:                                      Luke 10:1-24
The Good Samaritan:                                  Luke 10:25-37
Hymn GTG #63:                                        “The Lord is God” [vv. 1 & 2]

Mary and Martha:                                       Luke 10:38-42
How to Pray:                                                   Luke 11:1-13
A House Divided:                                         Luke 11:14-28
Hymn GTG #464:                     “Our Father, Which Art in Heaven” [vv. 1, 2, & 3]

A Light for the Body:                                   Luke 11:29-36
Woe to Pharisees & Legal Experts:         Luke 11:37-54
Hymn GTG #345:                          “In an Age of Twisted Values” [vv. 1 & 4]

Jesus Speaks to the Disciples:                   Luke 12:1-12
Treasure in Heaven:                                    Luke 12:13-34
Hymn GTG #820:                                 “Nothing Can Trouble”

Be Ready!:                                                      Luke 12:35-48
Trouble is Coming:                                      Luke 12:49-59

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God!

*Hymn GTG #462, “I Love to Tell the Story” [v. 3]
I love to tell the story, for those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it, like the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song,
‘Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.
I love to tell the story; ‘twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love!

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*In recognition of the fact that Christ's body extends far beyond the walls of our sanctuary, that worship happens in every time and place, and that we have a responsibility to testify to Christ's peace, we take a moment during worship to text the peace to someone outside of the building.

**I use this time to review last week's story and give the kids an opportunity to tell me what they remember.

***I'm reading primarily from the International Children's Bible (see my explanation for this on my Ash Wednesday Post). I'm also preparing "scripts" ahead of time with the dialogues highlighted and asking members of the congregation to "play" those characters. We're not involving any costumes or acting beyond enthusiastic reading, but you could do a lot with these sections to keep them interesting.