Liturgy: Lent 2 Lessons and Carols, John 5-6 (March 16, 2025)

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Additional Hymns:

Hymn GTG #395, “Blessed Jesus, at Your Word”

Hymn GTG #456, “Listen, God Is Calling”

Hymn GTG #460, “Break Thou the Bread of Life”

This insert will be offered each week to help us think about conflicts in scripture and in our lives.

Call to Worship (based on John 6:28-37)

Leader: Jesus Christ is the bread of life. Whoever comes to him will never go hungry.

People: Lord, we are here! Give us this bread!

Leader: Christ won’t send anyone away who seeks him.

People: How shall we show our gratitude?

Leader: This is what God requires: that you believe in him whom God sent. 

People: We believe! Let us worship the one who fills us and gives us life!

Call to Confession (based on John 5:6)

Leader: Each week, we come before God with our sin-sick spirits, and Jesus asks us, “Do you want to get well?” Friends, what is your answer to this question?

People: We do, Lord!

Leader: Let us, then, lay our sin at the feet of the Christ, the great healer, who alone has the authority to forgive.

Popcorn Prayer of Confession (based on John 6:60-66)

You are invited to speak a word or short phrase that describes a personal or collective sin of which you repent and seek forgiveness. 

When the gathered community is finished sharing, we pray together:

People: O Bread of Life, we confess that your message is harsh to our ears. Your words are spirit and life, but rather than allowing them to change us from the inside out, we take offense. We grumble. We criticize. We turn from you and follow our own path. Forgive us, we pray. Open our eyes and hearts so that we might be true and faithful disciples. In your mercy, hear our prayers…

(Silent prayers of personal confession)

Declaration of Forgiveness (based on John 5:24)

Leader: Whoever hears Christ’s word and believes in his message has eternal life and won’t come under judgment but has passed from death into life. Hear the Good News: in the name of the Son, we are all forgiven!

People: Thanks be to God!

LESSONS AND CAROLS FROM JOHN

Readings are done by three people: one representing Jesus, one representing Jesus' supporters, and one representing Jesus' opponents. They each wear a white, green, or red stole, respectively, to help clarify their roles. 

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath: John 5:1-18

Hymn GTG #798, “All with Joyful Exultation” [vv. 1 & 2 with Refrain]

Jesus Responds to Jewish Leaders: John 5:19-47

Hymn GTG #630, “Fairest Lord Jesus” [vv. 1 & 4]

Jesus Feeds a Crowd: John 6:1-21

Hymn GTG #803 “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need” [vv.  1 & 3]

The Bread of Life: John 6:22-40

Hymn GTG #522, “I Am the Bread of Life” [vv. 1 & 5 with Refrain]

A Harsh Message: John 6:41-71

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord!

People: Thanks be to God!

Hymn GTG #749, “Come! Live in the Light!”