Liturgy: Lent 3 Lessons and Carols, John 7-8 (March 23, 2025)

   *You are welcome to use or adapt any of my resources for free, but I ask that you provide proper citation AND comment on this post to let me know.*

Additional Hymns:

Hymn GTG #802, “The King of Love My Shepherd Is”

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

Hymn GTG #158, “Born in the Night, Mary's Child”

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 7:37-38)

Leader: Our Lord declares that all who are thirsty should come to him.

People: Jesus, we are here!

Leader: Christ proclaims that all who believe in him should drink.

People: Jesus, we believe!

Leader: The scriptures tell us that living water flows from him.

People: Jesus, we worship you!

Call to Confession (based on John 8:32, 34)

Leader: Jesus warns that everyone who sins is a slave to sin. But he also assures us that the truth will set us free. Let us, then, confess the truth of our sin so that we might be freed from it.

Prayer of Confession (based on John 8:39-47)

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: Holy Truth-Teller, we think of ourselves as children of Abraham and siblings of Christ, but we deceive ourselves. If we were Abraham’s children, we would do Abraham’s works. Where are our righteous deeds? If we were Jesus’ siblings, we would listen to his words. Where is our understanding? In shame, we confess that your Truth is not in us. We do and believe whatever we want, because to do otherwise is too hard. Yet we know that your love can overcome even this. Forgive us, we pray, and in your mercy, hear our prayers…

(Silent prayers of personal confession)

Declaration of Forgiveness (based on John 8:7, 10-11)

Leader: Only those without sin may cast stones. Is there no one to condemn you? Neither does Jesus condemn you. In his merciful name, you are 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. 

The Festival of Booths: John 7:1-36

Hymn GTG #377, “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light” [vv. 1 & 2]

Disagreement About Jesus: John 7:37-53

Hymn GTG #140, “Once in Royal David’s City” [vv. 1 & 2]

“Whoever Hasn’t Sinned…”: John 8:1-30

Hymn GTG #182, “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say” [vv. 1 & 3]

Abraham’s Children: John 8:31-59

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord!

People: Thanks be to God!

Hymn GTG #749, “Come! Live in the Light!” [verse 1 only]