*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 #396, “Brethren, We Have Met to Worship” [vv. 1 & 4]
Hymn GTG #383, “Dream On, Dream On” [vv. 1]
Leader: People say, “Look there!” or “Look here!” but we cannot see God’s kingdom.
People: The signs of God’s kingdom are not easy to notice.
Leader: We long to see the Human One.
People: Pay attention, faithful ones! God’s kingdom is already in your midst!
Leader: We gather with open eyes, minds, and hearts, so that we might see rightly.
People: Let us worship the Lord!
Call to Confession (based on Luke 17:3-4)
Leader: Jesus tells us that even if someone sins against us seven times in one day, but returns seven times saying, “I am changing my ways,” we must forgive them. God asks no more of us than God is willing to offer themself. Let us confess our sin and commit to changing our lives, trusting that God will forgive us, too.
Prayer of Confession (based on Luke 18:9-41)
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: Merciful God, we consider ourselves holy people, but our actions betray our true nature. We give thanks for our own righteousness instead of admitting our need for mercy and grace. We cry, “let the little children come,” while treating them as commodities to be gained rather than gifts to be welcomed. We embrace your Law when it suits us but close our ears to the parts that are difficult to hear. Forgive us, O Lord. We want to be more holy. Break and re-form our hearts until they beat in time with yours. In your mercy, hear our prayer…
(Silent prayers of personal confession)
Declaration of Forgiveness (based on Luke 18:1-8)
Leader: Even a judge who neither fears God nor respects people will give justice to one who asks repeatedly. How much more, then, will God provide for a people of continual prayer? Having asked for mercy, we can be assured that God’s grace is poured out upon us in abundance: in Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
People: Thanks be to God!
LESSONS AND CAROLS FROM LUKE
Readings are done by three people. They each wear a white, green, or red stole, respectively, to help clarify their roles.
Two Masters: Luke 16:1-15
The Law Remains: Luke 16:16-31
Hymn GTG #61, “Your Law, O Lord, Is Perfect” [all]
Increase Our Faith: Luke 17:1-10
The Ten Lepers: Luke 17:11-19
Hymn GTG #176, “If You Only Had Faith” [all]
When & Where is the Kingdom? Luke 17:20-37
Hymn GTG #347, “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” [vv. 1 & 3]
Persistent Prayer: Luke 18:1-8
Humility: Luke 18:9-17
Hymn GTG #474, “As a Child Rests in its Mother’s Arms” [all]
Give Up Everything: Luke 18:18-34
Healing a Blind Man: Luke 18:35-43
Leaders: This is the Word of the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God!
[THEMATIC HYMN FOR LENT]
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