April 6, 2025 – Fifth Sunday in Lent

Lectionary Readings   -   Gathering   -  Word  -   Eucharist   -   Sending   -   Music and Art

Lectionary Readings

Isaiah 43:16–21
I am about to do a new thing, says the Lord; do you perceive it?

Psalm 126
When the Lord restored our fortunes, we shouted with joy.

Philippians 3:4b–14
Knowing Christ Jesus as Lord, I regard everything else as loss.

John 12:1–8
At the home of Lazarus, Mary anoints Jesus’ feet with perfume.

— Gathering —

Opening Sentences

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
it was like a dream.
Then our mouths were filled with laughter
and
shouts of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
The Lord has done great things for us,
and we rejoiced.
Let those who plant with tears
reap the harvest with joy.
Let those who go out weeping
come home with shouts of joy.
Let us worship God!

Prayer of the Day

Gracious God,
as we near the end of our Lenten journey,
we give thanks for the new thing that you are doing
and for your provision in our wilderness.
As we have wandered, you have steadied us;
you have provided manna, that we might not hunger,
and you have provided water, that we might not thirst.
We have gained new awareness
as you have
revealed your love.
Open our lips, that we might join with all creation
in singing your praise, O God. Amen.

Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song


Thanksgiving for Baptism

At the baptismal font:
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
God of ancient covenants,
who never breaks trust,
we thank you for baptismal waters
that pour out your steadfast love
for all creation.
Thank you for the salvation promise
you have kept.
In the name of Jesus,
the Living Water, we pray. Amen.

Confession and Pardon

At the baptismal font:
Though we find much to boast about,
we return again to God,
who sees through our efforts
to handle our life on our own.
Hear again the tender invitation
to speak plainly before God and one another.
Let us confess our sins to God.

Why are you so extravagant, O God?
We work hard,
use our intelligence,
keep our ledgers balanced,
accomplish feats daily,
care for our families,
and honor our inherited legacies.
Is this not enough
to earn our place among the favored?
Yet you throw open windows and doors,
revealing a vision we do not possess,
where accomplishments don’t count,
where tears reap joy,
where peace is found in suffering,
where confidence is gained
by giving away what is ours to treasure.
Show us again what matters.
Forgive our misplaced values,
and draw us into your extravagance,
that we, too, might be generous with our love.

Lifting water from the font:
Our claim to forgiveness
rests entirely in God’s claim on us.
Jesus Christ restores us to life.
Say it with joy!
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God.

— Word —

Prayer for Illumination

At the lectern or pulpit:
O Lord of light and salvation,
let these words of Scripture
live not only in our mouths,
but in our hearts,
that we will embody your truth
and confess with our lives
that Jesus is Lord. Amen.

Scripture

Before the readings:
The Word is near to us, 
on our lips and in our hearts. 
Romans 10:8

After the readings:
This is the Word of faith 
that we proclaim. 
Thanks be to God.
Romans 10:8

Sermon

Ascription of Praise

After the sermon:
Let every tongue confess 
that Jesus Christ is Lord. Amen.
Philippians 2:11

Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song

Affirmation of Faith

The reconciling work of Jesus
was the supreme crisis in the life of humankind.
His cross and resurrection become personal crisis
and present hope for women and men
when the gospel is proclaimed and believed.
In this experience,
the Spirit brings God’s forgiveness to all,
moves people to respond in faith,
repentance, and obedience,
and initiates the new life in Christ.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.21

Prayers of Intercession

Let us have the same mind that was in Christ Jesus

as we pray for the world he came to save,

saying: Have mercy, O God; hear our prayer.

 

We pray for the church . . .

Help us to know our Lord Jesus Christ,

and the surpassing value of life in him,

so that others may know Christ through us. 

Have mercy, O God; hear our prayer.

 

We pray for the world . . .

Show us the new thing you are doing.

Stop the wheels of the chariots of war.

Bring new life to your damaged creation.

Have mercy, O God; hear our prayer.

 

We pray for this community . . .

Give us a genuine concern for the poor,

using the treasure you entrust to us

for the well-being of all people.

Have mercy, O God; hear our prayer.

 

We pray for loved ones . . .

Remember those who are sick and suffering.

Restore their fortunes, by your grace.

Turn tears of sorrow into shouts of joy.

Have mercy, O God; hear our prayer.

 

As we pour out our hearts in prayer, O God,

lead us to pour out our lives in service to you—

ever seeking your will, ever following your way;

all in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

— Eucharist —

Invitation to Offering

At the communion table:
Through the grace of God,
we have gifts in abundance
and pour them out
like perfume from a flask,
not for our sakes,
but to worship the One who
lavishes love on the world.

Prayer of Dedication

At the communion table:
You have shown us, O God,
the sacrifice that you desire.
Now use these gifts—
and use our lives—
to liberate the oppressed,
to break the bonds of injustice,
to feed the hungry,
welcome the poor,
and unite the human family;
all in the name and for the sake
of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Isaiah 58:6–7

Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Blessed are you, O Lord our God:
You made a way through the sea,
a path through the waters.
Even now you are doing a new thing—
making rivers flow in the desert,
forming a people for yourself,
that we might declare your praise.

Therefore we praise you, joining the song
of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
A Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy”) is sung.

Blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior:
You anointed Jesus Christ
with the gift of your Holy Spirit—
a healing balm,
and a fragrant offering of love for the world.
He is our Passover,
our only hope for salvation. 

The words of institution are included here.

Remembering your goodness and grace,
we offer ourselves to you with gratitude
as we share this joyful feast.
A Memorial Acclamation
(e.g., “Christ has died”) is sung.

Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us
and upon this bread and cup;
make us one in the body and blood
of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Teach us to know the surpassing grace
of Jesus Christ our Lord:
sharing in his suffering
and rejoicing in the power of his resurrection,
pressing on toward the goal
to which you have called us.

Through the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the unity of the Spirit,
we bless you, God of glory,
now and forever.
An Amen is sung.

Lord’s Prayer

 

Breaking the Bread

 

Communion of the People

 

Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song

 

Prayer after Communion

At the communion table:
Giving God, living Lord,
you have fed us with your body.
You have poured out your life that we might live.
We thank you,
for we have tasted your goodness in this meal.
Fed, we are strengthened;
filled, we are renewed
to share the abundance of your love
with a hungry world. Amen.

— Sending —

Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song

 

Blessing and Charge

At the doors of the church: 
May the Spirit of the triune God 
strengthen and sustain you, 
all throughout these forty days 
and into the life that is to come. Amen.
Luke 4:1–2

Go in peace, 
proclaiming the message of reconciliation 
God has entrusted to us. Amen.
2 Corinthians 5:19

Mary Anoints Christ's Feet

Ilyas Basim Khuri Bazzi Rahib

Additional Materials

Congregational Song

GATHERING

  • How Firm a Foundation (OE) FOUNDATION GTG 463, PH 361

  • Lift Every Voice and Sing (OE) LIFT EVERY VOICE GTG 339, PH 563

  • Jesus, Priceless Treasure (EG) JESU, MEINE FREUDE GTG 830, PH 365

WORD

  • Fight the Good Fight (E) DUKE STREET GTG 846, PH 307

  • Woman in the Night (G) NEW DISCIPLES GTG 161

  • A Prophet-Woman Broke a Jar (G) HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING GTG 201

  • Behold, I Make All Things New (O), Come All You People, John Bell, GIA

EUCHARIST

  • Do Not Be Afraid (O) ISAIAH 43 GTG 76

  • You Are My Strength When I Am Weak (E) JERNIGAN GTG 519

  • To My Precious Lord (G) TO MY PRECIOUS LORD GTG 704

  • Fill Us with Your Feast (O) FILL US WITH YOUR FEAST VT 309

SENDING

  • Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee (EG) ST. AGNES GTG 629, PH 310

  • Take My Life (EG) HENDON GTG 697, PH 391

  • I Want to Be as Close to You (EG) DAVIDSON GTG 736

  • God Will Make a Way (O) HE WILL MAKE A WAY SSS 57

Psalms and Canticles

Psalm 126
Metrical

  • When God Restored Our Common Life [RESIGNATION, SALVATION]; GTG 74, PAS 126E

  • When God First Brought Us Back [WAYFARING STRANGER] PAS 126A, LUYH 55

  • When God Delivered Israel [SHEAVES]; GTG 73, PH 237

  • When the Lord Restored Our Blessing [HATIKVAH]; PAS 125C (part 2), LUYH 51

Responsorial

  • Those Who Sow Their Seeds [HATIKVAH]; PP 254

  • Those Who Sow in Tears; PAS 126B (alt. refrain)

  • The Lord Has Done Great Things [NEW BRITAIN / AMAZING GRACE]; HTP1 86

Organ Music

  • SLANE,” Prelude on Slane—At the Close of Day, Healey Willan, CFP (ME)

  • “How Can I Keep from Singing,” Augsburg Organ Library: Healing and Funeral, Benjamin M. Culli, AF (M)

  • HAMBURG,” For Manuals Only, Set 5, Charles Callahan, CON (E)

  • “Jesu, meine Freude,” 80 Chorale Preludes by German Masters of the 17th and 18th Centuries, Johann Gottfried Walther, CFP (E)

Piano Music

  • “More Love to Thee / I Love Thee,” MORE LOVE TO THEE / I LOVE THEE, Hymns with a Velvet Touch, Tom Fettke, ALF (M)

  • “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” HAMBURG, Sunday Morning Companion, Victor Labenske, ALF (M)

Anthems for Adult Choirs

  • “Love Will Rise,” arr. Karen Crane, LOR, SATB, pno (ME)

  • “I Surrender All,” arr. Victor C. Johnson, LOR, SATB, pno (E)

  • “A Lenten Prayer,” Hal H. Hopson, MSM, SATB, keybd, opt hb (E)

  • “Have Mercy on Me,” Clayton White, AF, SATB, pno, solo (M)

  • “Let Us Walk This Road Together,” arr. John Carter, HOPE, SAB, pno (E)

  • “Lord, Have Mercy,” Undine Smith Moore, AF, SATB, acap (M)

Art

  • Isaiah 43:18–19, Timothy R. Botts, 2016 (EYE)

  • Jesus Speaks about Forgiveness, JESUS MAFA, 1973 (VDL)

  • Mary Anoints Christ’s Feet, Ilyas Basim Khuri Bazzi Rahib, 1684 (VDL)

  • Philippians 3:12–14, Timothy R. Botts, 2016 (EYE)

  • Anointing of Christ’s Feet, James Tissot, 1886–94 (VDL)