Lectionary Readings
Genesis 12:1–4a
The Lord says to Abram: I will make you a blessing to the nations.
Psalm 121
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Romans 4:1–5, 13–17
Consider Abraham; the promise of God depends on faith.
John 3:1–17
Those who seek God’s kingdom must be born of water and Spirit.
or Matthew 17:1–9
On a high mountain with Moses and Elijah, Jesus is transfigured.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
There is so much we do not understand,
so many mysteries in this life of faith.
But some things are certain.
We do know:
Our help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
God is our keeper and our shade.
Let us lift our eyes to God.
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.
O Lord our God, we give you thanks
for the mercy you so freely offer us
through the grace of our baptism—
safe passage through the sea,
justice rolling down like water,
deliverance from sin and death forever.
By the power of your Holy Spirit,
poured out upon us in baptism,
teach us to love and serve you faithfully
and reconcile us to you and to one another
as members of one, living body;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession and Pardon
At the baptismal font:
Our help does truly come from God.
This help is not just for the times when trouble befalls us,
or when our lives are hard,
but when we are the ones who are to blame,
when we face the consequences of our own actions.
Knowing that, we turn to God for help,
trusting in unending grace.
Teacher,
you call us to go,
following the plan that you have set out for us.
You promise us blessings and purpose,
but we do not trust your words.
We cling to what we already know,
we trust in what we can see and touch,
we make excuses for our failure to trust in you.
Call to us again,
that we may be born again through your Spirit.
Help us to believe
and give us the abundant life
that comes from following your will.
Lifting water from the font:
God did not send the Son into the world
to condemn the world,
but in order that the world
might be saved through him.
Thanks be to God.
We will bear witness to God’s saving grace
with our lives
— Word —
Prayer for Illumination
At the lectern or pulpit:
Gracious God, our way in the wilderness,
guide us by your Word through these forty days,
and minister to us with your Holy Spirit,
so that we may be reformed,
restored, and renewed;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture
Before the readings:
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
Psalm 51:15
After the readings:
We proclaim Christ crucified—
the wisdom and power of God.
Thanks be to God.
1 Corinthians 1:23–25
Sermon
Ascription of Praise
After the sermon:
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
we bend our knees and lift up our hearts,
giving glory to God forever. Amen.
Philippians 2:9–11
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
In Christ Jesus, we have a great high priest
who knows our weakness and suffering;
therefore, with boldness, let us seek God’s grace.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With boldness, we pray for the church . . .
Make us new and holy people in Christ,
born from above by water and the Spirit,
a sign of your great love for the world.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With boldness, we pray for the earth . . .
The whole creation lifts its eyes to you,
the Lord and Maker of heaven and earth.
Keep us from all evil; guard our life.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With boldness, we pray for all nations . . .
Remember your promise to our ancestors.
Extend the blessings of providence and peace
to all the families and peoples of the earth.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With boldness, we pray for this community . . .
Let your church be a living sign in this place—
not of condescension or condemnation—
but of your gift of eternal and abundant life.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With boldness, we pray for loved ones . . .
With your unslumbering eye, watch over
those who are coming in to this world at birth
and those who are going out to the next.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
To you, O God, we entrust these prayers,
knowing that you alone can provide
grace to help in our time of need;
in the name of our great high priest
who has passed through the heavens,
Jesus Christ, our Sovereign and Savior. Amen.
Hebrews 4:14–16
— Eucharist —
Invitation to Offering
At the communion table:
Jesus says: Where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also.
Let us offer our lives to the Lord.
Matthew 6:21
Prayer of Dedication
At the communion table:
God of grace,
you have gifted us with life in Christ.
Today we bring the gifts of our work
and the gifts of our hearts.
May all that we bring and all that we are
be your means of grace in the world,
that all people may encounter your good news. Amen.
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 covenant with our ancestor Abraham,
promising to make of him a great nation,
and a blessing to all the families of the earth.
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:
Out of your great love for the world, you sent Jesus, not to condemn, but to save,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish, but have eternal life,
born again from above by water and the Spirit.
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.
By faith, make us children of Abraham and Sarah,
justified by the righteousness and grace of Christ,
so that we may share the blessings of your covenant people.
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
Thank you, gracious God,
for giving us bread for the journey
of these forty days.
As we travel on through the wilderness,
help us to share your grace with others
and draw us ever closer to you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
— Sending —
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Blessing and Charge
At the doors of the church:
May the steadfast love of God,
the abundant grace of Jesus Christ,
and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit
be with you this day and always. Amen.
Psalm 51:1, 11
Remember the words of the Lord Jesus:
If any wish to be my disciples
let them take up the cross
and follow me. Amen.
Mark 8:34
“Nicodemus”
Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1899
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- Great Is Thy Faithfulness (OE) FAITHFULNESS GTG 39, PH 276
- We Have Come at Christ’s Own Bidding (OEG) BREWER GTG 191
- The Church’s One Foundation (G) AURELIA GTG 321, PH 442
- You Are Our God; We Are Your People (O) JANNA LUYH 35
WORD
- Come Down, O Love Divine (G) DOWN AMPNEY GTG 282, PH 313
- Crashing Waters at Creation (G) CRASHING WATERS GTG 476
- I Depend upon Your Faithfulness (OE) TU FIDELIDAD GTG 831
- Broken World, Broken Dreams (OE) HEAVEN IS AT HAND Sing No Empty Alleluias, Chris Shelton
EUCHARIST
- As the Wind Song (OG) WAIRUA TAPU GTG 292
- Look Who Gathers at Christ’s Table (G) COPELAND GTG 506
- In the Singing (OE) BREAD OF PEACE GTG 533
- The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power (G) THE BLOOD AAHH 256
SENDING
- This Is My Song (O) FINLANDIA GTG 340
- Now There Is No Male or Female (G) OMNI DIE (Trier) GTG 493
- Faith Begins by Letting Go (OE) LUX PRIMA GTG 684
- O Give Praise to Jesus, the King / Jaya hos Yishu raja ko (G) JAYA HOS YISHU STB 204
Psalms and Canticles
Metrical
- I to the Hills Will Lift My Eyes [DUNDEE, UNION]; GTG 45, PH 234, PAS 121E
- To the Hills I Lift My Eyes (Naega sanŭl hyanghayŏ) [NA-UI DO-UM]; GTG 845, PAS 121F
- To the Hills I Lift My Eyes [GUIDE]; PAS 121A, LUYH 331
- Alzo a los montes / Lift Your Eyes Up; PAS 121C, SSS 38
Responsorial
- My Help Comes Only from the Lord; PAS 121D
- Our Help Is from the Lord; PAS 121 I
- Help Comes Only from the Lord; PSA 125
Organ Music
- “What Wondrous Love,” WONDROUS LOVE, In Memoriam, Ross Anderson, LOR (E)
- “How Clear Is Our Vocation, Lord,” REPTON, Come & Praise, Vol. 3, Mark Sedio, AF (E)
- “Second Meditation,” Alexandre Guilmant, ALF (MA)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “I Want Jesus to Walk with Me,” arr. Lloyd Larson, LOR, SATB, solo, acap (M)
- “I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes (Mvt I),” Adolphus Hailstork, TPR, SATB, tenor solo, keybd or orch (MA)
- “God So Loved the World,” Michael Burkhardt, MSM, SATB, org, opt cong (ME)
- “There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy,” Calvin Hampton, GIA, SATB, pno (M)
- “John 3:16,” B. E. Boykin, Klavia Press, SATB, acap (MA)
- “I Will Lift Mine Eyes,” Jake Runestad, BH, SATB div, acap (MA)
Handbell Music
- “The Church’s One Foundation,” Jason W. Krug, 3–6 oct, opt 2 oct hc, BP, HB488, Level 3
- “Come, Down, O Love Divine,” Sondra Tucker, 3–5 oct, opt 2 oct hc, LOR, 20/2097L, Level 2+
- “Be Still, My Soul,” Jason W. Krug, 3–5 oct, RRM, RRBL5058, Level 2+
Art
- Christ and Nicodemus, James Tissot (VDL)
- Born Again, Lauren Wright Pittman (VDL)
- Of Water and Spirit, Jan Richardson (JR)
- Nicodemus, Henry Ossawa Tanner (VDL)
