Lectionary Readings
Exodus 17:1–7
The people thirst and quarrel; God gives them water from a rock.
Psalm 95
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, the rock of our salvation.
Romans 5:1–11
Justified by faith, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ.
John 4:5–42
Jesus offers living water to a Samaritan woman at the well.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
O come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise
to the rock of our salvation!
We have come to give thanks
and to sing songs of praise!
We are the people of God’s pasture;
we trust that God will bring us
through the wilderness.
We seek God’s living water
and praise God’s holy name!
Prayer of the Day
God of living water,
amid all that parches our souls
and drains our hearts of joy,
we pray for refreshment and renewal.
Fill us with your Holy Spirit
until our delight overflows into praise
and we cannot contain ourselves,
running to tell your good news,
alive with the presence of Jesus the Christ,
in whose name we pray. 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.
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:
God does not wait for us to be righteous,
or pure, or perfect.
Christ died for us while we were still sinners.
We do not have to hide our sin from God,
but can face it with Jesus,
who heals us, teaches us, and leads us to new life.
Jesus, friend of all,
once again, we come to you knowing
our words have stung,
our actions have harmed,
and our indifference has let evil have its day.
Our hearts yearn for you,
our souls thirst for you,
yet we do not imitate you in our lives.
We scorn those who are different from us,
and relish our own comfort.
Once again, forgive us, O God.
Give us your living water,
that we might tell the world
all you have done for us.
Lifting water from the font:
We know that God is with us even in our sufferings,
for suffering produces endurance,
endurance produces character,
character produces hope,
and hope does not disappoint us,
because God’s love has been poured into our hearts.
Thanks be to God!
— 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 . . .
Help us to worship you in spirit and truth,
to proclaim the coming of the Savior,
and share living water with the world.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With boldness, we pray for the earth . . .
Hold the mountains and the oceans
in the hollow of your gentle hand;
repair their brokenness; restore their glory.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With boldness, we pray for all nations . . .
Reconcile all the peoples of the earth—
those who seem to share nothing in common.
Help us to find our deeper unity in you.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With boldness, we pray for this community . . .
Help us to feed our neighbors who are hungry,
and give drink to those who are thirsty;
through Christ, bread of life and living water.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
With boldness, we pray for loved ones . . .
Heal the divisions in our families,
protect the victims of violence,
and let children live in peace and safety.
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:
Even in the wilderness of sin you guide our way.
Though we quarrel with one another and question your promises,
you satisfy our thirst with water from a stone.
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:
Jesus offers living water for our thirst, a wellspring gushing up to eternal life.
We believe that he is the Messiah, the Savior of the world,
and we seek to worship him in spirit and in truth.
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.
In our suffering, give us the strength to endure;
through our endurance, build in us the character of faith;
and by the gift of faith, fill our hearts with a hope that will never disappoint 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
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
“Christ at the Well”
Peter Koenig, 20th Century
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
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God the Sculptor of the Mountains (G) JENNINGS-HOUSTON GTG 5
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O God, Who Gives Us Life (O) NOEL GTG 53
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Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken (OG) AUSTRIAN HYMN GTG 81
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Come, Ye Thankful People, Come (EG) ST. GEORGE’S WINDSOR GTG 367
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Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing (OEG) NETTLETON GTG 475
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O Splendor of God’s Glory Bright (G) PUER NOBIS NASCITUR GTG 666
WORD
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A Sower Came from Ancient Hills (G) SEACHRIST GTG 171
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Jesus Loves Me! (E) JESUS LOVES ME GTG 188
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Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me (O) TOPLADY GTG 438
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Open My Eyes, That I May See (E) OPEN MY EYES GTG 451
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Ho, All Who Thirst (G) JACOB’S WELL GTG 479
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When Peace like a River (E) VILLE DU HAVRE GTG 840
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Jesus Is a Rock in a Weary Land (O) WEARY LAND LUYH 138
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New Born Again (EG) FREE GRACE AAHH 362
EUCHARIST
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Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts (OG) QUEBEC GTG 494
-
Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart (E) MORECAMBE GTG 688
-
Sheaves of Wheat (G) UNA ESPIGA GTG 532
SENDING
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For the Fruit of All Creation (G) AR HYD Y NOS GTG 36
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Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah (O) CWM RHONDDA GTG 65
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I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say (G) KINGSFOLD GTG 182
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In the Cross of Christ I Glory (E) RATHBUN GTG 213
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Come, Labor On (G) ORA LABORA GTG 719
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I’m Going On a Journey (OE) WET SAINTS ELW 446
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 95
Metrical
- Come All You People [UYAI MOSE]; GTG 388
- O Come and Sing unto the Lord [IRISH]; GTG 638
- Now with Joyful Exultation [BEECHER]; PAS 95D
Responsorial
- Oh, That Today You Would Listen to God’s Voice; PAS 95E
- If Today You Hear His Voice; LP 797
Organ Music
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“Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound,” Augsburg Organ Library: Lent, Philip Gehring, AF (M)
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“It Is Well with My Soul,” Wondrous Love, Craig Phillips, FB (M)
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“Lord Jesus Christ, with Us Abide,” Boundless Love: Eight Organ Preludes for the Church Year, Matthew Machemer, CON (ME)
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“Spiritual: Round about the Mountain,” African-American Organ Music Anthology, Vol. 5, Noel Da Costa, MSM (MA)
Piano Music
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“Pastorella,” Fanny Mendelssohn, IMSLP.org (M)
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“Impromptu,” Germaine Tailleferre, IMSLP.org (MA)
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“Of Distant Lands and People, Op. 15, No. 1,” Kinderszenen, Robert Schumann, BV (ME)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
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“Uyai Mose,” Kevin Holland, CGA, SATB, pno, opt perc (E)
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“Send the Water,” Steven Taylor, Lillenas Publishing, SATB, 2 soloists, pno (ME)
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“Come, Meet Jesus at the Well,” Kurt Kaiser, LOR, SATB, pno (ME)
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“O Blessed Spring,” Robert Buckley Farlee, AF, SATB, org, ob (vln or cl), opt cong (M)
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“Just as I Am,” Bob Chilcott, OUP, SATB, org (M)
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“O Come, Every One That Thirsteth,” Elijah, Felix Mendelssohn, NOV, SATB, org, opt orch (A)
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“O Come Let Us Worship,” All Night Vigil, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Musica Russica, SSAATTBB, acap (A)
Art
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Untitled (WOMAN/WOMB), Luchita Hurtado, 1970 (WA)
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Samaritan at the Well, Mary Jane Miller, 2008 (VDL)
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Christ and the Samaritan Woman, Henryk Siemiradzki, 1890 (VDL)
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Woman at the Well, Diego Rivera, 1913 (VDL)
