The Season of Lent – Liturgy – 60.1

Confession and Pardon

1

At the baptismal font:
In the name of Christ, I urge you:
Be reconciled to God.
Trusting in God’s grace, let us confess our sin.

By the gift of your grace we are saved, O God,
from all that separates us from you.
Still, we would rather believe
that we can earn your love.
Forgive us when we do not recognize
the radical gift of your grace;
have mercy when we fail
to share that grace with another.
Forgive us, O God,
and wash us in your mercy.
Forgive us, O God,
and free us to try again. Amen.

Lifting water from the font:
Listen, the time has come at last.
Look, now is the day of salvation!
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Thanks be to God.

2

We need grace, and we are not alone.
Thanks be to God,
the grace of Jesus Christ is poured out for all.
With honesty we name our fears and our hopes,
knowing that we are loved, redeemed,
and set free from the power of sin.

Merciful God,
afraid and despairing,
we cry for your redemption.
The demands of our society overwhelm us,
separating us from you and one another.
Fear consumes us,
greed manipulates us,
and violence occupies us.
Forgive us, we pray.
Keep our feet planted in the wisdom of the Spirit
and our lungs filled with your breath of mercy,
that we might be made new.
We place our trust in you alone,
through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Friends, we are forgiven.
Through the love of Christ,
the powers of sin and death
have lost their hold on us.
Nothing can destroy us,
for anyone who is in Christ is a new creation.
Let this news sink into your body and soul,
and be at peace. Amen.

Thanksgiving for Baptism

1

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. 1

2

At the baptismal font:
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.

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.

We give you thanks, O God,
for love that never lets us go—
you are patient and kind,
reaching out with open arms
to welcome your children home.

The Sanctus may be sung or spoken:

With angels, saints, and all creation,
we join the hymn that never ends:
Holy, holy, holy Lord . . .

We give you thanks for Jesus,
who teaches us how to love one another—
taking care of those who are sick,
being friends to those who are lonely,
and helping those who are in need.

The Words of Institution may be spoken here, at the invitation to the table, or at the breaking of the bread.

At this table, we remember
how Jesus took bread, blessed it,
broke it, and shared it with everyone,
saying: This is my body, given for you.

At this table, we remember
how Jesus took the cup,
saying: This cup is the promise
that I will love you always.  

At this table, we look forward
to the great meal we will share
with the whole family of faith
when Jesus comes again.

A memorial acclamation may be sung or spoken:

Great is the mystery of faith . . .

Pour out your Holy Spirit, O God,
as we share this bread and cup—
bring us together as one body,
sharing the good news of Jesus
and working for good in the world.

If prayers of intercession are not included elsewhere in the service, brief petitions may be offered here by the presider or the assembly, spoken aloud or prayed in silence. You may choose to incorporate petitions from the weekly prayers of intercession offered in this edition.

Hear our prayers for the world you love . . .

Help us to follow the way of Jesus,
breaking down dividing walls
and building up your church.
For the meal we are about to share
and for every gift of your grace
we give you thanks, O God,
through Jesus, in the Spirit,
now and always. Amen. 2

The great Amen may be sung or spoken.

The Lord’s Prayer