Description
Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
There is a prosperity Gospel mantra called “name it and claim it.” This twist on the Gospel encourages us to see God as the means to making our lives better. And He does, but not necessarily in ways we equate with prosperity. We do not come toward God. We do not “name and claim.” It is God Who comes toward us. He establishes His covenant with us. He names us and renames us and claims us as His through a cross and empty tomb. He invites us to live faithfully with Him, and as we do, those around us experience the blessings of God through us.
We Lift Our Hearts In Worship
[Preservice options include videos (countdowns, worship music, welcomes), worship music CD, or live music by worship band.]
Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme
Pastor In the name of God the Father, holy and perfect in all His ways.
ALL In the name of God the Son, Jesus Christ, Whose passion led Him to a cross, and to death as the sacrifice for the sins of the world.
Pastor In the name of the God the Holy Spirit, Who gathers us as the people of God, and empowers us as we continue on our Lenten journey
ALL Amen.
Opening Prayer
Pastor Almighty Father, during this Lenten season we gather as Your people, the Body of Christ, to hear again the message of His passion. Inspire us, we pray, that we might not only be hearers of Jesus’ passion, but that we might live unto Him in all we do and are. Fill us during this time with such a measure of Your Holy Spirit, that these Lenten days may be for us a time of even deeper devotion and sacrifice. We count it all joy to be followers of Jesus. In Him, You have established Your covenant with us, making us new, and blessing the world through us. Amen.
Time of Greeting
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor During this season of Lent, we acknowledge our sinfulness, for which Jesus suffered and died.
(silence)
Pastor In humility we bow before You, holy Father.
ALL We are sinful, and make no excuse before You.
You call us to holiness, and we choose sin.
You call us to love, and we choose fear.
You call us to serve, and we choose entitlements.
You call us to give, and we choose to take.
You call us to go, and we choose to stay.
You call us to speak of Your love, and we choose to remain silent.
You call us to surrender, and we choose pride.
You call us to come to You, and we choose to hide.
Forgive us, we pray, and empower us to live in joyful obedience to You.
Pastor Just as God came to Abram, establishing His covenant with Abram, so He comes to us. He names us His children, and claims us as His own through the cross of Jesus Christ. And as Abram’s name was changed to Abraham, signifying what God was doing through him, so our names our changed – from descendants of Adam to children of God. And God reaches into the world through us, as we walk faithfully with Him.
ALL Amen.
Time of Praise and Worship
*Come, Now Is The Time To Worship
Brian Doerksen, ©1998 Vineyard Songs
*adapt text to “gladly serve You now…”
Indescribable
Laura Story, ©2004 worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Gleaning Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Be Unto Your Name
Lynn DeShazo & Gary Sadler, ©1998 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
[Traditional Options]
Alas And Did My Savior Bleed
BH 75 157,113; BH 91 139,145; CH 323,306; CHH 204; ELW 337; HWC 188,208; HFG 95,274; HLC 279,156; HGP 84,96; HSP 58; LWB 98; LSB 437; LW 97; NCH 199,200; PH 78; RH 166,162; STTL 299; WC 512,208; UMH 359,294; WAR 263; WHM 417,252; WIS 143
My Song Is Love Unknown
BH 75 486; EH 458; ELW 343; LBW 94; LSB 430; LW 91; NCH 222; PH 76; RS 572; TFWS 2083; WOV 661
We Hear God’s Word
First Reading: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
God establishes His covenant with Abram, and changes Abram’s name to Abraham.
1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. 2 I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” 3 Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, 4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. 7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
