Liturgical Materials: First Sunday in Lent, Year C
Welcome to the weekly Liturgical Materials from Liturgical Threads. Below, you will find a variety of liturgical resources for use in worship, small groups, or your own private prayer life. Some materials are written by me; some I have curated from elsewhere; you’ll find proper attribution for each below. Free members get only a handful of materials; become a paid subscriber to see the full suite.
This is the piece of Liturgical Threads I’ve struggled to figure out the most. Grand theological writing comes easy to me, but this kind of enacted spirituality is not always my strong suit. So, journey with me as I figure out what the weekly Liturgical Materials are going to become. Today is my first attempt at it. Other than The Collect, all the pieces this week are originals, written by me. You’ll see this week, the Temptation of Christ was at the forefront of my mind; much of what follows centers on Lent as a time of preparation for us, as disciples of the Crucified God, to be ready to go do the work of justice and mercy in the unjust and merciless world we find ourselves in.
Lectionary Verses for the first week of Lent, Year C:
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
Romans 10:8b-13
Luke 4:1-13
The Collect
From the Book of Common Prayer, for the first Sunday in Lent.
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Call to Worship
One: We traverse the path into the desert, prepared to spend 40 days with Jesus in prayer.
All: Our time of testing has just begun.
One: God, when we want feel like we can’t do the good we are called to unless we have a few more resources,
All: Deliver us from these temptations.
One: When we feel sure that electing this leader will finally set the world on the right path,
All: Deliver us from these temptations.
One: When we want to use your name to as a tool to win the next debate,
All: Deliver us from these temptations.
One: These temptations are a test of our faithfulness to your vision.
All: May we find rest in you, assured of our victory over death, so that we need not give in to our tempter any longer.
Amen.
Prayer
God of refuge and shelter,
We enter into this season of Lent, knowing that it is a time of trial and contemplation.
For those of us, safe as we are in the richest nation on earth, with our picket fences and our security cameras, the dangers and temptations of the wilderness are abstract, they seem far from us. We cultivate a season of trial, because for some of us, it is the only time we face anything like real danger.
But we know, as we come together today, that the words of the Psalmist declaring you a refuge and a shelter, these are not abstract ideas for so many of your people.
There are so many people – around the world, but increasingly too, right here in our communities, who are in danger, who face far more than the temptations of too much. For these souls, we pray today. We pray for their safety, and their wholeness, that dignity will be respected.
But, we pray as well, for the strength and the courage to us our own relative safety and well-being for their sake.
We pray that the promises of your shelter aren’t just words on a paper, but that we can bring that refuge to those who need it most.
We pray that we have the will to hear the words of your command to Israel, and welcome the stranger and the oppressed to our tables, to share in the first fruits, to claim their part of the best that you have to offer.
Walk with us, guide us, into acting with justice and with compassion and with mercy, for those who need it most. Let these forty days fortify our will, and animate our spirits, to be ready to do your will.
It is in the name of your son, Jesus Christ, that we pray.
Amen.
Benediction
Beloveds, you are sent from this place to go out into this time of contemplation and self-denial and trial, in order that we may be able to resist the temptations of the world, and the way it wants us to bend to its will. May you have the strength this week to walk in the wilderness, and the peace of knowing that Christ walks with you, every step of the way. Go in the assurance of that presence. Amen.