Liturgical Materials: Second 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. Like the Sermon Starters, all of today’s Liturgical Materials are free of a paywall, as a welcome to all the new subscribers this week. If you find these useful, please consider becoming a paid subscriber.
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. Other than The Collect, all the pieces this week are originals, written by me. I was struck by the Psalm this week, as well as the promises God makes in Genesis. And of course, God as the mother hen is always a favorite of mine. You’ll find echoes of these notes throughout this week’s materials.
Lectionary Verses for the second week of Lent, Year C:
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Psalm 27
Philippians 3:17-4:1
Luke 13:31-35
The Collect
From the Book of Common Prayer, for the second Sunday in Lent.
O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Call to Worship
One: When we feel the cares and the injustices of the world pressing in on us,
All: Hear God: Do not be afraid! I am your shield; your reward shall be very great!
One: When the future seems dark and uncertain,
All: Hear God: Look toward the heaven and count stars, if you are able. So shall your descendants be.
One: When we are dispossessed and driven away by the boot of empire,
All: Hear God: I am the Lord, who brought you from UR, to give you this land to possess.
One: Hear God, and believe the promises made to us.
All: Do not be afraid! You reward shall be very great! Amen!
This song by Spencer LaJoye was shared with us this week at the UCC meetings I attended in Cleveland, and I found it exceedingly meaningful. Although not directly tied to this week’s lectionary, it’s a song and prayer we could stand to hear every Sunday. Enjoy.
Prayer
Mother God,
like baby chicks, we long to be gathered under your wing,
to be brought in to your safety,
because it feels like our enemies are all around us.
Like the Psalmist, we long to declare with great confidence,
“The Lord is the strength of my life; of who shall we be afraid?”
But, afraid we are, so often. We look out into this world, and we see the forces of evil and oppression on the move, galloping across our psyches like the four horsemen, bringing to us unrest and weariness, when we do not want it. Fear grips us so often, when we turn on the news, or scroll our feeds, or cue up another podcast.
God, give us the confidence of Paul, who spoke words of such great assurance:
our citizenship is with you.
Transform us, from these fearful souls.
Hide not your face from us; do not turn us away.
Sustain us, show us the way, wait patiently for us.
In your son’s name, we pray with joy and longing.
Amen.
Benediction
Children of our mothering God, go forth from here, secure in the promise God made all those years ago to Abram: free from fear, assured of our reward, adopted as inheritors of the final victory of death. Go in joy!