0220_05
February 20, 2005 – 2nd Sunday in Lent
Revised Common Lectionary Readings
Genesis 12:1-4a
Psalm 121
Romans 4:1-5, 13-17
John 3:1-17 or Matthew 17:1-9
Being Born Again
*Call to Worship
The body of Christ is the womb-space of love,
conceiving new life day by day,
and holding us in unconditional grace
until we are ready to be born afresh,
carrying the labor and bleeding of our birthing
in an energy of kindness
that stands forever waiting for us.
This is our God.
This is the Christ.
From the earth the songs of praise arise,
from the skies the rains of greening gently fall,
and our lives pause in awe as we lift
our hearts this day.
*Prayer of Invocation
Be found walking with us in this hour, O God,
as we wonder about our lives and your truth,
inspiration as we contemplate the next days,
and as the one who never condemns us
in our questioning and frailty.
Be with us now, Holy Spirit of Christ,
Holy Spirit of God. Amen.
*Prayer of Confession
O God, there are times when we sink with relief
into old decisions for faith,
as we live out of past times
when we agreed to love you
and shield ourselves from further challenges.
Silent reflection.
Take our hand, Jesus Christ.
Look into our hearts and search us out,
then forgive us for our reluctance to walk
further into your life.
Sometimes we hold our place as your people
with unwarranted pride,
pointing with triumph
to a moment of commitment
instead of living in gratitude
for the ongoing grace we receive.
Silent reflection.
Take our hand, Jesus Christ.
Look into our hearts and search us out,
then forgive us for our reluctance to walk
further into your life.
We are resisting your voice
within us and around us
that invites us to be born again into newer life,
to enter your body for a time of cherishing
to ready us for a different emerging and growing.
Silent reflection.
Take our hand, Jesus Christ.
Look into our hearts and search us out,
then forgive us for our reluctance to walk
further into your life. This we pray in faith. Amen.
*Words of Assurance
The offer of God always stands ahead of our life.
We may be born again,
leaving behind all that is of death or guilt.
We are not condemned.
We are forgiven.
Thanks be to God.
*Prayer of Thanksgiving
With grateful hearts, we come to you, O God.
We are thankful this day
for all the opportunities
that you place before us:
for the chance to start again
with fresh trust and innocent hope,
for the joy of being refreshed
so that anything seems possible
because we, ourselves, have been redeemed.
Our souls rest in the safety
of your promises, O God,
and stay with you in thanksgiving. Amen.
*Stewardship Thought
When people speak of being “born again” Christians, they often make it sound as though it is a once-in-a-lifetime event. While Nicodemus is, of course, reflecting with Jesus about how he, who is older, could be born again, it could invite in all of us another question. If we imagine that Christ only offers us rebirthing to life once, we may well close off infinite possibilities for new or expanded life. Of course, there is the special moment for many people when they commit their lives to Christ but, even for those people, in the engagement with a living God we are offered the chance for what seems like new life over and over again as we grow and mature in the faith. As Jesus teaches us, this is not about judgment, but a call to us through the deep and faithful love of God. This models for us the relationship that we have with others if we bear true witness to our God.
*Offertory Sentence
Nothing is left untouched
from the creativity of God.
We are renewed in our giving this day.
Let us bring our offerings to God.
*Offertory Prayer
Even as we bring our gifts,
renew our lives so that we may give
in ways that you challenge us to do.
Receive us as we are, but call us on, we pray.
Amen.
*Prayer of Intercession
We pray today, O God,
for all who cannot imagine receiving life
beyond that which they now live.
We pray for those
who are closed in by need and injustice,
or bowed down by illness or anxiety.
The people pray.
Walk with them, Jesus Christ,
offering them your love,
healing their wounds,
and living within their questions.
Raise in us such passionate life,
that we share in the bringing of new life
in others.
May we so live,
that the testimony of our journey with you
speaks to others in joy and hope.
May compassion and courage
blossom in us,
so that all people of goodwill
long to join that way of life,
and may our faith be renewed every day,
so that the world may never give up
on its dream for a greater good.
May the whole creation echo the promise
of the endless rebirthing of love. Amen.
*Commissioning
Go forth into the world as those who are born
again into the life of God.
*Benediction
Go in brave hope as those who are loved of God,
forgiven in the power of the Spirit,
and accompanied by Christ
in life’s every journey. Amen.