Good morning and welcome to our online worship today. As always, the bells of the Old Parish ring out their message of hope, with an invitation to gather in heart and mind to praise God.
This week has seen some days when Spring has certainly been in the air. When days like that come along it raises the spirits, and as we look up to the hills around us we say “thank you, O God” for all your gifts and mercies.
This is the season of Lent, a time for preparation for the Good News that Jesus rose again at Easter.
Our opening hymn - “ Come, let us to the Lord our God with contrite hearts return.”
by Giotto di Bondone (1266-1337)
The 3rd Sunday in Lent
HYMN: Come, let us to the Lord our God
PRAYER
God of wilderness and water,
your Son was baptised and tempted as we are.
Guide us through this season,
that we may not avoid struggle,
but open ourselves to blessing,
through the cleansing depths of repentance
and the heaven-rending words of the Spirit.
Holy One, creator of the stars and seas,
your steadfast love is shown to every living thing:
your word calls forth countless worlds and souls;
your law revives and refreshes.
Forgive our misuse of your gifts,
that we may be transformed by your wisdom
to manifest for others
the mercy of our crucified and risen Lord. Amen.
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
From you alone come everlasting joy and peace.
Fill us with joy in your promises,
And send us out to be bearers of your peace;
Through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
THE LORD'S PRAYER
LESSON
John 2; 13-22
The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to
Jerusalem.
In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and
the money changers seated at their tables.
Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both
the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money
changers and overturned their tables.
He told those who were selling the doves, "Take these things out of
here! Stop making my Father's house a marketplace!"
His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house
will consume me."
The Jews then said to him, "What sign can you show us for doing
this?"
Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will
raise it up."
The Jews then said, "This temple has been under construction for
forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?"
But he was speaking of the temple of his body.
After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he
had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had
spoken.
Hymn: There's a wideness is God's mercy
REFLECTION
PRAYER
Faithful God of love.
You blessed us with your servant Son
so that we might know how to serve your people
with justice and with mercy.
We gather the needs of ourselves and others,
and offer them to you in faith and love,
seeking to be strengthened to meet them.
We pray for our world
You know the needs of our world at every level. Today we think
especially of those countries where even the extent of the Covid crisis is
not fully measured. Help us, in the midst of our own worries about
education, and hospitality, and vaccine supply to keep in our hearts all
those at the heart of desolation, and yet with little practical support and
help. Strengthen the efforts of the international organisations working to
improve life and hope for all in this world.
And we remember in our prayers all those whose lives are diminished by
war, famine, natural disaster. In your mercy, help us to realise our
responsibilities as fellow citizens and brothers and sisters in humanity.
Faithful God of love
Hear our prayers for those known to us who are in trouble - worried,
struggling in darkness, mourning, and coping with grief. Help all our
caring services to know how much they are needed and valued, and give
them strength in their work of healing.
Shape us and transform us by your grace,
that we may grow in wisdom and in confidence,
never faltering until we have done all that you desire
to bring your realm of peace to fulfilment. Amen.
HYMN: And can it be
THE BLESSING and BENEDICTION
May God , who is the ground of hope,
Fill you with all joy and peace
As you lead the life of faith
Until, by the power of the Holy Spirit,
You overflow with hope.
And the blessing of God almighty
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
Be among you and remain with you
Today, and in all the days to come.
Amen.
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