Sunday 11 March, 2012- Third Sunday in Lent, Year B

Here are the resources you need for this Sunday. Please feel free to choose what is suitable for your congregation’s needs. You will notice that the orders of service are available in different formats: choose the “pdf” format if you want something that is ready to print and photocopy, the “doc” or “rtf” format if you wish to change the formatting yourself or the “ppt” format if you use PowerPoint.

• Altar colour: Violet
  
• Bible readings:
  FIRST READING Exodus 20:1-17 The ten commandments
  PSALM Psalm 19*For musical settings of this Psalm, please see the song suggestions below*
  SECOND READING 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 Christ crucified – God’s power and wisdom
  GOSPEL John 2:13-22 Jesus cleanses the temple and gives a sign
  
• Sermons:
  Lay-readers please note: the linked sermons have not been edited for general use. As part of your preparations, keep in mind that they have been written for specific people in a specific context, and for this reason the issues they address or the examples they use may not be entirely suitable for people in your congregation. If you feel this is the case, you may need to make minor adjustments or find another sermon
  Based on first reading: edited for lay reading sermon – exodus 20 1-17 – year b – lent 3 ; Pr Stephen Pietsch
  Based on gospel reading: Pr Roger Atze ; Pr Simon Cooper
  
• Orders of service:
  Lent Sunday Word and Prayer (pdf / doc / ppt)
  Service of the Word (pdf / rtf / ppt)
  Morning Praise (pdf / rtf / ppt)
  Service without communion (pdf / doc / ppt)
• Prayer of the Day (Collect): Choose one of the following
  Traditional
  Almighty God,
  look upon the heartfelt desires
  of your humble servants,
  and stretch out your mighty hand
  to defend us against all our enemies;
  through your Son,
  Jesus Christ our Lord,
  who lives and reigns
  with you and the Holy Spirit,
  one God, now and forever.
  Amen.

  OR, modernised traditional
  Almighty God,
  look in mercy on our heartfelt desires,
  and stretch out your mighty hand
  to defend us.
  We ask this through your Son,
  Jesus Christ our Lord,
  who lives and reigns
  with you and the Holy Spirit,
  one God, now and forever.
  Amen.

  OR, alternative
  (Let us pray for strength in temptation. [silence])
  Lord God, our strength,
  the battle of good and evil rages
  within and around us.
  Keep us firm in our faith in your Son,
  and when we fall,
  raise and restore us.
  We ask this through your Son,
  Jesus Christ our Lord,
  who lives and reigns
  with you and the Holy Spirit,
  one God, now and forever.
  Amen.

  OR, new
  (Let us pray that we live repentant lives. [silence])
  Holy and merciful God,
  we thank you for giving your Son Jesus
  to die on the cross for us sinners.
  Turn us away from our sins
  and back to a life of trust in you.
  We ask this through Christ our Lord,
  who lives and reigns
  with you and the Holy Spirit,
  one God, now and forever.
  Amen.

• Prayer of the Church/ General Prayer: Prayer of the Church- Lent 3B
  
• Offering prayer:
  Thank you, Lord, for Christ crucified,
  as your wisdom and the power that saves us.
  Help us to have no other gods but you,
  and to live our lives fully committed to you,
  obeying your commandments
  and loving and serving other people.
  Amen.

• Visual images for the day: His Word in Pictures
• Song/Hymn suggestions: * = Modernised version available (please click here to download the modernised text file) ;G3, G4 . . . = Guitar chords available in the Music Package 3, 4 . . .; GS = Guitar chords in the Supplement to LH
  First reading: Exodus 20:1-17
  LHS
  270     The law of God is good and wise G3
  345     O that the Lord would guide my ways* G6
  353     Holy Father, Thou hast taught me* G5
  355     May we Thy precepts, Lord, fulfil* G3
  AT
  120     One God
  TIS
  117     The Lord Jehovah reigns
  428     Help us, O Lord, to learn
  576     O for a closer walk with thee

  Second reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
  LHS
  54     When I survey the wondrous cross G5
  75     We sing the praise of Him who died G5
  80     Praise to the Holiest in the height G8
  162     In Jesus I find peace and rest (esp v 3)* G3
  171     In the cross of Christ I glory G4
  807     Lift high the cross GS
  823     Your strong Word broke through the darkness G5
  AT
  244     We have seen the Word of life
  466     I am aware
  531     How the world was won
  535     Never by might
  TIS
  141     Praise to the holiest in the height
  174    Morning glory, starlit sky
  192     Christ is the world’s redeemer
  262     When pain and terror strike by chance
  342     When I survey the wondrous cross
  343     Nature with open volume stands
  347     We sing the praise of him who died
  349     In the cross of Christ I glory
  351     Lift high the cross
  422     Come, Holy Spirit, come (esp vv 1,2)

  Gospel: John 2:13-22
  LHS
  49     Alone Thou goest forth, O Lord G5
  187     Glorious things of Thee are spoken* G9
  188     Built on a rock the Church doth stand* G4
  197     Lord, keep us steadfast in Thy Word* G5
  AT
  125     Man more than man
  TIS
  355    Man more than man
  436     Lord, keep us steadfast in your Word
  446     Glorious things of you are spoken

  PSALM 19
  TIS 7, The sky tells the glory of God, is a version of Psalm 19:1-5, and TIS 8, God’s law is perfect, is a version of Psalm 19:7-10.

  The Iona song ‘May the words of my mouth’ in AT 323  may be used as a congregational refrain, while a reader reads the verses of Psalm 19. AT 518 ‘May the words’ would also be suitable.

  The following paraphrase of Psalm 19 by David Schütz is sung to either St Denio (LH 392, TIS 143) or Foundation (LHS A4, TIS 578). If reproducing this version, please put ‘Words (c) David Schütz’ at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

  Accept now, O Lord, my redeemer, my rock,
  the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart.
  The heavens are telling your glory and power,
  your handwork is shown by the sky all around.

  Though night teaches night, and though day speaks to day,
  no language is heard in the words that they say.
  And yet their voice goes throughout all of the world,
  their words are conveyed to the end of the earth.

  God set up a tent for the sun in the sky;
  it comes like a bridegroom on his wedding day,
  and runs, like an athlete, from morning to night,
  and nothing is hidden from its burning light.

  The Lord’s law is perfect, reviving the soul;
  his precepts are right, making saddened hearts whole.
  His teachings are certain, they make us all wise;
  and all his commandments give light to our eyes.

  The fear of the Lord will forever endure.
  His judgments are righteous and holy and pure,
  far sweeter than honey, more precious than gold;
  in them both a warning and promise is told.

  But no-one can know all the things they’ve done wrong,
  so cleanse me from those secret things that I’ve done.
  From sinning intention’ly, Lord, keep me free,
  then holy and blameless forever I’ll be.

  Music Resources Vol 3– Psalm settings- Psalm 19 p26 , Psalm 19 p27 , Psalm 19 p28