Liturgy & Prayers - Sunday, 8 March 2026 – Third Sunday in Lent, Year A
Liturgy in One Document
Opening Sentence
Since we are justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand;
and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. (Rom 5:1,2)
OR
God has shown us how much he loves us;
it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us! (Rom 5:8)
OR
Jesus said, My food is to do the will of him who sent me
and to complete his work. (John 4:34)
OR
The hour is coming, and is now here,
when you will worship the Father in spirit and truth. (John 4:23)
Prayer of the Day (Collect)
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.
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.
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.
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.
Alleluia Verse
Use either the Verse given in the order of service or the following verse.
Jesus said: ‘The water that I will give
will become in you a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.’ (John 4:14b)
Prayer After the Gospel
This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the living water of eternal life.
Help us to believe in you
and to worship God in spirit and in truth.
Amen
Offering Prayer
Lord, you have given so much to us.
Help us to show in our deeds
the faith you have planted within us.
Make us ready to serve you and other people
wth all that we are and all that we have.
Amen.
Prayer of the Church
Services with Holy Communion
Preface
It is indeed right and good,
Lord God, holy Father,
that we should at all times and in all places
give thanks to you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
He has taken on himself our sin,
so that we might die to sin
and live to righteousness.
And so, with angels and archangels,
and with all the company of heaven,
we adore and praise your glorious name:
Communion Invitation
Every time we eat this bread and drink from this cup
we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
(Thanks be to God.)
Come, everything is ready.
Prayer after Communion
Dismissal
This seasonal blessing is used together with (ie before) the usual blessing in the order of service.
(May) Christ our crucified Saviour draw you to himself,
so that you may find in him the assurance of sins forgiven
and the gift of eternal life;…
Go in peace. Christ has reconciled us to God and will save us.
Thanks be to God.
OR
In the name of Christ. Amen.
