Kothanur CSI Church, Bangalore

Order of Service for Lent

Call to Worship:

Leader: The Lord our Redeemer be with you.

All: And also with you.

Leader: God of our days and tears,

We set this time apart for you.
Form us in the likeness of Christ
So that our lives may glorify you. Amen

Hymn: 271 – There is a Redeemer

There is a Redeemer,
Jesus God’s own Son,
Precious Lamb of God,
Messiah, Holy One.

Thank You, O my Father

For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit ’til
Your work on earth is done.

Jesus my Redeemer,
Name above all names,
Precious Lamb of God,
Messiah, O for sinners slain.

When I stand in glory

I will see His face,
And there I’ll serve
My King forever,
In that holy place.

Leader: Blessed are the poor in spirit,

All:     for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Leader: Blessed are those who mourn,

 All:    for they will be comforted.
Leader: Blessed are the meek,
All:     for they will inherit the earth.

Leader: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

 All:   for they will be filled.

Leader: Blessed are the merciful,

All:    for they will be shown mercy.

Leader: Blessed are the pure in heart,

All:    for they will see God.
Leader: Blessed are the peacemakers,
All:    for they will be called children of God.

Leader: Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

All:   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

All: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and
from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the
inspiration of your Holy Spirit that we may perfectly love you and worthily
magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen

Psalm 51 (Responsorial Reading)

 
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your
great compassion blot out my transgressions. 
Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,  and my sin is always before me.
 
Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so
you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.
 
Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in
that secret place.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;  wash me, and I will be whiter than
snow.
 
Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
 
Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to
sustain me.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.
 

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my
Saviour, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
 
Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure
in burnt offerings.

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;  a broken and contrite heart you, God,
will not despise.
May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem.  Then
you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered
whole; then bulls will be offered on your altar. Amen.

All: O Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.
O Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.
O Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, grant us your
peace.

Compassion and forgiveness to the Lord our God, though we have rebelled
against him. Let us then renounce our wilfulness and plead for his mercy.

Our help is in the name of the Lord.

Who made heaven and earth.

I said, confess my transgressions to the Lord.

And you forgive the iniquity of my sin.

Remember, Lord, your compassion and love, for they are everlasting
Lord, have mercy on us.

Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions, but think on me in

your goodness.
Lord, have mercy on us.

O keep my soul and deliver me, let me not be put to shame, for I have put my
trust in you. Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy on us. Amen.
Prayer of Absolution: May Almighty God, who sent His Son into the world to
save sinners, bring us back to himself, forgive us our sins, and assure us of His
eternal love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Scripture Reading: Matthew 9: 9-13, John 11: 5-16

Sermon

APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by
the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.* On the
third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right
hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of
saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life
everlasting. Amen

Intercession

Let us bring before God's throne of Grace our own problems pains and
frustration and that of the world in need that we may find God's favour.

Presbyter: Let us pray for the peace of India, and for all the nations of the
world.
Pray for enemies to be reconciled and for justice to be done

(Pause for silent prayer)

Cong: Lord, hear our prayer.

Presbyter: Let us pray for churches and for Christians everywhere. Pray for
courage and integrity in following the way of the cross

(Pause for silent prayer)

Cong: Lord, hear our prayer.

Presbyter: Let us pray for all who offer their gifts to Christ, and for those who
have betrayed his trust in them. Pray for love and loyalty in all our relationships.

(Pause for silent prayer)

Cong: Lord, hear our prayer.

Presbyter: Let us pray for the sick and all prisoners, and for people preparing to
die. Pray for healing, freedom, and hope.

(Pause for silent prayer)

Cong: Lord, hear our prayer.

Presbyter: Let us pray for the forgiveness of our sins through our Lord Jesus
Christ. Pray for pardon and peace.

(Pause for silent prayer)

Cong: Lord, hear our prayer.

Presbyter: Let us give thanks for all the saints, and for the resurrection light that
shines on them. Remember those who have died.
(Pause for silent prayer)

Cong: Lord, hear our prayer.

Presbyter: Holy God, hear the prayers of your Church. Forgive our sins, and
send us the grace we need to be faithful followers of our crucified and risen
Lord, for we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

All: Blessed Lord and Saviour, you proclaimed good news to the poor
and promised relief to those who are heavy laden and are in
bondage, you choose to bear sorrow, want and death for our sake:
Grant to us such a measure of your Spirit that we may follow you
in your self-denial. Help us by your great love to succour the
afflicted, to relieve the needy and destitute to share the burdens of
the heavy laden, to support and strengthen all who are poor and
desolate; we humbly offer this prayer. Amen.
Offertory & Offertory Prayer

An Act of Commitment (All Standing)

Leader: Bless us, 0 Lord, with the vision of your Being and beauty,
that with the power of your spirit and in the joy of your
 strength we may lay our trust on you and acknowledge you
to be our Lord and Saviour.
People: I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Leader: Enrich and purify, 0 Lord, our lives and deepen in us our
discipleship. Make us humble, brave and loving to carry your cross
and to be faithful witnesses to your loving and saving grace.
People: I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Leader: Set our hearts, 0 Lord, at liberty from the service of ourselves, and
let it be our eat and drink to do your will. Help us to realise that
doing your will alone is perfect freedom and strength.
People: I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Leader: Grant unto us, 0 Lord, a desire to serve our fellow human persons
who are in distress. May we be your instruments, true and upright
in judgment, daring to set wrongs at right, willing to suffer and to
be ignored in that task.
People: I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father in heaven, holy be your name. Your kingdom come; your will
be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and
forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us; and lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, the
power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen

Closing Hymn: 378 – What Can Wash Away My Sin

1. What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

O precious is the flow

that makes me white as snow;
no other fount I know;
nothing but the blood of Jesus.

2. For my pardon this I see:

nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my cleansing this my plea:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
 3. Nothing can for sin atone:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Naught of good that I have done:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.

4. This is all my hope and peace:

nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is all my righteousness:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Benediction:
May the grace of the Word of life rest upon you;
the love of the Source of life embrace you;
and the transforming power of the Breath of life
help, strengthen and surprise you, this day and all your
days. Amen.