Lectionary 16

Color: Green
Readings: Gospel Text: John 12:24 | Sermon Text: Job 14:7-15; 19:23-27 (Hopeful Longing)
Prayer of the Day: God of our redemption, grant us hope and faith in you even in the midst of pain and suffering. Bring resurrection life into the darkest depths of death and despair. We pray all this in the name of our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Suggested hymns based on the Sermon text:

ELW #846 Amen, We Praise Your Name
ELW #638 Blessed Assurance
ELW #389 Christ Is Alive! Let Christians Sing
ELW #380 Hallelujah! Jesus Lives!
ELW #619 I Know That My Redeemer Lives!
ELW #621 Jesus Lives, My Sure Defense
ELW #624 Jesus, Still Lead On
ELW #435 Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending
ELW #694 Sing to the Lord of Harvest
ELW #391 This Joyful Eastertide
ELW #785 When Peace like a River
OBS #75 Rich in Promise
(ELW=Evangelical Lutheran Worship; OBS=O Blessed Spring)

Suggested hymns based on the Gospel text:

ELW #532 Gather Us In
ELW #737 He Comes to Us as One Unknown
ELW #580 How Clear Is Our Vocation, Lord
ELW #815 I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light
ELW #660 Lift High the Cross
ELW #379 Now the Green Blade Rises
ELW #880 O God beyond All Praising
ELW #810 O Jesus, I Have Promised
ELW #548 Rise, O Church, like Christ Arisen
ELW #667 Take Up Your Cross, the Savior Said
ELW #334 Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery
ELW #803 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
ELW #798 Will You Come and Follow Me (The Summons)
ELW #659 Will You Let Me Be Your Servant
ELW #506 The Word of God is Source and Seed
LBW #324 O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
WOV #785 Weary of All Trumpeting
ASG #19 Let This Season Be
(ELW=Evangelical Lutheran Worship; LBW=Lutheran Book of Worship; WOV=With One Voice; ASG=As Sunshine to a Garden)

Other options based on both:

“Amazing Love” By Graham Kendrick.
“Awesome God” By Rich Mullins.
“This Dust” By Kip Fox.
More contemporary suggestions here.

Prayers of Intercession:

Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.

A brief silence.

God of hope; strengthen the hope of your church that we might proclaim your resurrection life to a world trapped by death. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God of hope; bring healing and wholeness to your creation that the entire earth might proclaim your great providence. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God of hope; bring hope for peace and justice to the nations of the world that all the world may know your mercy. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God of hope; increase our hopefulness and lead us to hopeless places and people that we might bring your promise of steadfast love. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God of hope; heal those in pain (especially,…) that all might know of your care for them. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Here other intercessions may be offered.

God of hope; bless those who died in the hope of resurrection (especially Bartolomé de Las Casas, missionary to the Indies, and …) that the witness of their faith may strengthen our own. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.