Lent 1 (NL Year 3)

Color: Purple
Closest RCL Sunday(s): Proper 10C (15C)
Readings: Psalm: Psalm 15 | Sermon Text: Luke 10:25-42 (The Good Samaritan)
OT Suggestion: Deuteronomy 30:9-14
Prayer of the Day (WorkingPreacher): Compassionate God, how easily you love those who look unlovable to us! How readily you welcome undesirables into your home! How slow we are to follow your example. Turn our hearts toward all who are considered outcast, shunned, and unclean so that we may love our neighbor without pity or apathy, for the sake of the one who became flesh to cleanse the world of sin and death forever, Jesus Christ our redeemer. Amen.

Suggested hymns based on the Sermon text:

ELW #729 The Church of Christ, in Every Age
ELW #520 Dearest Jesus, at Your Word
ELW #402 Eternal Spirit of the Living Christ
ELW #679 For the Fruit of All Creation
ELW #714 O God of Mercy, God of Light
ELW #708 Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love
ELW #696 Jesus Calls Us; o’er the Tumult
ELW #599 Lord Jesus, Think on Me
ELW #295 Of the Father’s Love Begotten
ELW #789 Savior, like a Shepherd Lead Us
ELW #800 Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart
ELW #742 What a Friend We Have in Jesus
ELW #725 When the Poor Ones
ELW #359 Where Charity and Love Prevail
ELW #719 Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life
LBW #435 O God, Whose Will Is Life and Good
LBW #502 Thee Will I Love, My Strength
WOV #783 Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God
Various Hymnals The Good Samaritan
Various Hymnals Help Somebody Today
Various Hymnals They Asked, “Who’s My Neighbor?”
(ELW=Evangelical Lutheran Worship; LBW=Lutheran Book of Worship; WOV=With One Voice)

Suggested hymns based on the Psalm:

Various Hymnals Blest are the Pure in Heart
Various Hymnals Who, O Lord, When Life is O’er
Various Hymnals Who Shall Inhabit in Thy Hill?

Other options based on both:

“Compassion Hymn” By Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, et al.
“Love the Lord” By Lincoln Brewster.
“Unashamed” By Doug McKelvey, Jon Neufeld, et al.
More contemporary suggestions here.

Prayers of Intercession (Introduction and Conclusion from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, copyright © 2002 ):

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.

A brief silence.

God of love, open the eyes and hearts of your church; that we may see our neighbors around us and serve their needs. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord of the cosmos, sustain your creation and bless its winter rest; may we work towards the renewal of lands and seas. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God of justice, provide wisdom to all leaders of the world; that those overlooked and avoided may experience healing and care. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God of the lost, extend the knowledge of your grace to all people; that the peace you provide may settle into the hearts and minds of all. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God of the suffering, be with all in pain (especially,…); strengthen us to be good neighbors to all in need of healing and comfort. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Here other intercessions may be offered.

God of Mary and Martha, you have provided us with examples of service and hospitality as well as examples of quiet and listening; draw us to your feet that we may experience the better part that can never be taken from us. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

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 shalom to fulfillment. Amen.