Lent 1

Color: Purple
Closest RCL Sunday(s): Lent 5A
Readings: Psalm Text: Psalm 104:27-30 | Sermon Text: John 11:1-44 (Jesus Raises Lazarus)
Epistle Suggestion: Romans 8:6-11
Prayer of the Day (WP): God of new life, as Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, renew and restore us to new life, leaving in the grave all that prevents us from loving you fully. Amen.

Suggested hymns based on the Sermon text:

ELW #389. Christ Is Alive! Let Christians Sing
ELW #320. The Glory of These Forty Days
ELW #564. God, Who Made the Earth and Heaven
ELW #574. Here I Am, Lord
ELW #485. I Am the Bread of Life
ELW #699. In Deepest Night
ELW #696. Jesus Calls Us; o’er the Tumult
ELW #333. Jesus Is a Rock in a Weary Land
ELW #802. Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus
ELW #379. Now the Green Blade Rises
ELW #886. Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
ELW #601. Savior, When in Dust to You
ELW #871. Sing Praise to God, the Highest Good
ELW #608. Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling
ELW #511. Thy Strong Word Did Cleave the Darkness
ELW #334. Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery
ELW #617. We Come to You for Healing, Lord
ELW #742. What a Friend We Have in Jesus
ELW #506. The Word of God is Source and Seed
ELW #758. You Are the Way
LBW #488. Breathe on Me, Breath of God
LBW #431. Your Hand, O Lord, in Days of Old
Various Hymnals O Christ, Who Shared Our Mortal Life
Various Hymnals Lord of the Dance
Various Hymnals When Jesus Wept
(ELW=Evangelical Lutheran Worship;  LBW=Lutheran Book of Worship; WOV=With One Voice)

Suggested hymns based on the companion text(s):

ELW #879. For the Beauty of the Earth
ELW #733. Great Is Thy Faithfulness
ELW #856. How Great Thou Art
ELW #834. Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
ELW #836. Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
ELW #837. Many and Great, O God (Wakantanka taku nitawa)
ELW #694. Sing to the Lord of Harvest
ELW #842. Oh, Worship the King
ELW #778. The Lord’s My Shepherd
ELW #824. This Is My Father’s World
LBW #505. Forth in Thy Name, O Lord, I Go
WOV #681. Come, O Holy Spirit, Come
WOV #682. Praise the Spirit in Creation
Various Hymnals Benedic Anima Mea
Various Hymnals I Sing the Mighty Power of God
Various Hymnals On the Beach,the Waves of Waters
(ELW=Evangelical Lutheran Worship; LBW=Lutheran Book of Worship; WOV=With One Voice)

Other (mostly contemporary) options based on both:

“Amazing Love” By Graham Kendrick.
“Broken” By Michael Himes.
“This Dust” By Kip Fox.
More contemporary suggestions here.

Prayers of Intercession:

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

Beloved friends, in this season of repentance and healing, we accept God’s invitation to be ever-mindful of the needs of others, offering our prayers on behalf of God’s community in the church and the world.

A brief silence.

Breathe life into the church, O Lord; inspiring us to works of freeing those oppressed by sin and death. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Wake the sleeping earth from slumber, O Lord; and provide your sustaining life to plants and animals. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Unbind the oppressed, O Lord; and move our leaders to acts of justice and freedom. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Comfort the grieving, O Lord; and work through us to better proclaim your care for all experiencing loss. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Restore all who suffer, O Lord; to health and wholeness in you. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Here other intercessions may be offered.

Bless all the saints, O Lord; and strengthen our faith in the resurrection hope we have in you. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Fill us with your strength to resist the seductions of our foolish desires and the tempter’s vain delights, that we may walk in obedience and righteousness, rejoicing in you with an upright heart. Amen.