Lent 4 Year 2

Color: Purple
Closest RCL Sunday(s): Proper 26(31)B and Proper 27(32)B
Readings: Great Commandment – Mark 12:28-44 (Psalm 89:1-4)
Prayer of the Day (Working Preacher): Lord of love, you have taught us that love is your greatest commandment. Teach us to love as unconditionally as you love us. Amen.
Other Resources: WorkingPreacher, TextWeek, BibleHub, RevGalPals

Suggested hymns based on the texts:

ELW #854. Blessing and Honor
ELW #303. Brightest and Best of the Stars
ELW #645. Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation
ELW #679. For the Fruit of All Creation
ELW #358. Great God, Your Love Has Called Us
ELW #733. Great Is Thy Faithfulness
ELW #311. Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
ELW #612. Healer of Our Every Ill
ELW #661. I Love to Tell the Story
ELW #708. Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love
ELW #822. Oh, Sing to the Lord (Cantad al Señor)
ELW #430. Rejoice, for Christ is King!
ELW #800. Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart
ELW #583. Take My Life, That I May Be
ELW #685. Take My Life, That I May Be
ELW #686. We Give Thee but Thine Own
ELW #725. When the Poor Ones (Cuando el pobre)
ELW #359. Where Charity and Love Prevail
LBW #238. God Has Spoken by His Prophets
LBW #16 I Will Sing the Story of Your Love
LBW #264. When All Your Mercies, O My God
WOV #664. A New Commandment
Various Hymnals Christians, let us love one another (1973) by A. Nigro
Various Hymnals For the Life That You Have Given (1987) by Carl Daw
Various Hymnals Love God with all your soul and strength (1715) by Isaac Watts
Various Hymnals Love the Lord Your God (1991) by Jean & Jim Strathdee
Various Hymnals The Temple Rang with Golden Coins (1993) by Herman Stuempfle
Various Hymnals We Are Your People (1973) by Brian Wren
(ELW=Evangelical Lutheran Worship; LBW=Lutheran Book of Worship)

Other (mostly contemporary) options:

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.

Turn us from ourselves and towards our neighbors, God of love; teach your church how to love like you would have us love. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Help us learn how to better live in harmony with our environment, God of love; bring healing where the earth is damaged. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Grant wisdom and compassion to our leaders, God of love; keep us from over-consumption and injustice. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Bring comfort and peace to those in turmoil, God of love; strengthen the fainthearted and bind up the brokenhearted. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Heal those in any pain (especially,…), God of love; fill them with the knowledge of your presence and care for them. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Bless our community through teachers, parents, foster parents, first responders, and other examples of loving the neighbor, God of love; watch over them and keep them in your care. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Here other intercessions may be offered.

Encourage us through the example of the saints, God of love; sustain us with your love shown throughout the generations. 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.

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