Lent

Lent is the time of preparation for Easter when we focus on penitence, reflection and spiritual growth. Around the tenth century Lent came to be linked with Christ’s forty days in the wilderness. Therefore it is a time when a renewal of commitment and simple worship are appropriate.

Opening Sentence (Psalm 51:17)

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, you God, will not despise.

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

We have come together in the name of Christ
to offer our praise and thanksgiving,
to hear and receive God’s holy word,
to pray for the needs of the world,
and to seek the forgiveness of our sins,
that by the power of the Holy Spirit
we may give ourselves to the service of God.

Opening Responses

O Lord, open our lips:
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
O God make speed to save us:
O Lord make haste to help us.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning, is now and shall be for ever. Amen

Prayer of Preparation

Lord, direct our thoughts and teach us to pray.
Lift up our hearts to worship you in spirit and in truth
through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen

Confession

Compassion and forgiveness belong to the Lord our God, though we have rebelled against him.

Silence is kept.

Let us admit to God the sin which always confronts us:

Lord God
we have sinned against you;
we have done evil in your sight.
We are sorry and repent.
Have mercy on us according to your love.
Wash away our wrongdoing
and cleanse us from our sin.
Renew a right spirit within us
and restore to us the joy of your salvation
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

May almighty God,
who sent his Son into the world to save sinners,
bring us his pardon and peace, now and for ever.
Amen.

Collect                      

Almighty and everlasting God
you hate nothing that you have made
and forgive the sins of those who are penitent;
create and make in us new and contrite hearts,
that we, worthily lamenting our sins
and acknowledging our wretchedness
may receive from you, the God of all mercy
perfect remission and forgiveness
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord
who is alive and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

First Reading

Gospel Reading

Address

Affirmation of Faith

Let us affirm our faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God.

Though he was divine
he did not cling to equality with God
but made himself nothing.
Taking the form of a slave
he was born in human likeness.
He humbled himself
and was obedient to death
even the death of the cross.
Therefore God has raised him on high
and given him the name above every name:
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow
and every voice proclaim
that Jesus Christ is Lord
to the glory of God the Father
Amen.

Prayers

Let us pray in the quiet for our own needs and for the needs of the world:

Lord, meet us in the quiet.
And hear our prayer.

• For the world (for peace, for all leaders, for those suffering or in need)
• For the church (for our bishops, clergy, the diocese, local churches)
• For our community (for leaders, groups, and those in need or distress)
• For our friends and family (for those we love and those no longer with us)
• For ourselves (we give thanks and we ask for help and guidance)

Let us gather our prayers together:

Remind us often Lord
when we are feeling proud, arrogant, beyond reproach,
pleased with ourselves and self-sufficient in our ways,
that for such as us you walked a road
that took you to a cruel cross,
and rose again to show us
where we might look for rescue.
Amen.

We sum up our prayers in the words that Jesus taught his disciples:

Our Father in heaven
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come
your will be done
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.

The Peace

The peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

The Eucharistic Prayer

The Lord is here
His spirit is with us

Lift up your hearts
We lift them to the Lord

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
It is right to give him thanks and praise

Father, you made the world and love your creation.
You gave your Son Jesus Christ to be our Saviour.
His dying and rising have set us free from sin and death.
And so we gladly thank you,
with saints and angels praising you, and saying:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.

We praise and bless you, loving Father,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord;
and as we obey his command,
send your Holy Spirit,
that broken bread and wine outpoured
may be for us the body and blood of your dear Son.

Dying you destroyed our death,
rising you restored our life:
Lord Jesus, come in glory.

On the night before he died he had supper with his friends
and, taking bread, he praised you.
He broke the bread, gave it to them and said:
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.

When supper was ended he took the cup of wine.
Again he praised you, gave it to them and said:
Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

Great is the mystery of faith.
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again

We break this bread to share in the body of Christ
Though we are many we are one body because we all share in one bread.

Blessing and honour and glory and power
be yours for ever and ever.
Amen.

Dear Friends,
receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ
with faith and thanksgiving.
Remember that he gave himself for you.
Remember that he died for you,
and allow him to feed and nourish
your body, mind, and spirit.

The Distribution

Prayer after Communion

Let us give thanks to God:

Almighty God,
we thank you for feeding us with the
body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ.
Through him we offer you our
souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice.
Send us out in the power of your Spirit
to live and work to your praise and glory.
Amen.

A Song of Humility (Hosea 6: 1-6)

Come, let us return to the Lord who has torn us and will heal us.
God has stricken us and will bind up our wounds.
After two days, he will revive us,
and on the third day will raise us up,
that we may live in his presence.
Let us strive to know the Lord;
his appearing is as sure as the sunrise.
He will come to us like the showers,
like the spring rains that water the earth.
‘O Ephraim, how shall I deal with you?
How shall I deal with you, O Judah?’
Your love for me is like the morning mist,
like the dew that goes early away.
‘Therefore, I have hewn them by the prophets,
and my judgement goes forth as the light.
For loyalty is my desire and not sacrifice,
and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever.
Amen.

Prayer

God of compassion
through your Son Jesus Christ
you have reconciled your people to yourself.
As we follow his example of prayer and fasting
may we obey you with willing hearts
and serve one another in holy love
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Blessing

May Christ give us grace to grow in holiness
to deny ourselves, take up the cross and follow him
and may the blessing of God Almighty
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
be among us and remain with us always.
Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ, Amen.