Lectionary resources Lent 1 Year A

Lectionary - Lent 2 - Year A

Genesis 12:1-4a God's call to Abram
Psalm 121 I lift up my eyes to the hills
Romans 4:1-5,13-17 ... it all depends on faith
John 3:1-17 ... born of the Spirit

Suggested Hymns (From Denis Towner. TIS = Together in Song; AHB = Australian Hymn Book; SA = Sing Alleluia)

lesson Hymns for Lent 2, Yr.A TIS AHB SA

A mighty fotress is our God 103 [8]

G A spendthrift lover is the Lord 676

All praise to thee, for thou, O King divine 180

G And can it be, that I should gain? 209 138

hc And now O Father, mindful of the love 519 440

s Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart 547 455

E Begin my tongue, some heavenly theme 116 32

G Breathe on me, breath of God 407 320

G Brother, sister, let me serve you 650 14

s Christ be my leader by night as by day 624 17

G Christ for the world! We sing

G Come now everlasting Spirit 509 429

Dearest Jesus, we are here 480 [404]

E Father whose everlasting love 213 142

O Fill my whole life, O Lord my God 596 515

G Give to our God immortal praise 84 43

Go now in peace 782

G God is love, let heaven adore him 153 93

s God is our strength and refuge 28

E Have faith in God, my heart 619 552

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty 132 65

I the Lord of sea and sky 658

Ps I to the hills will lift my eyes 76 21

O/Ps If we will trust in God to guide us 554 459

I'm not ashamed to own my Lord 562 470

G Immortal Love for ever full 168

E In Christ there is no east or west 459 391

G Jesus calls us! O'er the tumult 589 505

Ps/E Jesus lover of my soul 211 139

Jesus thy blood and righteousness 184

E Jesus thy boundless love to me 462

G Lift high the cross 351 271

Ps Lifting my eyes to the hills 77

G Lord Christ when first you came to men 208

Lord Jesus joy of loving hearts 499 [420]

O Lord you have been our dwelling place 144 76

G Love divine, all loves excelling 217 148

Make me a channel of your peace 607 66

G Morning glory, starlit sky 174

G hc Now let us from this table rise 530 450

G Now to him who loved us, gave us 771 576

O Jesus Christ, may grateful hymns be rising 620 [553]

E O love how deep, how broad, how high 194 6

O/E/G O love that wilt not let me go 602 525

G Of the Father's love begotten 290 215

Ps Our God, our help in ages past 47 46

O Praise to the living God 102 7

Ps Put all your trust in God 555 464

E Salvation unto us has come 195

G Sing praise to the Lord! Praise him in the height 96 [83]

G So God loved the people of the world 241 78

G Spirit divine, attend our prayers 406 377

s Take up your cross, the Saviour said 583 496

O/E The God of Abraham praise 125 53

G The great love of God is revealed in the Son 164 105

G The Son of God proclaim 528 84

G This is a day of new beginnings 653

G To God be the glory, great things he has done 147 85

G bap Wash O God, our sons and daughters 493

O We are your people, Spirit of grace 468 90

G We give immortal praise 118 38

G We know that Christ is raised and dies no more 489

G When Christ was lifted from the earth 248 93

G Where cross the crowded ways of life 608 532

s Who would true valour see 561 467

G Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness 454 382

Your arm, O Lord, in days of old 167

s Your hand, O God, has guided 456 389

Other Possible Hymns

(Numbers refer to The Australian Hymn Book and Sing Alleluia. TIS = Together in Song)

SA 98 (TIS 285) Your coming Lord, to earth in Bethlehem
352 (TIS 437) Blessed Jesus, at your word
491 (TIS 578) How firm a foundation, you people of God [last week]

Sermon summary - | click here for Complete sermon |

Born from above
New life in communion

Jesus said to Nicodemus, Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above. [John 3:3]. There is a deep meaning in this and there is a double meaning. Nicodemus takes it to mean `a second time'; Jesus meant `from above', that is of the Spirit -- a spiritual birth which brings a person into the spiritual realm. [John 3:4-8]. We celebrate this in the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper.

Sharing new life in the spirit at the Lord's table

At the Lord's table we meet in the Spirit, with one another and with God, that in our spirits we may be in communion with God, who is Spirit. What a great and glorious mystery it is! The bread we share is the very bread of heaven. [John 6:33-35,40]. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever... How could this be? The listening Jews [John 6:41-42] and his disciples found it difficult to accept [John 6:60-63,66]. He explained The flesh is useless -- it is the spirit that gives life, so it is through what is beneath the outward sign of the bread that his spirit may commune with our spirits. And it is the life of Christ under the symbol of the wine that is communicated to us. Life was believed to be in the blood [Genesis 9:3-4; Leviticus 17:11,14; Deuteronomy 12:23]. [See also Acts 15:28-29; 1 Corinthians 8 and 10:14 to 11:1.]

The one who was lifted up

Nicodemus was puzzled when Jesus had spoken of people being born of the spirit or born again. Then Jesus claimed authority to speak of heavenly things because he had come from heaven and would return there: the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man [John 3:11-13]. The Son of Man being lifted up [John 3:14-15; compare Numbers 21:9] has a double meaning too: his being raised up to a life with God, and his being lifted up and displayed as a sacrifice on the cross.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. -- John 3:16. Looking on that sign of sacrifice with faith is what makes it possible to begin again with new life from above, life in which we share at his table.

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Order of Service - Lent 2 - Year A

The Gathering of the People of God

CALL TO WORSHIP
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. -- John 3:16
Let us worship God and prepare to receive the food by which we are kept in eternal life.
In the name of Christ. Amen.

HYMN Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness TIS 454 AHB 382

COLLECT FOR PURITY
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAYER OF ADORATION

CONFESSION [In three parts, concluding ...]
Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy. Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.

DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. -- 1 Timothy 1:15
Hear then Christ's word of grace to us: Your sins are forgiven.
Thanks be to God.

DOXOLOGY: (Hymn 576)
Now to him who loved us, gave us
every pledge that love could give,
freely shed his blood to save us,
gave his life that we might live,
be the kingdom, and dominion,
and the glory evermore.

Service of the Word

INTRODUCTION OF THEME:
A word to the children.

FIRST READING Genesis 12:1-4a God's call to Abram [p.13]
PSALM 121 I lift up my eyes to the hills [p.622]
EPISTLE Romans 4:1-5,13-17 ... it all depends of faith [p.1131]

ANTHEM: Do this in remembrance of me

GOSPEL John 3:1-17 ... born of the Spirit [p.1065]

HYMN Have faith in God, my heart TIS 619 AHB 552

SERMON

NICENE CREED:
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God, begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary
and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from
the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped
and glorified, who is spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

OFFERING
SHARING TIME [Notices, Celebrations and requests for intercessions]
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
THE COLLECT FOR THE DAY
O God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
you called our ancestors to a journey of faith;
and in your Son, lifted up on the cross,
you opened for us the path to eternal life.
Grant that, being born again, from above,
of water and the Spirit, we in communion
may joyfully serve you in newness of life
and faithfully walk in your holy ways;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
[Adapted from Uniting in Worship]

The Lord's Supper

THE PEACE

HYMN Your coming Lord, to earth in Bethlehem TIS 285 SA 98

GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Thanks and praise ..... in the eternal hymn: [SA 100c and 100d]

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

We thank you ....

[The great prayer of thanksgiving continues, recalling God's goodness in caring for his people, the life and saving work of our Lord Jesus Christ, how he commanded his disciples to remember him with the bread and the wine, and we pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit on us and what we do.]

THE LORD'S PRAYER [Front of hymn book]
BREAKING THE BREAD
THE LAMB OF GOD Sing Alleluia 100e]
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us. Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us. Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
grant us peace. Grant us peace

COMMUNION
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

The Sending Forth of the People of God

HYMN I'm not ashamed to own my Lord TIS 562 AHB 470
WORD OF MISSION
BLESSING
DISMISSAL
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord:
In the name of Christ. Amen.

| RCL Resources Index |

lesson	Hymns for Lent 2, Yr.A	TIS	AHB	SA
	A mighty fotress is our God	103	[8]
G	A spendthrift lover is the Lord	676
	All praise to thee, for thou, O King divine		180
G	And can it be, that I should gain?	209	138
hc	And now O Father, mindful of the love	519	440
s	Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart	547	455
E	Begin my tongue, some heavenly theme	116	32
G	Breathe on me, breath of God	407	320
G	Brother, sister, let me serve you	650		14
s	Christ be my leader by night as by day	624		17
G	Christ for the world! We sing
G	Come now everlasting Spirit	509	429
	Dearest Jesus, we are here	480	[404]
E	Father whose everlasting love	213	142
O	Fill my whole life, O Lord my God	596	515
G	Give to our God immortal praise	84	43
	Go now in peace	782
G	God is love, let heaven adore him	153	93
s	God is our strength and refuge	28
E	Have faith in God, my heart	619	552
	Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty	132	65
	I the Lord of sea and sky	658
Ps	I to the hills will lift my eyes	76	21
O/Ps	If we will trust in God to guide us	554	459
	I'm not ashamed to own my Lord	562	470
G	Immortal Love for ever full		168
E	In Christ there is no east or west	459	391
G	Jesus calls us! O'er the tumult	589	505
Ps/E	Jesus lover of my soul	211	139
	Jesus thy blood and righteousness		184
E	Jesus thy boundless love to me		462
G	Lift high the cross	351	271
Ps	Lifting my eyes to the hills	77
G	Lord Christ when first you came to men		208
	Lord Jesus joy of loving hearts	499	[420]
O	Lord you have been our dwelling place	144	76
G	Love divine, all loves excelling	217	148
	Make me a channel of your peace	607		66
G	Morning glory, starlit sky	174
G hc	Now let us from this table rise	530	450
G	Now to him who loved us, gave us	771	576
	O Jesus Christ, may grateful hymns be rising	620	[553]
E	O love how deep, how broad, how high	194	6
O/E/G	O love that wilt not let me go	602	525
G	Of the Father's love begotten	290	215
Ps	Our God, our help in ages past	47	46
O	Praise to the living God	102	7
Ps	Put all your trust in God	555	464
E	Salvation unto us has come	195
G	Sing praise to the Lord! Praise him in the height	96	[83]
G	So God loved the people of the world	241		78
G	Spirit divine, attend our prayers	406	377
s	Take up your cross, the Saviour said	583	496
O/E	The God of Abraham praise	125	53
G	The great love of God is revealed in the Son	164	105
G	The Son of God proclaim	528		84
G	This is a day of new beginnings	653
G	To God be the glory, great things he has done	147	85
G bap	Wash O God, our sons and daughters	493
O	We are your people, Spirit of grace	468		90
G	We give immortal praise	118	38
G	We know that Christ is raised and dies no more	489
G	When Christ was lifted from the earth	248		93
G	Where cross the crowded ways of life	608	532
s	Who would true valour see	561	467
G	Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness	454	382
	Your arm, O Lord, in days of old		167
s	Your hand, O God, has guided	456	389