This service is for use in a single home or with a cluster of homes gathered by means of the internet. A PDF download of this text is available below.

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Monday

Prayer

Almighty God, you are strong and merciful.
By the suffering and death of your Son,
free us from slavery to sin and death.
Protect us in all our weakness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

First Reading: Isaiah 42:1-9

(Common English Bible)

But here is my servant, the one I uphold;
my chosen, who brings me delight.
I’ve put my spirit upon him;
he will bring justice to the nations.
He won’t cry out or shout aloud
or make his voice heard in public.
He won’t break a bruised reed;
he won’t extinguish a faint wick,
but he will surely bring justice.
He won’t be extinguished or broken
until he has established justice in the land.
The coastlands await his teaching.
God the Lord says—
the one who created the heavens,
the one who stretched them out,
the one who spread out the earth and its offspring,
the one who gave breath to its people
and life to those who walk on it—
I, the Lord, have called you for a good reason.
I will grasp your hand and guard you,
and give you as a covenant to the people,
as a light to the nations,
to open blind eyes, to lead the prisoners from prison,
and those who sit in darkness from the dungeon.
I am the Lord;
that is my name;
I don’t hand out my glory to others
or my praise to idols.
The things announced in the past—look—they’ve already happened,
but I’m declaring new things.
Before they even appear,
I tell you about them.

Responsory

Now is the acceptable time.
Now is the time of salvation.

Let us prove ourselves in patience
     in the power of the Lord.
     Now is the acceptable time.
     Now is the time of salvation.         

Let us live as God’s servants,
     watching in the word of truth,
in the power of redeeming love.
     Now is the season of hope.

Now is the acceptable time.
     Now is the time of salvation.

Gospel: John 12:1-11

(Common English Bible)

Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, home of Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Lazarus and his sisters hosted a dinner for him. Martha served and Lazarus was among those who joined him at the table. Then Mary took an extraordinary amount, almost three-quarters of a pound, of very expensive perfume made of pure nard. She anointed Jesus’ feet with it, then wiped his feet dry with her hair. The house was filled with the aroma of the perfume. Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), complained, “This perfume was worth a year’s wages! Why wasn’t it sold and the money given to the poor?” ( He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He carried the money bag and would take what was in it.)

Then Jesus said, “Leave her alone. This perfume was to be used in preparation for my burial, and this is how she has used it. You will always have the poor among you, but you won’t always have me.”

Many Jews learned that he was there. They came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. The chief priests decided that they would kill Lazarus too. It was because of Lazarus that many of the Jews had deserted them and come to believe in Jesus.

Reflect

(silently or share in a group): In hearing or reading the Scripture lessons from Isaiah and John, did you find yourself focusing on a particular word or image? What is that word or image? What meaning does it have for you?

Prayers for Others based on the Lord’s Prayer

(Ecumenical Text)

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Hear our prayers of thanksgiving and praise . . . .     

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Hear our prayers for peace in the world . . . .

Give us today our daily bread.
Hear our prayers for the poor and the needy . . . .

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Hear our prayers for reconciliation with our neighbors . . . .

Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
Hear our prayers for those who suffer because of the spread of the Covid-19 virus . . . .

For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

Sing

“Amazing Grace” (The United Methodist Hymnal #378)

To hear the song, use the link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG0vH4WYChQ

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come;
’tis grace hath brought me save thus far, and grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me, his word my hope secures;
he will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil, a life of joy and peace.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun,
we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’d first begun.

To learn more about this hymn, see https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-amazing-grace-part-i

The Responsory is adapted from Hoyt L. Hickman, et. al., The Handbook of the Christian Year (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1986), p. 153.

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Tuesday

Prayer

God of strength and mercy,
by the suffering of your Son
     you made the cross to be for us
     the means of life.

Grant that we may walk the way of the cross,
     and find it the way of our life and peace;
     through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Psalm 71:1-12

(New Revised Standard Version)

In you, O Lord, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
incline your ear to me and save me.
Be to me a rock of refuge,
a strong fortress, to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of the unjust and cruel.
For you, O Lord, are my hope,
my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
Upon you I have leaned from my birth;
it was you who took me from my mother’s womb.
My praise is continually of you.
I have been like a portent to many,
but you are my strong refuge.
My mouth is filled with your praise,
and with your glory all day long.
Do not cast me off in the time of old age;
do not forsake me when my strength is spent.
For my enemies speak concerning me,
and those who watch for my life consult together.
They say, “Pursue and seize that person whom God has forsaken,
for there is no one to deliver.”
O God, do not be far from me;
O my God, make haste to help me!

Responsory

Let us glory in the cross of Jesus Christ.
Through him we have salvation, life, and resurrection.
Cross of Christ, tree of hope.
For us he became obedient even to death on a cross;
because of this God exalted him above every name.
Cross of Christ, tree of hope.

Gospel: John 12:20-36

(Common English Bible)

Some Greeks were among those who had come up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and made a request: “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” Philip told Andrew, and Andrew and Philip told Jesus.

Jesus replied, “The time has come for the Human One to be glorified. I assure you that unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it can only be a single seed. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their lives will lose them, and those who hate their lives in this world will keep them forever. Whoever serves me must follow me. Wherever I am, there my servant will also be. My Father will honor whoever serves me.

“Now I am deeply troubled. What should I say? ‘Father, save me from this time’? No, for this is the reason I have come to this time. Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”

The crowd standing there heard and said, “It’s thunder.” Others said, “An angel spoke to him.”

Jesus replied, “This voice wasn’t for my benefit but for yours. Now is the time for judgment of this world. Now this world’s ruler will be thrown out. When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me.” ( He said this to show how he was going to die.)

The crowd responded, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Human One must be lifted up? Who is this Human One?”

Jesus replied, “The light is with you for only a little while. Walk while you have the light so that darkness doesn’t overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness don’t know where they are going. As long as you have the light, believe in the light so that you might become people whose lives are determined by the light.” After Jesus said these things, he went away and hid from them.

Reflect

(silently or share in a group): What does it mean to you that Jesus is the light? How do you understand yourself to be a child of the light?

Prayers for Others based on the Lord’s Prayer

(Ecumenical Text)

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Hear our prayers of praise and adoration . . . .          

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Hear our prayers for our country, our town, our neighborhood . . . .

Give us today our daily bread.
Hear our prayers for those who are out of work . . . .

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Hear our prayers for reconciliation with family members . . . .

Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
Hear our prayers for those who suffer because of the spread of the Covid-19 virus . . . .

For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

Sing

“This Little Light of Mine” (The United Methodist Hymnal #585)

To hear the song, use this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2kDsqGeoLU; https://hymnary.org/text/this_little_light_of_mine_im_gonna_let

This little light of mine, I’m goin’-a let it shine,
     this little light of mine, I’m goin’-a let it shine;
     this little light of mine, I’m goin’-a let it shine,
     let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Everywhere I go, I’m goin’-a let it shine . . .

All through the night, I’m goin’-a let it shine . . .

(Improvise other verses!)

The Responsory is adapted from Hoyt L. Hickman, et. al., The Handbook of the Christian Year (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1986), p. 156.

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Wednesday

Prayer

Most merciful God, your Son, our Savior,
was betrayed, whipped, and his face spat upon.
Grant us grace to endure the sufferings of the present time,
confident of the glory that shall yet be revealed;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9a

(Common English Bible)

The Lord God gave me an educated tongue
to know how to respond to the weary
with a word that will awaken them in the morning.
God awakens my ear in the morning to listen,
as educated people do.
The Lord God opened my ear;
I didn’t rebel; I didn’t turn my back.
Instead, I gave my body to attackers,
and my cheeks to beard pluckers.
I didn’t hide my face from insults and spitting.
The Lord God will help me;
therefore, I haven’t been insulted.
Therefore, I set my face like flint,
and knew I wouldn’t be ashamed.
The one who will declare me innocent is near.
Who will argue with me?
Let’s stand up together.
Who will bring judgment against me?
Let him approach me.
Look! The Lord God will help me.
Who will condemn me?
Look, they will wear out like clothing;
the moth will eat them.
 

Responsory

(based on Hebrews 12:1-3)

Do not grow weary or lose heart.
Do not grow weary or lose heart.
We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses!
Do not grow weary or lose heart.
Let us run the race that is set before us!
Do not grow weary or lose heart.
Let us look to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith!
Do not grow weary or lose heart.
Let us look to Jesus who reigns in power!
Do not grow weary or lose heart.
      

 

Gospel: John 13:21-30

(Common English Bible)

After he said these things, Jesus was deeply disturbed and testified, “I assure you, one of you will betray me.”

His disciples looked at each other, confused about which of them he was talking about. One of the disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was at Jesus’ side. Simon Peter nodded at him to get him to ask Jesus who he was talking about. Leaning back toward Jesus, this disciple asked, “Lord, who is it?”

Jesus answered, “It’s the one to whom I will give this piece of bread once I have dipped into the bowl.” Then he dipped the piece of bread and gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son. After Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” No one sitting at the table understood why Jesus said this to him. Some thought that, since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus told him, “Go, buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. So when Judas took the bread, he left immediately. And it was night.

Reflect

(silently or share in a group): What is the race you are running? How does God support you in that race? How do you understand Jesus to be the pioneer and perfecter of your faith?                              

Prayers for Others based on the Lord’s Prayer

(Ecumenical Text)

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Hear our prayers of gratitude for your mercy and love . . . . 

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Hear our prayers for your coming reign of peace . . . .

Give us today our daily bread.
Hear our prayers for the homeless and those with minimal shelter . . . .

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Hear our prayers for reconciliation with those who have wronged us . . . .

Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
Hear our prayers for those who suffer because of the spread of the Covid-19 virus . . . .

For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

Sing

“Guide My Feet” (The Faith We Sing #2208)

To hear the song, use the link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-WVIppNBls

 Guide my feet while I run this race,
     guide my feet while I run this race,
     guide my feet while I run this race,
for I don’t want to run this race in vain!

Hold my hand . . .

Stand by me . . .

I’m your child . . .

Search my heart . . .

Guide my feet . . .