Here is the text from which we named the whole season: The image of Christ who wants to gather us up, to protect us, to redeem us. There should be a sense of grace abounding as we worship today. From the beginning of worship, from the gathering of the community, there should be a sense of acceptance and love. Even during the confession, we come forward not in fear of the God who calls us to account, but in joy of the one who will set our feet on right paths. We gather to know we are loved, and we leave to proclaim that good news with our every breath.

Call to Worship for First Sunday in Lent

Ashes have been smeared and sins have been confessed…
We follow our faithful Lord.
These times, they are troubling. This journey, it is hard…
We follow our faithful Lord.
It is God who sustains, not the temptations of this world…
We follow our faithful Lord.
In the Lord is our trust, our protection from harm…
We follow our faithful Lord.
Come, let us worship the One whom we serve…
We follow our faithful Lord.

Written by Stephen Fearing, and posted on Wild and Precious Life, http://www.stephenmfearing.com. Reposted: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2014/02/call-to-worship-for-first-sunday-in-lent.html.

Prayer of Confession and Assurance of Pardon

LEADER: O God, whose loving knows no ending, still you long to gather us under your wings. For the words of hatred we have spoken and the words of love we have withheld:

PEOPLE: O God, forgive us and gather us under your wings of mercy.

LEADER: For the walls we have built up and the barriers we have refused to take down,

PEOPLE: O God, forgive us and gather us under your wings of mercy.

LEADER: For the greed that makes us frantic and the gifts we pass by without seeing,

PEOPLE: O God, forgive us and gather us under your wings of mercy.

LEADER: For what we have done and for what we have left undone,

PEOPLE: O God, forgive us and gather us under your wings of mercy.

LEADER: Sisters and brothers, God’s promise of mercy is sure: you are forgiven and loved as you are. Come now and rest under God’s sheltering wings and know that you are home.

(All sing together the refrain of the hymn, “Softly and Tenderly, Jesus Is Calling,” United Methodist Hymnal, 348)

Prayer

Jesus, as a mother you gather your people to you;
You are gentle with us as a mother with her children;
Often you weep over our sins and our pride;
tenderly you draw us from hatred and judgement.
You comfort us in sorrow and bind up our wounds;
in sickness you nurse us,
and with pure milk you feed us.
Jesus, by your dying, we are born to new life;
By your anguish and labour, we come forth in joy.
Despair turns to hope through your sweet goodness;
through your gentleness, we find comfort in fear.
Your warmth gives life to the dead;
your touch makes sinners righteous.
Lord Jesus, in your mercy, heal us;
in your love and tenderness, remake us.
In your compassion, bring grace and forgiveness;
for the beauty of heaven, may your love prepare us.

Written by St. Anselm (1033-1109). Posted: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2013/02/prayer-as-mother.html.

Benediction

Like an eagle lifting up her weary children, God will carry you.
Like a mother hen gathering her brood, Jesus Christ will shelter you.
“Like the murmur of the dove’s song,” the Holy Spirit will dwell with you.
Do not be afraid. Go forth in God’s peace. Amen.

Barbara K. Lunblad, “Second Sunday in Lent,” in The Abingdon Women’s Preaching Annual, Series 2, Year C, Compiled and Edited by Leonora Tubbs Tisdale (Abingdon, 2000), 69.