This opening of worship liturgy originally appeared in "Listening to the Prophets—Lent 3: On Being Cheerful in Lent."
Responsive Reading
Seek the Lord while he may be found;
Call on him while he is near.
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. Let us glory in the cross of Jesus Christ. Through him we have salvation.
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. See if there is any wicked way in me.
Cross of Christ, tree of hope, wisdom of God.
When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all to myself.
Cross of Christ, tree of hope, wisdom of God. We worship and praise you, O Christ; by your cross the world is redeemed.
—from Isaiah 55:6, 1 Corinthians 1, and the Prayer of St. John’s Abbey
Prayer
God of strength and mercy, grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of Jesus Christ our Savior; through whom in the Holy Spirit we pray.
Amen.
—Marvin Hofman © 2003 ReformedWorship.org CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
Revised Common Lectionary
Years A, B, C: Holy Week—Tuesday of Holy Week
Year A: Epiphany—Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Year C: Lent—Third Sunday in Lent
