John 4:1-42, Psalm 42:1-3

Narrative Lectionary, Year 4
Jan. 30, 2022
John 4:1-42, Psalm 42:1-3

Opening Prayer
Read Psalm 42:1-3

Let us pray:
In times of distress and trouble, Lord, when we wonder about where you are in the difficulties, we know that you are offering a drink that quenches all thirst.  The drink of eternal life.  We come to your well today to drink of this water that we may know that even if this life is hard, we can find joy in your kingdom
Amen.

Prayer of Preparation
Christ Jesus, we approach with worship the Father in spirit and truth that we may know more of your Spirit and your Truth.  Teach us with your words flowing down like living water into the depths of our spirits.  Amen.

Intercessory Prayer
Lord Jesus, you are more than a prophet, you are our God.  Many are coming to the well looking for that which can quench their thirst.  They hope that they will find something that will soothe their pain and suffering.   They hope that they will find something to end the abuse and oppression.  They hope that they can find something to heal their bodies and minds.  They hope that they will find something that will give them power, wealth, and respect.  They hope that they will find something to dispel the hurts of their lives.  They hope that they will find something to cure the problems in their relationships.  You have said you are the provider of the drink that will quench thirst forever and cause the fountain of eternal life to spring forth.  We need to drink of this water and those for whom we pray need to drink of it.  Lord give us this water.  We recognize you as the one who has covenanted with the church and we come to you forever more to receive of this gift.  We pray it in your name with one voice…Our Father…Amen

Communion
Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him,
  who earnestly repent of their sin
  and therefore seek to live in peace with one another.
Therefore, let us confess our sin before God and one another.

O Lord God,
There are times in our lives when we have failed to see you as the provider of the water that quenches all thirst.
We have looked to other sources.
We have tried to quench our own thirst.
And in our attempts to do so, looking to ourselves as the authority of all things
We have failed to follow your example in the ways that we love others
Our relationships with those dearest to us have been harmed
We have made a bad name for your church
And we have presented a poor witness
As we drink now from your cup, let these sins and the ones we confess in silence be forgiven

Silence

Amen

Hear the good news:
  Christ offered us water that quenches all thirst and food that is the will of God
  He drank of the cup that takes away our sin
  dying for us while we were yet sinners;
  that proves God’s love toward us.
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
Glory to God. Amen.

As a forgiven and reconciled people, we have offered ourselves and our gifts to God.  And so we give thanks for those gifts we’ve received:

Jesus, you’ve shown us that your covenant is without end for all people and expects nothing in return.  Yet because we love you, we bring our gifts to you and pray that you will use them for your will and that we can show people what your love looks like.  Amen.

We lift up our hearts to you because
It is right, and a good and joyful thing,
  always and everywhere to give thanks to you,
  Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

When you made us and set us in the garden
  we were to care for your earth
   and follow you in a day of rest
    in order to worship.

We failed in this and you gave the law and the prophets to redirect us.
We still failed and you sent among us Jesus so that even when we fail,
   we are forgiven.
And so with your people on earth and all the company of heaven
  we praise your name and join in their unending hymn:

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.

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ.
He gave to us a water that never stops flowing
  the water of life
  poured out for us in His death and resurrection
  in order to make a new covenant with us so that
  we can live forever in the kingdom of God.

On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread,
  gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said
“Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.”

When the supper was over, he took the cup,
  gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:
“Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant,
  poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise in thanksgiving
  as a holy in living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,
  and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,
that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.

By your Spirit, make us one with Christ,
  one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world,
until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet.

Through your Son Jesus Christ, with your Holy Spirit in your holy Church,
  all honor and glory is yours almighty Father God, now and forever.

Amen.

This is the body of Christ, broken for you – Take and eat. Amen.

This is the blood of Christ, poured out for the forgiveness of sins – Take and drink. Amen.

Benediction
Continue to come to the fountain of water that Jesus offers
Drink deeply from the grace of the Father
Drink deeply from the love of the Son
Drink deeply in the unity of the Spirit