the Collect, Readings and Prayers for the Second Sunday of Lent

The Collect

Almighty God,

you show to those who are in error the light of your truth,

that they may return to the way of righteousness:

grant to all those who are admitted

into the fellowship of Christ’s religion,

that they may reject those things

that are contrary to their profession,

and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same;

through our Lord Jesus Christ,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever..

readings

Genesis 12:1-4a

The call of Abram

12 Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that i will show you. ² I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. ³ I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’

⁴ So Abram went, as the lord had told him; and Lot went with him.

The Epistle

Romans 4:1-5, 13-17.

The Example of Abraham

4 What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? ² For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. ³ For what does the scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.’ ⁴ Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. ⁵ But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.

God’s Promise Realized through Faith

¹³ For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. ¹⁴ If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. ¹⁵ For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation.

¹⁶ For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, ¹⁷ as it is written, ‘I have made you the father of many nations’)—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

The Gospel                                                                                                   

John 3: 1-17                                                                                

Nicodemus Visits Jesus

3 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. ² He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ ³ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ ⁴ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ ⁵ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. ⁶ What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” ⁸ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ ⁹ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ ¹⁰ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

¹¹ ‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. ¹² If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? ¹³ No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. ¹⁴ And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

¹⁶ ‘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.

¹⁷ ‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Prayers

If only we will agree to put our faith in God, he will fill our lives with meaning and bring us safely to heaven.  Confident that God knows and loves each of us, and understands our situation, let us pray.

• Deliver us, O Lord, from a deceitful heart. Forgive, we pray, the barbed word deliberately spoken; the thoughtless word hastily said and the envious look furtively cast. Forgive the ear rejoicing in the news of another's downfall; the feet loitering in forbidden paths and the grasping hand reaching out for personal gain; and all for the sake of Christ our Lord. Amen John Baillie, 1886-1960.

• Behold Lord, an empty vessel that needs to be filled. My Lord, fill it. I am weak in the faith; strengthen me. I am cold in love; warm me and make me fervent that my love may go out to my neighbour. I do not have a strong and firm faith; at times I doubt and am unable to trust you altogether. O Lord, help me. Strengthen my faith and trust in you. In you I have sealed the treasures of all I have. I am poor; you are rich and came to be merciful to the poor. I am a sinner; you are upright. With me there is an abundance of sin; in you is the fullness of righteousness. Therefore, I will remain with you, of whom I can receive, but to whom I may not give. Amen. Martin Luther

• God of Love and Mercy, we turn to you as we continue our journey through Lent.    During these 40 days, we ask you to search our souls, create in us a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within us.  Help us to heed Christ's call for a spiritual rebirth; enable us as you claim our lives and call us into a new land of your promise. God of Promise and Grace, fulfil your promises to us as we put our trust in you as Abraham and Sarah did.  Lord, we turn to you because you are our light and salvation. Keep us in your arms, bless us, and lead us by your mighty hand.  Amen.

• Lord you walked on earth and told men to look around them to find God And men saw the beauty and wonders of earth and sky, of flower of field. When we look around we often see factories, offices, houses, cars and traffic and it is easy to forget that the world belongs to God, help us to recognise Gods presence in our modern world, in the wonders of science, in discoveries man has made, in finding and using the resources of the earth. We pray that we may be careful stewards of all your bounteous gifts to us and that we may never cease to marvel in the wonder and mystery of your creation. Amen

• Lord we acknowledge with shame and sorrow all the sin, hatred and injustice which have led and still lead to violence and war. We pray for the situation in Ukraine, Gaza, Iran, Sudan, the Congo and other places in the world where tensions are high, and the peace that is your will seems so far away, we pray that nations and people everywhere may turn to you the Prince of Peace so that war and terror, cruelty and hatred may end and peace and justice, kindness and love may reign. Amen
   

• We pray for those who hunger. Those who hunger for food and water. Those who hunger for an end to corrupt practices which hamper the delivery of aid and care for those in need. Those who hunger for a safe place to stay, education for their children and basic medical supplies. Amen

• Lord we pray for and give you thanks for our community our neighbours, friends and for the people around us with whom we work and share our daily lives. We pray for those who are old and lonely, those isolated because of ill-health, and those who find it difficult to be accepted. We pray too for several people within the area covered by the Woodfield Team who are suffering from severe illnesses, some of a terminal nature – grant them courage in the face of adversity and hope in the knowledge of your love for them in this world and the next, and fill them with your peace. Show us all what we can do to help those around us and teach us to be good neighbours and true friends. Amen

• As the goalposts in respect of the future of the churches in the Woodfield Team change once again, since a reconfiguration of the boundaries of the Minster Community in which we were to find our home is under consideration, we pray that we may discern your will Lord. Show us the correct path to follow which will best enable us to bring the Good News to the people around us and to show them how much you love them. Amen

• Lord God, you so loved the world that you gave your only Son so that we might have eternal life. Now we ask that you would help us in our daily lives to live for you in everything that we do, and not to be ashamed. Let our lives reflect the same mercy and goodness that you have first shown to us. Amen

• God of Love, God of Peace
  This fractured word
  Cries out in pain
  Burns deep into my soul
  And challenges me
  To make a difference
  God of Love, God of Peace
  God of this world
  Scarred by grief and tears
  Ignorance and fear
  Soften hearts of stone
  And begin with mine
  God of Love, God of Peace
  Create within me
  A heart for people
  A desire for change
  For new beginnings
  To start this day  Amen