THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT, YEAR A

2020 - 15 March
2023 - 12 March
2026 - 08 March
2029 - 04 March
2032 - 29 February
2035 - 25 February
2038 - 28 March

Note: For explanations and suggestions on the various resources provided, see the documents 'General notes and resources' and 'Lent season' in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

LITURGY

SENTENCE
See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder for suggestions on using a Sentence.

Since we are justified by faith, 
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 
through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; 
and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.  
(Rom 5:1,2 NRSV)

OR
God has shown us how much he loves us; 
it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!  
(Rom 5:8 TEV)

OR
Jesus said, My food is to do the will of him who sent me 
and to complete his work.  (John 4:34 NRSV)

OR
The hour is coming, and is now here, 
when you will worship the Father in spirit and truth.  
(John 4:23 NRSV)

OR, use one of the standard Lent Sentences in the document 'Lent season', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

OR, use one of the general Sentences in the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)
Traditional
Almighty God, 
look upon the heartfelt desires 
of your humble servants, 
and stretch out your mighty hand 
to defend us against all our enemies; 
through your Son, 
Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who lives and reigns 
with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

OR, modernised traditional
Almighty God, 
look in mercy on our heartfelt desires, 
and stretch out your mighty hand 
to defend us. 
We ask this through your Son, 
Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who lives and reigns 
with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

OR, alternative
(Let us pray for strength in temptation. [silence])
Lord God, our strength, 
the battle of good and evil rages 
within and around us. 
Keep us firm in our faith in your Son, 
and when we fall, 
raise and restore us. 
We ask this through your Son, 
Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who lives and reigns 
with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

OR, new 
(Let us pray that we live repentant lives. [silence])
Holy and merciful God, 
we thank you for giving your Son Jesus 
to die on the cross for us sinners. 
Turn us away from our sins 
and back to a life of trust in you. 
We ask this through Christ our Lord, 
who lives and reigns 
with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

FIRST READING
Exodus 17:1-7 The Israelites put God to the test

PSALM
Psalm 95
Antiphon: 
O that today you would listen to his voice! (Do not harden your hearts.)  
(Ps 95:7c (8a) NRSV)

SECOND READING
Romans 5:l-11 While we were still sinners, Christ died for us

VERSE
Use either the Verse given in the order of service or the following verse.

Jesus said: 'The water that I will give 
will become in you a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.'  
(John 4:14b NRSV alt)

GOSPEL
John 4:5-42 Jesus and the Samaritan woman
(In the first sentence, put 'Jesus' instead of 'he')

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL
This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the living water of eternal life. 
Help us to believe in you 
and to worship God in spirit and in truth. 
Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER
Lord, you have given so much to us. 
Help us to show in our deeds 
the faith you have planted within us. 
Make us ready to serve you and other people 
wth all that we are and all that we have. 
Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Call to prayer
When God gave us the gift of his Holy Spirit in the living waters of baptism, he called us to pray to him as our Father. Let us pray to him in the name of Jesus for the church, the world, and those in need.

The regular response, OR:
Lord, in your mercy,
give us the water of life.

Suggested intercessions
*	for the church, that it may worship in the Spirit and in the truth of Christ
*	for those preparing for baptism or confirmation at Easter
*	for those who thirst for justice
*	for life-giving rain needed for crops
*	for communities throughout the world that do not have access to clean drinking water
*	for those who are divorced and remarried

Concluding prayer
Father, you give your Spirit to those who ask you. Pour out your Spirit on us to refresh us and bring us to life in you. We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

SEASONAL PREFACE
It is indeed right and good, 
Lord God, holy Father, 
that we should at all times and in all places 
give thanks to you, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
He has taken on himself our sin, 
so that we might die to sin 
and live to righteousness. 
And so, with angels and archangels, 
and with all the company of heaven, 
we adore and praise your glorious name:

COMMUNION INVITATION
Every time we eat this bread and drink from this cup 
we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 
(Thanks be to God.)
Come, everything is ready. 

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
For a Lent post-communion prayer, see the document 'Lent season', under 'Prayer after communion', in the 'General and seasonal' folder. Alternatively, use the third prayer of the day (as listed above) at this point. It may be modified as follows.

Lord God, our strength, 
the battle of good and evil rages 
within and around us. 
Through this holy meal, 
strengthen our faith in your Son, 
and when we fall, 
raise and restore us. 
We ask this through your Son, 
Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who lives and reigns 
with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

SEASONAL BLESSING
This seasonal blessing is used together with (ie before) the usual blessing in the order of service.

(May) Christ our crucified Saviour draw you to himself, 
so that you may find in him the assurance of sins forgiven 
and the gift of eternal life; . . . 

DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Christ has reconciled us to God and will save us.
Thanks be to God.  OR  In the name of Christ. Amen.

HYMNS AND SONGS

FOR THE READINGS
Please note:	* =	Modernised version available
	G3, G4 . . . =	Guitar chords available in the Music Package 3, 4 . . . 
	GS =	Guitar chords in the Supplement to LH

First reading: Exodus 17:1-7
LHS
341	Jesus, lead Thou on* G3
347	Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah G6
507	Open now thy gates of beauty* G3
	See also under the gospel below
AT
70	I’ve got peace like a river
483	Is the Lord with us or not
	See also under the gospel
TIS
569	Guide me, O thou great Redeemer

Second reading: Romans 5:1-11
LHS
165	One there is, above all others* G8
323	Blessed are the sons of God* G4
324	Salvation unto us has come* G5
327	Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness* G3
328	By grace I’m saved
331	My hope is built on nothing less* G5
441	With joyful heart your praises bring* G3
447	I will praise Thee, O my God and Father
803	Peace with the Father G7
851	Amazing grace GS
852	God loved the world so that he gave G5
878	Your love surrounds me GS
AT
10	In the house of God
125	Celebration song
130	I am covered over
131	Amazing grace
144	No longer strangers
145	Wondrous love
225	Why do you love me?
345	Nothing but the blood
352	Your love keeps following me
376	Faith, hope and love
TIS
99	God, we praise you, God, we bless you
118	We give immortal praise
129	Amazing grace (how sweet the sound)
139	O love of God, how strong and true
154	Great is your faithfulness, O God my Father
195	Salvation now to us has come
425	Come, Spirit blest, our hearts inspire
466	Peace with the Father, peace with Christ his Son

Gospel: John 4:5-42
LHS
53	Jesus, refuge of the weary* G3
82 (V)	Jesus in thy thirst and pain G5
156	Jesus our Saviour, of true joy the giver*
158	Jesus, lover of my soul
304	Delay not, delay not G7
305	Today Thy mercy calls us* G3
306	I heard the voice of Jesus say G7
317	Jesus sinners doth receive* G5
357	O God, Thou faithful God* G3
475	If we have died
516	O Splendour of God’s glory bright G8
781	As water to the thirsty
869	Like the deer that yearns GS
AT
70	I’ve got peace like a river
137	I heard the voice of Jesus say
206	As the deer pants
226	All is nearness
239	Listen to him
435	Wellsprings
451	Saviour of the world
TIS
208	Jesus has come, and brings joy as our Saviour
211	Jesus, lover of my soul
475	If we have died to ourselves in Jesus (vv 2,5,6,7)
499	Lord Jesus, joy of loving hearts
585	I heard the voice of Jesus say
655	O, let the Son of God enfold you
744	Refresh my heart, Lord

PSALM 95
It is recommended that congregations sing the Venite ('O come, let us sing to the Lord') from the Order of Matins (LHS pp 37, 38).

TIS 52, Let us sing to the God of salvation, and 53, Come, sing praises to the Lord above, are based on Psalm 95. 

The first three verses of the following paraphrase of Psalm 95 are by David Schubert, from the Modern Matins, and the other verses by David Schütz. The song may be sung to the tune in the Modern Matins by Peter Schmidt.

O come, let's sing aloud to God,
and shout for joy to the Rock who saves.
Let's come before him, giving thanks.
With joyful songs let us praise the Lord.

The Lord is great, the King of all.
The depths of earth, the heights of hills,
the sea he made, and all the land:
they all are his, all made by him.

O come, bow down and worship him,
and kneel before the Lord our God.
For he's our maker, we are his;
we are the flock that is led by him.

O that today you'd hear his voice,
and harden not your hearts again,
as on that day at Meribah,
at Massah in the wilderness,

when your ancestors tested me 
although they'd seen the things I'd done.
That generation sickened me,
for forty years I loathed their sight.

Their hearts have always gone astray;
they do not follow in my ways.
Then I was angry and I swore:
'They shall not come into my rest.'

NOTES ON THE READINGS

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Notes on the readings', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

EXODUS 17:1-7: God had shown his marvellous saving hand to the Israelites in their rescue at the Red Sea. He had also miraculously provided food daily with bread (manna) and quail. However, the pattern of grumbling, of unjust criticism of Moses and of God, together with the threat of rebellion, emerged again on this occasion when they reached a location without water. They did not stop even to think whether God was testing them. They rather put God to the test. God's patience was abundantly demonstrated by his order to Moses to strike the rock from which poured out water.

ROMANS 5:1-11: In this reading Paul continues on from the teachings of the previous chapters on 'justification'.  He enlarges now upon its results in the new life of the believer. There is now the experience of peace with God and access to him by his freely given favour (grace). Even suffering produces a positive outcome in terms of endurance, character and hope. All of this new relationship is based not on feeling but on fact. The fact that Christ died not for good people but for sinners establishes assurance of salvation and ensures God's forgiven people the removal of his wrath. A Christian's boasting is indeed only in God.

JOHN 4:5-42: Not only does Jesus travel through a country avoided by Jews because of its mixed religion, but also engages a Samaritan in conversation. And a woman, at that! Though he is fully aware of her sinful lifestyle, he is not deterred from seeking her spiritual wellbeing. He speaks to her of God-pleasing worship ('in spirit and in truth') and receives a repentant and joyful response. He finds an open heart to reveal himself as the Messiah. Not only that, but through this woman a whole village receives two days of productive ministry from the Lord whose mission is to the whole world.

VISUAL

visuals for the READINGS
Pictures or visual symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. For instance, the gospel could be illustrated by a picture like the one in the TEV Bible for John 4:7.

DRAMA

'MEGA DRAMA'
See a drama for the day in Mega Drama  resources (Openbook Publishers), originally included in these worship resources when they were released on disks.

dramatising the READINGS
The readings can be read by more than one person to make the dramatic meaning of the text clearer. For instance, the first reading could be read by four readers: narrator, one of the people, Moses, the Lord; and the gospel could be read by several voices: narrator, Jesus, woman, and one other who may speak the words of the disciples and the Samaritan villagers. 

CHILDREN

'COME AND SEE JESUS'
The Come and See Jesus curriculum published by Openbook Publishers has a wealth of material and ideas that may be adapted for use in worship. Please note that a new edition of this material is now available for the Revised Common Lectionary.

This week's story is 'Jesus talks with a Samaritan woman (John 4:1-42)'. Material for this story may be found in 
Original Edition, Series A, Lent 2
OR
Revised RCL Edition, 3 Lent, year A