Here’s an opening prayer based on Exodus 20: 1-17, one of the suggested scripture readings for the third Sunday of Lent, Year B (2012). It was written by Moira Laidlaw.
Prayer of Approach
(based on Exodus 20: 1-17)
We acknowledge you, O God, as creator and as liberator.
You are the One who brought the captives out of Egypt
and delivered them from the oppression of slavery.
You gave laws which shaped how people were to relate to you,
to each other and to the whole environment.
You implored people to worship only you,
knowing that whatever was put in your place
would become the object of idolatry—
would become the priority of people's lives.
In this time of worship, help us to focus on you, O God,
as the priority of our lives.
Remind us of your steadfast love
revealed so clearly in the new commandment of love
which Jesus disclosed with his life and,
as we especially remember in this period of Lent, with his death.
Speak to us anew as we offer this prayer and our worship
in Jesus' name and for his sake. Amen.
— written by Moira Laidlaw, and posted on Liturgies Online.
For more worship resources for March 11, 2012 (the third Sunday of Lent), click on Lent 3 B in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page. For more prayer resources on this blog, see the Scriptural Index of Prayers at the upper right side of the page.
