Morning Prayer, Third Sunday in Lent — March 19, 2017

Opening

O Lord, open my lips,
     and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. (Psalm 51:15)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son
     and to the Holy Spirit:
     as it was in the beginning, is now,
     and will be forever. Amen.

Invitatory

The Sun of righteousness will arise with healing in his wings. (Malachi 4:2)
Oh, come, let us worship and praise.

Psalm 95:1-7

Come, let us sing to the Lord:
     let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come before God’s presence with thanksgiving
     and raise a loud shout to the Lord with psalms.
For you, Lord, are a great God,
     and a great ruler above all gods.
Come, let us sing to the Lord:
     let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation.
In your hand are the caverns of the earth;
     the heights of the hills are also yours.
The sea is yours, for you made it;
     and your hands have molded the dry land.
Come, let us sing to the Lord:
     let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation.
Come, let us worship and bow down;
     let us kneel before the Lord our maker.
For the Lord is our God,
and we are the people of God’s pasture
and the sheep of God’s hand.
Come, let us sing to the Lord:
     let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation.

Invitatory

The Sun of righteousness will arise with healing in his wings.
Oh, come, let us worship and praise.

Prayer

Merciful God, the fountain of living water, you quench our thirst and wash away our sin. Give us this water always. Bring us to drink from the well that flows with the beauty of your truth through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Psalm 105:1-5, 37-43

Give thanks to the Lord and call upon God’s name;
    make known the deeds of the Lord among the peoples.
Sing to the Lord, sing praises,
    and speak of all God’s marvelous works.
Glory in God’s holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Search for the strength of the Lord;
    continually seek God’s face.
Remember the marvels God has done,
    the wonders and the judgments of God’s mouth,

You led out your people with silver and gold;
    in all their tribes there was not one that stumbled.
Egypt was glad to see them go,
    because they were afraid of them.
You spread out a cloud for a covering
    and a fire to give light by night.
They asked, and you brought quail,
    and satisfied them with bread from heaven.
You opened the rock, and water flowed,
    so the river ran in the dry places.
For you remembered your holy word
    and Abraham your servant.
So you led forth your people with gladness,
    your chosen with shouts of joy.

God of our salvation, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ you continue to fulfill your covenant promise to redeem the world from slavery and to lead your people into the promised land. Grant us living water from the rock and bread from heaven, that we may survive our desert pilgrimage and praise you forever; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Song  “Daft Punk: we’ve come to far,” Pentatonix
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MteSlpxCpo

Buy it, use it, break it, fix it,
Trash it, change it, mail, upgrade it,
Charge it, point it, zoom it, press it,
Snap it, work it, quick, erase it,
Write it, cut it, paste it, save it,
Load it, check it, quick, rewrite it,
Plug it, play it, burn it, rip it,
Drag and drop it, zip, unzip it,
Lock it, fill it, call it, find it,
View it, code it, jam, unlock it,
Surf it, scroll it, pause it, click it,
Cross it, crack it, switch, update it,
Name it, rate it, tune it, print it,
Scan it, send it, fax, rename it,
Touch it, bring it, pay it, watch it.
Technologic.

One more time
Ah ah ah ah ah
Ah ah ah ah
One more time
Ah ah ah ah ah
Ah ah ah ah

We're like the legend of the phoenix
Our ends with beginnings
What keep the planets spinning
The force of love beginning

We've come to far,
To give up who we are
So let's raise the bar
And our cups to the stars

We're up all night till the sun
We're up all night to get some
We're up all night for good fun
We're up all night to get lucky

We're all up till the sun
We're up all night to get some
We're up all night for good fun
We're up all night to get lucky
We're up all night to get lucky
We're up all night, all night to get,
Up all night to get, get, get lucky

Last night, I had this dream about you
In this dream, I'm dancing right beside you
There's nothing wrong with just a little bit of fun
We were dancing all night long
Oh, I don't know what to do
About this dream and you
I hope this dream comes true

One more time
We're gonna celebrate
Oh yeah, all right
Don't stop the dancing
One more time
We're gonna celebrate

Work it harder, make it better
Do it faster, makes us stronger
More than ever hour after
Our work is never over
Work it harder, make it better
Do it faster, makes us stronger
More than ever hour after
Our work is never over

I'mma work it harder, make it bett-
Do it faster, makes us
More than ever hou-hour after
Ou-our work is never over

Work it harder, make it better
Do it faster, makes us stronger
More than ever hour after
Our work is never over

Television, rules the nation, oh yeah
Television, rules the nation

Music's got me feeling so free
Celebrate and dance so free
One more time
Music's got me feeling so free
We're gonna celebrate
Celebrate and dance so free (celebrate)

Tonight (We've)
Hey, just feelin' (Come to far)
Music's got me feeling the need (To give up who we are)
One more time
Music's got me feeling so free (So let's)
We're gonna celebrate (Raise the bar)
Celebrate and dance (And our cups)
To the stars

We're up all night till the sun
We're up all night to get some
We're up all night for good fun
We're up all night to get lucky
We're up all night till the sun
We're up all night to get some
We're up all night for good fun
We're up for

One more time
We're up all night till the sun
Celebration
Feelings so free
One more time
We're up all night till the sun
Celebration
Music's got me feeling so
Our work is never over

Exodus 17:1-7
Because the thirsty Israelites quarreled with Moses and put the Lord to the test, Moses cried out in desperation to the Lord. The Lord commanded Moses to strike the rock to provide water for the people. The doubt-filled question—”Is the Lord among us or not?”—received a very positive answer.

From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?” So Moses cried out to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” The Lord said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.

Reflection — The Baptized Life

This is the baptized life in Christ Jesus. We make mistakes. We get knocked down. We do dumb things, selfish things. We get hurt. We hurt others. A bringer of Gospel recently reminded us, “we spend money on things we don’t need for stuff we don’t want to please people we don’t like.” We are reduced to commodity. We reduce others to commodity.

But God is faithful. God calls us beloved children. And forms us as a storied community to be God's temple of immeasurable worth (1 Corinthians 3:16). Just as God drew water out of the rock for Moses and the people, and fed the people with manna, God provides abundantly for us. Just as Jesus healed everybody: Jews, Greeks, Samaritans, EVERYBODY alike, Jesus heals us. God delivers us. God becomes bread for us. God washes us. Jesus — God made flesh and dwelling among us, Light of all nations — becomes for us Living Water and Living Bread. God raises us. God frees us to do good for others. God gives us strength to speak truth to power. With love and wisdom and confidence. Always. The ceiling can’t hold us. Praise God. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

"Can't Hold Us,” Pentatonix (originally by Macklemore)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OglS3Q0Zxik

It's so hard when people knock you down
and tell you that you're never gonna get a shot at glory
But that's when you rise to the challenge,
'cause it's your time, your moment, and nothing can stop us now!

PTX, get up! What it is, what it does, what it is, what it isn’t
Looking for a better way to get up out of bed
Instead of getting on the Internet and checking a new hit.
Get up! Fresh out, pimp strut walking, little bit of humble, little bit of cautious
Somewhere between like rocky and Cosby sweatergang nope nope y’all can’t copy
Yup. Bad, moonwalking, this here, is our party, my posse's been on Broadway,
Ha! and we do it, our way.
Grown music, I shed my skin and put my bones
Into everything I record
And yep yep yep yep I’m on
Trust me. On my I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T cause ha,
Chasing dreams since we were 14
With the four track
Bussing halfway cross that city with the backpack,
Fat cat, crushing

Here we go back, this is the moment
Tonight is the night, we'll fight 'til it's over
So we put our hands up
Like the ceiling can’t hold us,
Like the ceiling can’t hold us

Here we go back, this is the moment
Tonight is the night, we'll fight 'til it's over
We put our hands up
Like the ceiling can’t hold us
Like the ceiling can’t hold us

Nah, can I kick it? Thank you. yeah I'm so dang grateful.
I grew up, really wanted gold fronts
But that’s what you get when Texas raised you
Y’all can’t stop me, go hard
Like I got an 808 in my heart beat
And I’m eating at the beat
Like I gave a little speed
To a great white shark on shark week
Oh, raise those hands, this is our party
We came here to live life like nobody was watching
I got my city right behind me
If I fall, they got me
Learn from that failure gain humility keep marching

Here we go back, this is the moment
Tonight is the night, we'll fight 'til it's over
So we put our hands up
Like the ceiling can’t hold us,
Like the ceiling can’t hold us

Pa ra rap pa pa
(Pa pa pa pa)
Pa pa paaa
(Pa pa pa pa)
Pa pa pa pa
(Pa pa pa)
Pa pa pa
(and so we put our hands up)

(Oooh whoa!)
Pa ra rap pa pa
(Pa pa pa pa)
Pa pa paaa
(Pa pa pa pa)
Pa pa pa pa
(Pa pa pa)
Pa pa pa
Let's go!

[3x]
Nana nana nana nana
Oh
(and so we put our hands up)

Nana nana nana nana
Ooh Whoa whoa!!!!

Here we go back, this is the moment
Tonight is the night, we'll fight 'til it's over
So we put our hands up
Like the ceiling can’t hold us (like the ceiling can’t hold us)
Like the ceiling can’t hold us

Here we go back, this is the moment
Tonight is the night, we'll fight 'til it's over
We put our hands up
Like the ceiling can’t hold us
Like the ceiling can’t hold us

* * *
After the cross, comes the empty tomb and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Easter Vigil is coming. Let’s get ready to sing, “This is the night.” Amen.

Scriptural Dialogue

One does not live by bread alone,
     but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4)

Gospel Canticle “Song of Zechariah”

In the tender compassion of our God
     the dawn from on high shall break upon us.

Blessed are you, Lord, the God of Israel,
     you have come to your people and set them free.
You have raised up for us a mighty Savior,
     born of the house of your servant David.
In the tender compassion of our God
     the dawn from on high shall break upon us.

Through your holy prophets, you promised of old
     to save us from our enemies,
     from the hands of all who hate us,
to show mercy to our forebears,
     and to remember your holy covenant.
This was the oath you swore to our father Abraham:
     to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship you without fear, holy and righteous
     before you, all the days of our life.
In the tender compassion of our God
     the dawn from on high shall break upon us.

And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
     for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way,
to give God's people knowledge of salvation
     by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
     the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
     and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
In the tender compassion of our God
     the dawn from on high shall break upon us.

Prayers

The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us pray. We give thanks to you, heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have protected us through the night from all harm and danger. We ask that you would also protect us today from sin and all evil, so that our life and actions may please you. Into your hands we commend ourselves: our bodies, our souls, and all that is ours. Let your holy angels be with us, so that the wicked foe may have no power over us. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

Blessing

May God who has called us forth from the dust of the earth, and claimed us as children of the light, strengthen you on your journey into life renewed. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine upon you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor
and give you + peace. Amen.

A greeting of peace may be shared by all.

Copyright © 2017 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS011448. New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. “Daft Punk: We’ve come to far,” Pentatonix https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MteSlpxCpo Daft Punk is a song by the a cappella group Pentatonix, a mashup of Technologic, One More Time, Get Lucky, Digital Love, Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger, Television Rules the Nation, and Around the World. Songwriters: Guy-Manuel De Homem-Christo, Nile Rodgers, Pharrell Williams, Thomas Bangalter; © Imagem Music Inc. "Can't Hold Us,” Pentatonix (originally Macklemore & Ryan Lewis cover) Songwriters: Ben Haggerty, Ryan S. Lewis; © Inside Passage Music. “We spend money on things we don’t need for stuff we don’t want to please people we don’t like.” —from sermon by Rev. Dr. Amy K. Butler (Riverside Church, NY)