Lent Liturgy, Songs, and Prayers
March 21, 2026 - The Fifth Week of Lent
Instrumental prelude
Each week we take a few moments for silent prayer and reflection during the instrumental prelude. We invite you to quiet your conversations as we begin, and to join us in quiet prayer; to pause for a moment without words, and enter this place with quietness and trust before the Lord.
Call to worship: (standing together)
Trisagion
Holy God,
Holy Mighty,
Holy Immortal,
Have mercy on us
THE ACCLAMATION (standing together)
Blessed be the Lord who forgives all our sins.
His mercy endures forever.
You are our strength, Lord, we will love you;
Under the shadow of your wings keep us.
THE COLLECT FOR PURITY
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord.Amen.
THE SUMMARY OF THE LAW
Hear what our Lord Jesus Christ says:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.(Matthew 22:37-40)
THE COLLECT OF THE DAY (standing together)
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.
Let us pray.
Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of this world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
SUNG WORSHIP (standing together)
Here’s my heart
Chorus
Here's my heart Lord,
Here's my heart Lord
Here's my heart Lord,
Speak what is true
Verse 1
I am found, I am Yours
I am loved, I'm made pure
I have life, I can breathe
I am healed, I am free
Verse 2
You are strong, You are sure
You are life, You endure
You are good, always true
You are light breaking through
Verse 3
You are more than enough
You are here, You are love
You are hope, You are grace
You're all I have, You're everything
THE LESSON (standing together)
A reading from the book of Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 30: 11-20).
Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?’ Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?’ No, the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.
See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Sung Worship (continues)
'Tis the Old Ship of Zion
'Tis the old ship of Zion,
'Tis the old ship of Zion,
'Tis the old ship of Zion;
Get on board, get on board!
Ain’t no danger in this water
Ain’t no danger in this water
Ain’t no danger in this water
Get on board, get on board
It has landed many a thousand,
It has landed many a thousand,
It has landed many a thousand;
Get on board, get on board!
THE GOSPEL (standing together)
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. (Matthew 13: 3-9, 18-23)
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!’
…“Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Message Cn Tim Clayton
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (kneeling or seated as you’re able)
Celebrant: Let us raise to the Lord our common prayers for the Church and for the needs of all humanity.
*silence is kept
God the Father,
have mercy on us.
God the Son,
have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit,
have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity,
have mercy on us.
*silence is kept
Intercessor:
From the islands and the oceans, we worship you, O God, the Creator of life.
Throughout the mountains and the valleys, we praise you, O God, the Savior of the world. With the tongues of all nations, we thank you, O God, the Comforter of bodies and souls. We come before you bearing our burdens and hopes.
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
We pray for those who live in the midst of injustice.
Encourage us to lift up their voices and strengthen their hope.
We pray for those who continue to perpetuate injustice.
May your kindness fill their and our hearts and make us agents of freedom and peace. We pray for every institution and person who stands for justice.
Let us act justly according to your words.
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
We pray for the visible unity of the Church.
Lead us to fulfill Jesus’ prayer that we may be one and work together to manifest your Kingdom.
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
We thank you for the many colors, cultures, and customs that we share in this world. In our differences, unite us by your love. Enable us to act together to uphold life and to make this world a just and peaceful household for all humanity.
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
(Intercessor continues)
For Trinity North Shore
O God, thank you for calling us into being as Trinity North Shore and calling us to connect with you, our communities, and creation. We remember that you led your people on a long exodus, to the promised land. We feel ready; lead us to the right place for our home, for worship and gathering and hospitality. We long to stay in step with you along the way, for we are yours, the communities of the North Shore are yours, and indeed the earth and all that is belongs to you.
Amen.
(Intercessor continues)
Prayer for God’s Justice to be Manifest
Lord Jesus, we pray along with the prophecy your mother, Mary, spoke to celebrate your birth: that you would scatter those who are proud in the imagination of their hearts and bring down the mighty from their imagined thrones; that you would exalt and lift up the lowly and the poor; that you would send the ungenerous rich away empty and that the hungry would be filled with good things. Have mercy on our nation in these troubling times and deliver us from evil.
Amen.
(Intercessor continues)
A Collect for Peace
Let’s pray together the Collect for Peace,
Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed: Kindle, we pray, in the hearts of all people the true love of peace, and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth; that in tranquility your kingdom may go forward, till the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Celebrant:
Heavenly Father, grant these our prayers for the sake of Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen
THE NICENE CREED (standing together)
Let us confess our faith, and recall together the narrative summary of God’s love story, using the words of the Nicene Creed:
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
THE CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION OF SIN
(kneeling or seated as you’re able)
Let's confess our sins and those things that prevent our being filled with love for God and our neighbors:
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name.
Amen.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who in his great mercy has promised forgiveness of sins to all those who sincerely repent and with true faith turn to him, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
THE PEACE (standing together)
The Peace of the Lord be always with you.
And with your spirit.
(Let’s greet one another with a sign of peace)
Announcements and Upcoming Events -
more details on our Events Page
Lord of the Harvest, by Henry Munyaneza
The Joseph Fund -
ARDF Relief Support for the People of Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Mozambique, Turkey, Syria, Hurricane relief, California Wildfires, Flood, Earthquake and other relief efforts.
Details on our Missions Page
It’s Everybody’s Fight
It’s everybody’s fight. There are too many people who just stand around talking.
-Viola Liuzzo
“Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit,” says the Lord.
The Latest News
New Baby! Follow Up From Town Hall, Holy Week and Easter Sunday at Crowell Chapel, Spiritual Resilience Discussions in Beverly Farms and more!
On our News Page
Spiritual Resilience for Difficult Times
Discussions with the Beverly Multifaith Coalition
Beverly Farms Branch Library
24 Vine St. Beverly, MA
7 pm
April 23: The Importance of Not Playing Along
Vaclav Havel, selections from The Power of the Powerless
Led by the Rev’d. Tim Clayton, Trinity North Shore
Conrad Room, Beverly Farms Branch Library
April 30: The Importance of Going Deep to Stay Involved
Discussion of thoughts of Howard Thurman
Led by the Rev. Dr. Gail Cantor, Interfaith Chaplain, Endicott College
Conrad Room, Beverly Farms Branch Library
May 28: The Importance of Staying in Touch with Wonder
Discussion of thoughts of Abraham Joshua Hechel
Led by Rabbi Alison Adler, Temple B’nai Abraham, and Rev. Daniel Johnson, First Baptist Church, Beverly
Conrad Room, Beverly Farms Branch Library
"This Hour Calls for Moral Grandeur and Spiritual Audacity”
- Abraham Joshua Heschel
Details on our Events Page, Invite your friends and family, everyone is welcome!
We are grateful to be together for Holy Week and Easter Sunday this year in the Crowell Chapel.
3 Rosedale Ave, Manchester by the Sea
Break Ground
2026 Creation Care Project, Lent Alms Giving
Break Ground with Trinity’s 2026 Creation Care Project.
A fundraiser for collaborative gardening in Beverly at the Anchor Point affordable housing community.
How to support this project:
Go to our giving page and choose the Missions page from the drop down menu.
All donations through the Missions Fund through Easter Sunday will go to this project.
Trinity Books:
Lent with Irenaeus
Our Lent book is out and about!
Available on Amazon: Lent with Irenaeus: Journeying with Jesus Towards Becoming Truly Human.
Buy now on Amazon
Details on our Trinity Books Page
Sung Worship/Offering: we worship together with our hearts in song and in giving
the opportunity to worship through giving is available online here.
There is also a giving area near the welcome table. Look for the box shaped like a church building on the table near the entry.
By My Spirit/Strength of My Life
Not by might, not by power
But, by My Spirit, says the Lord.
Everyday I look to you
To be the strength of my life
You’re the hope I hold onto
To be the strength of my life
Be the strength of my life
Be the strength of my life
Be the strength of my life, today
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Amen.
THE PRESENTATION OF THE GIFTS
All things come from you, O Lord,
And of your own have we given you.
THE SURSUM CORDA (standing together)
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give him thanks and praise.
It is right, our duty and our joy, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. You bid your faithful people cleanse their hearts, and prepare with joy for the Paschal feast; that, fervent in prayer and in works of mercy, and renewed by your Word and Sacraments, they may come to the fullness of grace which you have prepared for those who love you. Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:
THE SANCTUS
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.
THE PRAYER OF CONSECRATION
(kneeling as you’re able or sitting)
Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself; and when we had sinned against you and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent your only Son Jesus Christ into the world for our salvation. By the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary he became flesh and dwelt among us. In obedience to your will, he stretched out his arms upon the Cross and offered himself once for all, that by his suffering and death we might be saved. By his resurrection he broke the bonds of death, trampling Hell and Satan under his feet. As our great high priest, he ascended to your right hand in glory, that we might come with confidence before the throne of grace.
On the night that he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take, eat; this is my Body, which is given for you: Do this in remembrance of me.”
Likewise, after supper, Jesus took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink this, all of you; for this is my Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you, and for many, for the forgiveness of sins: Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.”
Celebrant: Therefore, we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, and we offer you these gifts. Sanctify them by your Word and Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Sanctify us also, that we may worthily receive this holy Sacrament, and be made one body with him, that he may dwell in us and we in him. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and bring us with all your saints into the joy of your heavenly kingdom, where we shall see our Lord face to face.
All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ: by him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever.
Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to pray:
Our Father in heaven,
your Name be hallowed,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
as in heaven, also on earth.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
(Matthew 6:9–13)
THE FRACTION
Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast
AGNUS DEI
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,
Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
Grant us peace.
THE MINISTRATION OF COMMUNION
The gifts of God for the people of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.
*silence is kept, a short pause for eucharistic adoration
A PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
(for those with us online)
Lord Jesus, truly present in the Holy Sacrament: come spiritually into my heart and give me yourself, for I love you above all else, and I desire to be united with you within my soul.
Amen.
Reminder Communion Instructions: Prayer and Blessing Opportunities are available from a member of the prayer team as you return to your seat after receiving the bread and wine. Personal and Confidential Prayer is available following the service.
Sung Worship
Come Thou Fount
Come Thou Fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace,
Streams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet, Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it, Mount of God's redeeming love.
Here I find my greatest treasure, Hither by Thy help I come.
And I hope by Thy good pleasure, Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger, Wand'ring from the fold of God;
He to rescue me from danger, Bought me with His precious blood.
O, to grace how great a debtor, Daily I'm constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness like a fetter, Bind my wand'ring heart to thee;
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love.
Here's my heart, O take and seal it. Seal it for Thy courts above.
THE POST COMMUNION PRAYER (standing together)
Heavenly Father, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and for assuring us in these holy mysteries that we are living members of the body of your Son, and heirs of your eternal Kingdom. And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever.
Amen.
THE BLESSING
May God the Father,
who does not despise the broken spirit, give to you a contrite heart.
Amen.
May Christ,
who bore our sins in his body on the tree, heal you by his wounds.
Amen.
May the Holy Spirit,
who leads us into all truth, speak to you words of pardon and peace.
Amen.
And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.
THE DISMISSAL
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God
SUNG WORSHIP
Come Thou Fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace,
Streams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet, Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it, Mount of God's redeeming love.
May the Peace of God be with you
*Personal and Confidential Prayer is available after the service in the back of the chapel, look for the team with the Prayer badges around their shoulders.
Cn Timothy Clayton, lead pastor
Mtr Wendy Dixon, clergy
Mtr Jen Keifer, clergy
Michael Pritzl, sung worship leader
Ian Clayton, production, guitar
Jennifer Mahnke, vocals,
Juniper Mahnke, vocals
Beatrice Mahnke, vocals
Sung Worship during lent:
Trisagion, written by Michael Pritzl
Holy and Anointed One, written by John Barnett
Goodness of God, written by Ben Fielding, Brian Johnson, Edward Martin Cash, Jason Ingram, and Jenn Johnson
Sanctus, written by Peter Scholtes, adapted by Michael Pritzl and Cindy Rethmeier
Down at Your Feet, written by Ryan Delmore
This Wild Darkness, written by Moby(Richard Melville Hall)
Doxology, written by Thomas Ken in 1674
How Great Thou Art, Written by Carl Moberg based on an original Swedish hymn, "O Store Gud".
This is My Father’s World, written by Maltbie Babcock 1901; Tune: "Terra Beata" arranged by Franklin Sheppard 1915
From the Inside Out, written by Joel Houston
God of Wonders, written by Marc Byrd and Steve Hindalong
Cannons, written by Phil Wickham
The Wondrous Cross, written by Sir Isaac Watts to the tune of Rockingham by Edward Miller
as adapted by Michael Pritzl
May the Road Rise Up to Meet You, traditional Irish Blessing music by Roger McGuin
I Bind Unto Myself Today (St. Patrick’s Breastplate), "Saint Patrick's Breastplate" is an Old Irish prayer of protection of the "lorica" type (hence "Lorica Sancti Patricii", or "The Lorica of Saint Patrick") attributed to Saint Patrick. Dated on linguistic grounds to the early 8th century. Music adapted by C.F. Alexander and the Keble Choir College, Oxford.
Here’s My Heart, Lord, written by Jason Ingram / Chris Tomlin / Louie Giglio
Come Thou Fount, Written by Robert Robinson in 1758
By My Spirit/Strength of my Life, written by Leslie/Sam Phillips
Tis the Old Ship of Zion, African American Spiritual written by African American slave M. J. Cartwright sometime around 1889 (exact date not known), played to a tune written by Daniel B. Towner
Today’s liturgy is based on the Book of Common Prayer, 2019, and the Church of England’s Times and Seasons liturgical supplement for Lent.
*Eucharist Adoration moment:
This is an adaptation of a spiritual practice known as Eucharistic Adoration, normally practiced in the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church, and in some Anglican expressions.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We all live on Indigenous land. We would like to acknowledge the Massachusett Tribe: the tribe of Indigenous peoples from whom the Colony, Province, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts have taken their name. We would like to pay our respect to the ancestral bloodline of the Massachusett Tribe and their descendants who still inhabit historical Massachusett Tribe territories to this day.
We are grateful to Thomas Green, VP of the Massachusett Tribe, for providing this paragraph. https://massachusetttribe.org/the-tribe
”Trinity”, and “Prayer of the Pharisee and the Publican” artwork by Ukrainian Icon Artist, Ivanka Demchuk
be·gin·ning
/bəˈɡiniNG/
noun: the point in time or space at which something starts.
mer·cy
/ˈmərsē/
noun: compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.
