Liturgy for the Fifth Sunday in Lent
Introduction
The Fifth Sunday in Lent brings the season to its most searching question: can life come from what is truly dead? As Lent nears its end, the focus shifts from testing and seeing to loss, grief, and hope that seems impossible. The readings for this day speak to places where breath has left the body, where voices cry from the depths, and where even faith feels strained. Yet God’s word does not end with the grave. God speaks life into dry bones, meets lament with mercy, and calls the dead by name.
This liturgy follows the Revised Common Lectionary for the Fifth Sunday in Lent (Year A) and is shaped by themes of death and life, lament and hope, and God’s power to bring new life where none seems possible.
The Lectionary Readings at a Glance
The readings for the Fifth Sunday in Lent confront death directly and proclaim God’s life-giving power.
In Ezekiel 37:1–14, the prophet is brought to a valley of dry bones—remains long past hope. God promises not only restoration, but resurrection: breath enters lifeless bodies, and the people are raised to new life. The vision speaks to communal despair and God’s ability to restore what has been lost.
Psalm 130 is a cry from the depths. The psalmist waits for the Lord with honesty and hope, trusting that mercy is stronger than guilt and that redemption belongs to God alone.
In Romans 8:6–11, Paul proclaims that the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead now dwells in believers. Life is no longer defined by death or fear, but by the presence of God’s Spirit bringing peace and freedom.
John 11:1–45 tells the story of Lazarus’s death and Jesus’ response. Jesus does not avoid grief; he weeps. Yet he also speaks with authority, calling Lazarus from the tomb. In the face of death, Jesus reveals himself as the resurrection and the life.
Together, these readings proclaim that God meets us in the depths and calls forth life where death appears final.
Call to Worship
One: From the depths, we cry to the Lord.
All: We wait for the Lord, trusting in mercy and hope.
One: God speaks life into dry bones and breathes into weary hearts.
All: We come, longing for the Spirit who gives life.
One: Christ calls the dead to rise and the grieving to hope.
All: Let us worship the God who brings life out of death.
Opening Prayer
God of life,
You meet us in valleys of loss and places where hope feels far away. As we gather in worship, draw near to us with your restoring presence. Breathe your Spirit into what feels dry within us, and open our hearts to the life you promise. Through Jesus Christ, the resurrection and the life, Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Merciful God,
We confess that we often give up hope too quickly. We believe in life, yet live as though death has the final word. We close ourselves off from grief, from truth, and from the work of your Spirit. Forgive us, O God. Meet us in our despair, loosen the grip of fear, and restore us by your grace. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Hear the good news: “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also.” (Romans 8:11)
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven, restored, and given life.
Thanks be to God!
Prayer for Illumination
God of resurrection,
Send your Spirit to open our hearts as Scripture is read and proclaimed. Give us courage to face death honestly and faith to trust the life you give. Speak your word into our depths and call us into hope through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayers of the People
God of mercy and power,
We bring before you the places where life feels fragile or lost. We pray for your church, that it may bear witness to hope even in seasons of grief. We pray for those who mourn, for those who feel trapped in despair, and for those who long for renewal. We pray for communities marked by violence, illness, or loss, that your life-giving Spirit may bring healing and peace. Call us from death into life, and make us people who trust your promises. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Closing Prayer
Eternal God,
You speak life where we see only endings. As we continue this Lenten journey, strengthen us to wait, to trust, and to hope. Carry us through the valleys and lead us toward the life revealed in Christ, who calls us by name and brings us into new life. Amen.
