[LITURGY] Lent Week 1: Steady Love

Intro: Hey South Bend City Church, Mariah here – the Director of Art and Worship. In today’s episode of the podcast, we’re going to share the liturgy from this past weekend. Over the next couple of weeks in the Lenten season, we’re going to center all of our liturgies on readings and prayers from the resource called enfleshed. Today, we focus on steady love; a love that chases us and never leaves us alone. And when we look around, in the good and the bad, we realize that Love has been there all along. Thanks so much for joining us, let’s join the rest of our community now.

Steady Heart by Steffany Gretzinger and Amanda Cook
Verse 1
I can’t see what’s in front of me
Still I will trust You, still I will trust You
And I can’t see what’s in front of me
Still I will trust You, still I will trust You

Chorus
Steady heart that keeps on going
Steady love that keeps on hoping
Lead me on
Steady grace that keeps forgiving
Steady faith that keeps believing
Lead me on

Verse 2
Though the sky is dark
And the wind is wild
You’ll never leave me, You’ll never leave me

Verse 3
Though the night is long
There is a coming dawn
The light is breaking, the light is breaking

Chorus (x2)

Heart Won’t Stop by John Mark McMillan
Chorus
Your heart won’t stop coming after me
Your heart won’t stop coming after me
Your heart won’t stop coming after, coming after me

Mariah: And today we center ourselves on that love and on that pursuit of love. As we work through this Lent season, we’re going to be pulling prayers from a source, a site, called enfleshed that provides liturgy resources – it’s really beautiful. So each week, we’ll be centered our liturgies around these prayers. And today, I ask that you join me as we pray this together.

Lent Reading #1 by Rev. M Jade Kaiser
Spirit of God,
when paths of transformation
leads us into times of wilderness –
periods of learning and unlearning,
realities winding and unruly,
may your presence be our steady companion.

If we feel afraid
of the unfamiliar or unknown –
a stranger to where you are leading,
remind us that we do not go alone.
All who seek your Wisdom are wandering.
And when we forget, remind us this is part of Love’s work.

Help us to be patient with our journey,
letting Love set the pace.

If we feel ashamed,
confronted by regrets,
embarrassed by ignorance,
or trapped by snares of guilt…
may your grace be near,
and let courage steady our way.

To you, we will turn for nourishment along the way.
Remembering the simple pleasures of being alive.
Of being together.
Of being among the creations of your hand.
There is no stretch of the earth where delight cannot be found.

All with the desire to further the common good,
lead us more deeply into the heart of Love.
In the company of your promises,
faith shall be our guide.

Heart Won’t Stop by John Mark McMillan
Verse 1
There is not a man or a beast
Nothing on the land or underneath
Oh nothing that could ever come between
the love you have for me

Verse 2
I could lay my head in sheol
I could make my bed at the bottom of the darkness deep
Oh but there is not a place I could escape you

Chorus
Your heart won’t stop coming after me
Your heart won’t stop coming after me
Your heart won’t stop
Coming after, coming after me

Verse 3
There is not an angel of the stars
There is not a devil in the dark
Nothing that could change the way you are
The love you have for me

Verse 2

Chorus (x2)

Stand By Me Verse 1
When the night has come and the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we’ll see
No I won’t be afraid, no I won’t be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me

Stand By Me Chorus
Won’t you won’t you stand by me
Stand by me
Won’t you stand, won’t you stand
Stand by me

Stand By Me Verse 2
If the sky we look upon should tumble and fall
Or the mountains should crumble to the sea
I won’t cry, I won’t cry
No I won’t shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me

Stand By Me Chorus (x2)

Tag
Stand by me

Stand By Me Chorus

Jireh by Maverick City Music
Verse 1
I’ll never be more loved than I am right now
Wasn’t holding You up so there’s nothing I can do to let You down
Doesn’t take a trophy to make You proud
I’ll never be more loved than I am right now

Verse 2
Going through a storm but I won’t go down
I hear Your voice carried in the rhythm of the wind to call me out
You would cross an ocean so I wouldn’t drown
You’ve never been closer than You are right now

Chorus
Jireh You are enough
Jireh You are enough
I will be content in every circumstance
Jireh You are enough

Tag (x2)
Forever enough, always enough, more than enough

Verse 3
Don’t wanna forget how I feel right now
On the mountaintop I can see so clear what it’s all about
Stay by my side when the sun goes down
Don’t wanna forget how I feel right now

Chorus

Tag (x2)

Bridge (x2)
I’m already loved
I’m already chosen
I know who I am
I know what You’ve spoken
I’m already loved
More than I could imagine
And that is enough

Bridge 2 (x2)
If He dresses the lilies with beauty and splendor
How much more will He clothe you
How much more will He clothe you
If He watches over every sparrow
How much more does He love you
How much more does He love you

Tag
How much more does He love you

Chorus (x2)

Mariah: So God, today, would we remember that there is an all-consuming love that chases us down, that’s steady. Would we rest in that love today, trusting that Love will carry us through, that it will be present, and that we will not be alone. Thank you for that love today – we love you. We pray this in Your name, amen.