Lectionary 22/03/2026
- Fifth Sunday of/in Lent - Year A
Related Products
Intercessions for Years A, B and C Book - Lent 5 (Passion Sunday) – Year A
Intercessions for Years A, B and C Book - Lent 5 (Passion Sunday) – Year A
by SPCK - Ian Black
Lent 5 (Passion Sunday) – Year A In your loving-kindness, O God Have mercy and hear our prayer. Jesus, our resurrection and our life, raise our vision and centre it on your eternity. Breathe into your Church the vitality of your Spirit . . . Taken from Intercessions for Years A, …
Lectionary Reflections Year A - The Fifth Sunday of Lent Year A
Lectionary Reflections Year A - The Fifth Sunday of Lent Year A
by SPCK - Jane Williams
The Fifth Sunday of Lent - Year A Ezekiel 37.1–14 Romans 8.6–11 John 11.1–45 There is a story that St Francis once got up to preach, looked down at the hushed, expectant faces below him and said, ‘God has not given me anything to say to you.’ And with that, he blessed the people,…
Lent for Everyone Year A - Sunday: Week 5 in Lent Year A
Lent for Everyone Year A - Sunday: Week 5 in Lent Year A
by SPCK - N T Wright
WEEK 5: SUNDAY Psalm 130 The deep distress we sense as we read this Psalm has, paradoxically perhaps, given great hope to millions down the years. No matter how deep we have sunk, no matter what sorrows or tragedies we may encounter, the Psalms have been there before us. Not only…
Twelve Months of Sundays Year A - The Fifth Sunday of Lent Year A
Twelve Months of Sundays Year A - The Fifth Sunday of Lent Year A
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Fourth Sunday of Lent - Year A Ezekiel 37.1–14 Romans 8.6–11 John 11.1–45 ‘Resurrection’ began as a metaphor for the return from exile. Ezekiel’s surreal vision was an image of Israel, ‘dead’ in Babylon, being restored to her own land. It goes with the promises of the previou…
Lenten Cross Liturgy
Lenten Cross Liturgy
by Andrew John Webb
LENTEN CROSS LITURGY FROM SUFFERING TO GLORY Using a bare wooden cross to which different items are added each Sunday during lent. On Easter Sunday the items are removed one by one and then the cross is covered with flowers (need to have some mesh round the cross for these to go …
Clouds and Glory Year A - The Fifth Sunday of Lent - Year A
Clouds and Glory Year A - The Fifth Sunday of Lent - Year A
by SPCK - David Adam
The Fifth Sunday of Lent (Passiontide begins) Ezekiel 37. 1-14 : Psalm. 130: Romans 8. 6-11 : John 11. 1-45 Holy Father, you have challenged the powers of darkness, through your Son, and have committed your church to share in your redeeming works; grant that we, who bear witness …
Now take away the stone, he is not dead
Now take away the stone, he is not dead
by Andrew Pratt
Hymn: 'Now take away the stone, he is not dead', Fifth Sunday in Lent John 11: 1 - 45 'Now take away the stone, he is not dead', the people looked amazed, yet some with dread. For Lazarus was buried four long days, the stench said this was more than just a phase. Yes dead is dead…
Where are you God, when darkness shrouds each day
Where are you God, when darkness shrouds each day
by Andrew Pratt
Where are you God, when darkness shrouds each day Fifth Sunday in Lent Psalm 130; John 11: 1 – 45 Where are you God, when darkness shrouds each day, when mists obscure my path, I see no way? Where are you God amidst this urban sprawl when roaring traffic leaves a smoky pall? Wher…
Where jackals gnaw the drying bones
Where jackals gnaw the drying bones
by Andrew Pratt
Where jackals gnaw the drying bones Fifth Sunday in Lent Ezekiel 37: 1-14 Where jackals gnaw the drying bones and vultures wheel above, the people languish losing hope, is this the end of love? This exile tore them from God's grace, yes that is how it seemed... Andrew Pratt (bo…
God shakes and rattles hopes and dreams
God shakes and rattles hopes and dreams
by Andrew Pratt
God shakes and rattles hopes and dreams Fifth Sunday in Lent Ezekiel 37: 1-14 God shakes and rattles hopes and dreams, confounds our plans, destroys our schemes; the bones of faith seem dry and bare, and is God found? And is God there? The desert scene is hot and still, our deser…
I don't believe it
I don't believe it
by Marjorie Dobson
Dramatic monologue: ‘I don’t believe it!” Fifth Sunday in Lent John 11: 1 - 45 They said he was dead, but it seems a bit suspicious to me. How can they prove it? I know we’d had all the weeping and wailing and the body put in the tomb and the door sealed to keep him in and t…
And i looked as i led
And i looked as i led
by Marjorie Dobson
Meditation/poem: Vision - And I looked as I led worship Fifth Sunday in Lent Ezekiel 37: 1-14 And I looked as I led worship and saw the dried and brittle bones of the scattered few before me and there was no life. Too old, too desiccated, too worn out, or lived out ever to be abl…
Maker of Life and Lord of Lords
Maker of Life and Lord of Lords
by Andrew T Murphy
A hymn about grace, atonement and discipleship. The hymn would be ideal for Lent or Passiontide, and has a traditional style and metre for use by most congregations. A suggested tune is 'Abridge (St Stephen)' [CM], although there are plenty of others.
Imagining the Lectionary: raising of Lazarus (Lent 5A)
Imagining the Lectionary: raising of Lazarus (Lent 5A)
by David Perry
Imagining the Lectionary: raising of Lazarus (Lent 5A) Reflection accompanying images “Raising of Lazarus”, and faux antique postcard series: “Entombed in a story of death and despair”, “Facing the worst with Jesus”, “Jesus opens up a new dimension” and “The presence of Jesus bri…
Good Saviour Jesus‚ mercy show
Good Saviour Jesus‚ mercy show
by Norman J Goreham (1931-2021)
TO GOD WITH ALL OUR HEART RETURN (A HYMN FOR THE LENTEN SEASON) Good Saviour Jesus‚ mercy show to your whole church now penitent‚ that we in godliness may grow throughout these forty days of Lent. This living sacrifice we make: your patient love for us discern‚ the cycle of our s…
John for Everyone part 2 - The Raising of Lazarus
John for Everyone part 2 - The Raising of Lazarus
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Raising of Lazarus John 11.38-46 We saw a programme on the television last night about the fossilized remains of what looks like an ancient race of creatures. They seem to be like humans, but much taller. They appear to have been significantly different from any monkeys or ap…
Matthew for Everyone Part 2 - The Cup He had to Drink
Matthew for Everyone Part 2 - The Cup He had to Drink
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Cup He Had to Drink Matthew 20.17-28 When I was a boy we used to read eagerly about the heroes of old. One of the most famous was King Arthur, a British king from the early sixth century. We had plenty of books that told stories about him, and you can go and see his various c…
Matthew for Everyone Part 2 - The Healing of the Two Blind Men
Matthew for Everyone Part 2 - The Healing of the Two Blind Men
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Healing of the Two Blind Men Matthew 20.29-34 He came to see me early in the morning. He was a bit nervous at telling a clergyman how he was feeling, but he was determined to do it anyway. He told me he hadn’t been able to sleep too well the last few nights. He had a sense th…
Paul for Everyone Romans part 1 - The Work of the Spirit
Paul for Everyone Romans part 1 - The Work of the Spirit
by SPCK - N T Wright
The Work of the Spirit ROMANS 8.5-11 Imagine rummaging around in an old attic and coming upon what looks like a standard lamp. It has a very strange type of bulb, but an elegant stem; and the shade, though a bit dusty, is quite attractive. You bring it down into the house and con…
Meditation - 5th Sunday in Lent Year A
Meditation - 5th Sunday in Lent Year A
by David Middleton
Meditation- 5th Sunday in Lent Year A Why am I wrapped like a corpse? John 11: 1-45 ‘If only Jesus had been in Judea’, they lamented ‘our brother Lazarus would still be alive now not lying there cold in his tomb surrounded by all this crying and wailing.’ Mary and Martha had sen…
Psalms for Everyone - Answer to Prayer Phase Two
Psalms for Everyone - Answer to Prayer Phase Two
by SPCK - John Goldingay
Answer to Prayer Phase Two Psalm 30 In connection with Psalm 16, I have mentioned how a few months ago I met, fell in love with, and proposed to someone, then discovered I had prostate cancer and arranged to have surgery. We had a very moving prayer time in church, and I knew God…
Paul and the Faithfulness of God - The Theology of a Pharisee
Paul and the Faithfulness of God - The Theology of a Pharisee
by SPCK - N T Wright
Chapter TWO LIKE BIRDS HOVERING OVERHEAD: THE FAITHFULNESS OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL The Theology of a Pharisee It is not difficult to draw out from what has already been said the main lines of Pharisaic theology, bringing into brief and I hope sharp focus the larger and longer treatm…
LWPT Meditations - Fifth Sunday in Lent - Year A
LWPT Meditations - Fifth Sunday in Lent - Year A
by Susan Thorne
Meditation – Fifth Sunday in Lent Year A Ezekiel 37:1-14 Psalm 130 Romans 8:6-11 John 11:1-45 This week’s lectionary readings are all about finding a solution, making the impossible possible... Created by Susan Thorne on behalf of LWPT (Leaders of Worship and Preachers' Trust) fo…
The Living God - God as a person: four insights
The Living God - God as a person: four insights
by SPCK - Alister McGrath
A personal God: love and faithfulness 2 God as a person: four insights Appreciating that God is personal is central to a right understanding of the creeds. Let’s look at four insights that will help us grasp this more fully. First, in speaking of God as a person we’re making it c…
Rhythms of remembering - Ordinary Time - Thursday Morning Prayer
Rhythms of remembering - Ordinary Time - Thursday Morning Prayer
by SPCK - Hannah Ward & Jennifer Wild
ORDINARY TIME - Thursday Morning Prayer Blessed are you, O God: you give in abundance. You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over...
Rhythms of remembering - Lent - Saturday Morning Prayer
Rhythms of remembering - Lent - Saturday Morning Prayer
by SPCK - Hannah Ward & Jennifer Wild
LENT - Saturday Morning Prayer Blessed are you, O God: you watch with us in our darkness. My soul waits for you more than the night-watch for the morning, more than the night-watch for the morning. Psalm 130.5...
Times and Seasons - Full Service - Fifth Sunday in Lent - Year A
Times and Seasons - Full Service - Fifth Sunday in Lent - Year A
by Andrew Pratt and Marjorie Dobson
Fifth Sunday in Lent - Passion Sunday - Year A Order of Service contains: Opening Hymn: O sacred head sore/once wounded or Here terror stripped our Lord of hope Prayer: Gracious God; based on Romans 8:6-11 Psalm 130 Meditation: Desolation Hymn: Were you there when they crucified …
Rocky Road through Holy Week
Rocky Road through Holy Week
by catherine beane
Rocky Road Recipe exploring the events of Holy Week / Easter This 'Rocky Road through Holy Week' recipe is a great way to explore the events of Holy Week with children of all ages. Ingredients: 1 Drop of orange oil / flavouring 2 Handfuls of raisins 12 Glace cherries 1 Bag of Min…
Psalms for Everyone Part 2 - Wishing and Hoping
Psalms for Everyone Part 2 - Wishing and Hoping
by SPCK - John Goldingay
Wishing and Hoping Psalm 130-131 It’s the beginning of Advent, when we start thinking about the first coming of Jesus but also about his second coming. The sermon on Sunday related to why the second coming matters and the reason for believing it will happen. It matters because Je…
Four Gospels, One Jesus - The Teacher's suffering
Four Gospels, One Jesus - The Teacher's suffering
by SPCK - Richard A Burridge
The Teacher’s suffering The Passion, Matthew 26—27 Matthew includes nearly every verse of Mark’s Passion in the same order, except little details about the young man (Mk. 4.51–52), and Simon of Cyrene’s sons (Mk. 15.21b). Only about 26 verses are unique to Matthew (26.1–2, 25, 52…
Four Gospels, One Jesus - The way of an eagle in the sky
Four Gospels, One Jesus - The way of an eagle in the sky
by SPCK - Richard A Burridge
‘The way of an eagle in the sky’ Following John’s story, style and structure The ‘way of an eagle in the sky’ may be hard to understand (Prov. 30.19) but many readers have felt similarly as they have sought to follow the twists and turns, heights and depths of this most subtle ev…
Four Gospels, One Jesus - Talons bared for conflict
Four Gospels, One Jesus - Talons bared for conflict
by SPCK - Richard A Burridge
Talons bared for conflict The Book of Signs and “the Jews”, John 2—12 In Tolkien’s stories, Numenor is an Atlantis-like land blessed by Iluvatar (God) which overreaches itself and turns to evil. Its doom is presaged first by eagle-shaped clouds and then by eagles themselves; few …
Four Gospels, One Jesus - Living under the shadow of his wings
Four Gospels, One Jesus - Living under the shadow of his wings
by SPCK - Richard A Burridge
Living under the shadow of his wings Like most animals, the eagle rushes into conflict when protecting its young, yet the same instinct causes it to exhibit tender care. Moses’ final song compares God’s concern for Israel to an eagle ‘hovering over its young . . . bearing them al…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Book V
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Book V
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Book V (Psalms 107-150) Book V of the Psalter opens with Psalm 107, a community hymn celebrating God’s graciousness in delivering the community of faith from exile in Babylon. The psalmist says: “Let the redeemed of YHWH say so, those he redeemed from trouble and gathered in from…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Restoration and the Return of the Divine
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Restoration and the Return of the Divine
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Restoration and Return of the Divine (Ezekiel 25: 1- 48: 35) The oracles against the nations in chapters 25–32 form a kind of hinge in the book, as the scathing, judgment language against Israel comes to an end after the sign-action involving the lack of mourning observance for E…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Second Isaiah
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Second Isaiah
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Second Isaiah (Isaiah 40-55) The sixteen chapters that begin with “Comfort, comfort my people” comprise a complex but thematically continuous piece focusing on Jerusalem’s restoration as the Babylonian era ended. The prophet is self-effacing and barely visible, but certain aspect…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - "My Servant" Israel
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - "My Servant" Israel
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Beginning in chapter 41, Israel is proffered a re-envisioned role as God’s servant. The relationship between Israel and the servant was obscured for decades by Bernhard Duhm’s theory of four servant songs in chapters 42, 49, 50, and 53, discontinuous with their contexts...
52 Reflections on Faith - Good Friday: access to God
52 Reflections on Faith - Good Friday: access to God
by BRF - Stephen W. Need
Maundy Thursday: washing the feet Maundy Thursday is the first of the three holy days leading up to Easter. Christians usually think of it as the day when the Eucharist was instituted. Jesus ate a meal with his disciples in Jerusalem the night before he died, thereby inaugurating…
Traces of Glory Year B - The Fifth Sunday of Easter - Year B
Traces of Glory Year B - The Fifth Sunday of Easter - Year B
by SPCK - David Adam
The Fifth Sunday of Easter God of love, may we abide in your presence and so abide in your love: as we freely receive your love, let us freely share with others all that you have given us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, for ever …
Traces of Glory Year B - Day of Pentecost - Year B
Traces of Glory Year B - Day of Pentecost - Year B
by SPCK - David Adam
The Day of Pentecost Come, Holy Spirit, Come upon us, Come around us, come within us; Come to lead us, come to guide us, That we may work in your power, And rest in your presence: Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with you and the Father, One god, for ever. Amen…
The Women's Bible Commentary - Re-creation of Land and People
The Women's Bible Commentary - Re-creation of Land and People
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Re-creation of Land and people In chapters 36 and 37 God acts not just to renew Israel and the land, but to re-create them entirely. Chapter 36 has the re-creation of both people (36:26–27) and land (36:1–15, 35) in view, whereas 37:1–14 famously focuses on the rebirth of the peo…
Traces of Glory Year B - Proper 14 - Year B
Traces of Glory Year B - Proper 14 - Year B
by SPCK - David Adam
Proper 14 Lord Jesus, true bread from heaven, giving life and refreshment to the world, fill our lives with your goodness, fill your church with your presence, that we may live and work to your praise and glory, who, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, are one God, now and forev…
52 Reflections on Faith - Seeing God: a way of life
52 Reflections on Faith - Seeing God: a way of life
by BRF - Stephen W. Need
Seeing God: a way of life Where do you ‘see God’? Where do you experience God? Where is God most real to you? There are probably particular times in your life when you sense God’s presence more than you normally do—special places where you feel close to God. You might have had a …
Psalm 130:6
Psalm 130:6
by Rev David East
TIP- PowerPoint Slide Size- The ideal way to insert into PowerPoint is:- • Reduce the image size to 1024x768 pixels using your image editing software. (Will reduce image proportionally) • Insert as Picture in the normal way. • If needed fill the slide area by placing the image in…
The Women's Bible Commentary - Mary, Martha, and Jesus
The Women's Bible Commentary - Mary, Martha, and Jesus
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Mary, Martha, and Jesus The miracle of the raising of Lazarus is the climax of John 11:1–44, but it is not its center. Of the forty-four verses that constitute this story, only seven of them take place at Lazarus’s tomb (11:38–44). The story centers on the conversations in which …
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - LAZARUS, COME OUT!
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - LAZARUS, COME OUT!
by BRF - Richard A. Burridge
LAZARUS, COME OUT! When Jesus saw them weeping, his only response was to weep, as anyone who cared about Lazarus and his family might (11:33). Yet the words used to describe his emotions are much more than that. The first, en-brimo, is used in Greek of horses, ‘snorting in the no…
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - I AM THE RESURRECTION & THE LIFE
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - I AM THE RESURRECTION & THE LIFE
by BRF - Richard A. Burridge
I AM THE RESURRECTION & THE LIFE Martha expresses her belief in the conventional view, that her brother ‘will rise again in the resurrection on the last day’ (11:24). According to this, everything to do with eschatology—judgment, death, life—all are in the future at the End of ti…
Isaiah for everyone - The People Who Know What’s Best
Isaiah for everyone - The People Who Know What’s Best
by SPCK - John Goldingay
The People Who Know What’s Best I have been a student or a professor in four seminaries. One thing that students and faculty have in common is that they often think they know more about how to run the seminary than its head or the board of governors. For most of this time I was e…
Isaiah for everyone - On Following God’s Prompting
Isaiah for everyone - On Following God’s Prompting
by SPCK - John Goldingay
On Following God’s Prompting We were at a singer-songwriter venue and the singer’s last song was about her mother’s death two or three years ago. The song title referred to the year of her mother’s birth, which was the same birth year of someone who was with us. She later told us…
Isaiah for everyone - Beautiful Feet
Isaiah for everyone - Beautiful Feet
by SPCK - John Goldingay
Beautiful Feet My feet went all nasty a few years ago in Jerusalem. Visiting Jerusalem was the only occasion when I got to wear sandals continually for two weeks, and the skin on my heels frayed. One result was that it became impossible to keep them clean…
Isaiah for everyone - The Man Who Kept His Mouth Shut
Isaiah for everyone - The Man Who Kept His Mouth Shut
by SPCK - John Goldingay
The Man Who Kept His Mouth Shut I just came across a comment someone made when my first wife died five years ago. “We are forever grateful that she paid the price of her discipleship.” She “stands tall” among people who have “worked for our comfort and edification . . . Her direc…
52 Reflections on Faith - Humility: The compassionate life
52 Reflections on Faith - Humility: The compassionate life
by BRF - Stephen W. Need
Humility: The compassionate life ‘Can’t you have a bit of humility?’ ‘Can’t you back off sometimes?’ ‘Do you always have to have the last word?’ ‘Who do you think you are?’ How often have we said these words to someone, in a moment of anger, in an argument with a spouse, perhaps,…
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Passion Narrative
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Passion Narrative
by SPCK - Newsom, Ringe and Lapsley
Passion Narrative Paralleling Mark 14:3–9 and John 12:1–8, Matthew 26:6–13 (cf. Luke 7:36–50) describes Jesus’ anointing. The action has a twofold meaning: Jesus equates it with the rituals accompanying burial (26:12) and so acknowledges women’s religious deed…
embodying mark - 7 Following the King
embodying mark - 7 Following the King
by SPCK - meda a a stamper
7 Following the King Finally we come to the terrible death of the Son, betrayed, denied and deserted by his male followers; mocked by passers-by, who shake their heads and say ‘Aha’, and by the religious authorities, who have condemned him in a kangaroo court and handed him over …
Fresh Thoughts For Sunday - Fresh Thoughts For Sunday Issue 161
Fresh Thoughts For Sunday - Fresh Thoughts For Sunday Issue 161
by Twelvebaskets Ltd
A selection of commentary, reflection and prayer ideas from various Christian authors and the full bible texts from the NRSV for this week's lectionary. NOW INCLUDING SERIALISED BOOKS FROM SPCK AND CONTRIBUTIONS FROM BRF. Check below for details. Subscribe to Fresh Thoughts For S…
CHRISTIANITY AND THE RENEWAL OF NATURE - 1d Creative engagement with nature
CHRISTIANITY AND THE RENEWAL OF NATURE - 1d Creative engagement with nature
by SPCK - Sebastian C.H. Kim and Jonathan Draper
Creative engagement with nature Renewing the face of the earth, then, is an enterprise not of imposing some private human vision on a passive nature but of living in such a way as to bring more clearly to light the interconnectedness of all things and their dependence on what we …
Overview of Holy week (Family Worship)