SEASON AFTER PENTECOST 2

Year A

The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Color: Green

 

Scripture

 

Exodus 12:1–14

 

This passage describes the Passover and how it is to be celebrated. In the background of this story are the various plagues that God gave as warning to the Egyptians. Had the Pharaoh heeded these warnings, he could have avoided the plague of death. Because the Pharaoh ignored God’s call and warning, death comes to the first born. The saving ritual is the blood of the lamb; the blood was smeared on the door frame of the Hebrews. What does this say about God? “God is dangerous for all persons, Israelites and Egyptians alike. The Passover instructions make it clear that God's plague of death will not discriminate between ethnic groups, and that only the blood of the lamb will save Israelites.” (Preaching the New Revised Common Lectionary, Year A) The Israelites are saved because they participated in the saving or atoning ritual.

Psalm 149

 

This Psalm is a Psalm of praise which evolves into a call for “holy war”against the nations. The focus is on the saving activity of God and the assurance that God will achieve God’s purposes.

 

Psalm 149 – paraphrased by Jim Taylor
In recent years, many autocratic governments have been overthrown – not by force or power, but by the accumulative energy of ordinary people, the communion of saints.
1 Familiar words aren't enough.
New times call for new ways to praise God.
2 So dance. Sing.
Show you love God with your bodies as well as your words.
3 Use every means you have
–your music, your work, your social systems–
to demonstrate your love for God.
4 God will not shun you because you show your emotions.
Love is not limited to important positions or plummy accents.
5 So join together with others.
Link your hands and link your lives.
Clap your hands and sing;
Raise the roof in praise of God.
6 Let the vigor of your voices overflow into your living.
Seize each challenge as an opportunity
7 to promote justice among all the people,
to bring to judgment to those who cause pain and suffering.
8 Even ruthless dictators cannot resist the surge of popular pressure.
The longer they try to withstand the tide, the deeper they drown.
9 That is how to give God praise.
Let us praise God!
From: Everyday Psalms
Wood Lake Books.

Romans 13:8–14

 

This passage comes from a section of Romans in which Paul offers practical advice about matters of everyday living. The concluding verses of the lesson have a pronounced eschatological tone.  Paul believed Judgment Day was at hand and this influenced what he said and taught. Two sections in the lesson talk first about the necessity of love and then the eschatological motivation of love. We are to live decently and to live lives of love. God’s promise of judgment makes all of this necessary. Christian life is not negative – not doing certain things. It is active – loving people and seeking their best interests. We find the Christian definition of love in the life of Jesus Christ. “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”

Matthew 18:15–20

 

Conflict resolution is apparently a part of what it means to be the church. The passage opens with words about settling disputes among believers in the church. This balances love and justice. First, it is a private matter between two parties. If they cannot resolve their differences, then a trusted person in church is called in to mediate. If there is still no resolution, take the problem to the church. If it cannot be resolved, then let the offender be put out of the church and be considered as gentiles or tax collectors. This group was “beyond” the church but remember God was always seeking them out. Hence, we leave the matter in God’s hands. Jesus charges the Church to exercise the authority for doing the work of God on this earth. We are called to be responsible in our praying. Prayer is not a wishing well. Perhaps the invitation is connected with trying to win back the lost brother or sister.

 

Reading

Reader 1:
This Gospel message today is a tough one.

Reader 2:
Yeah! Can you imagine doing exactly what it says! I don’t think so.

Reader 1:
I know it’s talking about forgiveness and redemption, but I don’t like the idea of confrontation and witnesses and all that stuff.

Reader 2:
I can’t imagine what that would be like. You know, so many times people get their feelings hurt and think that everyone is against them. I know that I’ve said some things that have probably hurt someone’s feelings, even if I didn’t mean to do it. I think we all do that.

Reader 1:
Well, the Gospel lesson says you should to go the person and point out the fault. I guess that means that the one who is hurt should speak up and try to resolve the matter.

Reader 2:
It’s not as easy as that! Jesus wants us to live in compassionate, loving relationships with others, and that means admitting when we are wrong and facing the ones whom we have wronged. That’s tough stuff.

Reader 1:
Jesus never made it easy for anyone. He expected us to learn about tough love, the kind that is willing to be forgiving and recognizes hurts and wounds.

Reader 2:
What it boils down to is, think before you speak. How would you like to be treated. Respond instead of react. Wow, we have lots to learn, don’t we!

 

Greetings/Calls to Worship

L: Shout praise to God!
P: Let us praise God with music and great joy!
L: God looks upon us with favor.
P: God rejoices in our loving compassion for others.
L: Thanks be to God who offers to us new life.
P: Praise be to Jesus Christ who taught us how to live. AMEN

Or

L: How shall we live in the love of God?
P: We will treat one another with fairness and dignity.
L: How shall we witness God’s forgiving love?
P: We will reach out others with compassion.
L: Come, let us worship God who has always loved us.
P: Let our worship of God be reflected in our lives of hope and peace. AMEN.

 

Or

 

L: Welcome to worship today!
P: Thank you! We are glad to be here.
L: Today we will celebrate the great gift of Jesus Christ.
P: Open our hearts, Lord, to hear these healing words.
L: Come, let us worship God who loves each and every one of us.
P: Thanks be to God. AMEN.

 

Or

 

When two or three gather, Christ lives in every moment,
where two or three gather, Christ is present with them.
Where two or three gather to worship God,
glad songs of praise are lifted,
hearts are filled with hope.
When two or three gather to serve God's creation,
Christ is feeding the hungry,
Christ is building shelters of peace.

                              (Thom Shuman)

 

Prayers

 

Opening Prayer

Lord, we come this day to worship and thank you for the many ways you guide our lives. We ask that our hearts, our ears, and our spirits may be open to your healing words of love. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. AMEN.

 

Thematic

 

God, you are the power of liberation,
calling your servant Moses
to lead your people into freedom,
and giving him the wisdom to proclaim your holy law.
Be our Passover from the land of injustice,
be the light that leads us to the perfect rule of love,
that we may be citizens of your unfettered reign;
we ask this through Jesus Christ,
the pioneer of our salvation. Amen.

 

Intercessory

 

We praise your abiding guidance, O God,
for you sent us Jesus, our Teacher and Messiah,
to model for us the way of love for the whole universe.
We offer these prayers of love
on behalf of ourselves and our neighbors,
on behalf of your creation and our fellow creatures.

Prayers of the People, concluding with:

Loving God,
open our ears to hear your word
and draw us closer to you,
that the whole world may be one with you
as you are one with us in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Possible Hymns

 

• “All Creatures of Our God and King”
• “Joyful, Joyful We Adore You”
• “All Praise to Our Redeeming Lord”
• “Come, Ye Faithful Raise the Strain”
• “Jesus Stand Among Us”
• “O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go”
• “Brother, Sister Let Me Serve You”
• “Freely, Freely”
• “Blest Be The Tie That Binds”
• “Let There Be Peace on Earth”
• “Love Divine”
• “When Love Is Found”
• “Where Charity and Love Prevail”
• “Ye Servants of God”
• “Jesus Calls Us”
• “Let Us With A Gladsome Mind”
• “God Is Here”
• “Draw Us In the Spirit’s Tether”
• “Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God”

 

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Color: Green

 

Scripture

 

Exodus 14:19–31

 

The text tells the story of Israel’s rescue at the Red Sea; how they crossed over to victory while the Egyptians were defeated. God is leading the children of Israel as they travel. Israel is traveling with God. This is not a story about Israel; it is a story about God leading Israel and acting mightily to save Israel. We see the limitation of human power to save. We see the power of God to intervene and save.

Exodus 15:1b-11, 20–21

 

This is a poetic, hymnic celebration of the Red Sea event. It is an antiphonal song, led by brother and sister, Moses and Miriam. The hymn and chorus celebrate God’s victory and gift of salvation.

 

[Note: As wonderful as these stories are, today may not be the day to read nor preach from the Exodus texts. This will fall on Patriot’s Day and this year it is the tenth anniversary of 9/11!]

Romans 14:1–12

 

Paul continues giving practical advice. In our text, he takes up diversity; not everyone lives or practices the same way. Some eat meat and some abstain. Yet, all are in Christ. We are to be boundless and Godlike in extending grace to others. Paul says differences in religious practices are not matters that ought to divide believers. These should not fragment a community that has been united by faith in one Lord. God is over all believers despite their differences, so that they are united in the Lord. “All Christians have one Lord, the Lord of life and death. The bond that holds believers together despite their differences is the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which claims them and unites them in life and death.” (Preaching The New Revised Common Lectionary, Year A)

Matthew 18:21–35

 

Forgiveness – our forgiving one another is the theme of the passage. Following Jesus’ instruction of how to live as the church in resolving conflict, Peter asks Jesus about forgiving one’s brother or sister. He adds to the understanding we must forgive three times and ups it to seven times. Peter is still thinking in terms of measurable mercy, not unlimited grace. Jesus challenges him to forgive seventy-seven times or seventy times seven. This is not about arithmetic; it is about grace. Then we have a parable. A servant owed his king an enormous sum. After begging, the servant was forgiven the debt. On his way out, the servant met one who owed him a small amount. This forgiven servant was unforgiving. Jesus makes the genuineness of the forgiveness more important. This is about the true experience of grace. Once we receive God’s grace, we are transformed and offer forgiveness and grace to our sisters and brothers.

 

Reading

Voice:
Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? Seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.”

Reader 1:
You’ve got to be kidding! Seventy-seven times? You’re nuts!

Voice:
That’s what He said.

Reader 1:
Listen! I’m no push-over. I’m willing to let bygones be bygones and all that other stuff, but I won’t be forgiving anyone seventy-seven times, I can tell you that!

Voice:
Then you aren’t really forgiving them, are you?

Reader 1:
Well, sure I am. But I won’t be a doormat. What difference will it make if I do forgive seventy-seven times or even more?

Voice:
Maybe then you will truly let go of the hurt and step out of the pain. That’s what forgiveness is all about, not just speaking the words, but actually letting go of the situation. It doesn’t mean that you will have to let the hurt happen to you over and over again; it means that you will lay it down. You will have learned something about yourself as well as the one who hurt you.

Reader 1:
You mean, I’m supposed to learn something from all of this?

Voice:
Absolutely. Do you think God retains God’s disappointment over you when you fail and fall short? God forgives, wipes the slate clean, gives another chance, time and time again. That’s what God wants us to do: to live lives of forgiving love.

Reader 1:
But it’s not that easy, you know.

Voice:
God is with you. You will always have help with this.

Reader 1:
You’re sure of that? Really sure?

Voice:
Without a doubt!

 

Greetings/Calls to Worship

 

L: Sing praise to God who rescues us when we fall!
P: Sing praise to God who walks with us on all our journeys!
L: Even though we fall, God lifts us and places us on paths of peace.
P: Even though we stray, God finds us and brings us back to lives of hope.
L: Thanks be to God, whose love is continually with us.
P: Praise be to God, whose mercy is over us all. AMEN.

Or

L: Though the storm clouds of doubt and fear threaten to overcome us
P: God leads us into ways of peace.
L: When the darkness of war and the deep pit of anger reach toward us
P: God lifts and carries us through the darkness with hope and light.
L: Lord of hope and life, be with us today.
P: God of mercy and peace, lead our lives. AMEN.

 

Or

 

L: Sing songs of hope and peace.
P: God’s love and power have lifted us.
L: Sing songs of mercy and grace.
P: God’s mercy and forgiveness frame our lives.
L: Thanks be to God for all God’s love and mercy.
P: Praise be to God for the healing power God extends to each one of us. AMEN.

 

Prayers

 

Thematic

 

God, you are the power of liberation,
calling your servant Moses
to lead your people into freedom,
and giving him the wisdom to proclaim your holy law.
Be our Passover from the land of injustice,
be the light that leads us to the perfect rule of love,
that we may be citizens of your unfettered reign;
we ask this through Jesus Christ,
the pioneer of our salvation. Amen.

 

Intercessory

 

God of mercy and healing,
you who hear the cries of those in need,
receive these petitions of your people
that all who are troubled
may know peace, comfort, and courage.

Prayers of the People, concluding with:

Life-giving God,
heal our lives,
that we may acknowledge your wonderful deeds
and offer you thanks from generation to generation
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Possible Hymns

 

• “Joyful, Joyful We Adore You”
• “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”
• “All Praise To Our Redeeming Lord”
•  “Let All Things Now Living”
• “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah”
• “How Firm A Foundation”
• “Amazing Grace”
• “And Can It Be”
• “I Come With Joy”
• “Wade In the Water”
• “Freely, Freely”
• “He Is Lord”
• “Help Us Accept Each Other”
• “Blest Be The Tie”
• “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken”
• “Go Forth For God”
• “When We Are Living”

The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Color: Green

 

Scripture

 

Exodus 16:2–15

 

Our text is how Israel was miraculously fed manna by God in the wilderness. The journey with God continues for Israel. They have barely dried their feet from safely crossing the Red Sea when they begin to complain. Do the children of Israel have the faith to follow God? The story of manna in the wilderness is a story of grace. God responds to the threat of starvation with the bread from heaven. The text shows how grace must shape the lives of the people of God. There are specific instructions about when the manna must be collected and eaten. These instructions become the test for Israel. Manna cannot be saved or stored up, but must be received anew every morning. Will Israel have the faith to live by the grace of God's gift? Hence, taking only as much food as they need each day. Or, will they try to horde manna? They fail the test. God's grace cannot be stored up. Grace must be claimed anew every day. It does not earn interest, and it cannot be stored up for personal manipulation. This means of receiving grace anew each day is the test for the people of God.

Psalm 105:1–6, 37–45 

 

The Psalm reading for today completes the praise of salvation history by recounting the wilderness period and gift of the land. The Psalm provides commentary on Exodus 16. Here is a confession of how God saved Israel from Egypt, led them through the wilderness, and gave them the land, and provided food in the wilderness. Again, we see God’s gracious activity throughout history.

Philippians 1:21–30

 

The Philippian congregation was the first European church founded by Paul. It was one with which he maintained a very positive relationship. He was in prison at the time he penned this letter. Paul struggles with life or death. He affirms that whatever happens, good will come of it. Paul’s relationship with Christ is so real that he shows no fear of dying. Death is more than the end of life, “dying is gain.” Death is not good but death does not have the final word. Paul now reminds the Philippians that their own situation is an opportunity for service to Christ. The lives of the Philippians are to be testimony to the freedom and courage that has been given them. Despite adversity, they are to bear witness to the presence and the power of the Spirit. Paul admonishes the Philippians to Christian unity. “Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel . . . .”

Matthew 20:1–16

 

“We are longtime members of this church. We have served on every committee; we have mowed the lawn and cleaned the toilets. But, here come these new comers and they receive the same benefits of the church that we receive; that is not fair!” This parable in some way is a story about God. This just doesn’t seem just and fair. With the equal pay scheme, the owner did the most for those who did the least for him, and he did the least for those who did the most for him. “ . . . the logic, economic or theological, escapes us and offends us. In this parable we seem to be looking at both bad business and, at best, peculiar religion.” (Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, Year A) The parable tells us that the early workers cut their own deal with the landowner. The workers who went to work late in the day never asked about wages. They lined up to accept whatever was given them. The landowner gave them far more than they could have expected. Could this be a lesson to us? We short-circuit God’s grace so we get only what we bargain for. “This parable tells us good news about a ridiculously generous God, who is different from us. The parable troubles us. It asks us whether we can be freed by the good news of God's generosity to let God be free to love us as we know, through Jesus Christ, that God does love us.” (Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, Year A)

 

Gospel Reflection

Based upon Matthew 20:1-16. Copyright Katherine Hawker, 2002.

A grueling day in the vineyards

bone weary

grateful for the waning sun

proud of the accomplishments

superior even.

 

Imagine the surprise

the last receives as the first

all compensate equally

not equitably.

 

How then is justice defined?

Is there no reward for the toil?

 

Haunting words are all that's left

an echo reverberating over time

"the last shall be first and the first shall be last"

 

 

Reading

Reader 1:
Whew! What a long day! I’ve been out there working in the hot sun since 6 am. And here it is 5 pm. I am looking forward to getting paid for this day.

Reader 2:
Me, too. I got called to work about noon, and you are right about the heat! Wow, was it ever hot out there! I can surely use the pay for this day.

Reader 3:
I didn’t work as long as you both. I got to work about 3 pm, but the work was hard, and the sun was hot. The pay will surely be welcome in my house.

Reader 4:
I was so grateful to be called for work. I never thought it would happen. I only worked about one hour, but I was glad for the work. I hope that I get called again. Any pay I get will surely help my family.

Reader 1:
You only worked 1 hour?

Reader 4:
That’s right. I waited all day, and finally the manager hired me.

Manager:
Here you go. Equal pay for all of you.

Reader 1:
Wait a minute! I worked all day and you gave the same amount to the person who only worked one hour. That’s not fair.

Readers 2 and 3:
Yeah, that’s right. How come that person gets the same as we do?

Manager:
Didn’t I have an agreement with each of you that I would pay you this amount for this day? Did I not give you what I agreed to give you? It is not your business what I have given to the others, to either the ones who worked all day, or since noon, or since three, or just one hour. It is my decision to treat each person fairly as I have agreed upon with them. No one of you is greater than the other. All of you are valuable in my sight, and my appreciation is given to each of you.

Voice:
And Jesus said, “The first shall be last and the last shall be first.”

 

Greetings/Calls to Worship

 

Call on the name of God and give thanks.
Make known God's deeds among the people.
Sing and tell of God's wonderful works.
Let those who seek God rejoice in their hearts.
Let us worship God.

 

Or

 

Come at dawn!
Come at noon!
Come late in the day!
Come to the vineyard,
where the last and the first
harvest God's good fruit together.
Come!

 

Or

 

L: Whether you arrived here first this morning or came in as the service was beginning, God bids you joyful welcome.
P: We thank you and thank God for this generous welcome.
L: You are precious in God’s sight, a delight in God’s presence.
P: Lord, we have come seeking your healing mercy.
L: Know that God’s compassionate love is poured over you this day.
P: Hallelujah! AMEN.

 

Prayers

 

Opening Prayer (Psalm 105)

Liberating God,
we seek your journey.
With parted waters,
set us free.
With cloud and fire,
guide us.
With gushing waters,
quench our thirst.
With food from heaven,
feed us.
Draw us out with joy and singing,
that we might know your ways. Amen.

 

Thematic

 

God of all who wander in the wilderness,
you go before us as beacon and guide.
Lead us through all danger,
sustain us through all desolation,
and bring us home to the land
you have prepared for us. Amen.

 

Intercessory

 

God of mercy and healing,
you who hear the cries of those in need,
receive these petitions of your people
that all who are troubled
may know peace, comfort, and courage.

Prayers of the People, concluding with:

Life-giving God,
heal our lives,
that we may acknowledge your wonderful deeds
and offer you thanks from generation to generation
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Possible Hymns

 

• “Sing Praise To God Who Reigns Above”
• “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”
• “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah”
• “My Life Flows On”
• “Glorious Things of You Are Spoken”
• “All Praise To Our Redeeming Lord”
• “All Who Hunger”
• “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee”
• “There’s A Wideness In God’s Mercy”
• “Take My Life and Let It Be”
• “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
• “O, Master Let Me Walk With Thee”

The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Color: Green

 

Scripture

 

Exodus 17:1–7

 

In another of the early wilderness stories, the people complain they are thirsty and there is no water. The real question is: “Is the Lord in our midst or not?” The people now freed from Egypt are at risk. They have transferred their slavery from Egypt to God. So Israel tests God with the question: Is God in our midst or not? This is one of the murmuring stories. This story makes clear at least two things about the nature of Israel's salvation:  they were not liberated for death in the wilderness; and, liberation is transferred dependency from Egypt to God. The story concludes with a narrator naming the location as Meribah and Massah. These are Hebrew words meaning "to engage in dispute with someone" (Meribah) and "to test" (Massah). Is God reliable? The event answers yes!

Psalm 78:1–4, 12–16

 

The Psalm is a response to the Exodus lesson. The part of the Psalm for today plays down Israel's negative role by focusing, instead, on the power of God to save Israel.

Philippians 2:1–13

 

In what has been called “the Christ hymn,” Paul calls for unity. The opening verses call the Philippians to Christ-likeness. Christ’s life is the one whose life shapes the Philippian community. There are theological and Christological statements contained in vv. 6-11. Five major thoughts are articulated: First, the remarks about Jesus Christ's being in the form of God is a metaphorical expression of the conviction of his preexistence.  Second, Christ's earthly existence is declared using the metaphor of slavery. The metaphor points to his humble obedience to the will of God and to his faithful service to his fellow human beings. Third, we hear of Christ's death. This points to the degree of humiliation Christ suffered in order to be faithful to God and humankind. What can disciples expect? Fourth, Christ's exaltation-resurrection is declared. This is God's work. Fifth, we learn of Christ's cosmic rule. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”  God is at work in us, enabling us to will and work.

 

Matthew 21:23–32

 

“By what authority are you doing these things?” asked the chief priests and elders when Jesus entered the temple. Jesus turns this question back on them asking about John’s baptism. The leaders were afraid to answer so Jesus refused to answer them. Then, Jesus tells the parable of the two sons. The parable seems to expose and condemn the obstinacy of the chief priests and the elders. The parable speaks to us. What we say is not nearly as important as what we do. What you say doesn't preclude you forever from doing God's will. A genuine change of heart is more than a possibility. This parable comes as the good news that real change does take place. The past doesn't determine the future. A bad decision or a hastily spoken word does not eternally set us outside grace.

 

Reading

Voice: Come, beloved. Come and be a blessing to the people in need. There is much to be done, and I have equipped you to serve and heal. Come, the time is now to work for hope and justice.

Reader 1: I’m ready, Lord. Just look at me! I will go into the fields of need and bring your words of compassion and justice! I just have to finish this one little task before I go.

Voice: The time to serve is now. The task you so urgently need to complete will still be there when you have done as I have asked. Why do you hesitate?

Reader 1: I’m not hesitating, exactly. Well, you know what I mean. Do you really need me to come right now? Can’t I have a little time? OK, I’ll come, I promise.

Voice: Come, dear one. I have need of your gifts and talents. There is much work to be done, and I have chosen you to be part of this great service.

Reader 2: Listen, Lord! I know you need everyone to help, but I’m really not the person. I’m not good enough. I don’t have the talents everyone else seems to have. I don’t know why you are asking me. Surely there are others who are much more qualified than I am. I just can’t do this right now. I know you understand.

Voice: And the first one, who said that he/she would come, did not come. Instead, the task that seemed so urgent claimed him/her. The words were strong, but the commitment was not. However, the second one, who believed he/she was not good enough and did not have the talent, did come and work. Each one that God has called is given strength and courage. Each one has talent and abilities that are needed in this world for healing. Each one is loved by God and strengthened by God’s compassionate forgiveness. It is easy to say yes and then back down. It is also easy to say no claiming inability. But God knows us better. God calls to each of us. How can we, who have received so much from God, say no. Come, dear friends, the time is now to serve. Right now, in this place, in this hour, in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.

 

Greetings/Calls to Worship

 

L: Come, let us worship God who provides for us.
P: Even though we whine and complain, God hears our cries.
L: Lift your voices in praise, for God has come to comfort you.
P: Thanks be to God who forgives and heals our wounded souls.
L: Come, celebrate God’s steadfast love.
P: Open our hearts, O Lord, and let us truly listen to your words. AMEN.

Or

L: This week has been filled with joys and sorrows.
P: We have come here this day with burdens on our hearts.
L: God, who hears your cries, will offer you healing love.
P: Thanks be to God for such generous compassion.
L: Open your hearts to God’s infinite mercy.
P: We open our spirits to receive God’s love for us. AMEN.

 

Or

 

L: Jesus has called us here this day.
P: We are here, although for some of us it was not an easy choice
L: Often what we say and do are very different.
P: Help us follow God’s will, not with lip service, but with true humility.
L: Come, now is the time to worship.
P: Now is the time of healing, restoration, and hope. AMEN.

 

Or

 

Come to hear the Word.

Come to do the Word.

Come to experience Comfort.

Come to experience Challenge.

Come to find Cost.

Come to find Joy.

Come to find Humanity.

Come to find Community.

Come to find Church.

Come to find God.

              (Copyright Katherine Hawker)

 

Prayers

 

Opening Prayer

Loving God, we come this day to worship with so many things on our hearts and minds. We are drawn away by problems and cares. Heal our spirits. Open our hearts. Help us be your disciples. AMEN.

 

Thematic

 

God of all who wander in the wilderness,
you go before us as beacon and guide.
Lead us through all danger,
sustain us through all desolation,
and bring us home to the land
you have prepared for us. Amen.

 

Intercessory

 

Friends in Christ,
God invites us to hold the needs of our sisters and brothers
as dear to us as our own needs.
Loving our neighbors as ourselves,
we offer our thanksgivings and our petitions
on behalf of the church and the world.

Prayers of the People, concluding with:

Hear our prayers, God of power,
and through the ministry of your Son
free us from the grip of the tomb,
that we may desire you as the fullness of life
and proclaim your saving deeds to all the world. Amen.

         (Vanderbilt Theological Library)

Possible Hymns

 

• “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name”
• “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”
• “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah”
• “He Is Lord”
• “As The Deer”
• “Rock of Ages”
• “O Jesus, I Have Promised”
• “My Song Is Love Unknown”
• “And Can  It Be”
• “Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne”
• “Glorious Things of You Are Spoken”
• “The Voice of God Is Calling”
• “Majesty”
• “There’s A Wideness In God’s Mercy”
• “Living For Jesus”
• “Would I Have Answered When He Called”
• “Sent Forth By God’s Blessing”

 

Once a Father Told His Children
NETTLETON 8.7.8.7 D (Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing)

 

Once a father told his children,
"Go and do your daily chores.
Go and work out in my vineyard;
All that's mine will soon be yours."
One responded, "I won't do it!"
Then he changed his mind and went.
One said, "Yes! Just send me to it!"
But he went back home again.

 

Once a church was filled with Christians
Who were proud and feeling blessed.
"God has called us and we've answered!
We have truly answered, "Yes!"
On a chilly Sunday morning,
When a homeless man came by,
They said, "Go! It's not yet storming!
God is love — he will supply."

 

Once a woman, quite the sinner,
Struggled deep in pain and doubt.
As she passed that church in winter,
There she saw that man walk out.
He was homeless, worn and weary,
So she stopped her car and said,
"I'm no saint but you look hungry —
Let's go buy some soup and bread."

 

 

God of love, you call your children;
Some say, "No!" and some say, "Yes!"
Lord, forgive us for our judging
Who will be among the blessed.
For your kingdom is surprising;
Some you call will not obey;
Those we find ourselves despising
May be those who seek your way.

 

Text: Copyright © 2011 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved.

Hymn Use Permission: This hymn is copyrighted and is not covered by any organization (such as CCLI or OneLicense) that gives churches permission to use church music. If you would like to use this hymn, please contact Carolyn and Bruce Gillette (bcgillette@comcast.net) for permission and to get a copy of the hymn in MS Word format for bulletin use.

The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Color: Green

 

Scripture

 

Exodus 20:1–4, 7–9, 12–20

 

The Hebrews stop at Mt. Sinai to receive the law from God. We see the central role of law as a divine gift of salvation to Israel. The law is not meant to be a burden but a divine revelation that seeks to transform persons. This imagery of a divine descent underscores how worship must be the central channel for claiming God's power.  Worship and how we see God in it are the focuses for the first four laws. “The divine power of salvation (1) is not transferable to anything else, (2) is not contained in any object, (3) is a power that is potent and dangerous in our world, thus the name of the God of the Exodus should not be used casually, and (4) is available in worship.” (Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, Year A) The remaining suggests that the divine power of salvation must not be restricted to worship. It is to be lived out in community. We are to honor parents, not kill, not commit adultery, not steal, not lie, and not covet. The law moves from God to social activity. Here we learn that the law is a revelation of God’s character.

Psalm 19

 

Psalm 19 begins as a hymn that praises the power of God in creation. Then it shifts the focus to revelation in the law. Law must not be understood in legalistic terms. Law is understood to be revelation that can actually transform a person. The law that is perfect, sure, right, and pure can transform the psalmist by giving back life, bestowing wisdom, rejuvenating the heart, and enlightening the eyes.

 
Philippians 3:4b-14

 

“Hey, you want to boast of your faith credentials, well look at mine,” says Paul. “I could hang all my accomplishments out for you.” No. We must avoid reading this text out of context. The first verses of the chapter actually set up what Paul is saying. Paul warns the Philippians to be on guard against those who advocate Jewish observances. Against the claims to authority of those who would advocate Jewish practices in the context of the church, Paul delineates his own credentials. Thus in 3:4b -14 Paul is arguing down opponents, not simply presenting his accomplishments. In Christ, by Christ, and because of Christ, Paul's whole outlook and value system was radically altered. Paul recognizes this to be a gift of God. It is grace!  The call to Christ is not a call to ease; it is a call to move on. “Forgetting what lies behind, I press on.”

Matthew 21:33–46

 

“. . . they realized that he was speaking about them.” Perhaps we need to listen with a keen ear. Here is the parable of the wicked tenants. Jesus tells the parable of a land owner who plants a vineyard and then entrusts it to tenants. At harvest time, he sends for his pay and the tenants kill the one who came to collect. More servants are sent to collect and they are killed. Finally, the land owner sends his own son and he is killed. Rather than answer the parable, Jesus asks his hearers what should be done and they give him a reasonable answer. Matthew shows the astuteness of Jesus by confronting his hearers with their own words. “Let us retell this story theologically. First, God carefully prepared a gratifying and bountiful setting and then entrusted it to human beings. In turn, God maintained relations with the humans, though they consistently refused God's biddings and even rejected God's demands with violence. Yet God did not give up. God continued to send forth authorized representatives despite the opposition and hostility of the humans. Finally, God sent his son with the expectation that humankind would recognize the rightful authority of God in the presence and person of God's son. But now humankind acted most disrespectfully toward God by rejecting and killing the son. From a human point of view we can expect God to respond in kind: to kill rebellious humanity and to make a new start. Yet listen to the strange words of Jesus, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes." God does not simply get reasonable revenge; God's ways are not our ways. Humans may reject God's son, even killing him, but God is not bound by human actions.” (Peaching the Revised Common Lectionary, Year A)

 

Greetings/Calls to Worship

 

Come away from the rush and worry of the world to worship God.
We come seeking peace and quiet for our souls.
Rest your spirits. Quiet your hearts. God is with us.
Praise be to God who calls us to come away.

 

Or

Come, the banquet of hope and praise is ready.
We come on your invitation, seeking to be fed.
Feed on the love of God in Jesus Christ
We come on your invitation, needing healing.
Be healed by God’s gracious mercy
We come on your invitation, longing for forgiveness
In Jesus’ Name, you are loved, healed and forgiven.
Alleluia, Praise be to God. AMEN.

 

Or

 

Good morning, friends. Welcome to a celebration of God’s love.
Thank you. We are glad to be here this morning.
Today we will hear the good news of God.
In this world in which the news is mostly bad, we look forward to hearing God’s good news for us.
Prepare your spirits. Quiet your souls. God is ready for you.
AMEN.

 

From north and south,
from east and west, we come:
God's people called to the Table
where simple grace nourishes us.
From down the street to across town,
from single households to apartment dwellers:
God's people are called to community,
where we live and serve one another.
From every class, every race, every status;
from little one with sippy cups to elders with overflowing hearts:
God's people are called to witness to God's hope,
to offer peace to a shattered world.

               (Thom Shuman)

 

Prayers

 

Opening Prayer

 

Gracious and Patient God, as we come to you this day, we are mindful of the many ways in which we have so easily turned our back on you. Turn us around again, O Lord. Open our hearts and our spirits to receive your holy word that we may again walk in the path of true discipleship. AMEN.

 

Thematic

 

God of all who wander in the wilderness,
you go before us as beacon and guide.
Lead us through all danger,
sustain us through all desolation,
and bring us home to the land
you have prepared for us. Amen.

 

Intercessory

 

God of salvation,
who sent your Son to seek out and save what is lost,
hear our prayers
on behalf of those who are lost in our day,
receiving these petitions and thanksgivings
with your unending compassion.

Prayers of the People, concluding with:

Redeeming Sustainer,
visit your people
and pour out your strength and courage upon us,
that we may hurry to make you welcome
not only in our concern for others,
but by serving them
generously and faithfully in your name. Amen.

 

Possible Hymns

 

• “Holy, Holy, Holy”
• “All People That On Earth Do Dwell”
• “All Creatures of Our God and King”
• “From All That Dwell Below the Skies”
• “Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation”
• “Let Us Break Bread Together”
• “God of The Ages”
• “Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies”
• “O Spirit of the Living God”
• “All Who Hunger”
• “How Firm A Foundation”
• “As The Deer”
• “The Spacious Firmament On High”
• “Jesus Shall Reign”
• “And Can It Be That I Should Gain”
• “Here, O My Lord, I See Thee Face To Face”
• “I Come With Joy”
• “For The Bread Which You Have Broken”
• “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”
• “Lord of The Dance”

  The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

  Color: Green

   

  Scripture

   

  Exodus 32:1–14

   

  Moses is absent and the Hebrews grow anxious. Their solution is to build a new god out of gold. They bow down and worship their god. God sees this and says to Moses, “Look what your children are doing.” God is angry and threatens to destroy the children of Israel. Moses intercedes and God changes God’s mind. Moses says these are God’s children and not Moses’ children. Moses reminds God of the Egyptian’s perception of God should God destroy the people. Moses mediation suggests that there are two criteria upon which we can approach God with the hope of changing God's mind about rightful judgment.  Neither reason for changing God's mind arises from the people of Israel themselves. The first reason has to do with mission. What effect would God's abandonment of his people have on the nations? It matters what the Egyptians think of God. The second reason has to do with the divine character. God is fundamentally gracious. Out of grace God changes God’s mind.

  
  Psalm 106:1–6, 19–23

   

  This Psalm is a good response to the first lesson. It takes the conclusions from the story of Moses mediating for Israel and fashions them into immediate language of petition. The past account of Moses’ petition combines with present petitions. Here is a powerful bridge from reflection on the past account of Moses as a heroic mediator to our present participation in petition.

  
  Philippians 4:1–9

   

  Much of Philippians is practical in nature. This lesson is more pointed and practical. The lesson opens with “therefore.” So what Paul writes now is a continuation of the previous chapter of encouragement. God is at work in the members of the church empowering and accomplishing God’s purposes. Paul calls on two women to agree “in the Lord.” Paul then returns to reflection and direction. Paul describes the activities and characteristics of Christian life: rejoicing, gentleness, lack of anxiety, prayer, thanksgiving, and peace. All of this is “in the Lord.” Paul directs them to an active life of faith that is anxiety-free because of the presence and power of the Lord. Now, Paul gives a selected catalogue of Christian values — whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing (most likely, to God), commendable, excellent, praiseworthy. God will be with them.

  
  Matthew 22:1–14

   

  Jesus continues teaching near the temple. Jesus gives the parable of the wedding banquet. The banquet is ready and servants go to announce this to those who have been invited. Those invited reject the invitation. This is understood now as the Messianic Banquet and the host is the Lord. Servants go back to issue the invitation and some are killed. Finally, the servants are instructed to go out and invite anyone to come. People respond. The banquet-giver notices someone is not wearing a “wedding robe.” He has this person bound up and thrown “into outer darkness.” The central message of the simplest form of the parable was that the status quo had refused God's invitation, and in his ministry Jesus was extending God's invitation to the outcasts. The Church is a mixture of good and bad. That mixture is not permanent. There will come a time when the bad will be exposed. That act of judgment will be the work of God. Those who find themselves unexpectedly included may not presume on grace, but are warned of the dire consequences of accepting the invitation and doing nothing except showing up. In early Christianity, the new identity of conversion was often pictured as donning a new set of clothes; the language of changing clothes was utilized to express the giving up of the old way of life and putting on the new Christian identity. The man was expected to have the deeds of an authentic Christian life.

   

  Greetings/Calls to Worship

   

  When the Lord calls us to the banquet, we get puffed up with importance.
  Humility needs to be our attitude; humility and gratitude.
  Help us, O Lord, be grateful for the many ways in which you love us.
  Help us return that love by the way in which we care for others.
  Be with us, O Lord, this day.
  Open our hearts to hear your words of hope and encouragement. AMEN.

   

  Or

  
  Praise be to God, who has brought us here this day.
  Praise and thanks to God for all the blessings we have received.
  What joy we have in God’s presence!
  What peace is brought to us in God’s house!
  This is truly the day that the Lord has made!
  Let us rejoice and be glad in it! AMEN.

   

  Or

   

  Here in this place, with these people,
  we come to worship the living God.
  In you, O God, we hope;
  in you, Creator of love, we live.
  Here in this sacred space, in these very moments,
  we are invited to the Table of Joy.
  In you, Christ of the Way, we rejoice;
  in you, dear Brother, grace is as near as your heart.
  Here on this day of gentleness and beauty,
  we are filled with the peace of God.
  In you, O Spirit, we find our path;
  in you, Teacher of hope, we learn to serve.

                        (Thom Shuman)

   

  Prayers

   

  Opening Prayer

   
  Open our hearts and our spirits to hear your healing words of peace and love, O God. Help us be the people of service and justice that you have called us to be. Make us ready to heal rather than harm; to serve rather than sever. Give us hearts of joy and justice, for we offer this prayer in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.

   

  Thematic

   

  God of all who wander in the wilderness,
  you go before us as beacon and guide.
  Lead us through all danger,
  sustain us through all desolation,
  and bring us home to the land
  you have prepared for us. Amen.

   

  Intercessory

   

  God of salvation,
  who sent your Son to seek out and save what is lost,
  hear our prayers
  on behalf of those who are lost in our day,
  receiving these petitions and thanksgivings
  with your unending compassion.
  
  Prayers of the People, concluding with:
  
  Redeeming Sustainer,
  visit your people
  and pour out your strength and courage upon us,
  that we may hurry to make you welcome
  not only in our concern for others,
  but by serving them
  generously and faithfully in your name. Amen.

   

  Possible Hymns

   

  • “Holy, Holy, Holy”
  • “Praise My Soul the King of Heaven”
  • “Rejoice, the Lord Is King”
  • “Now Thank We All Our God”
  • “Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God”
  • “The King of Love My Shepherd Is”
  • “Savior, Like A Shepherd Lead Us”
  • “All People That On Earth Do Dwell”
  • “Fairest Lord Jesus”
  • “Lord, Dismiss Us With Your Blessing”
  • “Here I Am, Lord”
  • “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”

    The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
    Color: Green

    Scripture

    Exodus 33:12–23

    If we read the first verses of the chapter, we learn God is still angry about the golden calves!  God has threatened to leave Israel alone. Their utter existence depends on God being with them and leading them. Moses again intercedes for the people. Moses prevails upon God not to leave Israel on its own. Moses pleads for God to be with the people. Moses makes his appeal based on God’s character and goodness and not on the merit of the people. Moses wants to know more about God. He asks to see God. God says Moses cannot see God’s face and live. But, God directs Moses to a cleft in the rock where God’s glory passes over.

    Consider a hymn written by Fanny Crosby:

    A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
    A wonderful Savior to me;
    He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,
    Where rivers of pleasure I see.

    Refrain
    He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
    That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
    He hideth my life with the depths of His love,
    And covers me there with His hand,
    And covers me there with His hand.

    
    Psalm 99

    This Psalm praises the power of God. The enthroned God in the Temple is just and righteous. Because God is inherently just, God cannot ignore evil. God is able to forgive. This is what gives rise to the hymn of praise.

    1 Thessalonians 1:1–10

    I Thessalonians is likely the earliest preserved Pauline letter and likely the earliest preserved piece of Christian literature. Our Christian faith is not a solo voyage. God “has chosen” us and we travel with God and fellow Christians in the church. We are called to be located in this world, but we have our existence in the presence and the power of God and Christ. The Thessalonians faithfully “imitated the apostles.”  They became faithful examples to other believers. The word and the faith have spread. The Thessalonians are both examples and agents of the saving work of Christ.

    Matthew 22:15–22

    Jesus is still in the temple precinct. Now the Pharisees challenge him. To say the least, Jesus and the Pharisees do not agree over the interpretation of the Law. Now they challenge Jesus over paying taxes to Rome. They have come to entrap Jesus. Jesus recognizes the trap and turns it back on them. This story is about the authority and insight of Jesus. There were more kinds of coins than one available for use in first-century Judea. Some had the head of the emperor on them and proclaimed him “Son of God.” These coins were considered blasphemy to Jews as a violation of the second commandment. Other coins were available for them to use. So, Jesus asks for a coin; he realizes they have already compromised their beliefs. They have already yielded to Rome. So, if they enjoy the comforts of Rome, they should pay for them. Christ knows us. We don’t fool him and we don’t use him.

    Greetings/Calls to Worship

    Though there are rulers, presidents, kings, queens, God is the Lord of all life.
    In God we live and move and have our being.
    God requires our faithfulness and our service.
    We reach out to others with the same kind of love with which God has touched our lives.
    Come, let us worship the Lord who is always with us.
    Let us praise God who walks daily by our side. AMEN.

    Or

    Celebrate God’s love, which has been poured into your life!
    Forgiveness, encouragement, support, and healing are gifts of God to us.
    Reach out and care for those around you.
    We will be people of peace and justice.
    Shout for joy!
    Sing God’s praises always! AMEN.

  • Or

  • 
    Welcome to worship, just as you are!
    We come, seeking, needing healing.
    God will always give you healing!
    We come, praying and praising!
    Blessed are you whose faith is in the Lord!
    For in God’s love and healing power we are strengthened to be of service to others. AMEN.

    Prayers

    Opening Prayer

    God, you are our refuge. When the world gets to be too much with us, we turn to you for consolation and healing. Help us today to hear your words of compassion. Enable us to be those who would willingly serve all people in need. For we ask these things in the name of Jesus our Lord. AMEN.

    Thematic

    God of all who wander in the wilderness,
    you go before us as beacon and guide.
    Lead us through all danger,
    sustain us through all desolation,
    and bring us home to the land
    you have prepared for us. Amen.

    Intercessory

    Creator God,
    you call us to love and serve you
    with body, mind, and spirit
    through loving your creation
    and our sisters and brothers.
    Open our hearts in compassion
    and receive these petitions
    on behalf of the needs of the church and the world.

    Prayers of the People, concluding with:

    Holy One,
    hear our prayers and make us faithful stewards
    of the fragile bounty of this earth
    so that we may be entrusted with the riches of heaven. Amen.

    Possible Hymns

    • “Sing Praise To God Who Reigns Above”
    • God Is Here”
    • “Immortal, Invisible God Only Wise”
    • “Jesus Shall Reign”
    • “O, Worship the King”
    • “Praise My Soul the King of Heaven”
    • “I Sing the Almighty Power of God”
    • “Be Thou My Vision”
    • “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
    • “Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah”
    • “Rock of Ages”
    • “Jesus Calls Us”
    • “Stand Up and Bless the Lord”
    • “Take My Life and Let It Be”

The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Color: Green

 

Scripture

 

Deuteronomy 34:1–12

 

The text is the account of Moses' death on Mount Nebo, his burial by God, and the passing on of his leadership to Joshua. Moses is granted a view of the Promised Land before his death. These final verses of Torah are not primarily about the death of Moses but about the forward look to the land. Here is a powerful statement how even we like Moses live by hope in divine promise.

Psalm 90:1–6, 13–17

 

The Psalm heading says this is “a prayer of Moses.” The central imagery of the Psalm is the petition for forgiveness. Remember the reason Moses had to settle for the mountaintop view of the Promised Land: he disobeyed God in the wilderness with regard to the drawing out of water at Meribah. The petitions of Moses certainly remind us of his disobedience, but they also introduce hope that is rooted in divine forgiveness.

1 Thessalonians 2:1–8

 

In the opening verses, the apostles recall the origins and the character of their ministry in Thessalonica. Then, they clarify the character and motivations of the ministry by denying inappropriate behavior and motives. They then explain how and why the apostles worked as they did. Obviously, they are being accused of deceit, impure motives, trickery, and attempting to please humans with a pretext of greed in order to be praised by humans. The apostles dispute these charges. This lesson is about the true practice and motives of Christian ministry. Christian ministry is done to please God. This means that we behave in certain ways.

Matthew 22:34–46

 

The Pharisees come to “test” Jesus. “What is the most important commandment?” they ask Jesus. Jesus gives the two most important commandments: love God totally and love your neighbor as yourself. Love of God is inseparably united with love of neighbor. Our love for God is expressed concretely in the love that we show and give our neighbors. These two laws summarize all the law and epitomize how we are to follow Christ. Verses 41-46 tell of the silencing of the Pharisees by Jesus. The Pharisees are speechless. We perceive Jesus' authority; and second, we receive a profound Christological lesson -- the Christ is the Lord!

 

Greetings/Calls to Worship

L: Our hearts are lifted up toward God.
P: God created all that is!
L: We celebrate that great love of God.
P: God gifted us with God’s only son, Jesus the Christ.
L: Rejoice and be glad today!
P: Our hearts and spirits praise God for all God’s blessings. AMEN.

Or

L: Good morning!
P: Good morning to you!
L: Today is a day that God created!
P: We shall rejoice and be glad in it.
L: Thanks be to God!
P: AMEN.

 

Or

 

God has been our dwelling place in all generations.

Before the mountains were raised up,

before the universe was even formed,

God has been there for us.

So let us live in him,

rooted and established in the faith of Christ,

and abounding in thanksgiving.

 

Love God, love your neighbour.

All the laws of Moses,

and all the teaching of the prophets,

hang on these two commandments.

May the love of God be upon us,

establishing whatever is loving in the work of our hands.

Yes, let God establish all that is loving in the work of our hands.

 

Prayers

 

Opening Prayer

Lord of light and hope, be with us this day as we have gathered to hear your word. Help us open our hearts to the commandments to love, even when loving is difficult. Give us the courage to be people who will commit their whole lives in your service. For we ask this in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.

 

Thematic

 

God of all who wander in the wilderness,
you go before us as beacon and guide.
Lead us through all danger,
sustain us through all desolation,
and bring us home to the land
you have prepared for us. Amen.

 

Intercessory

 

Lord God, friend of those in need,
your Son Jesus has untied our burdens
and healed our spirits.
We lift up the prayers of our hearts for those still burdened,
those seeking healing,
those in need within the church and the world.

Prayers of the People, concluding with:

Hear our prayers
that we may love you with our whole being
and willingly share the concerns of our neighbors.

 

Possible Hymns

 

• “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”
• “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You”
• “The God of Abraham Praise”
• “Blest Be The Tie”
• “O Jesus, I Have Promised”
• “Brother, Sister, Let Me Serve You”
• “Lord Whose Love Through Humble Service”
• “Love Divine”
• “Lead Kindly, Light”
• “Rejoice, the Lord Is King”
• “Where Charity and Love Prevail”

  The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

  Color: Green

   

  Scripture

   

  Joshua 3:7–17

   

  This is the story telling how Israel crossed the Jordan River to get to the Promised Land. First, there is a divine promise to Joshua that he will be authenticated by God before the people of Israel. Israel must pass through the water. There are no alternative options given. This experience will provide insight into God in two ways. It will confirm for Israel that God is present with them in general and more specifically in their leader. Possession of the land of Canaan is God's gift and not something that Israel has earned. The presence of the ark symbolizes God’s saving power. Israel crossing through water underscores how it both begins and ends their faith journey with God through the wilderness. Passing through the water underscores God’s saving act and points us toward baptism.

  
  Psalm 107:1–7, 33–37

   

  This Psalm both praises and reflects upon the salvation of God. The Psalm opens with a call to give thanks. There are many images of God’s power: God turns rivers into a desert and deserts into pools of water.

  
  1 Thessalonians 2:9–13

   

  In our text, the apostles recall their manner of ministry in Thessalonica. The text extends the effort to call the Thessalonians themselves as witnesses to the character of the apostles and their ministry. In ministry, we deal with others unselfishly as "brothers and sisters," and "like a father with his children" that is urging them to what is best for them. The gospel is "the word of God which is at work in believers." The good news comes from God, is about God, and transforms the lives of believers.

  
  Matthew 23:1–12

   

  “Do as I say, not as I do!” Jesus issues a reprimand because the Pharisees do not practice what they preach. They go out of their way to get the praise of the people. Jesus guides his hearers away from attempts to gain earthly honor; he directs them toward a life-style of humility. Often, it is not that we fail to understand the gospel; it is that we fail to practice what we do understand. “Ours is a materialistic culture, so we may not take on the symbols of deep religion as the Pharisees did; but we strive with all that we have to achieve the symbols of success that win us the admiration of those around us in an essentially secular culture. Even our modesty tends to be immodest, so we choose the simplicity of elegance rather than the simplicity of charity. The sad truth is that we have met the Pharisees, and they are we.” (Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, Year A)As we are freed from ourselves and our pursuits, we are freed to love and service in a humble and loving spirit.

   

  Greetings/Calls to Worship

   

  L: Give thanks to God, for God is good.

  P: God’s love endures forever!

  L: God has come to God’s people with blessings and hope.

  P: Praise God for the many ways God touches our lives. AMEN.

   

  OR

   

  L: God is leading us out of our wilderness.

  P: God will provide a safe haven for us.

  L: Place your trust in God’s loving kindness.

  P: God has heard our cries and offers us hope.

  L: Thanks be to God who brings us to life.

  P: Thanks be to God who nurtures and sustains us. AMEN.

   

  Or

   

  L: How good it is to gather together to praise our God!

  P: It is a joyous thing to sing and speak God’s praises!

  L: Let your hearts be glad and your spirits rejoice!

  P: May we with joy and thanksgiving,

  give our attention to God’s word and love for us. AMEN.

   

  Prayers

   

  Opening Prayer

   

  God of gentle, loving guidance, who brought the Israelites into a new land, filled with new hope and promise: Be with us today, opening our hearts and spirits to an awareness of your abiding love and presence with us. Help us to place our trust solely in you; for we ask this in Jesus’ Name, AMEN.

   

  Thematic

  O Holy God of Israel,
  you faithfully keep the promises
  you made to our ancestors
  and lead your people into the future,
  providing hospitality on the way.
  Help us who inherit the pilgrim life
  to journey faithfully at your command,
  that we may be a band of disciples
  called to be sojourners in your service. Amen.

   

  Intercessory

  We praise your abiding guidance, O God,
  for you sent us Jesus, our Teacher and Messiah,
  to model for us the way of love for the whole universe.
  We offer these prayers of love
  on behalf of ourselves and our neighbors,
  on behalf of your creation and our fellow creatures.
  
  Prayers of the People, concluding with:
  
  Loving God,
  open our ears to hear your word
  and draw us closer to you,
  that the whole world may be one with you
  as you are one with us in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

  Possible Hymns

   

  • “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah”
  • “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”
  • “Shall We Gather At The River”
  • “Love Divine”
  • “O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee”
  • “All People That On Earth Do Dwell”
  • “Amazing Grace”
  • “Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart”
  • “How Firm A Foundation”
  • “Sent Forth By God’s Blessing”
  • “Lead On, O King Eternal”
  • “Where He Leads Me I Will Follow”
  • “He Leadeth Me: O Blessed Thought”
  • “O Young and Fearless Prophet”
  • “Let Us With A Gladsome Mind”
  • “Lift High the Cross”
  • “What A Friend We Have in Jesus"

    All Saints Sunday

    Color: White

     

    All Saints Day

     

    All Saints falls on November 1 but may be celebrated on the first Sunday in November. In contemporary understanding, it commemorates all Christian people of every time and place. "The saints" in the New Testament usage refers to Christians collectively, and it is with this biblical understanding that celebration of this day has been rapidly spreading among Protestants in recent years.

     

    You may want to call the names individually of each member who has died since last All Saints Sunday. A candle may be lighted for each person, or a bell may be rung.  Consider providing a place for each worshiper to write the name or names of those saints of their own life.

     

     

    Scripture

     

    Revelation 7:9-17

     

    The church militant will become the church triumphant. This passage pictures the church triumphant. All the saints from every nation are described as singing before the throne of the Lamb with two symbols of victory, white robes and palm branches. The song is about the greatness of God who is able to save. When John wrote this, the church was being persecuted. The text states that our experience in this world cannot be a reliable indicator of the character of God. We are confronted with white robes made white by washing them in red blood. We understand because our experience is not the final word on God or God’s ability to redeem suffering and death.

     

    Psalm 34:1-10, 22

     

    This psalm has been chosen for All Saints Sunday because of the reference to the "holy ones” (“saints”). The reference to the people of God as saints is unusual in the Old Testament; this may be the only reference. God's salvation is better than anything that we might experience in our everyday lives. “O taste and see that God is good.”

     

    1 John 3:1-3

     

    “See what love the Father has given . . . .” This gift of God’s love is Jesus Christ. God's gift of Jesus has had transforming effects on those who believe in the Son, so that they are now called part of God's family. The future holds even more for the follower. That future hope influences the present. “The present status of believers as God's children, their future hope of the revelation of the Son, and their own full and final transformation has real ethical meaning for the present. The new identity and the future hope are a call to a thoroughly Christlike existence in the present.” (Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary)

     

    Matthew 5:1-12

     

    “Jesus went up on the mount.” These first twelve verses begin what we know as “The Sermon on the Mount.” The lesson offers direction for knowing what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. In the Beatitudes, Jesus uses "you" in the plural Greek form. These statements relate to community life. Jesus' words describe the life that we are to live in relation to one another and to the world. Matthew "spiritualized" the concept of the poor (mourning, hunger, and thirst, too). He moves beyond a literal sense. This is absolute, radical dependence upon God. When Jesus speaks of "the pure in heart" he is speaking of persons who are single-mindedly devoted to God. They are promised to see God. The "peacemakers" are actively engaged in the pursuit of peace. Jesus reminds us that true righteousness may cause us to be persecuted. True faith may be costly!

     

    Greetings/Calls to Worship

     

    The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,

       and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

    And also with you.

    Salvation comes from our God who is seated on the throne;

    And from the lamb at the center of the throne who is our shepherd.

    All blessing and glory,

    All thanksgiving and honor,

    All power and might,

    All praise and worship,

    All tributes that heaven and earth can offer,

    Belong to our God forever and ever.  Amen

     

    Or

     

    Grace to you and peace from God who is, and was, and is to come.

    Amen.

    And from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, the ruler of kings on earth.

    Amen.

    The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints.

    Amen.

     

    Sing praises to God, O you saints,
    and give thanks to God's holy name!

    We exalt you, O God, for you have restored us to life!

    We may cry through the night, but your joy comes with the morning.

    You hear us, O God, and you are gracious in our distress.

    You turn our mourning into dancing!

    Our souls cannot be silent!

    O God, our Savior, we give thanks to you forever!

     

     

    Prayers

     

    Thematic

     

    God of unfailing light,
    in your realm of glory
    the poor are blessed,
    the hungry filled,
    and every tear is wiped away.
    Strengthened by this vision,
    may we follow in the way of holiness
    that your Son made known in life and death. Amen.

     

    Intercessory

     

    All blessing, honor, and glory,
    all wisdom, praise, and thanks be yours,
    O God of our salvation!
    We pray in communion with all the saints on earth and heaven,
    with the martyrs and the faithful in all ages,
    and in the name of the Lamb who was slain,
    who alone is worthy of worship.
    
    Prayers of the People, concluding with:
    
    Bless us with your healing presence;
    make us hungry for justice;
    strengthen our faith;
    and increase our love for others,
    especially those we find it most difficult to love. Amen.

     

    Prayer for All the Saints

     

    Everliving God,
    this day revives in us memories of loved ones who are no more.

    What happiness we shared when they walked among us.

    What joy, when, loving and being loved, we lived our lives together.

    Their memory is a blessing for ever.

    Months or years may have passed, and still we feel near to them.

    Our hearts yearn for them.

    Though the bitter grief has softened, a duller pain abides;
    for the place where once they stood is empty now.

    The links of life are broken, but the links of love and longing cannot break.

    Their souls are bound up in ours forever.

    We see them now with the eye of memory,
    their faults forgiven, their virtues grown larger.

    So does goodness live, and weakness fade from sight.

    We remember them with gratitude and bless their names.

    Their memory is a blessing for ever.

    And we remember as well the members
    who but yesterday were part of our congregation and community.

    To all who cared for us and labored for all people, we pay tribute.

    May we prove worthy of carrying on the tradition of our faith,
    for now the task is ours.

    Their souls are bound up in ours forever.

    We give you thanks that they now live and reign with you.

    As a great crowd of witnesses,
    they surround us with their blessings,
    and offer you hymns of praise and thanksgiving.

    In Christ, they are alive for ever more. Amen.

     

     

    Possible Hymns

     

    • “For All the Saints”
    • “All Creatures of Our God and King”
    • “How Firm A Foundation”
    • “I Sing A Song of the Saints of God”
    • “Blest Are They”
    • “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name”
    • “Be Thou My Vision”
    • “Immortal, Invisible God Only Wise”
    • “Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim”
    • “Rejoice, the Lord Is King”
    • “Praise the Lord With the Sound of Trumpet”
    • “Come, Let Us With Our Lord Arise”
    • “I’ll Fly Away”
    • “We Are God’s People”
    • “There’ll Be Joy In the Morning”
    • “Soon and Very Soon”
    • “My Lord, What A Morning”
    • “I Was There To Hear Your Borning Cry”

 

 

The Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost

Color: Green

 

Scripture

 

Judges 4:1–7

 

“The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord . . . .” This seems to be the continuing theme of humankind. Israel did not obey God their quest and, instead, made treaty alliances with different nations. They were pursuing security.  God makes these nations an ongoing threat for Israel. The paradox is that what Israel thought it was doing for security becomes a source of continuing insecurity. The ensuing judges are God's answer to Israel's cry when a neighboring nation becomes their enemy. The significance of Deborah in this story comes in verses 8-9. Deborah is a prophet and judge who trust in God at all costs. Deborah did not hesitate to participate in God's holy war.

Psalm 123

 

This Psalm is a communal complaint. The complaint is anchored in trust in God. God is enthroned and God is merciful. The psalm illustrates how the complaint is built on an unwavering faith in the power of God to act.

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

 

“. . . The day of the Lord will come . . .” This awaited coming directs the way we live. We know the day of the Lord is coming; we do not know when. But we do know that God is a God of love and grace. We need not fear this day. God has given us our identity. We are children of the light and children of the day. We are set free so that we may live our lives for others.

Matthew 25:14–30

 

Here is Matthew’s version of the parable of the talents. The parable is an allegory for the second coming of Christ. A land owner entrusts his property to his servants as he is preparing to go away. They are entrusted varying amounts of “talents.” Let’s be clear, we are not talking about skills as cooking or playing an instrument. “A talent was approximately 12,000 days wages or the earnings of over thirty-eight years of full-time labor; so even the slave with but one talent held an extraordinary sum in trust.” (Preaching the New Revised Common Lectionary)  Matthew’s lesson to the church is that Jesus has commissioned us and entrusted us. We are not to allow even fear to keep us from our service. The Master of the house, Jesus, will return and demand an accounting of our service. We have received grace. We are not helpless for we are endowed with grace. Grace employed abounds.

 

Greetings/Calls to Worship

L: The time for harvest is close at hand. What have you done with the gifts God has given you?
P: We have brought our gifts to the house of the Lord.
L: Praise God for the gifts and for opportunities for service that they represent.
P: We praise God for all the ways in which our lives have been blessed.
L: Generous God, accept our gifts and our lives this day.
P: Loving God, accept our praise and gratitude. AMEN.

 

Or

L: We lift our eyes to the Lord.
P: God created the heavens and the earth
L: We raise our voices in songs and speech
P: We raise our voices in prayer and praise.
L: Lord, hear our prayers, accept our praise.
P: Lord, open our hearts to receive your blessings of peace. AMEN.

 

Or
L: How shall we enter the house of the Lord?
P: With songs of great praise and rejoicing!
L: How shall we prepare ourselves to receive the blessings?
P: With hearts, minds, and spirits that are open.
L: Come, let us worship the Lord and bow down.
P: Let us offer our praise to God who has redeemed us. AMEN.

 

Or

 

We look to God as the creator and sustainer of the universe.
 In our weakness, we depend on God’s mercy;
 for we live among people who so often seem without mercy, who treat our
faithfulness with contempt.
We live with our eyes fixed on you, O God, as the creator and
sustainer of our lives

 

Prayers

 

Opening Prayer

 

Awesome God, you created the world and all that is in it. You blessed each element of creation with your love. You called us from slavery into witness and service. Be with us this day as we gather to worship. Clear our minds of all the distractions which would draw us away from you. Open our hearts and spirits and let your healing and empowering love flow in. Prepare us to be witnesses to your power and love as we use the gifts with which you have blessed us in your service. For we offer this prayer in the name of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ. AMEN.

 

Thematic

 

O Holy God of Israel,
you faithfully keep the promises
you made to our ancestors
and lead your people into the future,
providing hospitality on the way.
Help us who inherit the pilgrim life
to journey faithfully at your command,
that we may be a band of disciples
called to be sojourners in your service. Amen.

 

Intercessory

 

Creator God,
you call us to love and serve you
with body, mind, and spirit
through loving your creation
and our sisters and brothers.
Open our hearts in compassion
and receive these petitions
on behalf of the needs of the church and the world.

Prayers of the People, concluding with:

Holy One,
hear our prayers and make us faithful stewards
of the fragile bounty of this earth
so that we may be entrusted with the riches of heaven. Amen.

                       (Vanderbilt Theological Library)

 

Possible Hymns

 

• “O, Wo4ship 5he King”
• “God Hath Spoken By the Prophets”
• “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”
• “Here I Am, Lord”
• Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
• “Be Thou My Vision”
• “Will You Come and Follow Me”
• “There’s A Wideness in God’s Mercy”
• “God of Grace and God of Glory”
• “God Who Stretched the Spangled Heavens”
• “I Want to Walk As A Child of the Light”
• “When We Are Living”
• “Soon and Very Soon”
• “A Charge To Keep I Have”
• “Faith While Trees Are Still in Blossom”
• “Make Me A Servant”
• “Take My Life and Let It Be”

 

Christ the King/Reign of Christ Sunday

Color: White

 

Scripture

 

Ezekiel 34:11–16, 20–24

 

Here is a clear description of God as a good shepherd. The lesson begins with judgment against past kingly shepherds for not feeding the sheep, strengthening the weak, or curing the sick. God will take the place of past shepherds. God will seek out and care for the sheep. God will judge between the sheep and establish a Davidic empire.  Christ the King Sunday is a celebration of the kingship of Jesus. It is a celebration of Jesus' sovereignty. The central metaphor for describing the power of kings is shepherd.

Psalm 100

 

This hymn of praise is a good response to the Ezekiel lesson. The central image of the psalm is the royal imagery of God as being the shepherd of the people of God. “Know that the LORD is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”

 

Ephesians 1:15–23

 

The letter gives thanks for God’s mighty work in Jesus Christ. The writer asks for the revelation or self disclosure of God. The life of believers is characterized by the joy of hope and an awareness of the richness of God's grace. The clearest manifestation of God’s power is the resurrection of Christ. The text is always careful to say this something God did. “In this Christological mediation that ultimately celebrates the powerful work of God, there is a deep conviction that what God has been about in Christ has profound significance for the Church.” (Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary) “And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body. . .”

Matthew 25:31–46

 

Here is prophecy concerning the final judgment of the nations. “The ideas inherent in the passage that should be treated in proclamation are (1) Christ is coming for judgment, (2) judgment means separation, (3) the standards for the division are striking, (4) both the sheep and the goats are surprised, and (5) Christ has the last word.” (Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, Year A) We must take seriously that God is active. God has standards, so that not everything goes. God promises to reckon reality and human existence in relation to God's standards. We have heard the message of Jesus and observed how he lived. As he revealed God’s standards, he will apply those standards. Christ judges the people in terms of whether they did or did not give food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, hospitality to the stranger, clothing to the naked, care to the sick, and comfort to those in prison. There is nothing in this list about a profession of faith or a “personal relationship with Christ!” Strangely both the sheep and the goats are surprised. “The sheep have served Christ without knowing him, and the goats have known Christ without serving him.” (Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, Year A)

 

Greetings/Calls to Worship

 

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God,

     "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

Blessing and honor and glory and might be unto the Lamb!

Worthy is Christ who has ransomed us by his blood

     from every tribe and tongue and nation,

     and made his people a kingdom, and priests to our God.

Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,

     who was and is and is to come! Amen.

 

Or

       (Thanksgiving)

L: Now is the time of harvest; the time when we gather in the bounty

P: We bring before God our bountiful lives.

L: Come, offer your praise and thanksgiving to the Lord of the Harvest.

P: We offer our praise to God who blesses our lives with goodness.

L: Gather us in, Lord. Gather us in.

P: Let our praise and worship be a tribute to your greatness, O God. AMEN.

 

Or

 

We come, for God gathers us here,
with that community called faith:
where the hungry are served first,
where the thirsty drink life's water.
We come, for God welcomes us here
into that home called grace:
where the naked are clothed in robes of hope;
where the stranger is embraced as the long-lost prodigal.
We come, for God reunites us here,
sisters and brothers in that family called love:
where the imprisoned model justice,
where the sick are cradled in God's peace.

                              (Thom Shuman)

 

Or

 

Behold, the King comes. Alleluia!

O come, let us worship and bow down. Alleluia! Alleluia!

 

Rejoice greatly, for Christ is your King.

Blessing and honor and glory be unto him.

 

Blessed are you, O Lord, King of the universe; you have delivered us from sin and death.

By your blood, you have brought your people into your kingdom.

 

Therefore God has highly exalted him:

And bestowed on him the name which is above every name;

 

That at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow:

And every tongue confess him the King of glory.

 

Behold, the King comes. Alleluia!

O come, let us worship and bow down. Alleluia! Alleluia!

 

Prayers

 

Thematic

 

Shepherd of Israel, hear our prayer
as your Son heard the plea
of the criminal crucified with him.
Gather into Christ's holy reign
the broken, the sorrowing, and the sinner,
that all may know
wholeness, joy, and forgiveness. Amen.

 

Intercessory

 

As the shepherd who cares for the flock, O God,
you guide all things through Jesus
whom you have exalted over all creation as king.
Hear the prayers we offer in his name
for the creation he cherished
and that you entrust to us.

Prayers of the People, concluding with:

Look upon your people who rejoice in your justice and mercy,
and grant that the prayers we make
may reveal Christ's reign in our time. Amen.

 

Possible Hymns

 

• “O Worship the King”
• “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee”
• “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name”
• “Rejoice the Lord Is King”
• “Praise My Soul the King Of Heaven”
• “The Lord’s My Shepherd”
• “Praise the Lord With the Sound of Trumpet”
• “Savior, Like A Shepherd Lead Us”
• “The King of Love My Shepherd Is”
• “There’s A Wideness in God’s Mercy”
• “Servant Song”
• “Jesus Shall Reign”
• “Be Thou My Vision”
• “Crown Him with Many Crowns”
• “Lead On, O King Eternal”
• “Hail To the Lord’s Anointed”
• “Give Thanks”
• “Let All Things Now Living”
• “All Who Hunger”

 

                                                                                                                                                                        

 

THE FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

 Scripture

Jeremiah 18:1-11

 God calls Jeremiah to go to the potter’s house.  Jeremiah goes and watches the craftsperson at work.  The potter sits at the potter’s wheel.  He fashions a piece of pottery.  It is not to his liking so he pushes the clay down and re-fashions it.  The potter can take a piece of pottery before it is fired and re-do it if it is spoiled or blemished. The analogy is drawn quickly.  As the potter does to the clay, so God can do to God’s people.  The power and sovereignty of God allows God not only to destroy the people but to remold them. The Lord is speaking about the clay/Israel and the potter/God. God’s mind can change regarding catastrophe or good for the people depending on their change. This beautiful passage speaks to the power of God to work change in creation.

Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18

 

Designated as a hymn, this Psalm also has a didactic or wisdom quality about it. The writer gives a lesson on the omnipresence of God. There is a beautiful affirmation that where ever we go, God is there; we cannot outrun God!  The Psalmist cannot escape God either in heaven or hell. The content of the psalm arises out of the experience of the psalmist, which makes the statement about the absolute control of God over all time and space a source of praise. The Psalmist concludes from all of this that God’s presence is not something to be feared but to be embraced.

 

Philemon 1-21

 

Philemon is in some ways a “personal letter.”  Written to Philemon to address a personal problem, Paul still writes the letter to be read to the church which meets in Philemon’s house.  Paul wrote the letter with Timothy.  So while it addresses a personal problem, it is not a personal letter. The letter concerns Onesimus, a runaway slave.  Onesimus ran away from Philemon and went to Paul.  In a play on words, for Onesimus means “useful” Paul says that Onesimus “is useful to me.” Paul said that Onesimus (“useful”) was useless to Philemon but now “Useful” has become useful.  While Paul could command Philemon to receive Onesimus back, he rather asks this of him as a Christian brother.  Furthermore, Paul wants Onesimus received back as a brother. In the thanksgiving, we get a glimpse of Paul’s theology of prayer.

Luke 14:25-33

 

Confronted by the crowds following him, Jesus confronts them with the cost of discipleship.  A true relationship with Jesus Christ means that disciples order their priorities. Neither one's own family nor one's own life may take precedence over the demands of a relationship to Christ. Jesus speaks of the all-demanding nature of Christian discipleship.  Consider the cost before committing.  If you are going to build something, you do a cost analysis.  If the king is going to war, he first considers his strengths and weaknesses.  Who hasn’t joined a committee or organization without first finding out what would be expected of you? Have you joined a book club only to realize you had actually committed to purchase a number of books?  “If there is anything—possessions, life itself, family — that is more important than is our discipleship to Jesus, then we have not weighed the costs of discipleship and taken seriously the outcome of God's work in Jesus Christ. Half-hearted discipleship is not discipleship, we must recognize this disturbing teaching; then, perhaps in honesty we can ask how we may become more faithful followers of Jesus Christ.” (Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, Year C) There is no duty higher than commitment to Jesus and to being his disciple.  We are invited to be cross-bearers.  To be sure, bearing the cross is something we do voluntarily; we pick up the cross to follow Jesus.  The cross is not our personal suffering or misfortune; it is intentional.

 

Visuals

 

The Jeremiah passage begs to have a potter and potter’s wheel present.  See if you can locate a potter who will come and work at the wheel either during the reading of this passage or the proclamation of the passage.  Have some pottery arranged before the congregation.  Make use of broken pieces and whole works of pottery.

 

The Philemon letter could be presented somewhat dramatically.  Don’t  just read the lesson.  Have it performed with Paul dictating the letter, someone writing down what he is saying, and Paul writing a few lines as the letter indicates.  Onesimus could be the scribe or could be removed from Paul and someone else as scribe.  When Paul speaks of Onesimus, have him look over in his direction.

 

The Gospel Lesson demands the cross present.  Perhaps someone could lift the cross and walk out with it.

 

Greetings/Calls to Worship

 

The Lord is merciful and gracious,

     slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 

He does not deal with us according to our sins,

nor requite us according to our iniquities.

What shall I render to the Lord for all his bounty to me?

I will lift up the cup of salvation

     and call on the name of the Lord.

                      (The United Methodist Book of Worship)

 

Or

 

In the midst of the congregation I will praise you.

Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,

     and give thanks to God's holy name!

I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,

     and God's greatness is unsearchable.

                          (The United Methodist Book of Worship)

 

Or

 

O God, you know us inside and out, through and through.
You search us out and lay your hand upon us.
You know what we are going to say even before we speak.
We praise you, O God, for the wonderful knowledge that whoever we
are and wherever we go, you are with us.

                              (Moria Laidlaw)

 

 

Prayers

 

Thematic

 

God of power and justice,
like Jeremiah you weep over those
who wander from you,
turn aside to other gods,
and enter into chaos and destruction.
By your tears and through your mercy,
teach us your ways
and write them on our hearts
so that we may follow faithfully
the path you show us. Amen.

 

Intercessory

 

God of mercy and healing,
you who hear the cries of those in need,
receive these petitions of your people
that all who are troubled
may know peace, comfort, and courage.

Prayers of the People, concluding with:

Life-giving God,
heal our lives,
that we may acknowledge your wonderful deeds
and offer you thanks from generation to generation
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

          (Vanderbilt Theological Library)

 

Call to Reconciliation

Our sins are not to be hidden from God. Rather, we bring them into the Light and lay them on the Table, trusting in the One who shaped us for goodness and will transform our brokenness into wholeness. Please join me as we pray, saying,

Unison Prayer of Confession

Searching God: we are so attached to our possessions, we have trouble sharing them. We are so connected to our pleasures that we cannot feel the pain of those around us. We are so stuck on ourselves, we cannot sense our souls slipping away into the shadows.
Most merciful God: loosen us from the grip of the world, so we may feel your healing touch. Sever us from our sin, so your Spirit might bind us to you. Reshape us, redeem us, renew us, so we may take up our crosses and follow our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon

The God who calls us is the God who created us; the God who formed us is the God who forgives us. This is the good news - we are God's new creation.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God. Amen.

                                        (Thom Shuman)

 

 

Possible Hymns

 

• “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”
• “O God, Our Help In Ages Past”
• “Lift High the Cross”
• “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”
• “Have Thine Own Way, Lord”
• “Are Ye Able”
• “Go Forth for God”
• “O Jesus I Have Promised”
• “Take My Life and Let It Be”
• “Will You Come and Follow Me”
• “Since Jesus Came Into My Heart”

 

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

 

Scripture

 

Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28

 

Here is a message of judgment.  God pronounces judgment on God’s people.  The judgment will come in the form of a hot wind blowing in from the north.  Think Dust Bowl and ghost towns. God decrees God’s mind will not change.  With blunt language we learn the people are “foolish and stupid” for forsaking God’s sanctuary and “whoring” after other gods.  “My people are skilled at doing evil but don’t know how to do good.”  The concluding verses imagine a wasteland devoid of people, vegetation, and animal life.  It is a time harking back to before creation when God’s mighty hand created. Even in this harsh judgment, there is hope.  God promises not to “make a full end.”  God will not abandon the people completely.

Psalm 14

 

Jeremiah wrote of humankind’s foolishness and stupidity. Now the Psalm responds with a lament or pronouncement of the fate of the fool. The foolish person does not perceive the presence of God.  God is not located with the fool but in heaven. God enters the world of humankind; for the fool this brings terror; for the righteous person it brings refuge.

1 Timothy 1:12-17

 

Our text opens with thanksgiving for the transformation and commissioning of Paul.  Paul the persecutor has become Paul the agent of God’s salvation.  The grace of the Lord overflowed for Paul. Then Paul celebrates that Christ came into the world to save sinners.  Paul claims to be the “foremost” of sinners who has now been transformed.  The reading moves from thanksgiving to testimony.  It concludes in the praise of God for God's transforming, saving, eternal grace.  This passage focuses on God’s saving grace; not only for Paul, but for everyone. Christ is the mediator of God’s grace. A central purpose in God's transformation of sinners into those who experience grace is for the redirection of life in the work of ministry.  Paul’s life was transformed and he became a servant of Christ. Our transformation leads us toward service.

Luke 15:1-10

 

Luke signals us that the protagonists are ready when he says the “tax collectors and scribes are drawing near.”  Regretfully, that does not portend good news.  The Pharisees and scribes murmur. That is no surprise! They were seeking something to entrap Jesus.  This man not only receives sinners, welcomes them, he actually eats with them!  Here is great scandal: Jesus eating with the outcasts and even welcoming them as host. So Jesus tells them a parable about a man with one hundred sheep.  One becomes lost and he goes out to find the one sheep.  “Which one of you would not do that?” Excuse me, but the Pharisees don’t do sheep!  Shepherds had acquired a bad reputation by the first century as shiftless, thieving, trespassing hirelings. Shepherding was listed among the despised trades by the rabbis, along with camel drivers, sailors, gamblers with dice, dyers, and tax collectors. That is an affront. Contact with the sheep would render them “unclean” according to Jewish law.  That is as bad as “sitting at the table with sinners.”  “Jesus' actions in accepting sinners and eating with them reflect God's gracious spirit toward those who were held in contempt by the Pharisees and scribes.” (The New Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. 9) Jesus says the person finding the one lost sheep goes home rejoicing. “There will be more joy over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine religious people who assume they need neither repentance nor grace. Likewise there is a poor woman who has ten coins. She loses one coin which does not seem to us to be of great value. Yet, she searches and finds the one lost coin and calls for celebration. There will be great joy over even one sinner who repents. The parable aims at calling the righteous to join the celebration.  The problem is we demand justice for our neighbor but grace for our self!  “A Jewish story tells of the good fortune of a hardworking farmer. The Lord appeared to this farmer and granted him three wishes, but with the condition that whatever the Lord did for the farmer would be given double to his neighbor. The farmer, scarcely believing his good fortune, wished for a hundred cattle. Immediately he received a hundred cattle, and he was overjoyed until he saw that his neighbor had two hundred. So he wished for a hundred acres of land, and again he was filled with joy until he saw that his neighbor had two hundred acres of land. Rather than celebrating God's goodness, the farmer could not escape feeling jealous and slighted because his neighbor had received more than he. Finally, he stated his third wish: that God would strike him blind in one eye. And God wept. The parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin expose the grudging spirit that prevents us from receiving God's mercy. Only those who can celebrate God's grace to others can experience that mercy themselves.” (The New Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. 9)

 

Drama

 

Perhaps you could use a broom or search for something lost. Let the children see what is going on, or involve them in the search. This is a time when words aren't needed! Searching and finding is a universal experience.

 

There is an old gospel hymn, “The Ninety and Nine.”  This could be a hymn of response to the gospel lesson.  

 

 

Greetings (Calls to Worship)

 

As a shepherd seeks a lost sheep,

so God seeks and saves the lost.

Like a woman who searches for a lost coin until it is found,

so God rejoices over one soul restored to wholeness.

As a father receives a returning wayward son,

so God welcomes us, and lets the past be the past.

Therefore let us praise God in thanksgiving that we are received.

Let us receive and welcome and rejoice over one another

in the name of Jesus Christ.

     (Ruth Duck, The United Methodist Book of Worship)

 

Or

 

With all our heart, we take refuge in God most high,
who created all things,
the merciful Father, Source of all goodness.

With all our heart, we take refuge in Christ,
the Redeemer from sin,
who restores our true nature,
the perfect and mysterious Word.

With all our heart, we take refuge in the One who embraces the universe,
who at all times and in all places responds to our needs,
the pure and tranquil Holy Spirit.

        (Karl Ludvig Reichelt, The United Methodist Book of Worship)

 

Or

 

Prayers

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Merciful God, your joy reflects a love so broad that it enfolds all people. A
love that despairs when people, for whatever reason, lose their way in life and
feel lost and rejected. Forgive us when we contribute to that despair by our
lack of persistence to do as Jesus did - to seek out and save the lost. When
we hold on to judgmental attitudes and neglect people we believe do not
measure up to our standards of righteousness -
those who have lost faith are not found.
When our apathy allows people to remain in the clutches of evil -
those who have lost hope are not found.
When we falter in our commitment to support those in our society weakened
by poverty and illness -
those who have lost a sense of worth are not found.
When we fail to welcome or reach out to the stranger, the uprooted, the
refugee -
those who have lost family and friends, home and even country, are not
found.

We acknowledge, most merciful God, the times when your mercy has sought
us out in our lostness and picking us up, has held us tenderly and rejoiced
when we have been healed. Strengthen us with your Spirit to reflect this same
mercy as we seek to do as Jesus did - to seek out and save those who are lost
and to love them as unconditionally as he did. This we pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

The mercy and grace of God overflows in Jesus Christ, “who came into this
world to save sinners” and so we rejoice that in Jesus
Christ we are found, we are forgiven, we are loved.
Thanks be to God!

 

Thematic

 

God of power and justice,
like Jeremiah you weep over those
who wander from you,
turn aside to other gods,
and enter into chaos and destruction.
By your tears and through your mercy,
teach us your ways
and write them on our hearts
so that we may follow faithfully
the path you show us. Amen.

                          (Vanderbilt Theological Library)

 

Intercessory

 

God of mercy and healing,
you who hear the cries of those in need,
receive these petitions of your people
that all who are troubled
may know peace, comfort, and courage.

Prayers of the People, concluding with:

Life-giving God,
heal our lives,
that we may acknowledge your wonderful deeds
and offer you thanks from generation to generation
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

                    (Vanderbilt Theological Library)

 

Possible Hymns

 

• “Immortal, Invisible God Only Wise”
• “Come Thou Fount”
• “Amazing Grace”
• “Praise My Soul the King of Heaven”
• “And Can It Be That I Should Gain”
• “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
• “My Song Is Love Unknown”
• “The King of Love My Shepherd Is”
• “There’s A Wideness In God’s Mercy”
• “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”
• “Wind Who Makes All Winds That Blow”
• “The Lord’s My Shepherd”
• “O Zion, Haste”

 

 

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

 

Scripture

 

Jeremiah 8:18–9:1

 

“I feel your pain.” Jeremiah feels the pain of his people.  Jeremiah is sick with grief over his “poor people.” The words in his lament are hard words: the "cry,” the "hurt,” (crushing); the "healing" that will not come; and the heaps of the "slain.”  The summer is over but there has been no harvest of health or grain. There is only more sickness and destruction. Explicit in Jeremiah’s lament are deep questions about the actions of God. Can it be that the Lord is not really in Zion? That Jerusalem's king is gone? Is there really no healing balm in Gilead to end the suffering of Jeremiah's people?  As the reading continues, Jeremiah’s anguish continues as he is forced to pronounce the words of judgment. God’s punishment may be justified but it is not any easier to bear. Jeremiah (and readers today) still long for some healing that will alleviate the sense of being abandoned by God.

 Psalm 79:1-9 

 

The Psalm continues the lamentation from Jeremiah.  The community laments the absence of God in their midst. The lament presents a complaint to God, offers petition, and ends with confidence in God.  We need to understand and appreciate the nature of lament.  It is acceptable for us to lament or cry out to God.  The lament is therapeutic.  As we lament, we keep the conversation going.  People who have ceased to lament have given up any hope for a better day.  This is a time to help the congregation be open and honest with their hurts and pains.

1 Timothy 2:1-7

 

If you are looking for a “church leadership manual” you will find it in the second and third chapters of 1st Timothy.  Our lesson begins this by offering a set of pointed directions. These verses are a statement about prayer, and they are concerned with the objects of prayer and with the theological basis of appropriate praying.  It is clear in this passage that the gospel and the life of Christian faith are concerned with all human beings. The writer calls for prayers for everyone. He states that we should pray for our leaders. We find that such prayer is pleasing to God, and we learn that the God who accepts such praying is the one who desires for all persons to be saved and to know the truth. A creedal statement in verses five and six validates prayer. The apostle Paul was appointed to instruct the Gentiles in matters of faith and truth because of God's concern for the welfare of all humans. This lesson is a call to prayer for a life of peace and godliness for all humanity as they are established in faith and truth in accordance with  God’s will.  All Christians are thankful for what God has done in Jesus Christ. God’s work in Christ brings transformation.. 

Luke 16:1-13

 

Luke signals a change in the audience.  Jesus is teaching his disciples. So he tells them a parable of a rich man and his steward. Charges are brought to the rich man about his steward.  Perhaps he was an absentee landlord. The owner summons the steward and confronts him with the charges.  He fires the steward and it occurs to the steward he is going to have to work!  The shrewd steward then cuts deals with the people who owe money. The owner is impressed with the shrewdness of the steward and commends him.  How do we interpret this strange parable? It appears the owner praises the crooked steward for being shrewd. His shrewdness is that before the tenants learn he is no longer employed by the rich owner, he cuts deals with the tenants.  The tenants assume he is doing this on behalf of the owner. The owner cannot undo this because to do so would make him “lose face” in the community.  “The steward casts an aura of honesty and goodness on his master and shrewdly provides for his own future. The debtors are now bound by honor to reciprocate the steward's benevolence. Through the parable, therefore, Jesus admonishes his hearers to cast caution aside, seize the moment of opportunity, and make provisions for their future before God. The kingdom is at hand.” (The New Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. 9)  The passage tells us that we cannot serve two masters. It is a call to place Christ first in our priorities. Fred Craddock writes:

“Most of us will not this week christen a ship, write a book, end a war, appoint a cabinet, dine with a queen, convert a nation, or be burned at the stake. More likely the week will present no more than a chance to give a cup of water, write a note, visit a nursing home, vote for a county commissioner, teach a Sunday school class, share a meal, tell a child a story, go to choir practice, and feed the neighbor's cat. "Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much"  (Interpretation, Luke)

 

Greetings/Calls to Worship

 

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

And also with you. 

The risen Christ is with us.

Praise the Lord! 

 

Or

 

Masters,

two and more,

competing for our money

clamoring for our time

creating chaos in our lives.

Master,

one God,

quiet us and draw us near.

 

Or

 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,

   and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

 And also with you.

Praise the Lord!  Give praise, oh servants of the Lord

Praise the name of the Lord. 

   Blessed be the name of the Lord

   from this time on and forevermore.

From the rising of the sun to its setting

   the name of the Lord is to be praised.

The Lord is high above all nations

   and his glory above the heavens.

 

 

Prayers

 

Thematic

God of power and justice,
like Jeremiah you weep over those
who wander from you,
turn aside to other gods,
and enter into chaos and destruction.
By your tears and through your mercy,
teach us your ways
and write them on our hearts
so that we may follow faithfully
the path you show us. Amen.

 

Intercessory

 

Friends in Christ,
God invites us to hold the needs of our sisters and brothers
as dear to us as our own needs.
Loving our neighbors as ourselves,
we offer our thanksgivings and our petitions
on behalf of the church and the world.

Prayers of the People, concluding with:

Hear our prayers, God of power,
and through the ministry of your Son
free us from the grip of the tomb,
that we may desire you as the fullness of life
and proclaim your saving deeds to all the world. Amen.

 

Confession and Pardon

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Merciful God, when we fail to work towards establishing conditions which
allow justice to flower and mercy to flourish in people’s lives;
forgive us.
When our satisfaction with the status quo dulls our capacity to grieve
over the injustices suffered by so many people in our society;
forgive us.
When we collaborate with those who exploit workers in sweatshops by
buying their products;
forgive us.
When we become so deeply attached to the quest for wealth and power that
we do not hear Jesus’ words about the impossibility of serving both God and
wealth addressed to us;
forgive us.
When achieving prosperity becomes a higher priority than tackling the causes
of poverty;
forgive us.
Strengthen us, O God, to withstand the seduction of a society which seems
obsessed with the acquisition of wealth and power, too often at the expense
of the poor and powerless. Help us to live as Jesus did, in solidarity with
those who have lost hope of anything good or just happening in their lives.
This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

“There is one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself
human, who gave himself a ransom for all...” (1 Timothy 2: 5,6a)
This undeserved good news is that in Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God!

 

Possible Hymns

 

• “Immortal, Invisible God Only Wise” 
• “Sing Praise To God Who Reigns Above” 
• “And Can It Be” 
• “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” 
• “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” 
• “O Worship The King” 
• “Amazing Grace” 
• “Jesus, Lover of My Soul” 
• “There Is A Balm In Gilead” 
• “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go” 
• “Be Thou My Vision” 
• “O, Jesus I Have Promised” 
• “Take My Life, And Let It Be”

 

 

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

 

Scripture

 

Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15

 

“The Word of the Lord came to Jeremiah.”  Get the surroundings.  Jeremiah is confined. Jerusalem is under siege by the king of Babylon. Verses 1-5 recount how Jeremiah is under house arrest by King Zedekiah for prophesying about the downfall of Jerusalem during siege warfare. Still, the word of God came to Jeremiah.  During this siege, Jeremiah purchases land. The central message is hope.” Any sermon on this text must (1) explore what hope means to the people of God, (2) how hope influences action, and (3) how the prophet provides the paradigm of the hope-filled person of God.” (Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, C) Buying the land seemed illogical to Jeremiah.  Yet, he follows the direction of God. This action performed in doubt, embodies hope as it created the future.

Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16

 

The setting of the Psalm is the sanctuary.  The imagery is of finding shelter under God’s wings or abiding in God’s presence. The hearers are called to confess God as refuge and fortress.  We live under the protection of God; we can trust God to be at work in our behalf.

1 Timothy 6:6-19

 

Our text is from the end of 1 Timothy.  The writer gives a final series of observations that describe a life of faithfulness.  Commentators see seven related sections in this reading:

“1. The recognizable value of piety that is characterized by contentment (v. 6);

2. The reasons why piety should bring contentment (vv. 7-8);

3. The dangers of piety that is not content but that looks for profits and wealth (vv. 9-10);

4. A call to disciplined living that looks to the future as it recalls the past (vv. 11-12);

5. An eschatological charge to Christ-like faithfulness (vv. 13-14);

6. A theological meditation and doxological declaration about the future appearance of Jesus Christ (vv. 15-16); and

7. A final word for wealthy Christians (vv. 17-19).” (Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, Year C)

 

The central theme is that there is great gain in Godliness (piety) which brings contentment. Our passage recognizes the great gain of piety brings contentment in God-centered devotion. God is the ground of gratification and the goal of the Christian life. God, not goods, determines our future.  Take care concerning wealth.  the desire, love, and craving for riches distorts one's perspective, life, and relationship to God. Timothy is called away from longings for wealth to a life of robust service to God.

 

Luke 16:19-31

 

Here is a parable of reversal. A rich man, clothed in purple, ate well and lived well.  Outside his gate was a poor man, Lazarus, who was starving. Lazarus had only the dogs to lick his wounds!  Lazarus dies and goes to heaven. The rich man dies and goes to hell.  The rich man laments his plight. He wants Lazarus to come and bring water to his parched lips.  It is interesting that he knows Lazarus by name. He was not completely oblivious to him; just indifferent to his plight. When Lazarus can’t come to the rich man, the man wants to send word to his brothers to warn them.  Nope. They had Moses and the prophets. Well if someone should return from the dead they might listen. There isn’t much proof that Jesus enemies listened to him any better after the resurrection!  “This parable confronts and threatens affluent and indifferent Christians. Whatever we gain we have by the grace of God. As we see the world around us, it is possible — even as we affirm Moses, the prophets, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ — to go on living selfishly in a manner that God ultimately condemns.” (Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary Year C) 

 

Greetings/Calls to Worship

 

Jesus said:

"I was hungry and you gave me food,

     I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink."

Let us act justly.

"I was a stranger and you welcomed me,

     I was naked and you gave me clothing."

Let us love tenderly.

"I was sick and you took care of me,

     I was in prison and you visited me."

Let us walk humbly with our God.

May we see Christ in one another,

     that we may be healers and peacemakers in Christ's name.

 

Or

 

Trust in the Lord and do good.

May the Lord give strength to the people!

O taste and see that the Lord is good!

God is our refuge and strength.

 

Or

 

God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light,

whom no one has seen or can see:

to him be honor and might forever. Amen.  (1 Tim 6:15,16 NIV alt)

 

Or

 

We come into the presence the Most High, we abide in the shadow of the Almighty, we say to the LORD,
"My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust." [from Psalm 91:1-2]

 

Or

 

With all our heart, we take refuge in God most high,
who created all things,
the merciful Father, Source of all goodness.

With all our heart, we take refuge in Christ,
the Redeemer from sin,
who restores our true nature,
the perfect and mysterious Word.

With all our heart, we take refuge in the One who embraces the universe,
who at all times and in all places responds to our needs,
the pure and tranquil Holy Spirit.

    (Karl Ludvig Reichelt)

 

Prayer of Confession and Pardon

 

O holy and merciful God,
we confess that we have not always taken upon ourselves
  the yoke of obedience,
nor been willing to seek and to do your perfect will.

We have not loved you
with all our heart and mind and soul and strength,

neither have we loved our neighbors as ourselves.

You have called to us in the need of our sisters and brothers,
and we have passed unheeding on our way.

In the pride of our hearts, and our unwillingness to repent,
we have turned away from the cross of Christ,
and have grieved your Holy Spirit.

 

All offer prayers of confession in silence.

 

This is the message we have heard from God and proclaim to you,
that God is light and in God there is no darkness at all.

If we walk in the light, as God is in the light,
we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus the Son cleanses us from all sin.

 

Prayers

 

Thematic

 

God of power and justice,
like Jeremiah you weep over those
who wander from you,
turn aside to other gods,
and enter into chaos and destruction.
By your tears and through your mercy,
teach us your ways
and write them on our hearts
so that we may follow faithfully
the path you show us. Amen.

 

Intercessory

 

Lord God, friend of those in need,
your Son Jesus has untied our burdens
and healed our spirits.
We lift up the prayers of our hearts for those still burdened,
those seeking healing,
those in need within the church and the world.

Prayers of the People, concluding with:

Hear our prayers
that we may love you with our whole being
and willingly share the concerns of our neighbors. Amen.

 

Possible Hymns

 

• “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”
• “We Sing To You O God”

• “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus”
• “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”
• “Be Thou My Vision”
• “God of Grace and God of Glory”
• “On Eagle’s Wings”
• “Brother, Sister Let Me Serve You”
• “Amazing Grace”
• “For The Beauty of the Earth”
• “God Hath Spoken by the Prophets”
• “I Sing A Song of the Saints of God”
• “I Sing the Almighty Power of God”
• “Jesus, Remember Me”
• “O God, Our Help In Ages Past”
• “Wounded World That Cries for Healing”
• “Make Me A Channel of Your Peace”
• “What Does the Lord Require?”
• “Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life”

 

 

 

 

The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

 

Scripture

 

Lamentations 1:1-6

 

“How lonely sits the city that was full of people!” This is the beginning of a sad and almost funeral dirge. It is about the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of people from Judah. The writer laments Jerusalem and Judah. Once a great and vibrant city, Jerusalem is in ruins. The writer compares this to a princess who becomes a widow. It is a reminder of the reversal. This underlines her aloneness and the precariousness of her future. Grief is palpable in the city. Roads, city gates, and inhabitants mourn, for Zion is in “bitter anguish.” 

Psalm 137

 

“By the waters of Babylon, we sat down and wept.” This is one of the most painful of all the Psalms. Being in a strange land was not enough. The tormentors or victors demanded the Israelites sing some of their national songs.  How could they sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?  Here is a crisis of great proportions. Their nation is defeated and they are in exile. Now they captors demand they sing songs of Zion.  It is a crisis of faith. We do not even know if God is present in this strange land.  This lament serves as a good response to Lamentations. What strange lands do we inhabit? Are we in exile? Serious illness, death, family problems all may feel to us like exile. Have we ever questioned whether we could sing God’s songs in these desolate places?

2 Timothy 1:1-14

 

Be careful with the authorship of the pastoral letters.  Scholars have argued for years whether the apostle Paul is the Paul who wrote to Timothy. Timothy had been Paul’s traveling companion. Now Paul is imprisoned in Rome. Here is Paul's greeting and opening exhortation: Remember who you are, rekindle the gift in you, don't be afraid. There is no shame in suffering when it comes from trusting the Lord. The passage speaks of God’s call to Timothy and the charge and commission Timothy received. Paul is the example of faith for Timothy. Paul gives thanks for Timothy’s faith which he first knew in the grandmother and then the mother.

Luke 17:5-10

 

“Increase our faith.” After hearing Jesus talk about the kingdom ethic and confronting and forgiving those who sin, the disciples show surprise, dismay, and a sense of inadequacy for such a high calling. While faith is a dynamic process and one can grow in faith, faith is not just a matter of one’s own strength. Jesus’ response seems harsh. Does he challenge their faith? Does he imply they don’t have faith? “If you had even faith the size of the mustard seed you could do wonders?  What they need is to understand that faith enables God to work in a person's life in ways that defy ordinary human experience. It is not about being able to do miraculous works or spectacular tricks. Jesus assures the disciples that with even a little faith they can live by his teachings on discipleship. Then the parable reminds us that we cannot do more than is expected of us. We are always indebted to God. Hint: it is not about the slave; it is about the Master. It’s not about us; it is about God!

 

Greetings/Calls to Worship

 

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

And also with you. 

The risen Christ is with us.

Praise the Lord!

 

Or

 

Sing praises to God, O you saints,
and give thanks to God's holy name!

We exalt you, O God, for you have restored us to life!

We may cry through the night, but your joy comes with the morning.

You hear us, O God, and you are gracious in our distress.

You turn our mourning into dancing!

Our souls cannot be silent!

O God, our Savior, we give thanks to you forever!

                         (Jann C. Weaver)

 

Or

 

We gather, as God's people,
bringing our fears and pain,
knowing that when our spirits
have grown cold,
God rekindles the gift of faith in us.
We gather, as God's people,
hanging our broken hearts
on the branches of the tree of life,
knowing that while friends
may turn against us,
God transforms enemies
into sisters and brothers.
We gather, as God's people,
hungering for healing and hope,
knowing that even when life is no picnic,
God prepares a feast for us.

                   (Thom Shuman)

 

 

Prayers

 

Thematic

 

God of power and justice,
like Jeremiah you weep over those
who wander from you,
turn aside to other gods,
and enter into chaos and destruction.
By your tears and through your mercy,
teach us your ways
and write them on our hearts
so that we may follow faithfully
the path you show us. Amen.

 

Intercessory

 

 

Lord God, friend of those in need,
your Son Jesus has untied our burdens
and healed our spirits.
We lift up the prayers of our hearts for those still burdened,
those seeking healing,
those in need within the church and the world.

Prayers of the People, concluding with:

Hear our prayers
that we may love you with our whole being
and willingly share the concerns of our neighbors. Amen.

                        (Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

 

Confession and Pardon

 

O holy and merciful God,
we confess that we have not always taken upon ourselves
  the yoke of obedience,
nor been willing to seek and to do your perfect will.

We have not loved you
with all our heart and mind and soul and strength,

neither have we loved our neighbors as ourselves.

You have called to us in the need of our sisters and brothers,
and we have passed unheeding on our way.

In the pride of our hearts, and our unwillingness to repent,
we have turned away from the cross of Christ,
and have grieved your Holy Spirit.

                  All offer prayers of confession in silence.

 

This is the message we have heard from God and proclaim to you,
that God is light and in God there is no darkness at all.

If we walk in the light, as God is in the light,
we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus the Son cleanses us from all sin.

(1 JOHN 1:5, 7, ALT.)

 

May almighty God, who caused light to shine out of darkness,
shine in our hearts, cleansing us from all our sins,
and restoring us to the light of the knowledge of God's glory,
in the face of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

 

Possible Hymns

 

• “I Sing the Almighty Power of God”
• “God of Grace and God of Glory”
• “Be Thou My Vision”
• “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”
• “O Jesus I Have Promised”
• “O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee”
• “O Spirit of the Living God”
• “You Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim”
• “My Song Is Love Unknown”
• “My Life Flows On (How Can I Keep from Singing)”
• “By the Babylonian River”
• “Let All Things Now Living”
• “Let Us With A Joyful Mind”
• “As The Deer”
• “We Need A Faith”
• “We Walk By Faith”

 

 

The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

 

Scripture

 

Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7

 

Our passage contains the text of a letter the prophet sent from Jerusalem to Jews in Babylon. The background for this passage is the defeat of Jerusalem, the exile of its ruling elite, and how these events were to be interpreted theologically. The central theological question was whether God was abandoning Jerusalem or simply testing the people. Voices arise on both sides of this debate, which gave rise to the problem of who was right, especially when both sides claimed to speak for God. Jeremiah begins with the prophet Jeremiah putting a yoke on his shoulders as a symbolic action that the Babylonian conquest was not simply a momentary problem but a far more permanent situation. The prophet's actions are in conflict with a majority opinion that stressed how God would quickly reverse this situation.  So the words of the text advise the people to settle in for the long haul. If you seek peace, first seek it for the city where you live. In its peace you will find peace.  This might not be a bad lesson for us who are aliens in this land awaiting the kingdom.

Psalm 66:1-12

 

This portion of the Psalm is a hymn of praise to God and it celebrates God’s acts of salvation.  The beginning verses are a call to praise God. The worshipers respond. The Psalm then gives reasons why God is worthy of praise. “Come and see what God has done.”

2 Timothy 2:8-15

 

Our passage is a part of Paul’s charge to Timothy. It is a very theological and personal word of advice of a pastor to his younger colleague in ministry.  The call of the pastor is to focus on the work of God in Christ. “Remember Jesus Christ.”  This is the heart of Christian faith and ministry. There is a promise.  As we remember Jesus Christ, we remember the power of God revealed in raising Jesus from death. Hold on to that power! Share the good news of the meaning of faith in Jesus Christ.  There is a call to action. Timothy is to live out his life of faith toward others. He is to remain faithful even in suffering.

Luke 17:11-19

 

We know that Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem. We even know what awaits him there! Jesus is between Samaria and Galilee. He encounters ten lepers. These lepers beg Jesus for mercy. Jesus tells them to go and show themselves to the priest. On the way they are healed. One of the ten, a Samaritan, returns to Jesus and gives thanks for his healing. Jesus blesses this thankful person and bids him go for his faith has made him well. Most of us are not familiar with leprosy. We might compare the response to lepers in Jesus’ day to AIDS today. Leprosy cut the person off from community, faith, and family. To understand the story, we must understand the devastation of the disease. So human need meets divine action and finds faith. We probably don’t have leprosy. We do experience human need: suffering, death, divorce, and brokenness. God in Jesus Christ responds to the cry of the needy.

 

Greetings/Calls to Worship

 

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

And also with you.

The risen Christ is with us.

Praise the Lord!

 

Or

 

Trust in the Lord and do good.

May the Lord give strength to the people!

O taste and see that the Lord is good!

God is our refuge and strength.

 

Or

 

Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;

     break forth, O mountains, into singing!

For the Lord has comforted his people,

     and will have compassion on his suffering ones.

 

Or

 

Let all the earth make a joyful noise in word and music, to you, O God,  
leading your people to freedom, you gave them life.
We praise you as the one who strengthens us and gives us life.
When we are tested and tried, and burdened with care,
the promise of your love and grace gives us strength, so,
let the sound of God’s praise be heard.

 

Or

 

Whether we live in an apartment or a house;
if we reside in the suburbs or the city:
God tells us to pray for the place

where we live.
Whether we are exiles or prisoners for the gospel;
if we are young, old, insider, outcast:
God says, when you search for me,
you will find me.
Whether we have been wandering and lost;
or if we have lived in the same place all our lives:
God says, I will gather you from all your places
and bring you home.

 

Prayers

 

Thematic

 

God of power and justice,
like Jeremiah you weep over those
who wander from you,
turn aside to other gods,
and enter into chaos and destruction.
By your tears and through your mercy,
teach us your ways
and write them on our hearts
so that we may follow faithfully
the path you show us. Amen.  

 

Intercessory

 

Lord God, friend of those in need,
your Son Jesus has untied our burdens
and healed our spirits.
We lift up the prayers of our hearts for those still burdened,
those seeking healing,
those in need within the church and the world.

Prayers of the People, concluding with:

Hear our prayers
that we may love you with our whole being
and willingly share the concerns of our neighbors. Amen.

                         (Prayers from Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

 

Possible Hymns

 

• “Now Thank We All Our God”
• “Sing Praise To God Who Reigns Above”
• “All People That On Earth Do Dwell”
• “All Who Love and Serve Your City”
• “Amazing Grace”
• “O Master, Let Me Walk With You”
• “O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing”
• “O God Our Help In Ages Past”
• “Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart”
• “Lift High the Cross”
• “Be Thou My Vision”
• “Just As I Am”

 

 

The Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost

 

Scripture

 

Jeremiah 31:27-34

 

This passage stretches out a vision of a new covenant.  This is the only place in the Old Testament where the word “new” is used to describe covenant.  So what is new? The old adage about children’s teeth being on edge because of their parent’s action in eating sour grapes is set aside.   “The days that are coming . . . says the Lord.”  As surely as God has been active in their past, building up and tearing down, God will be active in their future.  This covenant will be put within; it will be “written upon their hearts.”  The law will be internalized into the very heart of Israel. As a result, “all will know God and God will forgive.”  The new covenant brings divine reversals.

 Psalm 119:97-104

 

This Psalm is an acrostic poem with every eight lines initiated by one consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.  This probably would enable a student to memorize then internalize the ideas. The entire Psalm is a meditation on Torah. This makes it a good response to the Jeremiah passage on new covenant.

2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

 

Timothy is urged to be loyal and steadfast. Remember from whom you heard the teachings.  As we move through the lesson we gain understanding. “First, we find an admonition to remain faithful to what was learned from childhood (3:14-15). Second, the pastor declares the godly value of Scripture (vv. 16-17). Third, Timothy is told to preach and teach with persistence (4:1-2). Fourth, the pastor warns of the danger of rebellious people and false teachers, both groups of whom abandon the truth (vv. 3-4). And, fifth, there is a final charge to faithful ministry (v. 5).” (Preaching the New Revised Common Lectionary, Year C)  Faith is focused on Jesus Christ. Salvation is from Jesus Christ. 

Luke 18:1-8

 

Here is the parable of the widow and the unjust judge.  Historically, the judge's responsibility within the covenant community was to declare God's judgment and establish shalom among God's people. It is clear this judge is unfit for the job!  Because of the widow’s persistence, the judge relented and acted favorably to her.  Persistence! If a human judge will relent then will not God hear the cries of the needy and respond? Luke interprets this parable as a call to persistent prayer.  We can also see clearly the reminder to care for the widows in the midst of the community.  From our Judeo-Christian heritage, no charge is stronger than to “take care of the widows, orphans, and strangers.”  With so much written about “illegal aliens” in our country, we need a word of grace. Take care of the weak, the widow, the orphan, the stranger. Real care must be exercised in comparing a just God with such an unjust judge.

 

Greetings/Calls to Worship

 

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

And also with you.

The risen Christ is with us.

Praise the Lord!

 

Or

 

Soft summer rain falling on parched earth

Waters of God, flow down upon us.

Torrential floods ripping lives into pieces

Waters of God, have mercy upon us.

Soaking waters which nourish the seed

Waters of God, replenish us.

 

Or

 

You have come from afar and waited long and are wearied.

Let us sit side by side,
sharing the same bread drawn from the same source
  to quiet the same hunger that makes us weak.

Then standing together let us share the same spirit, the same thoughts
that once again draw us together in friendship and unity and peace.

 

Prayers

 

Thematic

 

God of power and justice,
like Jeremiah you weep over those
who wander from you,
turn aside to other gods,
and enter into chaos and destruction.
By your tears and through your mercy,
teach us your ways
and write them on our hearts
so that we may follow faithfully
the path you show us. Amen.

 

Intercessory

 

God of mercy and healing,
you who hear the cries of those in need,
receive these petitions of your people
that all who are troubled
may know peace, comfort, and courage.

Prayers of the People, concluding with:

Life-giving God,
heal our lives,
that we may acknowledge your wonderful deeds
and offer you thanks from generation to generation
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Possible Hymns

 

• “Immortal, Invisible God Only Wise”
• “What A Friend We Have in Jesus”
• “Be Still, My Soul”
• “As The Deer”
• “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go”
• “Seek Ye First The Kingdom of God”
• “O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee”
• “Here I Am”
• “Amazing Grace”
• “My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less”
• “Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart”
• “The Church’s One Foundation”
• “Standing On The Promises”
• “Cares Chorus”
• “Jesus, Remember Me”

 

The Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost

 

Scripture

 

Joel 2:23-32

 

These words sound familiar for we heard them on the Day of Pentecost.  Luke incorporated them into the story of Pentecost in Acts. The text sees God breaking into the life of the world to bring in a new day of salvation. The people have repented and God is acting in a new way toward God’s people.  The outpouring of God's spirit will provide new life for Israel; all who call upon the name of God will be saved. The larger passage shows how God’s people fall out of God’s favor, repent, and God moves in a new direction.

 

Psalm 65

 

Our Psalm is a hymn of Thanksgiving.  As it speaks of Zion, if follows well upon the lesson from Joel.  The point of this contact reveals that worship is the setting where God’s salvation is recognized and celebrated.  Three parts of thanksgiving are present: praise to God on Zion, celebration of the power of God in creation in more universal terms, and, then narrows down this praise of God from cosmic power to power to deliver rain and food.  We praise God as Creator and we praise God as Sustainer of that which God created.

2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18

 

Moving toward the end of the letter, Paul surveys his own situation as pretty hopeless, yet he does not give up!  Paul’s human support system has failed.  God has not failed Paul.  Paul perceives God standing by him so that he is never alone.  Paul is facing his fate; he is about to be put to death. His friends and supporters have either failed him or been too far removed from him to help. Paul’s fate ultimately rests with God. Whatever his opposition may do, Paul’s destiny is in the hands of the Lord. We are most genuinely free as we live in relationship to Jesus Christ. Regardless to what happens to us in life in this world, our life is in God’s hands. God is active in this world and yet able to transcend this life and time. “Our citizenship is not restricted to the territories of this earth; we are citizens of the Lord's heavenly kingdom. Now, despite life's real difficulties and hazards, we may live boldly and bravely as the Lord's people.” (Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, Year C)

Luke 18:9-14

 

This parable of Jesus is to some “who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and treated others with contempt.”  We might assume Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees. Yet, there is a wider interpretation here. Disciples and believers are just as vulnerable to pride and self-righteousness as the Pharisees. Watch it, Jesus; you may be getting too close to us here! We may need to “overhear” the parable anew.  Two persons went up to the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee boasted of his good and faithful life.  The tax collector did not presume upon God but stood far off and cast himself upon God’s mercy. Now just who do you think went home justified; the Pharisee who trusted in his own goodness, or the tax collector who trusted in God’s goodness?  “All who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted." The Pharisee asks nothing of God; he presumes. The tax collector boasts of nothing before God. “Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to thy cross I cling . . .”

 

Greetings/Calls to Worship

 

And in the last days it shall come to pass, God declares,

     that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,

And your sons and daughters shall prophesy,

     your old shall dream dreams, and your young shall see visions.

When the Day of Pentecost had come,

     they were all gathered together in one place.

And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind,

     and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared to them tongues as of fire,

     distributed and resting on each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.

 

Or

 

We praise you, O God, in thankfulness for your goodness and grace.
for the ways you answer prayer and forgive our wrongdoings.
We are happy and honored to come here to worship you O God,
the hope of all the world.
You enrich the earth with water, providing people with grain.
The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy,
the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
the valleys deck themselves with crops,
they shout and sing together with joy.
So let us shout and sing together with joy as we sing to the God of our
salvation.

 

Or

 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,

   and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

I will bless the Lord at all times. 

   God's praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Our souls make their boast in the Lord. 

   Let the humble hear and be glad.

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears them

   and rescues them from all their troubles.

The Lord is near to those who are brokenhearted.

Our God saves those who are crushed in Spirit.

Praise be to God, now and forever and ever.  Amen

 

Litany or Confession (related to Old Testament Lesson)

 

Litany of Confession and Promise

 

Our youth offer prophesy of challenge and judgment,

We nod politely with clenched teeth and closed eyes.

Invited to dream dreams,

We prefer the familiarity of the past.

Winds of vision swirl around us,

We close the windows and bolt the doors.

Even on us,

Even here,

The Spirit will pour forth.

Come, Holy Spirit, Come.

                       (Katherine Hawker, Outside the Box)

 

Prayers

 

Thematic

 

God of faithful surprises,
throughout the ages
you have made known your love and power
in unexpected ways and places.
May we daily perceive
the joy and wonder of your abiding presence
and offer our lives in gratitude
for our redemption. Amen.

 

Intercessory

 

Friends in Christ,
God invites us to hold the needs of our sisters and brothers
as dear to us as our own needs.
Loving our neighbors as ourselves,
we offer our thanksgivings and our petitions
on behalf of the church and the world.

Friends in Christ,
God invites us to hold the needs of our sisters and brothers
as dear to us as our own needs.
Loving our neighbors as ourselves,
we offer our thanksgivings and our petitions
on behalf of the church and the world.

Prayers of the People, concluding with:

Hear our prayers, God of power,
and through the ministry of your Son
free us from the grip of the tomb,
that we may desire you as the fullness of life
and proclaim your saving deeds to all the world. Amen.

                          (Prayers from Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

 

 

Possible Hymns

 

• “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”
• “Praise My Soul the King of Heaven”
• “Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above”
• “Amazing Grace”
• “All Creatures of Our God and King”
• “And Can It Be That I Should Gain”
• “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
• “How Firm A Foundation”
• “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go”
• “O Spirit of the Living God”
• “Rock of Ages”
• “There’s A Wideness In God’s Mercy”
• “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus”
• “Living for Jesus”
• “Love Divine”
• “Depth of Mercy”
• “Breathe On Me, Breath of God”
• “Here I Am, Lord”
• “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”

 

The Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost

 

Scripture

 

Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4

 

Just how long must I cry to you, God, and get no answer? Why the silence?  Why must I see so much violence and still God does nothing?  “The law becomes slack; the wicked surround the righteous.” Sounds like this is from the current news, doesn’t it?  But the prophet will keep his watch; he will wait and see what happens.  A word comes from the Lord; the vision is coming. Wait for it. Write it in such large letters a runner can read and carry the message. Habakkuk’s speech opens with an address to God. The title “oracle” means to lift up or raise in the public attention.  This resembles a psalm of lament. Habakkuk is concerned about the perversion or twisting of justice in Judean society. It appears the writer is concerned with the abuse of power in the king’s administration.  The king is particularly unjust.  “One of the great legacies of the prophetic movement, reflected clearly in Habakkuk’s opening critique of Judean society, is its absolute commitment to social justice. Authentic religion, according to the prophets, was not merely a matter of personal spirituality or of the ritual activity of worship. It required a public dedication to principles of fairness and equity in political, judicial, and economic life.” (The New Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. VII)  The vision is a true word that God will act in the future. The righteous depend upon the righteousness of God. God will be faithful.

Psalm 119:137-144

 

Praise God as the source of the Torah, the law. God’s righteousness or justice is celebrated.  God’s law puts things right even in the face of trouble or suffering.

2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12

 

The letter is produced by joint authorship. Paul, Sylvanius, and Timothy are noted as the writers. They offer a greeting to the church and then offer thanksgiving. They celebrate the growth of faith and the love shared among the people.  The Thessalonians are acknowledged for their continuing faith even in suffering.  The writers pray for the church. All of their work is in Christ and blessed by God. “We pray God will make you worthy of the call and give you strength in his grace.” All things should glorify Christ. Note that here they are called a church. This is referring to the “local church.”  “Taken together all these items remind us that Christianity is not an individualistic existence. We live the life of faith both in relation to other believers and in relation to our God and Lord. We are called as church to be located in this world, but we have our true identity and live in the presence and the power of God and Christ.” (Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, Year C)

Luke 19:1-10

 

You can tell a great deal about a person by the company that person keeps! The Pharisees would agree.  Jesus repeatedly keeps company with the wrong people – tax collectors. Common sinners. “Watch out who your friends are,” said many a parent to their children. So Zaccheaus knows that Jesus will be passing by. To get ahead of the crowd and get a good spot for the parade, Zaccheaus goes early. Since he is “short of statue” – is this a play on words; is he short of statue because of his profession? Is he short of statue physically.  “Let’s see what Luke does tell us. Zacchaeus was rich. He got rich by working as a big-time tax supervisor for the Romans. The people didn't like Zacchaeus, not because he was rich (ordinarily most ancients would have assumed wealth signified divine blessing), but because he worked for the Romans. Zacchaeus went to work for the Romans and became terrifically rich. If this means anything, it means that Zacchaeus had few social or religious scruples, and he was obviously greedy. With that in mind, let us see that Jesus Christ loved Zacchaeus anyway. That is the gospel. Even self-centered greed isn't beyond the boundaries of God's love made present in Jesus Christ.” (Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, Year C) To get a better view of Jesus, he climbs a tree.  When Jesus comes along and sees him, Jesus stops and speaks to Zaccheaus.  Jesus wants to stay at Zaccheaus’ home.  Zaccheaus gladly invites him home.  The text says Zaccheaus was “happy to welcome Jesus” home. This literally translates, “he received him rejoicing.” Zaccheaus has come into the presence of transforming grace. Now the people watching this murmur.  “Why would Jesus be going to the home of a tax collecting sinner?” We find out Zaccheaus welcomes Jesus; he pledges half of his wealth to the poor; he says that if he has defrauded anyone, he will repay it fourfold!  Jesus blesses Zaccheaus and announces “today salvation has come to this home for he is a son of Abraham.”

 

Greetings/Calls to Worship

 

A Zacchaeus Greeting

 

How shall we prepare our house for Jesus' coming?
With climbing sycamore trees and hilltops of praise.
How shall we prepare this house for the coming of the eternal Christ?
With listening for his approach and eagerness to glimpse his presence.
How shall we prepare this house for the coming of our Savior?
With coming out of hiding and delighting that he comes seeking and saving the lost.
How shall we prepare our hearts for the coming of the Son of God?
By hearing again
   the words of the hope spoken by the prophets,
   and the gospel that God did not send the Son to condemn the world,
   but that the world through him might be saved.

 

Or

 

In the midst of the congregation I will praise you.

Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,

     and give thanks to God's holy name!

I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,

     and God's greatness is unsearchable.

 

Or

 

Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;

     break forth, O mountains, into singing!

For the Lord has comforted his people,

     and will have compassion on his suffering ones.

 

Prayers

 

Prayer of Confession and Pardon

 

Holy and awesome God, we stand in your presence
filled with regret for our many sins and failings.

Though there is greatness in us, and a deep longing for goodness,
we have often denied our better selves
and refused to hear your voice
  calling us to rise to the full height of our humanity.

For there is weakness in us, as well as strength.

At times we choose to walk in darkness, our vision obscured.

We do not care to look within,
and we are unwilling to look beyond at those who need our help.

O God, we are too weak to walk unaided.

Be with us as a strong and wise friend,
and teach us to walk by the light of your truth.

 

               All offer prayers of confession in silence.

 

The Lord God is merciful and gracious,
endlessly patient, loving, and true,
showing mercy to thousands,
forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin, and granting pardon. Amen.

                      (Jewish Prayer for Forgiveness, The United Methodist Book of Worship)

 

Thematic

 

God of unfailing light,
in your realm of glory
the poor are blessed,
the hungry filled,
and every tear is wiped away.
Strengthened by this vision,
may we follow in the way of holiness
that your Son made known in life and death. Amen.

 

Intercessory

 

All blessing, honor, and glory,
all wisdom, praise, and thanks be yours,
O God of our salvation!
We pray in communion with all the saints on earth and heaven,
with the martyrs and the faithful in all ages,
and in the name of the Lamb who was slain,
who alone is worthy of worship.

Prayers of the People, concluding with:

Bless us with your healing presence;
make us hungry for justice;
strengthen our faith;
and increase our love for others,
especially those we find it most difficult to love. Amen.

 

 

Possible Hymns

 

• “Immortal, Invisible God Only Wise”
• “The God of Abraham Praise”
• “I Sing A Song of the Saints of God”
• “I Am The Church”
• “Come Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain”\
• “My Hope Is Built”
• “Lord, Dismiss Us With Thy Blessing”
• “Rock of Ages
• “Be Thou My Vision”
• “Will You Come and Follow Me?”
• “We’ve A Story To Tell To The Nations”
• “Jesus, Lover of My Soul”
• “Blessed Assurance”
• “Amazing Grace”
• “Beneath the Cross of Jesus”
• “O, Zion Haste”
• “God of Grace and God of Glory”
• “Jesus Calls Us”
• “How Firm A Foundation”

 

All Saints Day

 

All Saints falls on November 1 but may be celebrated on the first Sunday in November. In contemporary understanding, it commemorates all Christian people of every time and place. "The saints" in the New Testament usage refers to Christians collectively, and it is with this biblical understanding that celebration of this day has been rapidly spreading among Protestants in recent years.

 

You may want to call the names individually of each member who has died since last All Saints Sunday. A candle may be lighted for each person, or a bell may be rung.  Consider providing a place for each worshiper to write the name or names of those saints of their own life.

 

Scripture

 

Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18

 

This Old Testament reading for All Saints Day is the only reading from Daniel included in the lectionary.  It is considered to be “apocalyptic literature.” Daniel has a vision about earthly kingdoms (or beasts) that have arisen from the sea and terrorize the community of faith. The message is that, for the people of God, historical crises must be interpreted on a broader stage.  The result of linking the heavenly and earthly victories is that the saints (those persecuted in the present time throughout history) will one day have dominion in a world where the divine order for creation will be common place. “All Saints is a celebration of this future fact. This celebration pushes us beyond our immediate struggles and joys and puts our collective life in a more realistic framework that includes God's larger struggle against evil.” (Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, Year C)

Psalm 149

 

Our Psalm is a hymn of praise that evolves into a call for the worshiping community to participate in a Holy War. It is a call to arms. The Psalm serves as a response to the lesson from Daniel. The celebrated victory is rooted in the activity of God. The Psalm affirms and believes that God will achieve God’s ends. So, the sure future victory is celebrated presently in the worship of the congregation.

Ephesians 1:11-23

 

Our passage is a grand doxology of praise to God for God’s salvation in Jesus Christ. The passage celebrates “our inheritance” in Jesus Christ. With affirming words, Paul says, “I have heard of your faith . . .” Word of mouth advertising, if you will.  How are people hearing of our faith and the faith of our church?  The passage celebrates God’s power especially revealed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christ has been given power over all things including the church, his body.

Luke 6:20-31

 

Jesus instructs his disciples in what we know as “the sermon on the plain.” We may be more familiar with Matthew’s “sermon on the mount.” Here is Luke’s version of the Beatitudes. Jesus speaks to his disciples and offers blessings on the poor and woes to the rich. The blessings declare God's favor on the poor, the hungry, those who weep, and those who are hated. They are fortunate because theirs is the kingdom. “Luke's beatitudes differ from Matthew's in that Luke's speak in the second person rather than the third person, they speak to real socioeconomic conditions rather than to spiritual conditions or attitudes, and they declare God's partisan commitment to the poor and the oppressed.” (New Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. 9)  The passage speaks of reversal. We need to hear the scandal in Jesus’ words; he associates with the outcasts and pronounces God’s blessing on them.  More than any other gospel, Luke speaks of the dangers of wealth.  We might well consider the biblical “blessing:” blessing others and being blessed.  “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

 

Greetings/Calls to Worship

 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,

   and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

Salvation comes from our God who is seated on the throne;

And from the lamb at the center of the throne who is our shepherd.

All blessing and glory,

All thanksgiving and honor,

All power and might,

All praise and worship,

All tributes that heaven and earth can offer,

Belong to our God forever and ever.  Amen

 

Or

 

Grace to you and peace from God who is, and was, and is to come.

Amen.

And from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, the ruler of kings on earth.

Amen.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints.

Amen.

 

Sing praises to God, O you saints,
and give thanks to God's holy name!

We exalt you, O God, for you have restored us to life!

We may cry through the night, but your joy comes with the morning.

You hear us, O God, and you are gracious in our distress.

You turn our mourning into dancing!

Our souls cannot be silent!

O God, our Savior, we give thanks to you forever!

 

 

Prayers

 

Thematic

 

God of unfailing light,
in your realm of glory
the poor are blessed,
the hungry filled,
and every tear is wiped away.
Strengthened by this vision,
may we follow in the way of holiness
that your Son made known in life and death. Amen.

 

Intercessory

 

All blessing, honor, and glory,
all wisdom, praise, and thanks be yours,
O God of our salvation!
We pray in communion with all the saints on earth and heaven,
with the martyrs and the faithful in all ages,
and in the name of the Lamb who was slain,
who alone is worthy of worship.

Prayers of the People, concluding with:

Bless us with your healing presence;
make us hungry for justice;
strengthen our faith;
and increase our love for others,
especially those we find it most difficult to love. Amen.

 

Prayer for All the Saints

 

Everliving God,
this day revives in us memories of loved ones who are no more.

What happiness we shared when they walked among us.

What joy, when, loving and being loved, we lived our lives together.

Their memory is a blessing for ever.

Months or years may have passed, and still we feel near to them.

Our hearts yearn for them.

Though the bitter grief has softened, a duller pain abides;
for the place where once they stood is empty now.

The links of life are broken, but the links of love and longing cannot break.

Their souls are bound up in ours forever.

We see them now with the eye of memory,
their faults forgiven, their virtues grown larger.

So does goodness live, and weakness fade from sight.

We remember them with gratitude and bless their names.

Their memory is a blessing for ever.

And we remember as well the members
who but yesterday were part of our congregation and community.

To all who cared for us and labored for all people, we pay tribute.

May we prove worthy of carrying on the tradition of our faith,
for now the task is ours.

Their souls are bound up in ours forever.

We give you thanks that they now live and reign with you.

As a great crowd of witnesses,
they surround us with their blessings,
and offer you hymns of praise and thanksgiving.

In Christ, they are alive for ever more. Amen.

 

 

Possible Hymns

 

• “For All the Saints”
• “All Creatures of Our God and King”
• “How Firm A Foundation”
• “I Sing A Song of the Saints of God”
• “Blest Are They”
• “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name”
• “Be Thou My Vision”
• “Immortal, Invisible God Only Wise”
• “Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim”
• “Rejoice, the Lord Is King”
• “Praise the Lord With the Sound of Trumpet”
• “Come, Let Us With Our Lord Arise”
• “I’ll Fly Away”
• “We Are God’s People”
• “There’ll Be Joy In the Morning”
• “Soon and Very Soon”
• “My Lord, What A Morning”
• “I Was There To Hear Your Borning Cry”

 

The Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost

 

Scripture

 

Haggai 1:15b–2:9

 

The book of Haggai is structured around precise dates in the second year of the reign of Darius. The oracles of Haggai occur in the year 520 b.c.e., which is the early post-exilic period of ancient Israel. Haggai calls for the rebuilding of the Temple. Haggai announces future divine blessing on Israel and the future grandeur of the Temple. Remember the movie, “Field of Dreams,” and the line, “If you will build it, he will come.”  Haggai seems to promise “if you build the temple,” drought and poverty would be reversed. The word is more complex than this. We must remember what the temple symbolized for Israel. The temple was the symbol of God’s presence with Israel. Therefore, re-building the temple was vital.

Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21

 

This Psalm is a sustained call to praise God, with a focus on the praiseworthiness of God's kingdom. The praise moves out as the Psalm progresses. It begins with the speaker and moves to the people of God.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17

 

“Do not be shaken . . . stand firm.”  The first part of our lesson offers an “inexact” schedule of the coming of the day of the Lord. The lines aim to "settle down" the Thessalonians, to assure them of the truth of teachings that had been presented to them by Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy at an earlier time. Then we have a thanksgiving. The reason for the thanksgiving is that God chose to save the Thessalonians.  God was at work among the Thessalonians and the writers give thanks for this evidence.  The Thessalonians are called to stand firm in what they have been taught.

Luke 20:27-38

 

Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem. The Sadducees ask a rather elaborate question about the resurrection. They are testing Jesus’ orthodoxy. Luke has already told us the Sadducees say there is no resurrection. A woman’s husband dies and by law she marries his brother. He dies and the succession of marriages goes on. Finally, the woman dies and the Sadducees want to know to whom this woman will be wed in the hereafter.  Jesus draws a clear distinction between our life in this world and the resurrection life in the future. Profound transformation of the quality of life occurs in the transformation from life here-and-now and life in the eternal presence of God.  He uses Moses in his argument against the Sadducees. “God is not the God of the dead but the God of the living.  The lectionary reading cuts off the last two verses of the exchange. You might want to include them. “Then some of the scribes answered, "Teacher, you have spoken well." For they no longer dared to ask him another question (Luke 20:39-40).

 

Greetings/Calls to Worship

 

Trust in the Lord and do good.

May the Lord give strength to the people!

O taste and see that the Lord is good!

God is our refuge and strength.

 

Or

 

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

And also with you.

The risen Christ is with us.

Praise the Lord!

 

Or

 

We are here

in the name of Jesus Christ,

to worship the God who gives us life and sustains our every breath,

and to praise the Spirit who warms our hearts and enlightens us.

 

Great is our God and deserves our greatest praise,

   God is awesome beyond all our imagining.

Each generation shall pass on the good news to the next,

   and shall publicly celebrate God’s saving actions.

 

 

 

Prayers

 

Thematic

 

 

God of faithful surprises,
throughout the ages
you have made known your love and power
in unexpected ways and places.
May we daily perceive
the joy and wonder of your abiding presence
and offer our lives in gratitude
for our redemption. Amen.

 

Intercessory

 

God of life, we praise you for your abiding presence
from generation to generation,
blessing your people,
strengthening us to lives of service,
empowering us to witness.
Hear the prayers we offer on behalf of your creation.

Prayers of the People, concluding with:

Grant that as we serve you now on earth,
so we may one day rejoice with all the saints
in your kingdom of light and peace,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

 

Possible Hymns

 

• “All People That On Earth Do Dwell” 
• “Holy, Holy, Holy” 
• “Blessed Assurance” 
• “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less” 
• “When God Restored Our Common Life” 
• “Unsettled World” 
• “Joy In the Morning” 
• “My Life Is In You, Lord” 
• “Christ Is Alive” 
• “O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing” 
• “I Love To Tell the Story” 
• “Spirit of Faith Come Down” 
• “O Spirit of the Living God” 
• “Sing With All the Saints In Glory” 
• “Cares Chorus” 
• “hymn of Promise” 

 

The Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost

 

Scripture

 

Isaiah 65:17-25

 

Our passage follows a lament by the prophet about the seeming absence of God in the post-exilic period.  Isaiah 65 is the divine response to the prophet’s complaint, which separates into three parts. God has promised blessings to God’s servants.  The lectionary text in vv. 17-25 provides the reason why the promised blessings of God are reliable. God's blessings are sure because God is the creator. God has already begun creating the new order. The prophet invites us to see God’s activity. “What follows are large brush strokes of the central characteristics of this new world order, which is brought into view through a series of contrasts. Infants will not die prematurely, but live to be one hundred years old. Houses will not be built by one person only to be taken over by someone else. Instead, those who build will live in their own dwellings. The same is true for land. The one who plants is the one who will harvest, which leads into a broader contrast, namely that all work will be purposeful. And finally humans will be fertile, producing many descendants.” (Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, Year C)  The problem will be how to preach such a text; this is not the world we recognize. This vision is rooted in God. In our worship and especially in the Sacraments, we participate in the “new order.”

Isaiah 12 or Psalm 118

 

Isaiah 12 is a hymn of thanksgiving with eschatological overtones. This passage is a good response to the vision of the new creation. It brings beautiful personal imagery to the new creation.  The words put the thanksgiving and praise into the voice of the congregation.

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

 

Here is a blunt call to patterns of Christian living. Don’t be idle; be active. We are called to service, not to being served.  If we include verses 14 and 15, the crucial value of these verses is that they show that winning those in error back as brothers and sisters in Christ is more important than merely winning. The apostles declare idleness to be out of keeping with the heart of Christian tradition.  We can imitate the example of the apostles. The apostles imitate Christ who set the example for love and service. These frank words call us all to share in the ministry of the community of faith.

Luke 21:5-19

 

Many years ago,  I served a small town church.  It was a beautiful old building with lovely stained glass windows, a huge brass chandelier, and a marvelous pipe organ. When this lectional text came around, I put my creativity to work! I preached this text and titled my sermon, “Stained Glass, Brass Chandeliers, and God’s Kingdom.” Basking in my creativity, I soon discovered some of the leaders of the church with my comparison of the beauty of their church with the temple soon to be destroyed. I was not judgmental in the sermon. I pointed out that it is not the outer beauty but the inner spirit. I never could understand the reaction; well, actually, maybe I did understand. Perhaps I had hit too close to home without evening intending to!  Some of the disciples admired the beauty of the temple, Jesus tells them the day will come when “not one stone will be left upon another.”  Outward beauty is not everything! Jesus foretells the destruction of the temple. When will all of this happen?  Jesus’ followers assume there must be some sign of the impending doom. Jesus gives a series of three warnings: don’t be led astray; do not be terrified; the end will not come immediately. You will have to endure suffering, but I will be with you and give you words to speak. Jesus warns the disciples of the ordeals that lie ahead and offers assurances. They will be arrested, persecuted, and brought to trial, but Jesus himself will give them the words they are to speak and a wisdom that their opponents cannot withstand. The persecution of the disciples does not exceed what Jesus himself experiences.

 

Greetings/Calls to Worship

 

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,

     for you judge the peoples with equity

     and guide all the nations upon the earth.

Let all the peoples praise you, O God;
     let all the peoples praise you.

The earth has brought forth its increase;

may God, our own God, bless us.

Let all the peoples praise you, O God;
     let all the peoples praise you.

 

Or

 

Let us dance with delight in the Lord
     and let our hearts be filled with rejoicing,

for eternal salvation has appeared on the earth. Alleluia!

 

Or

 

Praise be to God!

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

     who has visited and redeemed the people.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

 

Or

 

Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;

     break forth, O mountains, into singing!

For the Lord has comforted his people,

     and will have compassion on his suffering ones.

 

Or

 

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

The hour is coming, and now is,
when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth,
for such the Father seeks to worship him.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!

Give thanks to him, bless his name!

 

Prayers

 

Thematic

 

God of faithful surprises,
throughout the ages
you have made known your love and power
in unexpected ways and places.
May we daily perceive
the joy and wonder of your abiding presence
and offer our lives in gratitude
for our redemption. Amen.

 

Intercessory

 

Creator God,
you call us to love and serve you
with body, mind, and spirit
through loving your creation
and our sisters and brothers.
Open our hearts in compassion
and receive these petitions
on behalf of the needs of the church and the world.

Prayers of the People, concluding with:

Holy One,
hear our prayers and make us faithful stewards
of the fragile bounty of this earth
so that we may be entrusted with the riches of heaven. Amen.

                                 (Vanderbilt Theological Library)

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Gracious and merciful God, the Apostle Paul encourages us to not be weary
in doing what is right and we hear also Isaiah’s words about rejoicing and
being glad over the new heavens and the new earth  promised by you.  Yet so
often we live out our faith in such a way that the newness and transformation
for which many yearn is hidden.   
Gracious and merciful God:
 If we have become weary in doing what is right, forgive us.  

                                          A time of silent confession

Give us a new and urgent hunger to be active builders of communities with
Jesus as their foundation.  Fill and refill us with your Spirit so that we are
faithful witnesses to the newness brought to birth in and through belief in
Jesus.  Transformation and newness dreamed about by many.  You, O God,
are not only the dream-giver, but the one who brings dreams to fruition.
Gracious and merciful God:
If we have become tired of dreaming dreams and seeing visions,
forgive us.
                                        A time of silent confession

Make our joy in  following Jesus Christ be so contagious that others are
drawn to its source and foundation.  Help us never to  close ourselves off to
the experience of newness and transformation when lives are united with
yours. A union which leads to lives becoming anchored in a joy which is
indestructible by outward circumstances.
Gracious and merciful God:
If our witness has become apathetic and lacking in joy, forgive us.   

                                       A time of silent confession

Surprise us with joy, O God, and energize us anew to be faithful and joyful
disciples of Jesus Christ, builder and foundation of our lives.  Amen

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS:

 

If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed
 away; see, everything has become new!  All this is from God to whom we
have been reconciled by Christ.  (2 Corinthians 5:17,18a)

Thanks be to God!

 

Possible Hymns

 

• “I Sing The Almighty Power of God”
• “How Firm A Foundation”
• “Love Divine All Loves Excelling”
• “The Church’s One Foundation”
• “Sing With All The Saints In Glory”
• “Lord, Speak To Me”
• “Guide Me, Thou Great Jehovah”
• “What Does The Lord Require”
• “Trust and Obey”
• “Blessed Assurance”
• “Come, Thou Fount”
• “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
• “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”
• “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”
• “Hymn of Promise”
• “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus”

 

 

Christ the King/Reign of Christ      (White)

Last Sunday after Pentecost

 

The readings for today are all connected to the larger theme of kingship, and all ascribe kingship to the Promised One in different ways. While it may be difficult in a strong democracy to grasp “kingship,” we deal with the promised reign of Christ.  Remember, we worship Christ as Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

 

Scripture

 

Jeremiah 23: 1-6

Our text provides a conclusion to the divine judgment of the last kings of Judah. It begins with a woe oracle aimed at all the shepherds (kings) who destroy the sheep in the pasture.  The text promises a future king; this becomes a messianic prophecy for Christians. “The central features of the lectionary text are a lament and divine judgment on the abuse of power by leaders within the community of faith and the disastrous consequences that such abuse unleashes on the people of God. For ancient Israel this will mean nothing less than the loss of the promised land.” (Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, Year C) The abuse of power, spelled out in this passage, means not caring for the “sheep.” The prophet states that a genuine exercise of power within the community of faith requires that the king (or any leader) embody the qualities of righteousness and justice to the point where his name becomes, "The Lord is our righteousness." 

Luke 1:68-79 (UMH 208)

Luke’s hymn is used in response to the lesson from Jeremiah.  One reason for the use today is that Jeremiah 23:5-6 is referred to in Luke in the announcement of John as the messenger who will prepare the way for Jesus Christ. The Benedictus is the language of those who are scattered and eagerly awaiting the renewed salvation of God.

Colossians 1:11-20

“He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” This prayer and hymn of thanksgiving asks for power for the believers; power that we may be strong to endure.  God has acted to redeem us in Christ.  Here is another affirmation of “God in Christ” from the beginning acting to redeem the world. Christ is the head of all things, including his body, the church.  “All the fullness of God dwells in Christ.” Through the death of Christ, God has reconciled “all things.”  This hymn shows that early Christian thought moved from what was believed about Christ on the basis of his resurrection and of believers' experience of salvation through him to what he must have been from all time.

Luke 23:33-43

Two scenes from the passion narrative make up our lesson. The soldiers employ political language in their insults, calling Jesus "the King of the Jews." They speak so that the readers of this story see the deep irony of their taunts, for Christian faith perceives that indeed the crucified Jesus was the King of the Jews. “Moreover, in the insults of both the religious leaders and the soldiers we find the implication that Jesus could not save himself. The gospel truth is that by not simply saving himself, Jesus saved humankind. By not merely looking out for himself, Jesus rendered the greatest imaginable service for others.” (Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, Year C)  In the taunt of one of the criminals, Jesus’ power to save is called into question yet again. In the exchange between Jesus and the penitent criminal  we see clearly Jesus' power to save in the promise of salvation to the penitent one. “Strikingly, the penitent criminal turned to Jesus as the Coming King, and in his words he actually expressed the Christian hope of Christ's coming in power.” (Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, Year C)

Greetings/Calls to Worship

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God,

     "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

Blessing and honor and glory and might be unto the Lamb!

Worthy is Christ who has ransomed us by his blood

     from every tribe and tongue and nation,

     and made his people a kingdom, and priests to our God.

Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,

     who was and is and is to come! Amen.

Or

Grace to you and peace from God

     who is, and was, and is to come. Amen.

And from Jesus Christ the faithful witness,

     the firstborn of the dead, and ruler of kings on earth. Amen.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.

Or

My fellow citizens in the realm of God,

today we celebrate the only ruler

to whom we can give undivided loyalty:

Jesus of Nazareth, Christ the king!

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

who has visited and redeemed our people

and lifted up the trumpet of salvation,

that being liberated, we might serve God without fear

with holiness and justice all the days of our life.

Through the tender mercy of our God

when the Dawn Light from on high visited us,

to guide our feet in the way of peace.

Prayers

 

Call to Reconciliation

We know that we have not lived as God hopes. But however fragmented we become, God longs to hold us together in grace and peace. Let us come with our prayers of confession and need to the One who prepares the way for our words.

Unison Prayer of Confession

In these moments, Remembering God,
we bring to you all the ways we have not
lived as your people:
we stand by watching
while those in need struggle to survive;
we cast our lots with those
who worship power and success;
we offer insults rather than words of grace
to those who care for us;
we scoff at your words
which call us to a different lifestyle.

Forgive us, God of Mercy, for not knowing what we do to you, to others, to ourselves. Speak to us through Jesus Christ, our King and our Savior, who bears words filled with your tender mercy and gracious hope.

               Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon

This is the good news: God remembers! Not our sins, not our foolish lives, not our rebellion. God remembers us - and redeems us!
God prepares the way for us - the way to grace, to hope, to new life. Joyfully, we
offer our thanks to God. Amen.

                               (Thom Shuman)

 

 

Thematic

Shepherd of Israel, hear our prayer
as your Son heard the plea
of the criminal crucified with him.
Gather into Christ's holy reign
the broken, the sorrowing, and the sinner,
that all may know
wholeness, joy, and forgiveness. Amen.

Intercessory

 

As the shepherd who cares for the flock, O God,
you guide all things through Jesus
whom you have exalted over all creation as king.
Hear the prayers we offer in his name
for the creation he cherished
and that you entrust to us.

Prayers of the People, concluding with:

Look upon your people who rejoice in your justice and mercy,
and grant that the prayers we make
may reveal Christ's reign in our time. Amen.

 

Possible Hymns

 

• “Mighty Fortress Is Our God”
• “Jesus, Remember Me”
• “His Name Is Wonderful”
• “O, Worship the King”
• “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name”
• “Christ Is Alive, Let Christians Sing”
• “Crown Him With Many Crowns”
• “Immortal, Invisible God Only Wise”
• “Jesus Shall Reign”
• “Praise to the Lord the Almighty”
• “There’s A Wideness in God’s Mercy”
• “You Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim”
• “When Morning Guilds the Skies”
• “He Is Lord”
• “Christ Whose Glory Fills the Skies”
• “My Song Is Love Unknown”
• “Rejoice, The Lord Is King”
• “The King of Love My Shepherd Is”