Jesus Announces His Death to the Disciples
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle B
The Community Gathers To Celebrate
Pastoral Invitation
In the name of the risen Christ, hello. Welcome to God's world, and everything in-between. For what purpose have you come today? (Thirty seconds of silence.) Invite people to respond. If no one responds, express for the people that they probably come for a variety of reasons, some positive, some not so positive, some healthy, some not so healthy. For whatever reason, we are here. We are here today to discover the meaning of true greatness. Welcome!
Hymn of Adoration
"Many and Great, O God, Are Thy Things," Dakota hymn; Joseph R. Renville, 1842; trans. R. Philip Frazier, 1953 (Sioux); harm. J. R. Murray, 1877. The hymn also includes an optional hand drum or tom-tom, with suggested note. Forget the word "optional."
Prayer of Adoration
Begin to focus on the Author of true greatness.
Taking Responsibility For Our Attitudes And Actions
Introduction to the Act of Confession
Linus speaks to Peppermint Patty. "A CAT? What in the world do you want a cat for?" P. P. says, "To put Snoopy in his place! To show him that he's not so important!" She then turns to Snoopy, looks him straight in the nose, and says, "Somebody's got to take him down a few notches." Snoopy, shook up, face flat on the ground, responds to himself, "Please don't bother ... I'm not worth it!" Have any of us ever felt that way about ourselves? (Thirty seconds of silence.) We may have felt that way because we have allowed the mass media to determine that popularity, riches, and power bring true greatness. After all, those persons seem to get all of the publicity, except for rare people such as Mother Teresa. Take a few moments to reflect about your life, as compared or contrasted with the lives of those who get the attention of the mass media. Include in your prayer that true greatness has to do with the qualities of the child, some of which you may want to name, and then explore in depth later.
Response
"You Are the Salt of the Earth," Richard Avery and Don Marsh, from Let the People Sing. (See Appendix I for address.)
Introduction to the Act of Pardon
I invite us to sing "You Are the Salt of the Earth"Êagain. This time, sing it in light of God's calling us to true greatness. For a few minutes, strip yourself of what society defines as true greatness, namely, more possessions and things and stuff, as certain soft-drink companies suggest.
Conclude this act of worship with this conversation between Charlie Brown and Linus. Charlie: "You seem very secure today, Linus." Linus: "I am ... I feel quite secure ..." Charlie: "Where do you think the source of this security lies ... in your thumb, in that blanket, or in the pose you assume?" Linus: "I say it's a combination of ingredients ... Not unlike a doctor's prescription!" For us, Jesus is the Good Doctor, in whom true greatness lies.
The Community Responds To God's Truth
Message with the Children of All Ages
Do what Jesus did. He took a child and said, "Whoever welcomes one of these...." Identify the qualities of children which Jesus considered true greatness. In your prayer, thank God for those qualities.
Response
"The Lord Has a Will," words and music by Mike and Barbara Hudson, from Let the People Sing. (See Appendix I for address.)
Dramatize the First Part of the Gospel
Improvise on the text in this way: Have the disciples talk with themselves about what Jesus said. And have each one of them identify their own fear about telling him.
Proclamation of the Good News
Perhaps you will want to speak on the qualities of the child, such as humility; trust which includes the acceptance of authority and confidence in others; and short memory. You can tackle this theme in a multitude of ways.
The Community Becomes Responsible To God's World
Stewardship Challenge
How will you put into practice these qualities of a child this week? Remember, also, each of us is expected to sift out the healthy qualities of the child, from the adult's unhealthy expectations of the child.
Hymn of Commitment
"Eternal God, Whose Power Upholds," Henry Hallam Tweedy, 1929; English folk melody; arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906.
Charge to the Congregation
In the name of the risen Christ, good-bye. Welcome to God's world, and everything beyond, as individually and corporately, we live lives of true greatness. And all the people said, (your favorite praise word).
Response
"With Jesus," words and music by Ruth S. Sandberg, from New Wine. (See Appendix I for address.)
Meditation
"Every child (we are all children of God) has a claim on us, because every child (that is, all of us), is dear to Jesus, though not always dear to us. Jesus asks us to give, not things beyond our power, but to give the simple things that anyone can give. That is true greatness" (WHK).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: "Our Father in Heaven," J. S. Bach.
Hymn of Adoration: "God of History -- Recent, Ancient," Jane Parker Huber, from A Singing Faith. (See Appendix I for address.)
Response to the Pardon: "Begin, My Tongue, Some Heavenly Thing," Young.
Response to the Message with Children: "Like a Child," Loretta Ellenberger, from Folk Encounter. (See Appendix I for address.)
Response to the Stewardship Challenge: "Aria," Handel.
Hymn of Commitment: "God Is Our Strong Salvation," from Psalm 27; para. by James Montgomery, 1822; alt., 1972.
Music for Dismissal: "Great Is Thy Faithfulness," Thomas Chisholm.
Pastoral Invitation
In the name of the risen Christ, hello. Welcome to God's world, and everything in-between. For what purpose have you come today? (Thirty seconds of silence.) Invite people to respond. If no one responds, express for the people that they probably come for a variety of reasons, some positive, some not so positive, some healthy, some not so healthy. For whatever reason, we are here. We are here today to discover the meaning of true greatness. Welcome!
Hymn of Adoration
"Many and Great, O God, Are Thy Things," Dakota hymn; Joseph R. Renville, 1842; trans. R. Philip Frazier, 1953 (Sioux); harm. J. R. Murray, 1877. The hymn also includes an optional hand drum or tom-tom, with suggested note. Forget the word "optional."
Prayer of Adoration
Begin to focus on the Author of true greatness.
Taking Responsibility For Our Attitudes And Actions
Introduction to the Act of Confession
Linus speaks to Peppermint Patty. "A CAT? What in the world do you want a cat for?" P. P. says, "To put Snoopy in his place! To show him that he's not so important!" She then turns to Snoopy, looks him straight in the nose, and says, "Somebody's got to take him down a few notches." Snoopy, shook up, face flat on the ground, responds to himself, "Please don't bother ... I'm not worth it!" Have any of us ever felt that way about ourselves? (Thirty seconds of silence.) We may have felt that way because we have allowed the mass media to determine that popularity, riches, and power bring true greatness. After all, those persons seem to get all of the publicity, except for rare people such as Mother Teresa. Take a few moments to reflect about your life, as compared or contrasted with the lives of those who get the attention of the mass media. Include in your prayer that true greatness has to do with the qualities of the child, some of which you may want to name, and then explore in depth later.
Response
"You Are the Salt of the Earth," Richard Avery and Don Marsh, from Let the People Sing. (See Appendix I for address.)
Introduction to the Act of Pardon
I invite us to sing "You Are the Salt of the Earth"Êagain. This time, sing it in light of God's calling us to true greatness. For a few minutes, strip yourself of what society defines as true greatness, namely, more possessions and things and stuff, as certain soft-drink companies suggest.
Conclude this act of worship with this conversation between Charlie Brown and Linus. Charlie: "You seem very secure today, Linus." Linus: "I am ... I feel quite secure ..." Charlie: "Where do you think the source of this security lies ... in your thumb, in that blanket, or in the pose you assume?" Linus: "I say it's a combination of ingredients ... Not unlike a doctor's prescription!" For us, Jesus is the Good Doctor, in whom true greatness lies.
The Community Responds To God's Truth
Message with the Children of All Ages
Do what Jesus did. He took a child and said, "Whoever welcomes one of these...." Identify the qualities of children which Jesus considered true greatness. In your prayer, thank God for those qualities.
Response
"The Lord Has a Will," words and music by Mike and Barbara Hudson, from Let the People Sing. (See Appendix I for address.)
Dramatize the First Part of the Gospel
Improvise on the text in this way: Have the disciples talk with themselves about what Jesus said. And have each one of them identify their own fear about telling him.
Proclamation of the Good News
Perhaps you will want to speak on the qualities of the child, such as humility; trust which includes the acceptance of authority and confidence in others; and short memory. You can tackle this theme in a multitude of ways.
The Community Becomes Responsible To God's World
Stewardship Challenge
How will you put into practice these qualities of a child this week? Remember, also, each of us is expected to sift out the healthy qualities of the child, from the adult's unhealthy expectations of the child.
Hymn of Commitment
"Eternal God, Whose Power Upholds," Henry Hallam Tweedy, 1929; English folk melody; arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906.
Charge to the Congregation
In the name of the risen Christ, good-bye. Welcome to God's world, and everything beyond, as individually and corporately, we live lives of true greatness. And all the people said, (your favorite praise word).
Response
"With Jesus," words and music by Ruth S. Sandberg, from New Wine. (See Appendix I for address.)
Meditation
"Every child (we are all children of God) has a claim on us, because every child (that is, all of us), is dear to Jesus, though not always dear to us. Jesus asks us to give, not things beyond our power, but to give the simple things that anyone can give. That is true greatness" (WHK).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: "Our Father in Heaven," J. S. Bach.
Hymn of Adoration: "God of History -- Recent, Ancient," Jane Parker Huber, from A Singing Faith. (See Appendix I for address.)
Response to the Pardon: "Begin, My Tongue, Some Heavenly Thing," Young.
Response to the Message with Children: "Like a Child," Loretta Ellenberger, from Folk Encounter. (See Appendix I for address.)
Response to the Stewardship Challenge: "Aria," Handel.
Hymn of Commitment: "God Is Our Strong Salvation," from Psalm 27; para. by James Montgomery, 1822; alt., 1972.
Music for Dismissal: "Great Is Thy Faithfulness," Thomas Chisholm.
