Parables of the Mustard Seed, the Yeast, Hidden Treasure, Pearl of Great Price, the Fishing Net
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle A Gospel Texts
Celebrating The Presence Of God
Invitation to the Celebration
In the Name of the Master-teller of parables, welcome to worship. Is anyone joyful? (Wait for a response; if no one responds to the first asking, ask again, at least until a few respond.) Is anyone victorious? (Same procedure.) Is anyone hilarious? (Same procedure.) We live on the A.D., not the B.C., side of the resurrection. We already know that the battle is won. Christ has defeated sin, death, the grave. We will have sad moments; we need not lead sad lives. So, I invite us to celebrate the presence of the risen, living God with our heart, mind, will. And all the people say (offer your favorite affirmation).
Response
"Blessed Be the Name" (Ralph E. Hudson, found in Folk Encounter, Hope Publishing Company). Sing as a round: the children one group; the young people a second group; adults a third group; and those over 65 a fourth group.
P: The call of God in Christ is the call to life, abundant, eternal life.
M: It is the call to live with love, hope, and with a deep sense of our own worth.
P: I invite us to respond in the name of Christ, and live as his people.
M: We celebrate the life he has given us, and rejoice in its unlimited possibilities.
Response
Sing "Blessed Be the Name," again as a round. This time, change the designated groups to fit your congregation.
Prayer of Praise
Loving and merciful God, who has created within our restless hearts a longing for you, continue to come to us with your grace that reconciles; enlighten our minds with your truth that disturbs; invade our inmost being with power that makes new; and give to our lives that peace which comes from following you, no matter how far behind we may follow.
Hymn of Praise
"O God, in a Mysterious Way" (Scottish Psalter, 1615; William Cowper, 1774; alt.; arr. Thomas Ravenscroft, 1621).
Celebrating The Act Of Forgiveness
The Act of Confession
Do we bring our sin or our sins for confession? If we bring our sins, which ones do we mention; which do we leave out? Today, I invite us to bring our sin which once again Genesis 3 defines as "the attempt to justify our feelings, thoughts, words, actions"; which the New Testament defines as not only "missing the mark, but shooting at the wrong target"; which Sigmund Freud, in his "Pleasure Principle," defines as "I want what I want when I want it, and never mind the consequences." I invite us to confess our sin before we confess our sins. (Three minutes of silence. Then, invite them to pray the printed prayer of confession, in unison, saying, "Pray only the part of the prayer which you want forgiven; using the following prayer as an introduction, tailor the prayer to fit your situation.")
Prayer of Confession
We share a common humanity, but it is so hard to get down to it. We have so many facades, so many pretensions, so many social games to play. We have difficulty understanding our own fears, our own needs, our own motivations. No wonder we are so often cut off from our best self and each other. Lord, we pray for the grace to get in touch with ourselves, and at the same time, to reach out to each other. Help us to discover the sense of community necessary to renew your world.
Response
"In This Quiet Moment" (words and music by Larry Mayfield, copyright by Word Music, found in Let the People Sing, Hope Publishing Company. See Appendix I for address).
The Assurance of Pardon
The most important fact that we need to know, and we've heard it a million times, is that God already has forgiven our sin and our sins. If not so, then God's grace is a lie. But, it's not a lie; it is, literally, the gospel truth, when we accept it and when we do not.
Response
"Thank You, Thank You" (Richard Avery and Don Marsh, Hope Publishing Company. See Appendix I for address. Follow the directions they suggest for singing).
Celebrating The Word
Message with the Children of All Ages
Remind the children what the word "parable" means. Pick one of the parables and illustrate it; as, for example, a mustard seed, a bowl of flour and yeast. Or, ahead of time, hide something in the chancel; or use your imagination.
Reading from the Newer Covenant
Have the children remain, and focus on parables that you did not include in the children's message.
Proclamation of the Good News
Incorporate this idea: Some pastors handle relationships with the congregation, and some longtime members of the congregation operate, this way: "Here is something to be done; will you do it, and do it the way we want you to do it?" Obviously, the more productive way is this: "What would you find joy, even fun, in doing that would express your inner nature, and at the same time, fill a need in your life, as well as in the life of the whole church?"
Celebrating Our Gifts
Stewardship Challenge
"I like my way of doing things better than your way of not doing them; I like my way of accomplishing something better than your way of criticizing me when I accomplish it"Ê(WHK).
Dedication Prayer
God, we like to think that our pennies and dollars are sufficient,without ourselves. Do not let us get away with that kind of thinking. Take all of us, and all we have, in committed obedience to you.
Celebrating Our Departure
Charge to the Congregation
God has planted in our hearts, minds, wills, spirits, great ideas, insights waiting to be released. God inspires us to respond; God waits for our response. In the Spirit of the living God, what are we willing to discover about ourselves, and share with others, this coming week?
Meditation
"You were born with all that you need to win at life; you were born to win" (author unknown).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of music focusing on the Parables listed or "If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee," Vetter.
Hymn of Praise: "When Morning Gilds the Skies," German Hymn, eighteenth century; Edward Caswall, trans., 1854, 1858; alt.
Response to the Act of Forgiveness: (Choir and/or congregation) "Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life," Frank Mason North, 1903; alt., 1972.
Response to the Newer Covenant: "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing," Robert Robinson, 1758.
Offertory: "If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee," Newmark.
Hymn of Dedication: "Take Thou Our Minds, Dear Lord," William H. Foulkes; stanzas 1-3, 1918; stanza 4, 1920 or "Take My Life, and Let It Be Consecrated," Frances Ridley Havergal, 1874.
Music for Dismissal: Medley of music focusing on the Parables listed or "If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee," J. S. Bach.
Invitation to the Celebration
In the Name of the Master-teller of parables, welcome to worship. Is anyone joyful? (Wait for a response; if no one responds to the first asking, ask again, at least until a few respond.) Is anyone victorious? (Same procedure.) Is anyone hilarious? (Same procedure.) We live on the A.D., not the B.C., side of the resurrection. We already know that the battle is won. Christ has defeated sin, death, the grave. We will have sad moments; we need not lead sad lives. So, I invite us to celebrate the presence of the risen, living God with our heart, mind, will. And all the people say (offer your favorite affirmation).
Response
"Blessed Be the Name" (Ralph E. Hudson, found in Folk Encounter, Hope Publishing Company). Sing as a round: the children one group; the young people a second group; adults a third group; and those over 65 a fourth group.
P: The call of God in Christ is the call to life, abundant, eternal life.
M: It is the call to live with love, hope, and with a deep sense of our own worth.
P: I invite us to respond in the name of Christ, and live as his people.
M: We celebrate the life he has given us, and rejoice in its unlimited possibilities.
Response
Sing "Blessed Be the Name," again as a round. This time, change the designated groups to fit your congregation.
Prayer of Praise
Loving and merciful God, who has created within our restless hearts a longing for you, continue to come to us with your grace that reconciles; enlighten our minds with your truth that disturbs; invade our inmost being with power that makes new; and give to our lives that peace which comes from following you, no matter how far behind we may follow.
Hymn of Praise
"O God, in a Mysterious Way" (Scottish Psalter, 1615; William Cowper, 1774; alt.; arr. Thomas Ravenscroft, 1621).
Celebrating The Act Of Forgiveness
The Act of Confession
Do we bring our sin or our sins for confession? If we bring our sins, which ones do we mention; which do we leave out? Today, I invite us to bring our sin which once again Genesis 3 defines as "the attempt to justify our feelings, thoughts, words, actions"; which the New Testament defines as not only "missing the mark, but shooting at the wrong target"; which Sigmund Freud, in his "Pleasure Principle," defines as "I want what I want when I want it, and never mind the consequences." I invite us to confess our sin before we confess our sins. (Three minutes of silence. Then, invite them to pray the printed prayer of confession, in unison, saying, "Pray only the part of the prayer which you want forgiven; using the following prayer as an introduction, tailor the prayer to fit your situation.")
Prayer of Confession
We share a common humanity, but it is so hard to get down to it. We have so many facades, so many pretensions, so many social games to play. We have difficulty understanding our own fears, our own needs, our own motivations. No wonder we are so often cut off from our best self and each other. Lord, we pray for the grace to get in touch with ourselves, and at the same time, to reach out to each other. Help us to discover the sense of community necessary to renew your world.
Response
"In This Quiet Moment" (words and music by Larry Mayfield, copyright by Word Music, found in Let the People Sing, Hope Publishing Company. See Appendix I for address).
The Assurance of Pardon
The most important fact that we need to know, and we've heard it a million times, is that God already has forgiven our sin and our sins. If not so, then God's grace is a lie. But, it's not a lie; it is, literally, the gospel truth, when we accept it and when we do not.
Response
"Thank You, Thank You" (Richard Avery and Don Marsh, Hope Publishing Company. See Appendix I for address. Follow the directions they suggest for singing).
Celebrating The Word
Message with the Children of All Ages
Remind the children what the word "parable" means. Pick one of the parables and illustrate it; as, for example, a mustard seed, a bowl of flour and yeast. Or, ahead of time, hide something in the chancel; or use your imagination.
Reading from the Newer Covenant
Have the children remain, and focus on parables that you did not include in the children's message.
Proclamation of the Good News
Incorporate this idea: Some pastors handle relationships with the congregation, and some longtime members of the congregation operate, this way: "Here is something to be done; will you do it, and do it the way we want you to do it?" Obviously, the more productive way is this: "What would you find joy, even fun, in doing that would express your inner nature, and at the same time, fill a need in your life, as well as in the life of the whole church?"
Celebrating Our Gifts
Stewardship Challenge
"I like my way of doing things better than your way of not doing them; I like my way of accomplishing something better than your way of criticizing me when I accomplish it"Ê(WHK).
Dedication Prayer
God, we like to think that our pennies and dollars are sufficient,without ourselves. Do not let us get away with that kind of thinking. Take all of us, and all we have, in committed obedience to you.
Celebrating Our Departure
Charge to the Congregation
God has planted in our hearts, minds, wills, spirits, great ideas, insights waiting to be released. God inspires us to respond; God waits for our response. In the Spirit of the living God, what are we willing to discover about ourselves, and share with others, this coming week?
Meditation
"You were born with all that you need to win at life; you were born to win" (author unknown).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of music focusing on the Parables listed or "If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee," Vetter.
Hymn of Praise: "When Morning Gilds the Skies," German Hymn, eighteenth century; Edward Caswall, trans., 1854, 1858; alt.
Response to the Act of Forgiveness: (Choir and/or congregation) "Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life," Frank Mason North, 1903; alt., 1972.
Response to the Newer Covenant: "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing," Robert Robinson, 1758.
Offertory: "If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee," Newmark.
Hymn of Dedication: "Take Thou Our Minds, Dear Lord," William H. Foulkes; stanzas 1-3, 1918; stanza 4, 1920 or "Take My Life, and Let It Be Consecrated," Frances Ridley Havergal, 1874.
Music for Dismissal: Medley of music focusing on the Parables listed or "If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee," J. S. Bach.
