The Greatest Commandment; the Question about David's Son
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle A Gospel Texts
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Invitation to the Celebration
We come to worship to celebrate Good News, to declare our allegiance, to affirm whose we are, who we are, what we do, where we go, in the name and power of the risen Christ. So, let's do that! Here! Now! And, all the people said, "Amen! Be It So! Let's Do It! Tah-dah!" (Keep repeating the response until the congregation responds with enthusiasm.)
P: We are here today, for whatever reason.
M: We are here because God called, invited us, as God does every week. Today, we said "yes," for whatever reason.
P: Now that we're here, Lord, heal us and free us to be persons who love You, our friends and enemies.
M: In order to do that, Lord, we're going to need all the help that You can give us. Thanks for Your loving us, so that we will love those whom You have placed in our personal histories.
Response
"We Thank You, Lord, for You Are Good" (Severus Gastorius, 1681; John G. Dunn, 1985; harm. Common Service Book, 1917).
Prayer of Praise
Center it around the heighth, depth, width, breadth of God's love to and for the world, a love which exceeds our comprehension; a love which is extended to those whom we do not know, and some whom we do not like; and wonder how God can possibly love them, when to us they are so unlovable.
Hymn of Praise
"Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty!" (See Appendix I for address).
We Seek Forgiveness
The Act of Seeing How Poorly We Love
C. S. Lewis, in his book The Four Loves, says, "If you want to make sure of keeping your heart intact, you must give it to no one, not even to a cat or a dog." (One minute of silence with no comment.) Now, silently consider your potential for love, and for your actual practice of loving, those in your home (pause); those in your neighborhood (pause); those with whom you work or attend school (pause); those whom you do not like (pause); those who actually have set out to do you in (pause). Consider your thoughts, silently, about Jesus' commandment. (Two minutes.) Invite the people to offer sentence prayers of confession. After each prayer, ask the people to respond, "Lord, have mercy on us."
The Act of Receiving New Power to Love
John Thompson, in a sermon titled "A Christian 'Love-In,' " says, "Love unites [I add, hate unties], for to love another is to accept unlimited responsibility for his good. In other words, love is being fully responsible in our relationships." I put it this way, "We are responsible for ourself; we are responsible to another, to listen, to affirm, to be available to comfort, to confront." Ask if the people have any response to these comments.
Prayer
"O God of love, may the light of your love dawn in our lives and through us, shine into our world, which first and foremost is your world. Dispel the gloomy cloud of night, and death's dark shadow put to flight by your loving presence and your awesome power. Come now, O Christ, and prepare us to receive you when you come to us in the person of the homeless one, the hungry one, the enemy, or the stranger. By your great love, rule in our hearts and our heads, and let your light shine in us and through us forever" (author unknown, slightly revised).
Response
"Open My Eyes That I May See" (Clara H. Scott, 1895).
We Are Listening!
Message with the Children of All Ages
Do you have an easy time, or a hard time, loving people, especially brothers or sisters, or even parents, when you don't get what you want? Distinguish between loving and liking. We can love others without liking many of the things they do; just as they may not like many of the things we do. Our parents do not throw us into the street because of certain things we do or say. Not true of all parents, as we read about in the daily newspaper. (Be careful about not making this a legalistic message; that is, "you should ... you have to ... you must because I say so....") We love others for one reason only; because God loves us, even when we have no idea how to love ourselves.
Reading from the Newer Covenant
Include the children in the first half of today's gospel. The passage makes for great drama. Then dismiss the children and continue the drama.
Proclamation of the Good News
Perhaps you can use these or similar events from your own life:
1. My son, when he was quite young, said to me one day, "Daddy, I'm rich." I asked, "Why do you think you're rich?" Steve responded, "Because I have a lot of love."
2. A patient in the hospital said to the chaplain one day, "Chaplain, tell me something important, the most important thing you can." The chaplain responded, "God loves you." The patient shot back, "Phttttt!"
Response
"Pass My Love Around" (words and music by David Yantis and Gio Sgarlata, found in New Wine. See Appendix I for address). Eliminate the sexist words as you sing.
We Are Accountable!
Stewardship Challenge
We are stewards of God's love, either positive or negative stewards. Probably I would be smart not to say this; however, Jesus told us that if our brother or sister has a grudge against us, we are, first, to go to that person and get squared away before bringing our offering. That may cut down on the offering today; but it might transform our church and community. (One minute of silence before receiving the offering.) After the offering, did anyone made a decision to reach out to someone from whom he/she is alienated?
Prayer of Dedication
There is no use in our pretending, God, that we can repay all of the damage that our lack of loving has done to ourselves, others, and you. We offer these gifts as partial payment, not because we must do so to win your love, but because we choose to do so to thank you for your love.
We Leave For Ministry!
Charge to the Congregation
"How shockingly indiscriminate is the love of God" (author unknown). "How shockingly discriminate is the love of (our name)" (WHK).
Meditation
"The world is not through with the Cross, but it will be through without it" (Phillips Brooks). "To be out of love is to be in hell" (author unknown).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: "Andante," C.P.E. Bach.
Hymn of Praise: "Sing to the Lord of Harvest," John S. B. Bonsell, 1866; alt.
Response to the Act of New Life: "He Comes to Us," Jane Marshall.
Response to the Message with the Children: "Magic Penny," Malvina Reynolds, copyright 1965, by Blue Seas Music, Inc., JAC Music Co., Inc., New York, NY; found in Singing the Lord's Song published by Discipleship Resources. (See Appendix I for address.)
Offertory: "What the World Needs Now is Love, Sweet Love," lyrics by Hal David; music by Burt Bacharach, copyright 1965, by Blue Seas Music, Inc., JAC Music Co., Inc., New York, NY.
Hymn of Praise: "Take Thou Our Minds, Dear Lord," William H. Foulkes, stanzas 1-3, 1918; stanza 4, 1920.
Music for Dismissal: "Love One Another," Natalie Sleeth, copyright 1975, Hope Publishing Company.
Invitation to the Celebration
We come to worship to celebrate Good News, to declare our allegiance, to affirm whose we are, who we are, what we do, where we go, in the name and power of the risen Christ. So, let's do that! Here! Now! And, all the people said, "Amen! Be It So! Let's Do It! Tah-dah!" (Keep repeating the response until the congregation responds with enthusiasm.)
P: We are here today, for whatever reason.
M: We are here because God called, invited us, as God does every week. Today, we said "yes," for whatever reason.
P: Now that we're here, Lord, heal us and free us to be persons who love You, our friends and enemies.
M: In order to do that, Lord, we're going to need all the help that You can give us. Thanks for Your loving us, so that we will love those whom You have placed in our personal histories.
Response
"We Thank You, Lord, for You Are Good" (Severus Gastorius, 1681; John G. Dunn, 1985; harm. Common Service Book, 1917).
Prayer of Praise
Center it around the heighth, depth, width, breadth of God's love to and for the world, a love which exceeds our comprehension; a love which is extended to those whom we do not know, and some whom we do not like; and wonder how God can possibly love them, when to us they are so unlovable.
Hymn of Praise
"Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty!" (See Appendix I for address).
We Seek Forgiveness
The Act of Seeing How Poorly We Love
C. S. Lewis, in his book The Four Loves, says, "If you want to make sure of keeping your heart intact, you must give it to no one, not even to a cat or a dog." (One minute of silence with no comment.) Now, silently consider your potential for love, and for your actual practice of loving, those in your home (pause); those in your neighborhood (pause); those with whom you work or attend school (pause); those whom you do not like (pause); those who actually have set out to do you in (pause). Consider your thoughts, silently, about Jesus' commandment. (Two minutes.) Invite the people to offer sentence prayers of confession. After each prayer, ask the people to respond, "Lord, have mercy on us."
The Act of Receiving New Power to Love
John Thompson, in a sermon titled "A Christian 'Love-In,' " says, "Love unites [I add, hate unties], for to love another is to accept unlimited responsibility for his good. In other words, love is being fully responsible in our relationships." I put it this way, "We are responsible for ourself; we are responsible to another, to listen, to affirm, to be available to comfort, to confront." Ask if the people have any response to these comments.
Prayer
"O God of love, may the light of your love dawn in our lives and through us, shine into our world, which first and foremost is your world. Dispel the gloomy cloud of night, and death's dark shadow put to flight by your loving presence and your awesome power. Come now, O Christ, and prepare us to receive you when you come to us in the person of the homeless one, the hungry one, the enemy, or the stranger. By your great love, rule in our hearts and our heads, and let your light shine in us and through us forever" (author unknown, slightly revised).
Response
"Open My Eyes That I May See" (Clara H. Scott, 1895).
We Are Listening!
Message with the Children of All Ages
Do you have an easy time, or a hard time, loving people, especially brothers or sisters, or even parents, when you don't get what you want? Distinguish between loving and liking. We can love others without liking many of the things they do; just as they may not like many of the things we do. Our parents do not throw us into the street because of certain things we do or say. Not true of all parents, as we read about in the daily newspaper. (Be careful about not making this a legalistic message; that is, "you should ... you have to ... you must because I say so....") We love others for one reason only; because God loves us, even when we have no idea how to love ourselves.
Reading from the Newer Covenant
Include the children in the first half of today's gospel. The passage makes for great drama. Then dismiss the children and continue the drama.
Proclamation of the Good News
Perhaps you can use these or similar events from your own life:
1. My son, when he was quite young, said to me one day, "Daddy, I'm rich." I asked, "Why do you think you're rich?" Steve responded, "Because I have a lot of love."
2. A patient in the hospital said to the chaplain one day, "Chaplain, tell me something important, the most important thing you can." The chaplain responded, "God loves you." The patient shot back, "Phttttt!"
Response
"Pass My Love Around" (words and music by David Yantis and Gio Sgarlata, found in New Wine. See Appendix I for address). Eliminate the sexist words as you sing.
We Are Accountable!
Stewardship Challenge
We are stewards of God's love, either positive or negative stewards. Probably I would be smart not to say this; however, Jesus told us that if our brother or sister has a grudge against us, we are, first, to go to that person and get squared away before bringing our offering. That may cut down on the offering today; but it might transform our church and community. (One minute of silence before receiving the offering.) After the offering, did anyone made a decision to reach out to someone from whom he/she is alienated?
Prayer of Dedication
There is no use in our pretending, God, that we can repay all of the damage that our lack of loving has done to ourselves, others, and you. We offer these gifts as partial payment, not because we must do so to win your love, but because we choose to do so to thank you for your love.
We Leave For Ministry!
Charge to the Congregation
"How shockingly indiscriminate is the love of God" (author unknown). "How shockingly discriminate is the love of (our name)" (WHK).
Meditation
"The world is not through with the Cross, but it will be through without it" (Phillips Brooks). "To be out of love is to be in hell" (author unknown).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: "Andante," C.P.E. Bach.
Hymn of Praise: "Sing to the Lord of Harvest," John S. B. Bonsell, 1866; alt.
Response to the Act of New Life: "He Comes to Us," Jane Marshall.
Response to the Message with the Children: "Magic Penny," Malvina Reynolds, copyright 1965, by Blue Seas Music, Inc., JAC Music Co., Inc., New York, NY; found in Singing the Lord's Song published by Discipleship Resources. (See Appendix I for address.)
Offertory: "What the World Needs Now is Love, Sweet Love," lyrics by Hal David; music by Burt Bacharach, copyright 1965, by Blue Seas Music, Inc., JAC Music Co., Inc., New York, NY.
Hymn of Praise: "Take Thou Our Minds, Dear Lord," William H. Foulkes, stanzas 1-3, 1918; stanza 4, 1920.
Music for Dismissal: "Love One Another," Natalie Sleeth, copyright 1975, Hope Publishing Company.
