Proper 18, Pentecost 16, Ordinary Time 23
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle C Gospel Texts
Liturgical Color: Green
Gospel: Luke 14:25-33
Theme: Counting the Cost of Discipleship: Hating One's Relatives; and Bearing the Cross. How many of your members count the cost of uniting with the church, either before, during, or after taking the church membership class?
Remembering Who God Is
Music for Preparation
"Pastorale," Franck.
Choral Invitation by the Choir(s)
Any version of "Holy, Holy, Holy."
Pastoral Invitation
Pastor and Ministers
In the name of the Holy One, who calls us to obedience, welcome. Be ready once again for a Scripture that we prefer not to hear. Before we hear today's Gospel, keep this truth before you: Our life as a Christian either begins, continues, and ends with our receiving a gift, God's gift of grace, that is, God's unconditional, unearned, undeserved, unmerited acceptance of us, or it never begins at all.
P: Jesus, called the Christ, has offered us a way of being fully human. Remember that he never promised us a rose garden.
M: Christ has presented a new style of life based on love, peace, and justice for all persons, including the ones we don't like and don't know.
P: He has invited and commissioned us, the church, to declare and to live this new way, no matter what it costs us.
M: We admit that we like to hear his soothing messages; we cringe at the harsh messages. And we know that we need to hear the whole gospel.
P: I invite us to celebrate the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
M: We shall hear it. We may not always obey it. We seek Christ's courage to take God seriously, no matter how scared we become.
Hymn of Praise
"Our God, Our Help in Ages Past," Isaac Watts, 1719; alt.; attr. William Croft, 1708.
Prayer of Praise
Prepare the people for this harsh message of Christ, and the reality of God's presence and power when they take obedience seriously.
Facing Up To Ourselves
Introduction to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
Take three minutes to examine, and to write down, your reasons for uniting with the church. (Wait.) As you examine your list, evaluate your motivations and expectations. Now, read Luke 14:26-27, slowly and deliberately. Did those verses have any consideration in your decision? (Fifteen seconds of silence.) If you considered church membership again, along with those verses, would you choose not to unite? (Wait.) What content does your faith have today? (Wait.) Jesus paid the supreme price; what price do you pay?
Response
Build the prayer on having a risk-taking faith or a security-minded faith.
Choral Response
"Jesus the Man" (Confession). (See Pentecost 3.)
Introduction to the Act of Receiving New Life
Pastor and Ministers
Obviously, Jesus asks of us far more than lip-service. Anyone can say, "I believe in God." Anyone can join the church. (I was an atheist when I joined at age sixteen.) Anyone can pretend, and even become a pillar of the church. Christ calls us far beyond the externals, to change our thoughts, words, feelings, and behaviors to reflect and to refract a new commitment, a new obedience, to put the living God first in our lives. No one said this would be easy unless, of course, that person were trying to con us into something other than biblical Christianity.
P: So, the word of Christ is both Good News and Bad News.
M: We realize that the bad news means that we must change; we are grateful for the Good News, which recognizes that Christ makes that change possible.
P: The past about our motivation and expectation for uniting with the church is forgiven. Our future commitment and obedience are before us. Thank God!
M: God help us to live with courage and with a deep concern for all.
P: I invite us to give thanks for new beginnings and strength to embrace our lives in the risen one.
M: We shall! We do! Amen! Let it be true!
Choral Response
"Gloria Patri," a contemporary version.
Remembering Our Reason For Being By Hearing The Truth
Message with the Children of All Ages
Do you enjoy obeying your parents? Do you know that some children do not obey their parents? Some don't even like their parents. We can tell because they don't pick up their clothes; they don't wash the dishes; they don't brush their teeth, and so on. So who does all of those things? Usually, Mother. Compare this with obedience to God. God has shown us how to live healthy and productive lives, and we tell God that we would rather do things our way. God doesn't hit us over the head and say, "Shape up or ship out." God, through the loving people in our lives, seeks to love us so that we will respond with love in return.
Dramatizing the Scripture
Have "Jesus" memorize verses 25-29, and walk among the congregation. Have someone from the congregation stand and speak verses 30-32. Then, "Jesus" will look the people in the eye, and speak verse 33 several times, so that the whole congregation gets eye contact.
Proclamation of the Good News
This passage may well appear as bad news. You may want to include these ideas; (1) The Roman Empire required everyone to put a pinch of incense on the altar and vow holy allegiance to Caesar. Many Christians did put down their incense, while excusing themselves with the words, "I don't really worship Caesar, but a person's got to live." (2) Before we become too critical of them, I urge us to consider the depth of our own faith. How often do we take the easy way out? We laugh at racist and sexist jokes we don't like; we keep quiet about all kinds of injustices because it's better to be safe than sorry. (Add your own.) And we justify our behavior because, after all, a person's got to live. (3) When we put safety and security, even our lives, on the block and then lose, is it worth it? Did the Christians who were burned at the stake or fed to the lions throw their lives away for nothing? Is the person who calmly but firmly tells his/her boss, "No, it's against my ethics," a fool? Vance Havner has said, "We are obsessed with saving our hides at the cost of our honor, if need be; and we may save neither our hides nor honor."aThe question for all of us is this: "Do we count the cost before we make the commitment?" (Ideas suggested by Neil Wyrick, Jr., from The Presbyterian Outlook, 11/4/68.) (Ask the people to read or reread Dietrich Bonhoeffer's The Cost of Discipleship before, during, and after today's worship.)
Response
"Called as Partners in Christ's Service," Jane Parker Huber, 1981; John Zundel, 1870.
Taking Responsibility For Responding To The Word
Stewardship Challenge
From the Peanuts collection: Linus: "I guess I talk too much ... My mom is mad at me ... my grandma is mad at me ... Everyone is mad at me. Yesterday, my grandma drank 32 cups of coffee ... I shouldn't have said anything ... I suggested that perhaps her drinking 32 cups of coffee was not unlike my need for a security-blanket ... She didn't like the comparison."aDag Hammarskjold says it this way: "It is when we all play it safe that we live in a world of utmost insecurity." This week, identify those times when we play it safe, or when we take risks.
Hymn of Commitment
" 'Take Up Your Cross,' the Savior Said." (See Lent 6.)
Charge to the Congregation
Helen Keller said, "Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do our children as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run that outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing." And Howard Thurman adds this truth: "There is only one place of refuge on this planet for anyone --athat is, in another person's heart."
Meditation
"Our values, our ideals are upside down. We pay lip service to spiritual values, but give top priority to mink coats and Cadillacs (and to other less expensive items). We have created a generation whose main aim is security ... in an age where almost everything except security exists" (Dr. Laurence M. Gould, predicting a dim future for Western civilization in a speech on the One Hundredth Anniversary of Cooper Union).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: "Prelude on a Hymn Tune," T. Tertius Noble.
Hymn of Praise: "The God of Abraham Praise." (See Pentecost 6.)
Response to the Confession: With background music, speak these words of D. H. Lawrence: "Those who go searching for love only make manifest their lovelessness; and the loveless never find love; only the loving find love. And they never have to seek for it."
Response to the Assurance: Sing to the tune "500 Miles," the following words: "Faith and hope and love abide -- love is greatest of the three. Faith and hope abide, but love the greatest is."
Response to the Message With Children: "Lo, I Am With You Always," words and music by Loretta Ellenberger, from Folk Encounter. (See Appendix I for address.)
Offertory: "Aria," McKay.
Hymn of Commitment: "Reach Out to Your Neighbor," words and music by Roger Copeland, from Folk Encounter. (As you sing, substitute female words for male words; interchange the two genders.)
Response Following the Benediction: "Day by Day," from Godspell, St. Richard of Chichester (alt.). Copyright, Valando Music, Inc., and New Cadenza Music Corp. 1971. Words and music can be found in Folk Encounter.
Gospel: Luke 14:25-33
Theme: Counting the Cost of Discipleship: Hating One's Relatives; and Bearing the Cross. How many of your members count the cost of uniting with the church, either before, during, or after taking the church membership class?
Remembering Who God Is
Music for Preparation
"Pastorale," Franck.
Choral Invitation by the Choir(s)
Any version of "Holy, Holy, Holy."
Pastoral Invitation
Pastor and Ministers
In the name of the Holy One, who calls us to obedience, welcome. Be ready once again for a Scripture that we prefer not to hear. Before we hear today's Gospel, keep this truth before you: Our life as a Christian either begins, continues, and ends with our receiving a gift, God's gift of grace, that is, God's unconditional, unearned, undeserved, unmerited acceptance of us, or it never begins at all.
P: Jesus, called the Christ, has offered us a way of being fully human. Remember that he never promised us a rose garden.
M: Christ has presented a new style of life based on love, peace, and justice for all persons, including the ones we don't like and don't know.
P: He has invited and commissioned us, the church, to declare and to live this new way, no matter what it costs us.
M: We admit that we like to hear his soothing messages; we cringe at the harsh messages. And we know that we need to hear the whole gospel.
P: I invite us to celebrate the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
M: We shall hear it. We may not always obey it. We seek Christ's courage to take God seriously, no matter how scared we become.
Hymn of Praise
"Our God, Our Help in Ages Past," Isaac Watts, 1719; alt.; attr. William Croft, 1708.
Prayer of Praise
Prepare the people for this harsh message of Christ, and the reality of God's presence and power when they take obedience seriously.
Facing Up To Ourselves
Introduction to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
Take three minutes to examine, and to write down, your reasons for uniting with the church. (Wait.) As you examine your list, evaluate your motivations and expectations. Now, read Luke 14:26-27, slowly and deliberately. Did those verses have any consideration in your decision? (Fifteen seconds of silence.) If you considered church membership again, along with those verses, would you choose not to unite? (Wait.) What content does your faith have today? (Wait.) Jesus paid the supreme price; what price do you pay?
Response
Build the prayer on having a risk-taking faith or a security-minded faith.
Choral Response
"Jesus the Man" (Confession). (See Pentecost 3.)
Introduction to the Act of Receiving New Life
Pastor and Ministers
Obviously, Jesus asks of us far more than lip-service. Anyone can say, "I believe in God." Anyone can join the church. (I was an atheist when I joined at age sixteen.) Anyone can pretend, and even become a pillar of the church. Christ calls us far beyond the externals, to change our thoughts, words, feelings, and behaviors to reflect and to refract a new commitment, a new obedience, to put the living God first in our lives. No one said this would be easy unless, of course, that person were trying to con us into something other than biblical Christianity.
P: So, the word of Christ is both Good News and Bad News.
M: We realize that the bad news means that we must change; we are grateful for the Good News, which recognizes that Christ makes that change possible.
P: The past about our motivation and expectation for uniting with the church is forgiven. Our future commitment and obedience are before us. Thank God!
M: God help us to live with courage and with a deep concern for all.
P: I invite us to give thanks for new beginnings and strength to embrace our lives in the risen one.
M: We shall! We do! Amen! Let it be true!
Choral Response
"Gloria Patri," a contemporary version.
Remembering Our Reason For Being By Hearing The Truth
Message with the Children of All Ages
Do you enjoy obeying your parents? Do you know that some children do not obey their parents? Some don't even like their parents. We can tell because they don't pick up their clothes; they don't wash the dishes; they don't brush their teeth, and so on. So who does all of those things? Usually, Mother. Compare this with obedience to God. God has shown us how to live healthy and productive lives, and we tell God that we would rather do things our way. God doesn't hit us over the head and say, "Shape up or ship out." God, through the loving people in our lives, seeks to love us so that we will respond with love in return.
Dramatizing the Scripture
Have "Jesus" memorize verses 25-29, and walk among the congregation. Have someone from the congregation stand and speak verses 30-32. Then, "Jesus" will look the people in the eye, and speak verse 33 several times, so that the whole congregation gets eye contact.
Proclamation of the Good News
This passage may well appear as bad news. You may want to include these ideas; (1) The Roman Empire required everyone to put a pinch of incense on the altar and vow holy allegiance to Caesar. Many Christians did put down their incense, while excusing themselves with the words, "I don't really worship Caesar, but a person's got to live." (2) Before we become too critical of them, I urge us to consider the depth of our own faith. How often do we take the easy way out? We laugh at racist and sexist jokes we don't like; we keep quiet about all kinds of injustices because it's better to be safe than sorry. (Add your own.) And we justify our behavior because, after all, a person's got to live. (3) When we put safety and security, even our lives, on the block and then lose, is it worth it? Did the Christians who were burned at the stake or fed to the lions throw their lives away for nothing? Is the person who calmly but firmly tells his/her boss, "No, it's against my ethics," a fool? Vance Havner has said, "We are obsessed with saving our hides at the cost of our honor, if need be; and we may save neither our hides nor honor."aThe question for all of us is this: "Do we count the cost before we make the commitment?" (Ideas suggested by Neil Wyrick, Jr., from The Presbyterian Outlook, 11/4/68.) (Ask the people to read or reread Dietrich Bonhoeffer's The Cost of Discipleship before, during, and after today's worship.)
Response
"Called as Partners in Christ's Service," Jane Parker Huber, 1981; John Zundel, 1870.
Taking Responsibility For Responding To The Word
Stewardship Challenge
From the Peanuts collection: Linus: "I guess I talk too much ... My mom is mad at me ... my grandma is mad at me ... Everyone is mad at me. Yesterday, my grandma drank 32 cups of coffee ... I shouldn't have said anything ... I suggested that perhaps her drinking 32 cups of coffee was not unlike my need for a security-blanket ... She didn't like the comparison."aDag Hammarskjold says it this way: "It is when we all play it safe that we live in a world of utmost insecurity." This week, identify those times when we play it safe, or when we take risks.
Hymn of Commitment
" 'Take Up Your Cross,' the Savior Said." (See Lent 6.)
Charge to the Congregation
Helen Keller said, "Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do our children as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run that outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing." And Howard Thurman adds this truth: "There is only one place of refuge on this planet for anyone --athat is, in another person's heart."
Meditation
"Our values, our ideals are upside down. We pay lip service to spiritual values, but give top priority to mink coats and Cadillacs (and to other less expensive items). We have created a generation whose main aim is security ... in an age where almost everything except security exists" (Dr. Laurence M. Gould, predicting a dim future for Western civilization in a speech on the One Hundredth Anniversary of Cooper Union).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: "Prelude on a Hymn Tune," T. Tertius Noble.
Hymn of Praise: "The God of Abraham Praise." (See Pentecost 6.)
Response to the Confession: With background music, speak these words of D. H. Lawrence: "Those who go searching for love only make manifest their lovelessness; and the loveless never find love; only the loving find love. And they never have to seek for it."
Response to the Assurance: Sing to the tune "500 Miles," the following words: "Faith and hope and love abide -- love is greatest of the three. Faith and hope abide, but love the greatest is."
Response to the Message With Children: "Lo, I Am With You Always," words and music by Loretta Ellenberger, from Folk Encounter. (See Appendix I for address.)
Offertory: "Aria," McKay.
Hymn of Commitment: "Reach Out to Your Neighbor," words and music by Roger Copeland, from Folk Encounter. (As you sing, substitute female words for male words; interchange the two genders.)
Response Following the Benediction: "Day by Day," from Godspell, St. Richard of Chichester (alt.). Copyright, Valando Music, Inc., and New Cadenza Music Corp. 1971. Words and music can be found in Folk Encounter.
