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Proper 27 | OT 32 Worship Resources

Worship
Lectionary Worship Aids
Series VI, Cycle B
First Lesson: Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17
Theme: Happy Ending


Call To Worship
The story of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz is one of love, loyalty, and responsibility. As we gather together to worship God Almighty, the Father of us all, let us receive his love, renew our loyalty, and accept our responsibility for our families, loved ones, and neighbors.

Come, let us worship.

Collect
Almighty God, we give you thanks for lives set free from despair when things go wrong. Enable us to see clearly one another's needs so that we may be a ministering community. Give us strength to do your will and courage to accept our responsibility for others. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Prayer Of Confession
We confess, Lord, that sometimes when we put our trust in you we use that as an excuse for doing nothing ourselves. Wake us up, we pray, that we may seek your will and then plan and strategize to carry it out. Amen.

Hymns
"Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee"
"God Will Take Care Of You"

* * *

Second Lesson: Hebrews 9:24-28
Theme: Christ Takes Away Our Sins


Call To Worship
Christ died once and for all time to remove the barrier of sin that keeps us from God, and to demonstrate the forgiving and loving nature of our Heavenly Father. Christ continues to stand at the doorways of our hearts, pleading for us to let him enter and thus accept God's love.

Come, let us worship our merciful God made known to us through Jesus Christ.

Collect
O God, our help in ages past and our hope for years to come, we graciously accept your merciful and forgiving love. May your Holy Spirit inspire our prayers as we worship you in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer Of Confession
Good Lord, save us from halfheartedness in our service to others. May our commitment to do your will be complete, and may we find joy in the full use of all that we are and have in the service of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Hymns
"Great Is Thy Faithfulness"
"How Like A Gentle Spirit"

* * *

Gospel Lesson: Mark 12:38-44
Theme: Sacrificial Giving


Call To Worship
If our actions do not agree with our teachings then we are in trouble. Jesus warned us about giving out of our abundance to gain recognition, when he calls us to give sacrificially of our time, talents, and money in order to serve him.

Come, let us worship God who provides for our needs and asks us to provide for the needs of others.

Collect
Almighty God, what we give to you is nothing compared to the sacrifice of himself that Jesus made upon the cross for us. Bless this time of worship, we pray, that it may be a time when we rededicate ourselves that we may be used by you in the building of your kingdom, and in sharing the Good News of your forgiving love with those who do not know you. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Prayer Of Confession
Yes, Lord, we, too, have been guilty of contributing to the work of your Church the crumbs left over after our feasting. We have not known the joy of giving because we have felt no pain in letting go such small amounts of our blessings. May your Spirit inspire us to give not what we think we can afford, but what we know in our hearts we ought to be giving for your work. Amen.

Hymns
"Take My Life, And Let It Be"
"I Would Be True"
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Easter 4
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New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Elena Delhagen
Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
Quantisha Mason-Doll
George Reed
Katy Stenta
For May 5, 2024:
  • Longing for Belonging by Dean Feldmeyer — “A deep sense of love and belonging is an irreducible need of all people. We are biologically, cognitively, physically, and spiritually wired to love and be loved and to belong.” — Brene Brown
  • Second Thoughts: Is Blood Thicker Than Water? by Elena Delhagen based on 1 John 5:1-6 and Acts 10:44-48.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
It was a dark and stormy night. Lightning flashed and thunder crashed. Suddenly, Kimberly, our middle daughter, was standing next to our bed, sobbing in fear. My wife held and comforted her for a few minutes, and then I led her back to the room she shared with her older sister Kristyn. I tucked her tightly into the sandwich of her sheets and blankets, snugging things up for extra safety.
Bill Thomas
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Acts 10:44-48

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: Pieces you might use, like dice, a spinner, a ball, or any other “unusual” things you might find. I used a beanbag, a shoe, and a piece of paper.

* * *

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (v. 12-13)

You have heard the saying “We are not called to be successful; we are called to be faithful.” Jesus’ invitation to “follow me” is an invitation to faithfulness. That might be described by the old-fashioned word “fidelity.”

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Do you love anyone enough to offer them your last Rolo? According to the advert, Rolos are so incredibly delicious that nobody could be that selfless. Those who consider offering their last Rolo to someone they love, snatch it back at the last moment and keep it for themselves.

Or you might of course, love Terry's chocolate orange, and feel it's something which would be good to share. But at the last moment, like cuddly Dawn French, you'd say, "No, it's mine, not Terry's, it's all mine!"

SermonStudio

Schuyler Rhodes
Anyone who has made a long road trip with children singing "99 Bottles Of Beer On The Wall" can support the notion of "singing a new song." Children love the repetition of singing the same song over and over. Parents or youth group leaders who have been in this situation can identify with the need to sing a new song.
Nancy Kraft
Are you in love with God? In 1 John, the author has a lot to say about the love of God and the way that love changes our lives. We love because God first loved us. God's love fills us to overflowing so that it flows through us to other people. Annie Dillard said that we catch grace like a man filling a cup underneath a waterfall.1 That's the way we receive God's love. But there can be a problem for us when we put a lid on our cups and the water can't get inside. We're closing our hearts off to the love of God.

Harry N. Huxhold
A remarkable feature of Dwight D. Eisenhower's memoirs is the composure with which he greeted crises. He titled his autobiography At Ease, an appropriate description for not only his retirement, but the manner in which he appeared to be on top of life. Colleagues, of course, could recall how excited he could get in revealing his impatience with mediocrity and the failures of the people in his command. However, what was impressive was the way he took control in the European theater in World War II with no fear for his own life and great confidence in the Allied offensive.
E. Carver Mcgriff
Charles Wesley began one of the Methodist Church's favorite hymns with this line: "Come Holy Ghost, Our Hearts Inspire." Of course, tradition now uses the alternate term, "Holy Spirit." Wesley called it the "fountain of life and love." And so it is. Once we experience the Holy Spirit, we know it is exactly that: the source of life and love. The giving of that Spirit into the lives of us all is the point of this passage.

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