Jesus Heals a Paralytic
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle B
Pastoral Invitation (Pastor and evangels)
In the name of the God who always surprises us, welcome. I'm glad to see you evangels.
e: Thanks, pastor. It's (fill in your answer) to be here.
P: I invite us to discover the purpose for which God has called us.
e: So be it! We celebrate the presence of our persevering God, who makes life possible and purposeful.
P: I'm for that!
e: So am I! So are we!
Hymn of Praise
"When in Our Music God is Glorified." (Hymn for the last half of Epiphany.)
Prayer of Praise
Include the idea that God perseveres, and that God's activities are often misunderstood by us humans.
The evangels Face Up To Themselves
Introduction to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
(One minute of silence before praying the following prayer.) Our God, whose love never lessens, forgive me for taking so much for granted: the love of my family, the concern of my friends, the periodic pay check, health, life, your kindness. I remember my broken vows, my selfish ambitions, and some of my failures. According to your unconditional acceptance, remember me. Pardon my offenses, both the spoken and unspoken, the following in particular: (two minutes to seek forgiveness for your favorite). By your spirit, from now on, help me to put you at the center of my universe, to comfort those who need comforting and to confront those who need confronting, to care for others as I care for myself, by inspiring to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with you. (One minute of silence.)
Introduction to the Act of Receiving New Life (Pastor and evangels)
Because we can hide nothing from you, God, including ourselves and our favorite sin, we are open to you and your forgiveness. We rejoice that you have forgiven us. Help us to believe where we have little belief, especially about the forgiveness of our sin.
P: Christ has set us free to live our lives.
e: The past is forgiven; the present is significant; the future is open.
P: I invite us to give thanks and embrace life.
e: By God's presence and power, we seek a creative role in God's world.
P: Yes, indeed!
e: So be it!
The evangels Respond To God's Good News
Message with the Children of All Ages
(Combine this with the scripture reading.) Tell the content of the passage, emphasizing two things: (1) the work that it took to get the paralyzed man to Jesus; and (2) the religious leaders' criticism of Jesus because he refused to follow "their law."
Proclamation of the Good News
Give examples of people accomplishing some task; but they do not do it "our way," so we find a variety of ways to criticize them. Someone has said, "I like my way of doing things better than your way of not doing them." Conclude with the amazement of the people; and invite the congregation to look for and see the amazing work of God in God's universe.
Stewardship Challenge
"Money can cause hardening of the attitudes." (One minute of silence before receiving the offering.)
Prayer following the Offering
"God, we take a lot from you during our lives. Now we return a bit of what we have taken. Use it for your sake, and the world's."
Charge to the Congregation
Your sins are forgiven; so, in your freedom, take up your mat and go home. Remember that home is more than the place where you live.
Benediction
Before the words of the benediction, ask the people to look around the sanctuary. Ask, whom do you see? Whom do you avoid looking at? I invite you, this week, to be an evangel to those whom you avoid.
Meditation
"The temperature of the spiritual life of the church is the index of its power to heal" (Evelyn Frost).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation and Dismissal: Medley of Epiphany hymns.
Hymn of Praise: "Christ Is the World's True Light," George Wallace Briggs, 1931; alt., 1972. (Change the sexist language as you sing.)
Response to the Scripture: (Adult choir and congregation) "The New Is Old," Lloyd Pfautsch. Congregation sings the refrain.
Response to the Proclamation: (Adult choir) "Songs of Immortal Praise," Theron Kirk.
Response to the Stewardship Challenge: "How Brightly Shines the Morning Star," Pachelbel.
Hymn of Commitment: "Clap Your Hands," Ray Repp. Text and music copyright 1966; F.E.L. Church Publications, Ltd.
In the name of the God who always surprises us, welcome. I'm glad to see you evangels.
e: Thanks, pastor. It's (fill in your answer) to be here.
P: I invite us to discover the purpose for which God has called us.
e: So be it! We celebrate the presence of our persevering God, who makes life possible and purposeful.
P: I'm for that!
e: So am I! So are we!
Hymn of Praise
"When in Our Music God is Glorified." (Hymn for the last half of Epiphany.)
Prayer of Praise
Include the idea that God perseveres, and that God's activities are often misunderstood by us humans.
The evangels Face Up To Themselves
Introduction to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
(One minute of silence before praying the following prayer.) Our God, whose love never lessens, forgive me for taking so much for granted: the love of my family, the concern of my friends, the periodic pay check, health, life, your kindness. I remember my broken vows, my selfish ambitions, and some of my failures. According to your unconditional acceptance, remember me. Pardon my offenses, both the spoken and unspoken, the following in particular: (two minutes to seek forgiveness for your favorite). By your spirit, from now on, help me to put you at the center of my universe, to comfort those who need comforting and to confront those who need confronting, to care for others as I care for myself, by inspiring to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with you. (One minute of silence.)
Introduction to the Act of Receiving New Life (Pastor and evangels)
Because we can hide nothing from you, God, including ourselves and our favorite sin, we are open to you and your forgiveness. We rejoice that you have forgiven us. Help us to believe where we have little belief, especially about the forgiveness of our sin.
P: Christ has set us free to live our lives.
e: The past is forgiven; the present is significant; the future is open.
P: I invite us to give thanks and embrace life.
e: By God's presence and power, we seek a creative role in God's world.
P: Yes, indeed!
e: So be it!
The evangels Respond To God's Good News
Message with the Children of All Ages
(Combine this with the scripture reading.) Tell the content of the passage, emphasizing two things: (1) the work that it took to get the paralyzed man to Jesus; and (2) the religious leaders' criticism of Jesus because he refused to follow "their law."
Proclamation of the Good News
Give examples of people accomplishing some task; but they do not do it "our way," so we find a variety of ways to criticize them. Someone has said, "I like my way of doing things better than your way of not doing them." Conclude with the amazement of the people; and invite the congregation to look for and see the amazing work of God in God's universe.
Stewardship Challenge
"Money can cause hardening of the attitudes." (One minute of silence before receiving the offering.)
Prayer following the Offering
"God, we take a lot from you during our lives. Now we return a bit of what we have taken. Use it for your sake, and the world's."
Charge to the Congregation
Your sins are forgiven; so, in your freedom, take up your mat and go home. Remember that home is more than the place where you live.
Benediction
Before the words of the benediction, ask the people to look around the sanctuary. Ask, whom do you see? Whom do you avoid looking at? I invite you, this week, to be an evangel to those whom you avoid.
Meditation
"The temperature of the spiritual life of the church is the index of its power to heal" (Evelyn Frost).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation and Dismissal: Medley of Epiphany hymns.
Hymn of Praise: "Christ Is the World's True Light," George Wallace Briggs, 1931; alt., 1972. (Change the sexist language as you sing.)
Response to the Scripture: (Adult choir and congregation) "The New Is Old," Lloyd Pfautsch. Congregation sings the refrain.
Response to the Proclamation: (Adult choir) "Songs of Immortal Praise," Theron Kirk.
Response to the Stewardship Challenge: "How Brightly Shines the Morning Star," Pachelbel.
Hymn of Commitment: "Clap Your Hands," Ray Repp. Text and music copyright 1966; F.E.L. Church Publications, Ltd.
