Jesus Predicts His Death
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle B
We Offer Ourselves In The Spirit Of The Living Christ
Pastoral Invitation
In the name of the one who soon will die, welcome, as we approach the conclusion of Lent. How goes your Lenten observance? What are you learning? What new decisions are you making? Where do you see your life changing? Have you begun to see the reason for Jesus' death, and indeed, death to your old ways? We will experience no Easter without first experiencing Good Friday. God gives us the vision, and the power to fulfill it. Thank God!
Hymn of Praise
"Be Thou My Vision." (Hymn for the last three Sundays in Lent.)
Prayer of Praise
Prepare the people for the necessity of Jesus' death, and what his death means to us as the church, as the world.
We Receive New Life
Introduction to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
Which parts of your attitudes and behavior do you need to bury, and to keep them buried? Grudges, greed, lust, self-righteousness, false pride, and so on. Take two minutes to write them down. How will you go about having a burial service? Collect them in a fireproof container, and burn them, either in the sanctuary or outdoors. (One minute of silence.) Then, offer a prayer of thanks, or invite the people to offer sentence prayers of thanks.
Response
"The World Abounds with God's Free Grace," (chorus only), David G. Mehrtens, 1980; George Frederick Handel, 1748; C. Winfred Douglas, 1941.
Introduction to the Word of Acceptance and New Life
God buries the products of our confession; for that we rejoice. In light of our forgiven life, what kind of wheat will we produce? Each of us is a rich grain, waiting to be born anew each day. What new thoughts, words, behavior will we allow God's Spirit to sprout and grow, for our sake, the world's sake, Christ's sake? (Two minutes to write down your insights and new commitments.)
Response
"I'm Gonna Live So God Can Use Me," African-American spiritual; arr. Wendell Whalum (1932-1987).
We Are Listening
Message with the Children of All Ages
Revise the "receiving new life" act of worship for the children. Bring a fruit or vegetable full grown, and the seed that got it started. Perhaps you can show them the process of growth. What are some ways that you will grow throughout your lifetime? Let them know that God is the author of life and growth.
Reading of the Gospel
Have some "Greeks" walk up the aisle to worship. The disciples are nearby. The Greeks tell Philip, who tells Andrew, who together tell Jesus. Jesus speaks. A voice from offstage responds. Jesus speaks once again. A reader concludes with verse 33.
Proclamation of the Good News
Several themes stand out: (1) Philip witnesses to Andrew. (2) Putting life in its proper perspective. (3) Jesus refuses the easy way. (4) God's judgment is a part of God's love.
Response
"O Jesus, I Have Promised," (two tunes John Ernest Bode, 1868. Arthur Henry Mann, 1881; or, Finnish folk melody; adapt.and harm. David Evans, 1927.
We Respond In Faithful Obedience
Stewardship Challenge
Distinguish between what needs to stay buried in your life, and those seeds that need to grow. As always, we are engaged in the stewardship of choice, between what I want, and what God wants for me.
Response
Invite your musicians to create a song about growing seeds.
Charge to the Congregation
We, Lenten observers, have one of two choices: By our own justifications, we can keep regurgitating those attitudes we need to keep buried; or, in the Spirit of the Christ, we can allow God to provide new crops. Which do you prefer? Which will you act upon?
Meditation
The church, at best, is God's greenhouse.
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Lenten hymns; or, "Adagio,"Êby Hindemith.
Hymn of Praise: "Eternal God, Whose Power Upholds," Henry Hallam Tweedy, 1929; English folk melody; arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906.
Response to the Word of Acceptance and New Life: "Blessed Are You," by Diemer.
Response to the Stewardship Challenge: "Cantilene," by Orff.
Hymn of Commitment: "At the Name of Jesus," Caroline Maria Noel, 1890; alt., 1931; Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1925.
Music for Dismissal: Medley of Lenten hymns; or "Jesus Calls Us," Cecil Frances Alexander, 1852; William H. Jude, 1887.
Pastoral Invitation
In the name of the one who soon will die, welcome, as we approach the conclusion of Lent. How goes your Lenten observance? What are you learning? What new decisions are you making? Where do you see your life changing? Have you begun to see the reason for Jesus' death, and indeed, death to your old ways? We will experience no Easter without first experiencing Good Friday. God gives us the vision, and the power to fulfill it. Thank God!
Hymn of Praise
"Be Thou My Vision." (Hymn for the last three Sundays in Lent.)
Prayer of Praise
Prepare the people for the necessity of Jesus' death, and what his death means to us as the church, as the world.
We Receive New Life
Introduction to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
Which parts of your attitudes and behavior do you need to bury, and to keep them buried? Grudges, greed, lust, self-righteousness, false pride, and so on. Take two minutes to write them down. How will you go about having a burial service? Collect them in a fireproof container, and burn them, either in the sanctuary or outdoors. (One minute of silence.) Then, offer a prayer of thanks, or invite the people to offer sentence prayers of thanks.
Response
"The World Abounds with God's Free Grace," (chorus only), David G. Mehrtens, 1980; George Frederick Handel, 1748; C. Winfred Douglas, 1941.
Introduction to the Word of Acceptance and New Life
God buries the products of our confession; for that we rejoice. In light of our forgiven life, what kind of wheat will we produce? Each of us is a rich grain, waiting to be born anew each day. What new thoughts, words, behavior will we allow God's Spirit to sprout and grow, for our sake, the world's sake, Christ's sake? (Two minutes to write down your insights and new commitments.)
Response
"I'm Gonna Live So God Can Use Me," African-American spiritual; arr. Wendell Whalum (1932-1987).
We Are Listening
Message with the Children of All Ages
Revise the "receiving new life" act of worship for the children. Bring a fruit or vegetable full grown, and the seed that got it started. Perhaps you can show them the process of growth. What are some ways that you will grow throughout your lifetime? Let them know that God is the author of life and growth.
Reading of the Gospel
Have some "Greeks" walk up the aisle to worship. The disciples are nearby. The Greeks tell Philip, who tells Andrew, who together tell Jesus. Jesus speaks. A voice from offstage responds. Jesus speaks once again. A reader concludes with verse 33.
Proclamation of the Good News
Several themes stand out: (1) Philip witnesses to Andrew. (2) Putting life in its proper perspective. (3) Jesus refuses the easy way. (4) God's judgment is a part of God's love.
Response
"O Jesus, I Have Promised," (two tunes John Ernest Bode, 1868. Arthur Henry Mann, 1881; or, Finnish folk melody; adapt.and harm. David Evans, 1927.
We Respond In Faithful Obedience
Stewardship Challenge
Distinguish between what needs to stay buried in your life, and those seeds that need to grow. As always, we are engaged in the stewardship of choice, between what I want, and what God wants for me.
Response
Invite your musicians to create a song about growing seeds.
Charge to the Congregation
We, Lenten observers, have one of two choices: By our own justifications, we can keep regurgitating those attitudes we need to keep buried; or, in the Spirit of the Christ, we can allow God to provide new crops. Which do you prefer? Which will you act upon?
Meditation
The church, at best, is God's greenhouse.
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Lenten hymns; or, "Adagio,"Êby Hindemith.
Hymn of Praise: "Eternal God, Whose Power Upholds," Henry Hallam Tweedy, 1929; English folk melody; arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906.
Response to the Word of Acceptance and New Life: "Blessed Are You," by Diemer.
Response to the Stewardship Challenge: "Cantilene," by Orff.
Hymn of Commitment: "At the Name of Jesus," Caroline Maria Noel, 1890; alt., 1931; Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1925.
Music for Dismissal: Medley of Lenten hymns; or "Jesus Calls Us," Cecil Frances Alexander, 1852; William H. Jude, 1887.
