Jesus Walking on Water
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle A Gospel Texts
Celebrating The Presence Of God
Invitation to the Celebration
In the Name of the living Christ, we come to worship, not as passive spectators, but as active participants. We participate through prayer, expectancy, listening, alertness, disagreeing, anticipation, challenging, giving, loving, confronting. This means getting out of the boat into the water. Are you ready for a God-event in your life, in the church's life? Ready or not, we plunge ahead!
P: Please repeat after me:
1. We are here!
2. We are ready!
3. We know that God is here!
4. We know that God is ready for us!
And, all the people said, (your favorite one-word celebration).
(If this is awkward the first time, practice it several times. And, it's okay not to do it perfectly. The goal is to free the people to respond with enthusiasm and energy. In a sense, you, the pastor, are the cheerleader to help make this happen.)
Response/Prayer of Praise
(Printed) Holy and Loving God, make this act of worship a life-giving event in our lives. Grant that your Spirit will cleanse us at the center of our being; freshening the springs of life; probing the hidden depths of our hearts; searching our secret brokenness, alienation, self-justifications; teaching us about stepping out of boats into water; and purifying our aims and ambitions. May Christ claim us anew, and the Holy Spirit receive and empower us, in the name of the Christ.
Response to the Prayer
Chorus only, "The Lord of the Dance" (by Sydney Carter).
Celebrating The Act Of Forgiveness
The Act of Confession
Sigmund Freud defined sin, probably without realizing he had done so. He called it the "Pleasure Principle." Here it is: "I want what I want when I want it -- and never mind the consequences." It's time to stop debating the "worst" sins, which, of course, are the ones that you commit; and begin to examine our own SIN, namely, of justifying our thoughts, feelings, words, behaviors -- and never mind the consequences. (Give the people four full minutes of silence to consider these remarks; ask them to write down their responses. After the four minutes, ask if anyone would take the risk of getting out of the boat and sharing. Wait; never rush through the confession and forgiveness.)
The Assurance of Pardon
Forgiveness and reconciliation begin with the confession of our own "I want what I want," not somebody else's, though we do enjoy confessing other people's sinking into the sea. So, because confession begins within us, not outside of us, I invite us to sing a response that we sang during Epiphany: "A New Creature" (words and music by John F. Wilson, Hope Publishing Company. See Appendix I for address).
Celebrating The Word
Message with the Children of All Ages
How many of you have walked on water for one minute? Thirty seconds? Twenty seconds? One second? Doesn't seem possible, does it, unless David Copperfield is around. (Show the children that taking risks is something they can do, rather than just going along with the crowd. Perhaps you can apply this example to your own situation: A high school girl moved to town. Her clothes were delayed in shipment. After wearing her one dress to school the first day, she returned home and insisted that her parents provide her with a new wardrobe. "Your clothes will arrive in a day or so," her mother consoled her. But the girl exclaimed, "I'd rather die than go to school wearing the same dress tomorrow. What would everyone think? How can I possibly face everyone at school?" She preferred the boat to the water. You, too?
Reading from the Newer Covenant
Though you may not simulate a boat and a lake, do simulate the conversation between Jesus and Peter, with plenty of emotion.
Proclamation of the Good News
Security means enjoying, or not enjoying, our slavery in Egypt; faith refers to our willingness to take risks. What's our choice: Boat or water?
Celebrating Our Gifts
Stewardship Challenge
"Make mine the same," may suffice at the cocktail lounge, but never when we are in the business of changing the world. Raymond B. Fosdick has said, "It is always through those who are unafraid to be different that advance comes to humanity."
Dedication Prayer
"Grant, O Lord, that what we have said with our lips, we may believe in our hearts; and that what we believe in our hearts, we may practice in our lives."
Celebrating Our Departure
Charge to the Congregation
It is relatively easy to accept the vows of church membership, and pay one's weekly pledge for its support; it is rather comfortable to sit in one's pew on Sunday morning, and listen to music which inspires and a sermon which reassures; it gives one a sense of social respectability to point to one's church membership as an evidence of good character and good citizenship. And it is an entirely different matter to keep the Lord's Day holy in the midst of a secular society; to take a stand for justice in the face of the respectable people of the church and community; to maintain a family time for study and prayer in these days of disorganization. So, how will we find ways to get out of the boat into the water?
Response
Male soloist to sing "Who Will Answer?" recorded by Ed Ames; Sunbury Music, Inc., 436 Maple Ave., Westbury, Long Island, N.Y. to order the music.
Meditation
"One of the smallest packages we ever saw was a man (could also be a woman) wrapped up wholly in himself (herself)" (author unknown). So, what does a large package resemble? You?
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: "God of Grace and God of Glory," Harry Emerson Fosdick.
Hymn of Praise: "Rejoice, O Pure in Heart," Edward H. Plumptre, 1865; alt. refrain added, 1883.
Response to the Confession: "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah," William Williams, 1745.
Response to the Assurance: "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,"ÊMartin Luther, 1592; trans., Frederick H. Hedge, 1854; alt., 1972.
Response to the Newer Covenant: "Praise to the Lord," Duke Street; or "Bread of Life," Christiansen.
Offertory: "Put on the Whole Armor of God," Humphreys; or "He Shall Feed His Flock," Handel.
Hymn of Commitment: "O God of All the Years of Life," Jane Parker Huber (from Joy in Singing. See Appendix I for address).
Response to the Benediction: Lively and energetic Threefold Amen.
Music for Dismissal: "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," Martin Luther.
Invitation to the Celebration
In the Name of the living Christ, we come to worship, not as passive spectators, but as active participants. We participate through prayer, expectancy, listening, alertness, disagreeing, anticipation, challenging, giving, loving, confronting. This means getting out of the boat into the water. Are you ready for a God-event in your life, in the church's life? Ready or not, we plunge ahead!
P: Please repeat after me:
1. We are here!
2. We are ready!
3. We know that God is here!
4. We know that God is ready for us!
And, all the people said, (your favorite one-word celebration).
(If this is awkward the first time, practice it several times. And, it's okay not to do it perfectly. The goal is to free the people to respond with enthusiasm and energy. In a sense, you, the pastor, are the cheerleader to help make this happen.)
Response/Prayer of Praise
(Printed) Holy and Loving God, make this act of worship a life-giving event in our lives. Grant that your Spirit will cleanse us at the center of our being; freshening the springs of life; probing the hidden depths of our hearts; searching our secret brokenness, alienation, self-justifications; teaching us about stepping out of boats into water; and purifying our aims and ambitions. May Christ claim us anew, and the Holy Spirit receive and empower us, in the name of the Christ.
Response to the Prayer
Chorus only, "The Lord of the Dance" (by Sydney Carter).
Celebrating The Act Of Forgiveness
The Act of Confession
Sigmund Freud defined sin, probably without realizing he had done so. He called it the "Pleasure Principle." Here it is: "I want what I want when I want it -- and never mind the consequences." It's time to stop debating the "worst" sins, which, of course, are the ones that you commit; and begin to examine our own SIN, namely, of justifying our thoughts, feelings, words, behaviors -- and never mind the consequences. (Give the people four full minutes of silence to consider these remarks; ask them to write down their responses. After the four minutes, ask if anyone would take the risk of getting out of the boat and sharing. Wait; never rush through the confession and forgiveness.)
The Assurance of Pardon
Forgiveness and reconciliation begin with the confession of our own "I want what I want," not somebody else's, though we do enjoy confessing other people's sinking into the sea. So, because confession begins within us, not outside of us, I invite us to sing a response that we sang during Epiphany: "A New Creature" (words and music by John F. Wilson, Hope Publishing Company. See Appendix I for address).
Celebrating The Word
Message with the Children of All Ages
How many of you have walked on water for one minute? Thirty seconds? Twenty seconds? One second? Doesn't seem possible, does it, unless David Copperfield is around. (Show the children that taking risks is something they can do, rather than just going along with the crowd. Perhaps you can apply this example to your own situation: A high school girl moved to town. Her clothes were delayed in shipment. After wearing her one dress to school the first day, she returned home and insisted that her parents provide her with a new wardrobe. "Your clothes will arrive in a day or so," her mother consoled her. But the girl exclaimed, "I'd rather die than go to school wearing the same dress tomorrow. What would everyone think? How can I possibly face everyone at school?" She preferred the boat to the water. You, too?
Reading from the Newer Covenant
Though you may not simulate a boat and a lake, do simulate the conversation between Jesus and Peter, with plenty of emotion.
Proclamation of the Good News
Security means enjoying, or not enjoying, our slavery in Egypt; faith refers to our willingness to take risks. What's our choice: Boat or water?
Celebrating Our Gifts
Stewardship Challenge
"Make mine the same," may suffice at the cocktail lounge, but never when we are in the business of changing the world. Raymond B. Fosdick has said, "It is always through those who are unafraid to be different that advance comes to humanity."
Dedication Prayer
"Grant, O Lord, that what we have said with our lips, we may believe in our hearts; and that what we believe in our hearts, we may practice in our lives."
Celebrating Our Departure
Charge to the Congregation
It is relatively easy to accept the vows of church membership, and pay one's weekly pledge for its support; it is rather comfortable to sit in one's pew on Sunday morning, and listen to music which inspires and a sermon which reassures; it gives one a sense of social respectability to point to one's church membership as an evidence of good character and good citizenship. And it is an entirely different matter to keep the Lord's Day holy in the midst of a secular society; to take a stand for justice in the face of the respectable people of the church and community; to maintain a family time for study and prayer in these days of disorganization. So, how will we find ways to get out of the boat into the water?
Response
Male soloist to sing "Who Will Answer?" recorded by Ed Ames; Sunbury Music, Inc., 436 Maple Ave., Westbury, Long Island, N.Y. to order the music.
Meditation
"One of the smallest packages we ever saw was a man (could also be a woman) wrapped up wholly in himself (herself)" (author unknown). So, what does a large package resemble? You?
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: "God of Grace and God of Glory," Harry Emerson Fosdick.
Hymn of Praise: "Rejoice, O Pure in Heart," Edward H. Plumptre, 1865; alt. refrain added, 1883.
Response to the Confession: "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah," William Williams, 1745.
Response to the Assurance: "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,"ÊMartin Luther, 1592; trans., Frederick H. Hedge, 1854; alt., 1972.
Response to the Newer Covenant: "Praise to the Lord," Duke Street; or "Bread of Life," Christiansen.
Offertory: "Put on the Whole Armor of God," Humphreys; or "He Shall Feed His Flock," Handel.
Hymn of Commitment: "O God of All the Years of Life," Jane Parker Huber (from Joy in Singing. See Appendix I for address).
Response to the Benediction: Lively and energetic Threefold Amen.
Music for Dismissal: "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," Martin Luther.
