Lent 4
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook, Series IV, Cycle C
Soul Motion
Object:
You shall pass judgment on yourself. That is the hardest thing of all ...
If you succeed in judging yourself, it's because you are truly wise.
(The king on a planet to the prince)
-- Saint Exupery, The Little Prince
Call To Worship
Leader: It's Sunday again! We're here in this sanctuary together! God, the Great Mystery is here, in and around us.
People: We revel in the signs of spring, knowing that God is still creating! We delight in this place of beauty and in the company of friends.
Leader: This day, like all days, is holy.
People: We praise God for freedoms, for pardon, and for hope that tomorrow is in God's hands and that we are being guided through time to eternity with Divinity.
Leader: The scriptures say that God will teach us the way to go, and we are warned not to be stubborn or cynical.
People: We receive Divine guidance and blessings with acute awareness and with gratitude.
Leader: Together, we enjoy God, now and forever!
(Candles can be lighted.)
Prayer Of Thanksgiving (Leader or Unison)
Living God -- we are aware that we stand on holy ground and that here we are in the company of friends who explore ways to be faithful to your voice. Here we experience being new creatures in Christ. We are grateful for the enthusiasm that comes when our debilitating ways are gone and we have no need to judge others. We are aware that you befriend humankind, and we rejoice that you work through us to establish goodness throughout the global village. Amen.
Call To Confession (Leader)
The psalmist speaks of the relief that comes when we feel freed from deceit and wrongdoing. In these moments, we take time to see within ourselves what needs transforming.
Community Confession (Unison)
Holy One -- our minds are open before you.
When temptations come -- for they surely will -- give us clarity about your hopes for our lives.
When idols sneak into our thoughts and activities, remind us not to play games with your grace and power.
Nurture our souls with words and silences, with relationships and fresh opportunities.
We walk the human path Jesus walked; grant us insight to be faithful. Amen.
Sermon Idea
Using Philippians and Luke, the sermon could explore who are heroes for Christians today and why. Preachers could also consider how Christians today could use their energies to confront government policies, which do not reach out to families living in poverty. The prophetic message might be that we are seduced by what seems to be truth from our government about justice and care for those in need. Preachers could check how the state of Georgia is doing with elective Bible courses for high school students (legislation in March 2006). Are the students beginning to understand underlying symbols in Western culture as well as literary and religious heroes? Is there understanding about the relationship between Israel, Palestine, and America?
Contemporary Affirmation (Unison)
The Holy comes to us in many different ways. God continues to create in and around us, leading us to food for our souls and our bodies.
We find courage in Jesus of Nazareth who resisted the temptations that come to humankind: power over others, material wealth that obscures divine goodness, and arrogance that resists attention to divine presence.
With the Holy Spirit enthusing us, we choose to live in ways that are hospitable and gracious, insightful and generous in kind deeds.
Together, we have a significant voice in our culture to demand justice for all.
In our living and in our dying, we are not alone. God is with us. Amen.
Offertory Statement (Leader)
When we are "joined to Christ" our attitudes are revised and our goals are transformed to be in sync with the ethics of the Sermon on the Mount. Sharing our resources is one way we participate in making the kingdom of God visible and tangible on this street corner and in various places around the world.
Doxology
O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High (v. 5, modified)
tune: DEO GRACIAS
All glory to the living God for love so deep, so high, so broad;
The Trinity whom we adore forever and forever more.
Prayer Of Thanksgiving (Leader)
Thanks to you from all of us -- for dawn and dusk, for stillness and liveliness. Thanks to you, Holy One, for resources of money and of creation. Our hands, feet, and voices are available to collaborate with you for justice and abundant living. Amen.
Intercessory Prayers (Leader or Readers)
Fathering God -- as we search the scriptures, we are aware that you want humankind to be friends -- neighbors -- in Christ. How far we seem from that goal! So like your people before us, we pray for peaceful and neighborly living. Halt the fanaticism that spews violent judgment and destroys land and life. Help us as individuals and as a country behave in ways that bring about Christ-friendly societies around this globe no matter what the religious preferences.
Mothering God -- look with compassion upon the pains we bear: debts, disappointments, multi-generational addictions, disabilities, and despair. Lift us beyond our cynicism to personal responsibility, self-discipline, and real hope. Set us on a path of satisfying relationship with your Spirit; empower us to live as friends of Jesus of Nazareth.
Majestic God -- we do love the mountains and oceans, the sand and rocks, the water and sky! We marvel at the whole expanding universe! A part of us wants to think that we human creatures are the pinnacle of creation. Yet we are learning that all creatures and earth systems are interdependent. We are learning that within us is a tenacious connection between psyche and body. Open our eyes to wholesome development from life in the uterus until we take our last breath. Motivate us to cooperate with your healing Spirit.
God of All Life -- throughout history, we see you providing resources for daily living. Like people before us, we make space and time, day and night to be aware of your sustaining grace. Thank you for bread and wine, for fruit and vegetables for our journey. Amen.
Benediction (Leader)
(The candles counting the Sundays in Lent can be extinguished.)
May the road continue smooth before you;
May there be enough light along the way;
May peace greet you at every crossroad
And joy accompany you to the end.
Through whatever pain and suffering is yours to endure
Know that God is in it with you.
Amid every temptation that comes to you
Be aware that wisdom is yours for the asking.
Music
How Blest Are Those
Words: Fred R. Anderson, 1986
Music: Memminger ms., 17th century; harm. George Ratcliffe Woodward, 1904
ES FLOG EIN KLEINS WALDVOGELEIN
The Spirit Of The Living God
Words and Music: Daniel Iverson, 1926
LIVING GOD
There Is A Balm In Gilead
Words: African-American spiritual
Music: African-American spiritual; arr. Harold Moyer
BALM IN GILEAD
If you succeed in judging yourself, it's because you are truly wise.
(The king on a planet to the prince)
-- Saint Exupery, The Little Prince
Call To Worship
Leader: It's Sunday again! We're here in this sanctuary together! God, the Great Mystery is here, in and around us.
People: We revel in the signs of spring, knowing that God is still creating! We delight in this place of beauty and in the company of friends.
Leader: This day, like all days, is holy.
People: We praise God for freedoms, for pardon, and for hope that tomorrow is in God's hands and that we are being guided through time to eternity with Divinity.
Leader: The scriptures say that God will teach us the way to go, and we are warned not to be stubborn or cynical.
People: We receive Divine guidance and blessings with acute awareness and with gratitude.
Leader: Together, we enjoy God, now and forever!
(Candles can be lighted.)
Prayer Of Thanksgiving (Leader or Unison)
Living God -- we are aware that we stand on holy ground and that here we are in the company of friends who explore ways to be faithful to your voice. Here we experience being new creatures in Christ. We are grateful for the enthusiasm that comes when our debilitating ways are gone and we have no need to judge others. We are aware that you befriend humankind, and we rejoice that you work through us to establish goodness throughout the global village. Amen.
Call To Confession (Leader)
The psalmist speaks of the relief that comes when we feel freed from deceit and wrongdoing. In these moments, we take time to see within ourselves what needs transforming.
Community Confession (Unison)
Holy One -- our minds are open before you.
When temptations come -- for they surely will -- give us clarity about your hopes for our lives.
When idols sneak into our thoughts and activities, remind us not to play games with your grace and power.
Nurture our souls with words and silences, with relationships and fresh opportunities.
We walk the human path Jesus walked; grant us insight to be faithful. Amen.
Sermon Idea
Using Philippians and Luke, the sermon could explore who are heroes for Christians today and why. Preachers could also consider how Christians today could use their energies to confront government policies, which do not reach out to families living in poverty. The prophetic message might be that we are seduced by what seems to be truth from our government about justice and care for those in need. Preachers could check how the state of Georgia is doing with elective Bible courses for high school students (legislation in March 2006). Are the students beginning to understand underlying symbols in Western culture as well as literary and religious heroes? Is there understanding about the relationship between Israel, Palestine, and America?
Contemporary Affirmation (Unison)
The Holy comes to us in many different ways. God continues to create in and around us, leading us to food for our souls and our bodies.
We find courage in Jesus of Nazareth who resisted the temptations that come to humankind: power over others, material wealth that obscures divine goodness, and arrogance that resists attention to divine presence.
With the Holy Spirit enthusing us, we choose to live in ways that are hospitable and gracious, insightful and generous in kind deeds.
Together, we have a significant voice in our culture to demand justice for all.
In our living and in our dying, we are not alone. God is with us. Amen.
Offertory Statement (Leader)
When we are "joined to Christ" our attitudes are revised and our goals are transformed to be in sync with the ethics of the Sermon on the Mount. Sharing our resources is one way we participate in making the kingdom of God visible and tangible on this street corner and in various places around the world.
Doxology
O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High (v. 5, modified)
tune: DEO GRACIAS
All glory to the living God for love so deep, so high, so broad;
The Trinity whom we adore forever and forever more.
Prayer Of Thanksgiving (Leader)
Thanks to you from all of us -- for dawn and dusk, for stillness and liveliness. Thanks to you, Holy One, for resources of money and of creation. Our hands, feet, and voices are available to collaborate with you for justice and abundant living. Amen.
Intercessory Prayers (Leader or Readers)
Fathering God -- as we search the scriptures, we are aware that you want humankind to be friends -- neighbors -- in Christ. How far we seem from that goal! So like your people before us, we pray for peaceful and neighborly living. Halt the fanaticism that spews violent judgment and destroys land and life. Help us as individuals and as a country behave in ways that bring about Christ-friendly societies around this globe no matter what the religious preferences.
Mothering God -- look with compassion upon the pains we bear: debts, disappointments, multi-generational addictions, disabilities, and despair. Lift us beyond our cynicism to personal responsibility, self-discipline, and real hope. Set us on a path of satisfying relationship with your Spirit; empower us to live as friends of Jesus of Nazareth.
Majestic God -- we do love the mountains and oceans, the sand and rocks, the water and sky! We marvel at the whole expanding universe! A part of us wants to think that we human creatures are the pinnacle of creation. Yet we are learning that all creatures and earth systems are interdependent. We are learning that within us is a tenacious connection between psyche and body. Open our eyes to wholesome development from life in the uterus until we take our last breath. Motivate us to cooperate with your healing Spirit.
God of All Life -- throughout history, we see you providing resources for daily living. Like people before us, we make space and time, day and night to be aware of your sustaining grace. Thank you for bread and wine, for fruit and vegetables for our journey. Amen.
Benediction (Leader)
(The candles counting the Sundays in Lent can be extinguished.)
May the road continue smooth before you;
May there be enough light along the way;
May peace greet you at every crossroad
And joy accompany you to the end.
Through whatever pain and suffering is yours to endure
Know that God is in it with you.
Amid every temptation that comes to you
Be aware that wisdom is yours for the asking.
Music
How Blest Are Those
Words: Fred R. Anderson, 1986
Music: Memminger ms., 17th century; harm. George Ratcliffe Woodward, 1904
ES FLOG EIN KLEINS WALDVOGELEIN
The Spirit Of The Living God
Words and Music: Daniel Iverson, 1926
LIVING GOD
There Is A Balm In Gilead
Words: African-American spiritual
Music: African-American spiritual; arr. Harold Moyer
BALM IN GILEAD
