A Matter of Power
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle B
Celebrating God's Presence And Power
Pastoral and Congregational Invitation (Pastor and Ministers)
In the name of God who is power, who is energy, welcome to this celebration of Good News. Are you willing to hear the Good News, even though you may not like it? (Pause.) Will you be willing to respond to the Good News, even if God disturbs your comfort level? (Pause.)
P: When we listen to God without our preconceived notions of what we hope God will say to us, God's Spirit will surprise us, maybe even scare us.
M: What do you mean?
P: I mean that God's expectations of us may differ radically from our expectations of how God calls us to obedience.
M: What are you saying?
P: I am saying that God constantly calls us out of our comfort zone.
M: But we like our comfort zone. Besides, God promises us comfort if we live for Christ. Jesus says, "Come to me, all who are overburdened; and I will give you rest."
P: That's only part of the gospel. Jesus also says, "No one who puts his or her hand to the plow, and looks back, is fit for the Kingdom of God."
M: Well, pastor, we're confused.
P: Today, I invite us to unconfuse ourselves as we think together about power and powerlessness. Write down your confusions; place them in the offering plates during the offering. We will consider them later, possibly in worship, definitely in classes and in the church newsletter.
Hymn of Praise
"God of Concrete, God of Steel," Richard G. Jones, 1969; Francis Westbrook, 1969. (Words copyright © 1966 by Gailliard Ltd.; Galaxy Music Corp., New York, sole U. S. agent. Tune: New Horizons 777777.)
Prayer of Praise
Develop this prayer around the power of God in creation, in decision-making, in relationships, in hopes and dreams.
Celebrating Our Forgiveness
Call to Confession
Again, because all worship is interactive, I invite you to respond. What is your first image or thought when you hear the word "power"? (Wait for a response.) Identify, from the answers, the negative and positive qualities. Now, write down your favorite way of getting and keeping power over others, including those in your own home. (One minute of silence.) Identify the possibilities for the people; or, ask them to respond about how they see others getting and keeping power. William Ramsay, in a commentary titled "The Christian Use of Power," which appeared in Presbyterian Outlook (January 30, 1967), insists that there are four sins connected with power, which we need to avoid like the devil. (1) To fail to use our power to help when we can. How do you do that? (Pause.) (2) To seek power for our own selfish gains. How do you do that? (Pause.) (3) To think that power is due to us. How do we do that? (Pause.) (4) To use power in the wrong way. How do you do that? (Pause.) Invite the people to confess, silently, their misuse and abuse of power at home, at school, in the neighborhood, on the job, on the highway, attending an athletic event, and so on.
Response
Ask one of your musicians to write a song asking forgiveness for our misuse and abuse of power. Or, use "Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart," George Croly, 1854; Frederick Cook Atkinson, 1870.
Call to Pardon (Pastor and Ministers)
James Luther Adams, in a Christian Century article (June 18, 1969) titled "Blessed Are the Powerful," writes that "the truly powerful are those who serve large purposes and can accomplish them. This kind of fulfillment requires 'power with,' not 'power over'; it requires love."1 So, in the light of that statement, Lord, open us to your use of power.
M: And our lives shall express your power of servanthood.
All: In Christ's power, we pray and live.
Celebrating The Word
Message with the Children of All Ages
Keep encouraging the "older" children to come forward each week. Do any of you enjoy being in charge, being the center of attention, when everyone does what you want? Your birthday party may be one of those times. Name some others. That's what James and John wanted, one to sit on Jesus' right hand and the other on Jesus' left hand. What a deal! Hot shots! Cool! Immediately, Jesus straightened them out. Being his disciple is a matter of servanthood. Define that word for the children. He said it would cost them giving up their false pride and unworthy demands.
Reading of the Gospel
Dramatize this by having two chairs in the chancel, with Jesus in the middle. Reenact the conversation between Jesus, James, and John. Prime several other "disciples" to show their disdain and indignation.
Proclamation of the Good News
You may want to tackle this from both a personal and national concern. (1) We have a mad rush toward "law and order" people, who think that will solve all of our problems, that capital punishment will work to deter crime. However, the "law and order" people only demonstrate the weakness of their strength, the sterility of their power. (2) We have become aware of an increase in family and neighborhood violence. My personal theory is this: When I see an angry person, I ask myself, "I wonder what he/she fears? I have discovered that the greater the expressed anger, the greater the unexpressed fear." Therefore, if we gave ourselves permission (especially we men) to express our fears of and to one another, in most instances, we would have no need to express our angers toward one another.
Celebrating Our Obedience
Stewardship Challenge
We pastors have said entirely too much about the stewardship of money, and too little about the stewardship of power. The modern equivalent of repentance is the responsible use of power. (Thirty seconds of silence before receiving the offering.)
Hymn of Commitment
"Reach Out To Your Neighbor," words and music by Roger Copeland, from Let the People Sing. (See Appendix I for address.)
Charge to the Congregation
"The test of a person's strength is the knowledge of his/her weakness" (Highways of Happiness). In God's power, we move out into God's world.
Meditation
"I believe that God will give us all the power we need to resist in all the times of distress; but God never gives it in advance, lest we should rely upon ourselves and not on God alone" (Dietrich Bonhoeffer).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation and Dismissal: Use the hymns above not sung; indicate page numbers in the order of worship for people to follow.
Hymn of Praise: "Let us With a Gladsome Mind," Psalm 136:1, 2, 7, 25; para. by John Milton, 1624; alt.
Response to the Prayer of Praise: "Let Us Sing to the Lord," Moyer, Psalm 95.
Response to the Stewardship Challenge: "A Prayer for the Innocent," McKay.
Hymn of Commitment: "Call Jehovah Your Salvation," based on Psalm 91; James Montgomery, 1822; alt., 1972.
Response to the Benediction: "Fourfold Benediction," choirs and congregation.
_______________
1. "Blessed Are the Powerful,"Êby James Luther Adams. Copyright 1969 Christian Century Foundation. Reprinted by permission from the June 18, 1969, issue of Christian Century.
Pastoral and Congregational Invitation (Pastor and Ministers)
In the name of God who is power, who is energy, welcome to this celebration of Good News. Are you willing to hear the Good News, even though you may not like it? (Pause.) Will you be willing to respond to the Good News, even if God disturbs your comfort level? (Pause.)
P: When we listen to God without our preconceived notions of what we hope God will say to us, God's Spirit will surprise us, maybe even scare us.
M: What do you mean?
P: I mean that God's expectations of us may differ radically from our expectations of how God calls us to obedience.
M: What are you saying?
P: I am saying that God constantly calls us out of our comfort zone.
M: But we like our comfort zone. Besides, God promises us comfort if we live for Christ. Jesus says, "Come to me, all who are overburdened; and I will give you rest."
P: That's only part of the gospel. Jesus also says, "No one who puts his or her hand to the plow, and looks back, is fit for the Kingdom of God."
M: Well, pastor, we're confused.
P: Today, I invite us to unconfuse ourselves as we think together about power and powerlessness. Write down your confusions; place them in the offering plates during the offering. We will consider them later, possibly in worship, definitely in classes and in the church newsletter.
Hymn of Praise
"God of Concrete, God of Steel," Richard G. Jones, 1969; Francis Westbrook, 1969. (Words copyright © 1966 by Gailliard Ltd.; Galaxy Music Corp., New York, sole U. S. agent. Tune: New Horizons 777777.)
Prayer of Praise
Develop this prayer around the power of God in creation, in decision-making, in relationships, in hopes and dreams.
Celebrating Our Forgiveness
Call to Confession
Again, because all worship is interactive, I invite you to respond. What is your first image or thought when you hear the word "power"? (Wait for a response.) Identify, from the answers, the negative and positive qualities. Now, write down your favorite way of getting and keeping power over others, including those in your own home. (One minute of silence.) Identify the possibilities for the people; or, ask them to respond about how they see others getting and keeping power. William Ramsay, in a commentary titled "The Christian Use of Power," which appeared in Presbyterian Outlook (January 30, 1967), insists that there are four sins connected with power, which we need to avoid like the devil. (1) To fail to use our power to help when we can. How do you do that? (Pause.) (2) To seek power for our own selfish gains. How do you do that? (Pause.) (3) To think that power is due to us. How do we do that? (Pause.) (4) To use power in the wrong way. How do you do that? (Pause.) Invite the people to confess, silently, their misuse and abuse of power at home, at school, in the neighborhood, on the job, on the highway, attending an athletic event, and so on.
Response
Ask one of your musicians to write a song asking forgiveness for our misuse and abuse of power. Or, use "Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart," George Croly, 1854; Frederick Cook Atkinson, 1870.
Call to Pardon (Pastor and Ministers)
James Luther Adams, in a Christian Century article (June 18, 1969) titled "Blessed Are the Powerful," writes that "the truly powerful are those who serve large purposes and can accomplish them. This kind of fulfillment requires 'power with,' not 'power over'; it requires love."1 So, in the light of that statement, Lord, open us to your use of power.
M: And our lives shall express your power of servanthood.
All: In Christ's power, we pray and live.
Celebrating The Word
Message with the Children of All Ages
Keep encouraging the "older" children to come forward each week. Do any of you enjoy being in charge, being the center of attention, when everyone does what you want? Your birthday party may be one of those times. Name some others. That's what James and John wanted, one to sit on Jesus' right hand and the other on Jesus' left hand. What a deal! Hot shots! Cool! Immediately, Jesus straightened them out. Being his disciple is a matter of servanthood. Define that word for the children. He said it would cost them giving up their false pride and unworthy demands.
Reading of the Gospel
Dramatize this by having two chairs in the chancel, with Jesus in the middle. Reenact the conversation between Jesus, James, and John. Prime several other "disciples" to show their disdain and indignation.
Proclamation of the Good News
You may want to tackle this from both a personal and national concern. (1) We have a mad rush toward "law and order" people, who think that will solve all of our problems, that capital punishment will work to deter crime. However, the "law and order" people only demonstrate the weakness of their strength, the sterility of their power. (2) We have become aware of an increase in family and neighborhood violence. My personal theory is this: When I see an angry person, I ask myself, "I wonder what he/she fears? I have discovered that the greater the expressed anger, the greater the unexpressed fear." Therefore, if we gave ourselves permission (especially we men) to express our fears of and to one another, in most instances, we would have no need to express our angers toward one another.
Celebrating Our Obedience
Stewardship Challenge
We pastors have said entirely too much about the stewardship of money, and too little about the stewardship of power. The modern equivalent of repentance is the responsible use of power. (Thirty seconds of silence before receiving the offering.)
Hymn of Commitment
"Reach Out To Your Neighbor," words and music by Roger Copeland, from Let the People Sing. (See Appendix I for address.)
Charge to the Congregation
"The test of a person's strength is the knowledge of his/her weakness" (Highways of Happiness). In God's power, we move out into God's world.
Meditation
"I believe that God will give us all the power we need to resist in all the times of distress; but God never gives it in advance, lest we should rely upon ourselves and not on God alone" (Dietrich Bonhoeffer).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation and Dismissal: Use the hymns above not sung; indicate page numbers in the order of worship for people to follow.
Hymn of Praise: "Let us With a Gladsome Mind," Psalm 136:1, 2, 7, 25; para. by John Milton, 1624; alt.
Response to the Prayer of Praise: "Let Us Sing to the Lord," Moyer, Psalm 95.
Response to the Stewardship Challenge: "A Prayer for the Innocent," McKay.
Hymn of Commitment: "Call Jehovah Your Salvation," based on Psalm 91; James Montgomery, 1822; alt., 1972.
Response to the Benediction: "Fourfold Benediction," choirs and congregation.
_______________
1. "Blessed Are the Powerful,"Êby James Luther Adams. Copyright 1969 Christian Century Foundation. Reprinted by permission from the June 18, 1969, issue of Christian Century.
