Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle A Gospel Texts
Celebrating The Presence Of God
Invitation to the Celebration
In the Name of the Eternal Gardener, welcome to the world of wheat and weeds. Following the creation, God pronounced the world "very good," which means, "fit for the purpose for which it was intended."ÊWe rejoice in our creation. Thank you, Lord, for putting us here, where you work with us, on us, within us, and through us, to eliminate the weeds in our own lives, and in the life of your church. Yes, thank you, even though we do not always appreciate your gardening methods.
P: God, our Creator and Liberator, has called us, invited us, to worship.
M: We have come -- some of us joyfully and expectantly; some of us, dragging our heels; some of us, because we had nothing else to do; some of us, to see our friends; some of us, to hear the Good News; and for a myriad of other reasons.
P: I look and listen for God, and invite you to do the same, in what we do here and now.
M: We seek an invasion of God's Spirit to bring a new dimension to our understanding of wheat and weeds; and to shake us out of our judgmental apathy.
Response
"Lord, We Praise You" (words and music by Otis Skillings, Lillenas Publishing Company, found in Let the People Sing, Hope Publishing Company. See Appendix I for address).
Prayer of Praise
Almighty God, make this act of worship an event in our lives. Grant that it shall be an experience that cleanses us at the very center of our being, freshening the springs of life, probing the hidden depths of our hearts, searching out our secret sins, and purifying our aims and ambitions. As we stay here, singing, praying, listening, let your hand shape our lives, let Christ your Son claim us anew for himself, and let the Holy Spirit revive and empower us.
Hymn of Praise
"Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise" (Welsh Folk Melody; Walter Chalmers Smith, 1867; alt. 1987).
Celebrating The Act Of Forgiveness
The Act of Confession
(Invite the people to take out paper and pencil. Give them time.) Now, I invite you to write down the names of all the people who you wish would confess their sins. You can begin the list in worship, and complete it sometime this year. (Two minutes of silence.) Now, after each name, write down the sins that you wish they would confess. (Two minutes of silence.) Compare yourself with the people whose names you've listed. Have you decided which ones are the weeds, and which one is the wheat? (Silent prayer of confession.)
Response
Churches and church members that are closed systems are so insecure and frightened that they believe their survival depends on judging and destroying everyone that differs from them, or does not support them. So, I invite us to respond with "Have Mercy on Us, Living Lord" (Fred R. Anderson, 1986; Hal H. Hopson, 1983).
The Assurance of Pardon
Jesus said to let the weeds and wheat grow together; because no one can tell who's in and who's out of the Kingdom. To attempt to decide is to play God. None of us is wise enough to do that.
Response
This week, also, use "Let There Be Peace On Earth." This time, change "peace" to "truth." Change the word "brother" to "neighbor."
Celebrating The Word
Message with the Children of All Ages
Again, put your master gardener to work. Point out the difference between a garden, in which we get rid of the weeds on a regular basis, and the parable. Draw out of them how they treat those who are different from them.
Response
"Help Us Accept Each Other" (John Ness Beck).
Reading from the Newer Covenant
Ask the children to remain, and have your actor tell the parable in his/her own language. Dismiss the children, and have your actor interpret the text, as did Jesus.
Proclamation of the Good News
We often focus on the results, described in the last few verses of the text. Instead, put the emphasis on the tremendous opportunities that we, Christians, have to salt the earth, and to light the world.
Response
"We Are a New Creation" (Henry Smart, c. 1835; Jane Parker Huber, 1981, from Joy in Singing. See Appendix I for address).
Celebrating Our Gifts
Stewardship Challenge
Do we give with no strings attached? If we give with strings attached, we are still in the weeds, attempting to bribe someone.
Dedication Prayer
Take our pocketbooks, Lord, and put them to death for our sake, and bring them to life for your sake.
Charge to the Congregation
Are we willing to accept people where and as they are without our making condemnatory decisions about their faith? Are we willing to recognize that, in our own personal lives, the wheat and weeds grow together? We need to let God make the final decision, without our help. We need to make the decision to share the Good News with the millions of opportunities we have in a lifetime, in our lifetime.
Meditation
"Of what use is eternity to a person who doesn't know how to spend the next half-hour, except in making value-judgments about others?" (WHK).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of growing or gardening hymns or "Preludium," Nicholas Lemmens.
Hymn of Praise: "Crown Him (God) with Many Crowns," Stanzas 1, 2, 4, Matthew Bridges, 1851; alt., 1972. Stanza 3, Godfrey Thring, 1874.
Response to the Prayer of Praise: (Choir) "Savior, Blessed Savior," Thomas Morley.
Response to the Assurance of Pardon: (Youth or adult choir) "God is Love," Graham George.
Offertory: Organ Voluntary "Siciliano," J. S. Bach.
Hymn of Commitment: "We Give Thee But Thine Own," William Walsham How, 1858.
Music for Dismissal: In the hymnbook, look for hymns related to today's scripture.
Invitation to the Celebration
In the Name of the Eternal Gardener, welcome to the world of wheat and weeds. Following the creation, God pronounced the world "very good," which means, "fit for the purpose for which it was intended."ÊWe rejoice in our creation. Thank you, Lord, for putting us here, where you work with us, on us, within us, and through us, to eliminate the weeds in our own lives, and in the life of your church. Yes, thank you, even though we do not always appreciate your gardening methods.
P: God, our Creator and Liberator, has called us, invited us, to worship.
M: We have come -- some of us joyfully and expectantly; some of us, dragging our heels; some of us, because we had nothing else to do; some of us, to see our friends; some of us, to hear the Good News; and for a myriad of other reasons.
P: I look and listen for God, and invite you to do the same, in what we do here and now.
M: We seek an invasion of God's Spirit to bring a new dimension to our understanding of wheat and weeds; and to shake us out of our judgmental apathy.
Response
"Lord, We Praise You" (words and music by Otis Skillings, Lillenas Publishing Company, found in Let the People Sing, Hope Publishing Company. See Appendix I for address).
Prayer of Praise
Almighty God, make this act of worship an event in our lives. Grant that it shall be an experience that cleanses us at the very center of our being, freshening the springs of life, probing the hidden depths of our hearts, searching out our secret sins, and purifying our aims and ambitions. As we stay here, singing, praying, listening, let your hand shape our lives, let Christ your Son claim us anew for himself, and let the Holy Spirit revive and empower us.
Hymn of Praise
"Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise" (Welsh Folk Melody; Walter Chalmers Smith, 1867; alt. 1987).
Celebrating The Act Of Forgiveness
The Act of Confession
(Invite the people to take out paper and pencil. Give them time.) Now, I invite you to write down the names of all the people who you wish would confess their sins. You can begin the list in worship, and complete it sometime this year. (Two minutes of silence.) Now, after each name, write down the sins that you wish they would confess. (Two minutes of silence.) Compare yourself with the people whose names you've listed. Have you decided which ones are the weeds, and which one is the wheat? (Silent prayer of confession.)
Response
Churches and church members that are closed systems are so insecure and frightened that they believe their survival depends on judging and destroying everyone that differs from them, or does not support them. So, I invite us to respond with "Have Mercy on Us, Living Lord" (Fred R. Anderson, 1986; Hal H. Hopson, 1983).
The Assurance of Pardon
Jesus said to let the weeds and wheat grow together; because no one can tell who's in and who's out of the Kingdom. To attempt to decide is to play God. None of us is wise enough to do that.
Response
This week, also, use "Let There Be Peace On Earth." This time, change "peace" to "truth." Change the word "brother" to "neighbor."
Celebrating The Word
Message with the Children of All Ages
Again, put your master gardener to work. Point out the difference between a garden, in which we get rid of the weeds on a regular basis, and the parable. Draw out of them how they treat those who are different from them.
Response
"Help Us Accept Each Other" (John Ness Beck).
Reading from the Newer Covenant
Ask the children to remain, and have your actor tell the parable in his/her own language. Dismiss the children, and have your actor interpret the text, as did Jesus.
Proclamation of the Good News
We often focus on the results, described in the last few verses of the text. Instead, put the emphasis on the tremendous opportunities that we, Christians, have to salt the earth, and to light the world.
Response
"We Are a New Creation" (Henry Smart, c. 1835; Jane Parker Huber, 1981, from Joy in Singing. See Appendix I for address).
Celebrating Our Gifts
Stewardship Challenge
Do we give with no strings attached? If we give with strings attached, we are still in the weeds, attempting to bribe someone.
Dedication Prayer
Take our pocketbooks, Lord, and put them to death for our sake, and bring them to life for your sake.
Charge to the Congregation
Are we willing to accept people where and as they are without our making condemnatory decisions about their faith? Are we willing to recognize that, in our own personal lives, the wheat and weeds grow together? We need to let God make the final decision, without our help. We need to make the decision to share the Good News with the millions of opportunities we have in a lifetime, in our lifetime.
Meditation
"Of what use is eternity to a person who doesn't know how to spend the next half-hour, except in making value-judgments about others?" (WHK).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of growing or gardening hymns or "Preludium," Nicholas Lemmens.
Hymn of Praise: "Crown Him (God) with Many Crowns," Stanzas 1, 2, 4, Matthew Bridges, 1851; alt., 1972. Stanza 3, Godfrey Thring, 1874.
Response to the Prayer of Praise: (Choir) "Savior, Blessed Savior," Thomas Morley.
Response to the Assurance of Pardon: (Youth or adult choir) "God is Love," Graham George.
Offertory: Organ Voluntary "Siciliano," J. S. Bach.
Hymn of Commitment: "We Give Thee But Thine Own," William Walsham How, 1858.
Music for Dismissal: In the hymnbook, look for hymns related to today's scripture.
