Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series IV, Cycle B
Call To Worship.
Based on Psalm 111.
Leader:
I will praise the Lord with all my heart,
People:
When the people of God have gathered together.
Leader:
Great are the works of the Lord;
People:
They are pondered by all who delight in them.
Leader:
Glorious and majestic are God's deeds,
People:
And his righteousness endures forever.
Leader:
The Lord is gracious and compassionate;
People:
Providing food for those who fear him;
Leader:
Remembering his covenant forever.
People:
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
Leader:
All the Lord's teachings are trustworthy.
People:
They are steadfast for ever and ever,
Leader:
Completed in faithfulness and uprightness.
People:
God has even provided redemption for the people;
Leader:
Holy and awesome is his name.
People:
Amen.
In scripture, wisdom and truth are closely related. Wisdom is the Old Covenant embodiment of the Word, and Jesus, who was the "Truth," is the New Covenant embodiment. This Call To Worship asks what "Truth" really is.
Leader:
"What is truth?" asked a lost and confused Pilate.
People:
What is truth?
Leader:
A question still being asked
People:
By many who are lost.
Leader:
Is it a unifying scientific theory
People:
That explains everything?
Leader:
Is it a philosophical axiom
People:
That makes sense of our experience?
Leader:
Is it a formula
People:
That solves every equation?
Leader:
Those are the truths the world seeks.
People:
But we know that the truth
Leader:
Is not a formula
People:
Or a theory,
Leader:
But a person.
People:
For Jesus Christ
Leader:
Is the way, and the truth, and the life.
People:
Truth is a relationship.
Leader:
For only in relationship with him is life made right.
People:
Amen!
Leader:
So come, let us renew our relationship with our Lord,
People:
Who is the Truth.
Prayer Of Confession
Solomon was willing to surrender his agenda for God's. This is true wisdom. That is the focus of this prayer.
Leader:
Holy Father, we confess that your will
People:
Is often the last thing on our minds.
Leader:
We have our own plans.
People:
We have our own goals.
Leader:
We have our own ways of doing things.
People:
And often your will is inconvenient.
Leader:
So we ignore it.
People:
Refuse to consider it.
Leader:
Forgive us,
People:
And give us hearts for you,
Leader:
And your will,
People:
Rather than for our own will.
Leader:
In the name of our Savior Jesus Christ we pray.
People:
Amen.
Option two.
Leader:
Father, we ask with hearts
People:
Tainted with selfishness.
Leader:
And we seek after things
People:
That you have declared unimportant.
Leader:
And we have knocked
People:
On all the wrong doors.
Leader:
Forgive us,
People:
And turn our hearts to you
Leader:
So that all our asking,
People:
And seeking,
Leader:
And knocking,
People:
Will be in pursuit of the things of God.
Leader:
We ask it in Jesus' name,
People:
Amen.
Assurance Of Pardon
Leader:
Assurance of pardon.
People:
Certainty of forgiveness.
Leader:
Confidence in the grace of God.
People:
Conviction of mercy.
Leader:
All these things we have in Christ Jesus.
People:
Let us rejoice.
Leader:
For we are forgiven. Amen.
Invitation To The Offering
Can be used as a sermon illustration -- a children's sermon or an invitation to the offering
A clown -- or a mime -- enters and comes down the center aisle pushing a wheelbarrow full of money. (You can buy wads of play money at a party store -- or just cut up green construction paper.)
As the clown comes have him or her stop a time or two and fondle the money. Have him offer it to someone in the pews only to pull it back and slap their hand as they reach for it. The clown continues to the front of the sanctuary where there is a large basket with a large sign labeled "Offering." The clown then makes a big show of pulling out a very large bill on which is written "$1,000." The bill is held up for all to see, and then dramatically dropped in the offering basket. After this the clown leaves with a still-full wheelbarrow.
After the clown is gone, an old woman -- shabbily dressed -- enters quietly from the side -- approaches the offering basket -- rummages through her pockets -- finds a dime and places it in the basket. She exits.
A pastor or narrator now speaks saying -- "And Jesus asked his disciples -- 'Who do you think gave more? This woman who gave one thin dime, or the clown who gave a huge bill?' " In the eyes of the world -- was it not the clown who gave a large bill but a small portion of his abundance? But in the eyes of God it was the woman who gave a small amount -- but it was all she had. In giving her all she showed that she truly trusted God.
Prayer Of Dedication
O God in heaven, make us men and women like Solomon. Give us the same longings for your wisdom that he had. Turn us from the thinking of the world to the truth of the heavens. Then, and only then, will we find and convey your joy to the world. Amen.
Prayer For Illumination
Leader:
"The fear of the Lord," says Proverbs, "is the beginning of wisdom."
People:
Fill us, O God, with awe, respect, even fear, that we might get this wisdom of yours. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
We talk of having discerning minds and hearts, but we mean hearts that seek out all the gossip and minds that know all the trivia. Ah, Lord, are we not more than this? Are we just people who care about celebrity, and fashion, and the latest fad? Help us this morning to see that these things are empty and useless. Help us to see that the knowledge that matters is knowledge of your truth; that it is not more data that is needed, but more wisdom. Makes us Solomon-like in our desire for wisdom, and Christlike in our faithfulness. Amen.
Benediction
Jesus said, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Those who eat of this bread will live forever." Amen.
Hymns
Dear Lord And Father Of Mankind
For All The Saints
It Is Well With My Soul
O For A Thousand Tongues
O God, Our Help In Ages Past
O Master Let Me Walk With Thee
Take Time To Be Holy
Contemporary Choruses
Holy, You Are Still Holy
Humble Thyself
I Stand In Awe, Mark Altrogge
Power Of Your Love
We Believe In God, Amy Grant
Other Music
The Greatest Story, Avalon
Our lives can be great stories if we give them to God.
Based on Psalm 111.
Leader:
I will praise the Lord with all my heart,
People:
When the people of God have gathered together.
Leader:
Great are the works of the Lord;
People:
They are pondered by all who delight in them.
Leader:
Glorious and majestic are God's deeds,
People:
And his righteousness endures forever.
Leader:
The Lord is gracious and compassionate;
People:
Providing food for those who fear him;
Leader:
Remembering his covenant forever.
People:
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
Leader:
All the Lord's teachings are trustworthy.
People:
They are steadfast for ever and ever,
Leader:
Completed in faithfulness and uprightness.
People:
God has even provided redemption for the people;
Leader:
Holy and awesome is his name.
People:
Amen.
In scripture, wisdom and truth are closely related. Wisdom is the Old Covenant embodiment of the Word, and Jesus, who was the "Truth," is the New Covenant embodiment. This Call To Worship asks what "Truth" really is.
Leader:
"What is truth?" asked a lost and confused Pilate.
People:
What is truth?
Leader:
A question still being asked
People:
By many who are lost.
Leader:
Is it a unifying scientific theory
People:
That explains everything?
Leader:
Is it a philosophical axiom
People:
That makes sense of our experience?
Leader:
Is it a formula
People:
That solves every equation?
Leader:
Those are the truths the world seeks.
People:
But we know that the truth
Leader:
Is not a formula
People:
Or a theory,
Leader:
But a person.
People:
For Jesus Christ
Leader:
Is the way, and the truth, and the life.
People:
Truth is a relationship.
Leader:
For only in relationship with him is life made right.
People:
Amen!
Leader:
So come, let us renew our relationship with our Lord,
People:
Who is the Truth.
Prayer Of Confession
Solomon was willing to surrender his agenda for God's. This is true wisdom. That is the focus of this prayer.
Leader:
Holy Father, we confess that your will
People:
Is often the last thing on our minds.
Leader:
We have our own plans.
People:
We have our own goals.
Leader:
We have our own ways of doing things.
People:
And often your will is inconvenient.
Leader:
So we ignore it.
People:
Refuse to consider it.
Leader:
Forgive us,
People:
And give us hearts for you,
Leader:
And your will,
People:
Rather than for our own will.
Leader:
In the name of our Savior Jesus Christ we pray.
People:
Amen.
Option two.
Leader:
Father, we ask with hearts
People:
Tainted with selfishness.
Leader:
And we seek after things
People:
That you have declared unimportant.
Leader:
And we have knocked
People:
On all the wrong doors.
Leader:
Forgive us,
People:
And turn our hearts to you
Leader:
So that all our asking,
People:
And seeking,
Leader:
And knocking,
People:
Will be in pursuit of the things of God.
Leader:
We ask it in Jesus' name,
People:
Amen.
Assurance Of Pardon
Leader:
Assurance of pardon.
People:
Certainty of forgiveness.
Leader:
Confidence in the grace of God.
People:
Conviction of mercy.
Leader:
All these things we have in Christ Jesus.
People:
Let us rejoice.
Leader:
For we are forgiven. Amen.
Invitation To The Offering
Can be used as a sermon illustration -- a children's sermon or an invitation to the offering
A clown -- or a mime -- enters and comes down the center aisle pushing a wheelbarrow full of money. (You can buy wads of play money at a party store -- or just cut up green construction paper.)
As the clown comes have him or her stop a time or two and fondle the money. Have him offer it to someone in the pews only to pull it back and slap their hand as they reach for it. The clown continues to the front of the sanctuary where there is a large basket with a large sign labeled "Offering." The clown then makes a big show of pulling out a very large bill on which is written "$1,000." The bill is held up for all to see, and then dramatically dropped in the offering basket. After this the clown leaves with a still-full wheelbarrow.
After the clown is gone, an old woman -- shabbily dressed -- enters quietly from the side -- approaches the offering basket -- rummages through her pockets -- finds a dime and places it in the basket. She exits.
A pastor or narrator now speaks saying -- "And Jesus asked his disciples -- 'Who do you think gave more? This woman who gave one thin dime, or the clown who gave a huge bill?' " In the eyes of the world -- was it not the clown who gave a large bill but a small portion of his abundance? But in the eyes of God it was the woman who gave a small amount -- but it was all she had. In giving her all she showed that she truly trusted God.
Prayer Of Dedication
O God in heaven, make us men and women like Solomon. Give us the same longings for your wisdom that he had. Turn us from the thinking of the world to the truth of the heavens. Then, and only then, will we find and convey your joy to the world. Amen.
Prayer For Illumination
Leader:
"The fear of the Lord," says Proverbs, "is the beginning of wisdom."
People:
Fill us, O God, with awe, respect, even fear, that we might get this wisdom of yours. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
We talk of having discerning minds and hearts, but we mean hearts that seek out all the gossip and minds that know all the trivia. Ah, Lord, are we not more than this? Are we just people who care about celebrity, and fashion, and the latest fad? Help us this morning to see that these things are empty and useless. Help us to see that the knowledge that matters is knowledge of your truth; that it is not more data that is needed, but more wisdom. Makes us Solomon-like in our desire for wisdom, and Christlike in our faithfulness. Amen.
Benediction
Jesus said, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Those who eat of this bread will live forever." Amen.
Hymns
Dear Lord And Father Of Mankind
For All The Saints
It Is Well With My Soul
O For A Thousand Tongues
O God, Our Help In Ages Past
O Master Let Me Walk With Thee
Take Time To Be Holy
Contemporary Choruses
Holy, You Are Still Holy
Humble Thyself
I Stand In Awe, Mark Altrogge
Power Of Your Love
We Believe In God, Amy Grant
Other Music
The Greatest Story, Avalon
Our lives can be great stories if we give them to God.
