Proper 26
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series IV, Cycle A
Hymns
Ask Me What Great Things I Know (NCH49, UM163, CBH337)
O Savior (Master), Let Me Walk With You (NCH503, UM430, CBH357, PH357)
Won't You Let Me Be Your Servant? (NCH539)
Now Thank We All Our God (PH555, NCH419, CBH85, 86, UM102)
God Is Here! (NCH70, PH461, UM660)
I Want Jesus To Walk With Me (NCH490, PH363, UM521, CBH439)
Today We Are All Called To Be (PH434)
Lord, Speak To Me (LBW403, NCH531, PH426, UM463, CBH499)
Anthems
Cry Unto The Lord, Ellen M. Keating, Mark Foster, SSA
Saints Bound For Heaven, Robert Shaw/Alice Parker, G. Schirmer
I Want Jesus To Walk With Me, arr. Hopson, CGA, 2--part/2--part mixed, trombone
Thank You, God, Austin Lovelace, CGA, Unison (good for young children)
Call to Worship (based on Psalm 107)
Leader: O give thanks to Yahweh whose steadfast love endures forever.
People: Let us thank Yahweh for his steadfast love, for all wonderful works to humankind.
Leader: Yahweh satisfies the thirsty, and fills the hungry with good things.
People: Yahweh turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground.
Leader: Yahweh turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water.
People: And there the hungry live, and they establish a town to live in;
All: They sow fields, and plant vineyards, and get a fruitful yield. Praise Yahweh for great goodness.
Prayer of Invocation
Great and wondrous God, thank you for your goodness to your people throughout time. You continue to walk with us today, and we invoke your presence over this body as we give you thanks and glory. Infuse us with the Holy Spirit so that we can see what is real and holy in our world. Give us courage to follow you and do what you would have us do in our every day lives. God is here! And we your people meet to offer praise and prayer. Amen.
Scripture Readings
Joshua 3:7--17: This passage is about another river crossing, but this one is going to somewhere instead of escaping from the Egyptians. It is an exciting story and one in which all the children through sixth grade could be involved. If you are a small congregation, you might invite the teens to join in this re--enactment for the congregation. In fact, depending on your focus in this service you might ask the whole congregation to "cross the Jordan" and come into the promised land as a sort of "commitment to faith." One could use the space between the pews and the chancel as the river. If the Sunday school children act this out, you will only need three speakers: the Voice of God, Joshua, and a Narrator. The participants will be divided into twelve groups, each one with its own leader. There will also be four Ark of the Covenant bearers, each holding one end of a rod on which the Ark is sitting. (Perhaps one of the classes can make the Ark of the Covenant as a project.) The Voice of God will be off--stage and not seen by the congregation. Joshua can be standing in the middle of the center aisle, and the participants can be at the back of the sanctuary divided into the twelve tribes of Israel. The Narrator can be at the lectern or pulpit.
Narrator: The Lord said to Joshua,
Voice of God: This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so that they may know that I will be with you as I was with Moses. You are the one who shall command the priests who bear the Ark of the Covenant, "When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan."
Joshua: (Walking back toward the Israelites) Draw near and hear the words of Yahweh. (Israelites begin walking up the aisle toward Joshua. Stay in tribes) "By this you shall know that among you is the living God who without fail will drive out from before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites: The Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of all the earth is going to pass before you into the Jordan. So now select twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. When the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan flowing from above shall be off; they shall stand in a single heap." (Points to the left, Israelites look to the left)
Narrator: (Four priests bring the ark to the front of all the other participants) When the people set out from their tents to cross over the Jordan, the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant were in front of the people. (Everyone begins moving down the aisle toward the river) Now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest. So when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the edge of the water (Priests walk into the space where the river is - stay there), the waters flowing from above stood still, rising up in a single heap far off at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, (People point, look, gasp), while those flowing toward the sea of the Arabah, the Dead Sea, were wholly cut off. Then the people crossed over opposite Jericho. (People begin walking across, gather up in the chancel area) While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan. (If you decide to ask the congregation to cross over also, then end the reading as follows)
Pastor: The Word of God for the People of God.
People: Thanks be to God.
Pastor: Let us remember the wonderful saving grace of Yahweh by recommitting ourselves to allow God to lead us where God wants us to go. If we are asked to cross a river on our own journeys of faith, let us trust God to lead us across.
People: We recommit ourselves this day to trust God to guide us. Today is a new beginning for each of us.
(Sing Today We Are All Called To Be as Congregation returns to seats)
Matthew 23:1--12: This passage is a good follow--up because Jesus is reminding the people that God is their real leader, not other people. This passage can be read by one person, or it could be read by a choral speaking choir.
X X
X X
X X
X X
X X
Left Side Right Side
One Voice: Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,
Left Side: The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it:
Right Side: But do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach.
Left Side: They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others;
Right Side: But they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them.
Left Side: They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long.
Right Side: They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues,
Left Side: And to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi.
Right Side: But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students.
All: And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father - the one in heaven.
Left Side: Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah.
Right Side: The greatest among you will be your servant.
All: All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.
Prayer of Dedication (after Offering)
O God, as we rededicate our lives to you by crossing over the dry riverbed, let us also rededicate ourselves to work for justice and peace in the world. May the gifts we bring be used toward that goal. May we work together toward the peaceful world that you envisioned when you created all of us. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Benediction
We have rededicated ourselves to do God's work in the world and to further our own relationship with our God. Stay strong and committed in furthering God's word. As Paul said to the Thessalonians, "When you received the Word of God heard today through human voices, accept it now not as a human word but as what it really is, God's word, which is also at work in all believers." Go in peace, love, and joy. Amen.
Ask Me What Great Things I Know (NCH49, UM163, CBH337)
O Savior (Master), Let Me Walk With You (NCH503, UM430, CBH357, PH357)
Won't You Let Me Be Your Servant? (NCH539)
Now Thank We All Our God (PH555, NCH419, CBH85, 86, UM102)
God Is Here! (NCH70, PH461, UM660)
I Want Jesus To Walk With Me (NCH490, PH363, UM521, CBH439)
Today We Are All Called To Be (PH434)
Lord, Speak To Me (LBW403, NCH531, PH426, UM463, CBH499)
Anthems
Cry Unto The Lord, Ellen M. Keating, Mark Foster, SSA
Saints Bound For Heaven, Robert Shaw/Alice Parker, G. Schirmer
I Want Jesus To Walk With Me, arr. Hopson, CGA, 2--part/2--part mixed, trombone
Thank You, God, Austin Lovelace, CGA, Unison (good for young children)
Call to Worship (based on Psalm 107)
Leader: O give thanks to Yahweh whose steadfast love endures forever.
People: Let us thank Yahweh for his steadfast love, for all wonderful works to humankind.
Leader: Yahweh satisfies the thirsty, and fills the hungry with good things.
People: Yahweh turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground.
Leader: Yahweh turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water.
People: And there the hungry live, and they establish a town to live in;
All: They sow fields, and plant vineyards, and get a fruitful yield. Praise Yahweh for great goodness.
Prayer of Invocation
Great and wondrous God, thank you for your goodness to your people throughout time. You continue to walk with us today, and we invoke your presence over this body as we give you thanks and glory. Infuse us with the Holy Spirit so that we can see what is real and holy in our world. Give us courage to follow you and do what you would have us do in our every day lives. God is here! And we your people meet to offer praise and prayer. Amen.
Scripture Readings
Joshua 3:7--17: This passage is about another river crossing, but this one is going to somewhere instead of escaping from the Egyptians. It is an exciting story and one in which all the children through sixth grade could be involved. If you are a small congregation, you might invite the teens to join in this re--enactment for the congregation. In fact, depending on your focus in this service you might ask the whole congregation to "cross the Jordan" and come into the promised land as a sort of "commitment to faith." One could use the space between the pews and the chancel as the river. If the Sunday school children act this out, you will only need three speakers: the Voice of God, Joshua, and a Narrator. The participants will be divided into twelve groups, each one with its own leader. There will also be four Ark of the Covenant bearers, each holding one end of a rod on which the Ark is sitting. (Perhaps one of the classes can make the Ark of the Covenant as a project.) The Voice of God will be off--stage and not seen by the congregation. Joshua can be standing in the middle of the center aisle, and the participants can be at the back of the sanctuary divided into the twelve tribes of Israel. The Narrator can be at the lectern or pulpit.
Narrator: The Lord said to Joshua,
Voice of God: This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so that they may know that I will be with you as I was with Moses. You are the one who shall command the priests who bear the Ark of the Covenant, "When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan."
Joshua: (Walking back toward the Israelites) Draw near and hear the words of Yahweh. (Israelites begin walking up the aisle toward Joshua. Stay in tribes) "By this you shall know that among you is the living God who without fail will drive out from before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites: The Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of all the earth is going to pass before you into the Jordan. So now select twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. When the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan flowing from above shall be off; they shall stand in a single heap." (Points to the left, Israelites look to the left)
Narrator: (Four priests bring the ark to the front of all the other participants) When the people set out from their tents to cross over the Jordan, the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant were in front of the people. (Everyone begins moving down the aisle toward the river) Now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest. So when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the edge of the water (Priests walk into the space where the river is - stay there), the waters flowing from above stood still, rising up in a single heap far off at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, (People point, look, gasp), while those flowing toward the sea of the Arabah, the Dead Sea, were wholly cut off. Then the people crossed over opposite Jericho. (People begin walking across, gather up in the chancel area) While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan. (If you decide to ask the congregation to cross over also, then end the reading as follows)
Pastor: The Word of God for the People of God.
People: Thanks be to God.
Pastor: Let us remember the wonderful saving grace of Yahweh by recommitting ourselves to allow God to lead us where God wants us to go. If we are asked to cross a river on our own journeys of faith, let us trust God to lead us across.
People: We recommit ourselves this day to trust God to guide us. Today is a new beginning for each of us.
(Sing Today We Are All Called To Be as Congregation returns to seats)
Matthew 23:1--12: This passage is a good follow--up because Jesus is reminding the people that God is their real leader, not other people. This passage can be read by one person, or it could be read by a choral speaking choir.
X X
X X
X X
X X
X X
Left Side Right Side
One Voice: Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,
Left Side: The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it:
Right Side: But do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach.
Left Side: They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others;
Right Side: But they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them.
Left Side: They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long.
Right Side: They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues,
Left Side: And to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi.
Right Side: But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students.
All: And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father - the one in heaven.
Left Side: Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah.
Right Side: The greatest among you will be your servant.
All: All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.
Prayer of Dedication (after Offering)
O God, as we rededicate our lives to you by crossing over the dry riverbed, let us also rededicate ourselves to work for justice and peace in the world. May the gifts we bring be used toward that goal. May we work together toward the peaceful world that you envisioned when you created all of us. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Benediction
We have rededicated ourselves to do God's work in the world and to further our own relationship with our God. Stay strong and committed in furthering God's word. As Paul said to the Thessalonians, "When you received the Word of God heard today through human voices, accept it now not as a human word but as what it really is, God's word, which is also at work in all believers." Go in peace, love, and joy. Amen.
