Proper 27
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series IV, Cycle A
Hymns
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (NCH144, CBH201, UM240, PH31, 32)
Once In Royal David's City (NCH145, UM250, PH49)
Steal Away (NCH599, CBH612, UM704)
Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning (NCH369)
Lead On, O Cloud Of Presence/O King Eternal (CBH419, UM580, PH447, 448)
Sleepers, Wake! (CBH188, UM720, PH17, LBW31)
Rejoice! Rejoice, Believers (PH15, LBW25)
All People That On Earth Do Dwell (LBW245, NCH7, PH220, 221, UM75, CBH42)
O Lord, How Shall I Meet You? (LBW23, PH11)
Anthems
Give Me Oil In My Lamp, Max Exner, Carl Fischer
As For Me And My House, Morris Chapman, Maranatha! Praise Book 4, p. 152
Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers, Honore, CGA, 2--part mixed
Once In Royal David's City, arr. Pelz, CGA, Unison/2--part, congregtion, organ, C treble instrument
Call to Worship (based on Psalm 78)
Leader: Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will tell you many things that our ancestors have told us.
People: We will not hide them from the children; we will tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds and wonders of mighty God.
Leader: God established a decree in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, and commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children; that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and rise up and tell them to their children,
People: So that they should set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep all commandments. Praise God!
Call to Confession
Joshua told his people, "Choose this day whom you will serve," and they chose to serve God. We also want to serve God, but we often fall short. Let us confess our shortcomings before our God.
Prayer of Confession
God of the ages, how often have your people fallen short of your expectations? We know the answer because we do it ourselves almost constantly. You ask so much of us, God - and there are so many distractions. We say we will meditate on your word, but there's such a good program on the television. We say we will spend Saturday working for the homeless, but we're not sure we can commit because someone might have a party. We try to come to church regularly, but there's the kids' soccer game, and the Redskins (or your team) are playing at 1 o'clock. Forgive us, God. We know nothing is as important as spending time with you. Help us to get our priorities straight and to model them for our children - so that in turn they can know how to tell their own children. Faith lasts because it is passed from generation to generation. Help us to remember to keep the faith. Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness
Leader: Jesus said, "Let the children come to me for such is the kingdom of God." Let the children tell us the good news.
Children: Jesus died for our sins. Isn't that great?
People: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Alleluia! Amen.
Scripture Readings
Joshua 24:1--3a, 14--25: This passage can be read as a responsive reading between Joshua and the people. Joshua would move among the congregation as it is read, and his part be read with much drama. Joshua is very persistent in this passage. The words "Joshua said," and "the people said," can be omitted.
Congregation: Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said to all the people,
Joshua: Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Long ago your ancestors - Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor - lived beyond the Euphrates and served other gods. Then I took your father Abraham from beyond therRiver and led him through all the land of Canaan and made his offspring many. Now therefore revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the river and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the river or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
Congregation: Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; and the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God." But Joshua said to the people,
Joshua: You cannot serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good.
Congregation: And the people said to Joshua, "No, we will serve the Lord!" Then Joshua said to the people,
Joshua: You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.
Congregation: We are witnesses. He said,
Joshua: Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.
Congregation: The people said to Joshua, "The Lord our God we will serve, and him we will obey."
All: So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem.
Matthew 25:1--13: This passage is really a good one for the choral speaking choir, using ten people as the bridesmaids and one person as the bridegroom. Have the bridesmaids come to the chancel in pairs, splitting off into two rows of five. The bridegroom will not enter until later in the passage. He will come slowly from the back of the congregation.
W F
W F
W F
W F
W F
BG
All: Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
Foolish: Five of them were foolish,
Wise: (With a lower and wiser voice) and five were wise.
Foolish: When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them;
Wise: But the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
All: As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout:
One Voice: Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him. (Bridegroom begins slowly coming down the aisle)
All: Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps.
Foolish: The foolish said to the wise: "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out."
Wise: But the wise replied, "No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves." (Foolish bridesmaids turn around away from the others) And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came (Bridegroom stands on side of the Wise), and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet (Bridegroom and Wise turn away), and the door was shut.
Foolish: (Turn back toward Wise Bridesmaids) Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, "Lord, Lord, open to us."
Bridegroom: Truly I tell you, I do not know you. (All turn back facing congregation)
All: Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Call to Offering
Let us waken to God's call to give freely of what we have. The ushers will wait upon us for the morning offering.
Prayer of Dedication
O God, how shall we meet you? Shall we come to you knowing that we have given what we could? Can we say, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"? Please accept our gifts today to serve the world so that when you come again, the world will be ready to serve you with great gladness. Amen.
Benediction (based on Joshua 24)
Leader: It is God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did great signs in our sight.
People: He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed.
Leader: This same God continues to protect people who believe and serve.
People: As for us, we will choose the Lord, and we will obey.
Leader: In the name of the God who leads us, Christ who saves us, and the Holy Spirit who gives us energy for the journey. Amen.
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (NCH144, CBH201, UM240, PH31, 32)
Once In Royal David's City (NCH145, UM250, PH49)
Steal Away (NCH599, CBH612, UM704)
Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning (NCH369)
Lead On, O Cloud Of Presence/O King Eternal (CBH419, UM580, PH447, 448)
Sleepers, Wake! (CBH188, UM720, PH17, LBW31)
Rejoice! Rejoice, Believers (PH15, LBW25)
All People That On Earth Do Dwell (LBW245, NCH7, PH220, 221, UM75, CBH42)
O Lord, How Shall I Meet You? (LBW23, PH11)
Anthems
Give Me Oil In My Lamp, Max Exner, Carl Fischer
As For Me And My House, Morris Chapman, Maranatha! Praise Book 4, p. 152
Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers, Honore, CGA, 2--part mixed
Once In Royal David's City, arr. Pelz, CGA, Unison/2--part, congregtion, organ, C treble instrument
Call to Worship (based on Psalm 78)
Leader: Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will tell you many things that our ancestors have told us.
People: We will not hide them from the children; we will tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds and wonders of mighty God.
Leader: God established a decree in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, and commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children; that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and rise up and tell them to their children,
People: So that they should set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep all commandments. Praise God!
Call to Confession
Joshua told his people, "Choose this day whom you will serve," and they chose to serve God. We also want to serve God, but we often fall short. Let us confess our shortcomings before our God.
Prayer of Confession
God of the ages, how often have your people fallen short of your expectations? We know the answer because we do it ourselves almost constantly. You ask so much of us, God - and there are so many distractions. We say we will meditate on your word, but there's such a good program on the television. We say we will spend Saturday working for the homeless, but we're not sure we can commit because someone might have a party. We try to come to church regularly, but there's the kids' soccer game, and the Redskins (or your team) are playing at 1 o'clock. Forgive us, God. We know nothing is as important as spending time with you. Help us to get our priorities straight and to model them for our children - so that in turn they can know how to tell their own children. Faith lasts because it is passed from generation to generation. Help us to remember to keep the faith. Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness
Leader: Jesus said, "Let the children come to me for such is the kingdom of God." Let the children tell us the good news.
Children: Jesus died for our sins. Isn't that great?
People: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Alleluia! Amen.
Scripture Readings
Joshua 24:1--3a, 14--25: This passage can be read as a responsive reading between Joshua and the people. Joshua would move among the congregation as it is read, and his part be read with much drama. Joshua is very persistent in this passage. The words "Joshua said," and "the people said," can be omitted.
Congregation: Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said to all the people,
Joshua: Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Long ago your ancestors - Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor - lived beyond the Euphrates and served other gods. Then I took your father Abraham from beyond therRiver and led him through all the land of Canaan and made his offspring many. Now therefore revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the river and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the river or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
Congregation: Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; and the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God." But Joshua said to the people,
Joshua: You cannot serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good.
Congregation: And the people said to Joshua, "No, we will serve the Lord!" Then Joshua said to the people,
Joshua: You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.
Congregation: We are witnesses. He said,
Joshua: Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.
Congregation: The people said to Joshua, "The Lord our God we will serve, and him we will obey."
All: So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem.
Matthew 25:1--13: This passage is really a good one for the choral speaking choir, using ten people as the bridesmaids and one person as the bridegroom. Have the bridesmaids come to the chancel in pairs, splitting off into two rows of five. The bridegroom will not enter until later in the passage. He will come slowly from the back of the congregation.
W F
W F
W F
W F
W F
BG
All: Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
Foolish: Five of them were foolish,
Wise: (With a lower and wiser voice) and five were wise.
Foolish: When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them;
Wise: But the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
All: As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout:
One Voice: Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him. (Bridegroom begins slowly coming down the aisle)
All: Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps.
Foolish: The foolish said to the wise: "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out."
Wise: But the wise replied, "No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves." (Foolish bridesmaids turn around away from the others) And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came (Bridegroom stands on side of the Wise), and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet (Bridegroom and Wise turn away), and the door was shut.
Foolish: (Turn back toward Wise Bridesmaids) Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, "Lord, Lord, open to us."
Bridegroom: Truly I tell you, I do not know you. (All turn back facing congregation)
All: Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Call to Offering
Let us waken to God's call to give freely of what we have. The ushers will wait upon us for the morning offering.
Prayer of Dedication
O God, how shall we meet you? Shall we come to you knowing that we have given what we could? Can we say, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"? Please accept our gifts today to serve the world so that when you come again, the world will be ready to serve you with great gladness. Amen.
Benediction (based on Joshua 24)
Leader: It is God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did great signs in our sight.
People: He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed.
Leader: This same God continues to protect people who believe and serve.
People: As for us, we will choose the Lord, and we will obey.
Leader: In the name of the God who leads us, Christ who saves us, and the Holy Spirit who gives us energy for the journey. Amen.
