That Which Defiles
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle A Gospel Texts
Remembering Whose We Are
Invitation to the Celebration
I invite us to celebrate the Presence and Power of the Living God, who is revealed as Father/Mother -- Creator, as Son/Child -- Redeemer, as Fire/Wind --ÊEmpowerer. We hear and experience and know of God in many ways. Throughout this worship, you will have many opportunities to hear, experience, know of God in those ways. You are invited to respond at any time.
P: The world which God loves needs a sense of community and family.
M: God has called the church (you and me) into being, has given it (you and me) the Holy Spirit, and continues to offer it (you and me) the Spirit's Presence and Power.
P: God's community and family begin here.
M: God's community and family begin with us. God help us to live our uniqueness in You.
Response
Chorus only, "We Are the Church" (Avery and Marsh, Hope Publishing Company. See Appendix I for address).
Prayer of Praise
God, we have carried with us into this house of worship our cares, anxieties, and fears. Help us to lift them into your presence, and to see them against the spacious background of your good purpose. Grant us a sense of proportion that we may see our temporary worries against your permanent love, and our selfish fears against your eternal righteousness. And if we have come today without a care in the world, grant that we shall offer our joy and serenity as a service to you and our fellow worshipers. If we are enjoying vigorous health, joyful family relationships, the precious boon of a good conscience, and a quiet mind, help us to make these things a starting place for new endeavors and a deeper commitment. So be it!
Hymn of Praise
"Of the Father's Love Begotten" (Plainsong, Mode V. Aurelius Clemens Prudentius, 348-413; trans. John Mason Neale, 1854, and Henry Williams Baker, 1849; harm. C. Winfred Douglas, 1940). Consider using this as hymn of the month.
Facing Up To Ourselves
Introduction to Our Brokenness
A physician said to Charles L. Allen, author of The Touch of the Master's Hand, that half of his patients needed neither a drug nor an operation. They needed the forgiveness of God. Jesus was the greatest physician of all time; he saw this need in us. So, instead of saying, "Your paralysis be healed," he said instead, "Your sins be forgiven." Here is an opportunity to have our sins forgiven. Are you interested? If so, I invite you to pray this prayer: (Pray either silently or in unison, while the organist/pianist plays a confessional hymn quietly.) Lord, I'm uptight about so much these days. I wash my hands, my face, my body, because I want to be clean. But I'm still uptight and I want to be free. Free to live and love and rejoice. So, Lord, make my life holy. Purify the obscenities that disturb me and the people around me. Open us to each other; intensify relationships, create conversations. Help us to talk more to one another, do more, cry and laugh more, care more. Grant that we live full lives with our senses open, to complete our lives with purpose in what we do, freed of the weight of impatience. I want to be what you intend for me. Sanctify the sexes, the ages, relationships, each other. Give us awe and wonder. Give us freedom in the Christ who loves us all as brothers and sisters, and who does everything we allow him to do, and more, to make us holy and glad (source lost, slightly revised). (Silent meditation for two minutes.)
Invitation to Our Acceptance
We pray, "No longer remembering our sin and sins, O Lord," then we keep remembering them, recalling them, savoring them, letting them rummage around in our head. Intellectually, we believe that the past is forgiven; by your Spirit, integrate that belief into our guts (emotions, if you prefer).
Prayer of Acceptance
We thank you, God, for your forgiveness for our impatience, and for our entrance into your presence. Because of our thankfulness, grant that others may also have this same experience, through Jesus the Christ, who makes new life possible.
Response
"You Are the Lord, Giver of Mercy" (sing it three times).
Looking Out To Others
Message with the Children of All Ages
Ask if they know what the words "persistence" or "perseverance" mean. You may want to use this Peanuts cartoon: Lucy is looking out of the window on a bitter cold, snowy day. She says, "He's so persistent, I'll say that for him. He just never gives up. Of course, I'm not so sure if that's always a good way to be ... Oh, oh, it looks like he's giving up ... He is! He's coming in! I'd better open the door for him ... He may need help ..." She opens the door and shivers. In comes Charlie Brown, dressed as warmly as possible. His kite string and kite are frozen solid. Charlie says, "You were right ... it's too cold out to fly a kite."
Response
Even though we may have difficulty understanding how God rewards us, we are called to respond out of thanksgiving for what we have received. So, let's sing the chorus only to "O Let's Get On" (words and music by Richard Avery and Don Marsh, Folk Encounter, Hope Publishing Company. See Appendix I for address).
Reading from the Newer Covenant
The text of Jesus' encounter with the Canaanite woman provides a powerful encounter of perseverance. The drama includes Jesus, the woman, and several of the disciples. If you have no drama group, as such, put it in dialogue form. Practice with the readers.
Proclamation of the Good News
Simeon Stylites, writing in The Christian Century years ago, titled his article "How to be Tiresome." The woman had a high "nuisance value." Contrast her results with this which appeared in the Milwaukee Journal (August 20, 1958). A suburb had denied the request of a Baptist congregation for a rezoning ordinance so it could build a new church building. Their attorneys assured the court that the church would do no damage to the community. (You may want to play with that for a while.) The brief read, "Evidence has been presented that the church would not affect the safety, health, or public morals of Bayside." Really now! Really?
Response
Meditational prayer, "Lord, I Have Time" (from Prayers by Michael Quoist, published by Sheed and Ward, New York. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 63-17141).
Remembering Our Reason For Being The Church
Stewardship Challenge
Around the world for a pound of honey. To honeybees a pound of honey is worth traveling a distance equivalent to going around the world, not once, but three times. It is estimated that the average flight of a bee is about one mile to and from a flower, about 80,000 flights being necessary for one pound of honey. How's that for perseverance? And how does our perseverance stack up with the honeybee and the Canaanite woman?
Acting On Our Faith
Charge to the Congregation
"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talents will not! Nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not! Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not! The world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on' has solved and will always solve the problems of the human race" (from Trained Men).
Meditation
"Without any consecrated pesterers, a church may well go into such a spiritual coma that it has no effect on public morals ... These 'nuisances' for the sake of the Lord may be hard to take as neighbors. But they will have a high place in the Celestial City -- right up there with the Shock Troops, all with Distinguished Service Medals on their chests. And I'd like to be of that number when the saints go marching in"Ê(Simeon Stylites).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of perseverance hymns or "Reformation Symphony," Mendelssohn.
Hymn of Praise: "Lord Our God, With Praise We Come," Petter Dass, 1647-1707; trans. Peter A. Sveeggen, 1951; alt., 1972.
Response to the Prayer of Praise: (Choir) "All Glory, Praise and Majesty," J. S. Bach.
Response to the Message with the Children: "Reach Out to Your Neighbor," words and music by Roger Copeland, copyright 1971, in A New Now, by Hope Publishing Company.
Offertory: "O God, Thou Good God," Karg-Elert.
Hymn of Commitment: "God of Our Life, Through All the Circling Years," Hugh T. Kerr, 1916; alt., 1928, 1972.
Response to the Benediction: "Jubilate Chorus," from "Now on Land and Sea Descending," Samuel Longfellow, 1859 refrain added.
Music for Dismissal: Music on the theme of persevering faith, which is the only kind that the Bible encourages.
Invitation to the Celebration
I invite us to celebrate the Presence and Power of the Living God, who is revealed as Father/Mother -- Creator, as Son/Child -- Redeemer, as Fire/Wind --ÊEmpowerer. We hear and experience and know of God in many ways. Throughout this worship, you will have many opportunities to hear, experience, know of God in those ways. You are invited to respond at any time.
P: The world which God loves needs a sense of community and family.
M: God has called the church (you and me) into being, has given it (you and me) the Holy Spirit, and continues to offer it (you and me) the Spirit's Presence and Power.
P: God's community and family begin here.
M: God's community and family begin with us. God help us to live our uniqueness in You.
Response
Chorus only, "We Are the Church" (Avery and Marsh, Hope Publishing Company. See Appendix I for address).
Prayer of Praise
God, we have carried with us into this house of worship our cares, anxieties, and fears. Help us to lift them into your presence, and to see them against the spacious background of your good purpose. Grant us a sense of proportion that we may see our temporary worries against your permanent love, and our selfish fears against your eternal righteousness. And if we have come today without a care in the world, grant that we shall offer our joy and serenity as a service to you and our fellow worshipers. If we are enjoying vigorous health, joyful family relationships, the precious boon of a good conscience, and a quiet mind, help us to make these things a starting place for new endeavors and a deeper commitment. So be it!
Hymn of Praise
"Of the Father's Love Begotten" (Plainsong, Mode V. Aurelius Clemens Prudentius, 348-413; trans. John Mason Neale, 1854, and Henry Williams Baker, 1849; harm. C. Winfred Douglas, 1940). Consider using this as hymn of the month.
Facing Up To Ourselves
Introduction to Our Brokenness
A physician said to Charles L. Allen, author of The Touch of the Master's Hand, that half of his patients needed neither a drug nor an operation. They needed the forgiveness of God. Jesus was the greatest physician of all time; he saw this need in us. So, instead of saying, "Your paralysis be healed," he said instead, "Your sins be forgiven." Here is an opportunity to have our sins forgiven. Are you interested? If so, I invite you to pray this prayer: (Pray either silently or in unison, while the organist/pianist plays a confessional hymn quietly.) Lord, I'm uptight about so much these days. I wash my hands, my face, my body, because I want to be clean. But I'm still uptight and I want to be free. Free to live and love and rejoice. So, Lord, make my life holy. Purify the obscenities that disturb me and the people around me. Open us to each other; intensify relationships, create conversations. Help us to talk more to one another, do more, cry and laugh more, care more. Grant that we live full lives with our senses open, to complete our lives with purpose in what we do, freed of the weight of impatience. I want to be what you intend for me. Sanctify the sexes, the ages, relationships, each other. Give us awe and wonder. Give us freedom in the Christ who loves us all as brothers and sisters, and who does everything we allow him to do, and more, to make us holy and glad (source lost, slightly revised). (Silent meditation for two minutes.)
Invitation to Our Acceptance
We pray, "No longer remembering our sin and sins, O Lord," then we keep remembering them, recalling them, savoring them, letting them rummage around in our head. Intellectually, we believe that the past is forgiven; by your Spirit, integrate that belief into our guts (emotions, if you prefer).
Prayer of Acceptance
We thank you, God, for your forgiveness for our impatience, and for our entrance into your presence. Because of our thankfulness, grant that others may also have this same experience, through Jesus the Christ, who makes new life possible.
Response
"You Are the Lord, Giver of Mercy" (sing it three times).
Looking Out To Others
Message with the Children of All Ages
Ask if they know what the words "persistence" or "perseverance" mean. You may want to use this Peanuts cartoon: Lucy is looking out of the window on a bitter cold, snowy day. She says, "He's so persistent, I'll say that for him. He just never gives up. Of course, I'm not so sure if that's always a good way to be ... Oh, oh, it looks like he's giving up ... He is! He's coming in! I'd better open the door for him ... He may need help ..." She opens the door and shivers. In comes Charlie Brown, dressed as warmly as possible. His kite string and kite are frozen solid. Charlie says, "You were right ... it's too cold out to fly a kite."
Response
Even though we may have difficulty understanding how God rewards us, we are called to respond out of thanksgiving for what we have received. So, let's sing the chorus only to "O Let's Get On" (words and music by Richard Avery and Don Marsh, Folk Encounter, Hope Publishing Company. See Appendix I for address).
Reading from the Newer Covenant
The text of Jesus' encounter with the Canaanite woman provides a powerful encounter of perseverance. The drama includes Jesus, the woman, and several of the disciples. If you have no drama group, as such, put it in dialogue form. Practice with the readers.
Proclamation of the Good News
Simeon Stylites, writing in The Christian Century years ago, titled his article "How to be Tiresome." The woman had a high "nuisance value." Contrast her results with this which appeared in the Milwaukee Journal (August 20, 1958). A suburb had denied the request of a Baptist congregation for a rezoning ordinance so it could build a new church building. Their attorneys assured the court that the church would do no damage to the community. (You may want to play with that for a while.) The brief read, "Evidence has been presented that the church would not affect the safety, health, or public morals of Bayside." Really now! Really?
Response
Meditational prayer, "Lord, I Have Time" (from Prayers by Michael Quoist, published by Sheed and Ward, New York. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 63-17141).
Remembering Our Reason For Being The Church
Stewardship Challenge
Around the world for a pound of honey. To honeybees a pound of honey is worth traveling a distance equivalent to going around the world, not once, but three times. It is estimated that the average flight of a bee is about one mile to and from a flower, about 80,000 flights being necessary for one pound of honey. How's that for perseverance? And how does our perseverance stack up with the honeybee and the Canaanite woman?
Acting On Our Faith
Charge to the Congregation
"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talents will not! Nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not! Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not! The world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on' has solved and will always solve the problems of the human race" (from Trained Men).
Meditation
"Without any consecrated pesterers, a church may well go into such a spiritual coma that it has no effect on public morals ... These 'nuisances' for the sake of the Lord may be hard to take as neighbors. But they will have a high place in the Celestial City -- right up there with the Shock Troops, all with Distinguished Service Medals on their chests. And I'd like to be of that number when the saints go marching in"Ê(Simeon Stylites).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of perseverance hymns or "Reformation Symphony," Mendelssohn.
Hymn of Praise: "Lord Our God, With Praise We Come," Petter Dass, 1647-1707; trans. Peter A. Sveeggen, 1951; alt., 1972.
Response to the Prayer of Praise: (Choir) "All Glory, Praise and Majesty," J. S. Bach.
Response to the Message with the Children: "Reach Out to Your Neighbor," words and music by Roger Copeland, copyright 1971, in A New Now, by Hope Publishing Company.
Offertory: "O God, Thou Good God," Karg-Elert.
Hymn of Commitment: "God of Our Life, Through All the Circling Years," Hugh T. Kerr, 1916; alt., 1928, 1972.
Response to the Benediction: "Jubilate Chorus," from "Now on Land and Sea Descending," Samuel Longfellow, 1859 refrain added.
Music for Dismissal: Music on the theme of persevering faith, which is the only kind that the Bible encourages.
