The Christ's all-encompassing mission
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series II
Exegetical note: The first six verses of this selection comprise what is called the Second Servant Song of Deutero-Isaiah, which identifies the servant with the people of Israel, whose universal mission has been (figuratively speaking) from the womb. New Testament writers (e.g., Luke 2:32, Acts 13:47 and 26:23, Galatians 1:15) saw here a reference to the Christ's all-encompassing mission, for which he was destined even prior to his birth.
Call to Worship
Leader:
We gather today as servants of the Christ!
People:
WE MEET AS FOLLOWERS OF JESUS, WHOSE MISSION BEGAN IN MARY'S WOMB!
Leader:
We worship as disciples of that Nazarene, whose ministry was for all humankind!
People:
IN HIS GLORIOUS NAME, LET US GIVE PRAISE AND THANKS TO GOD!
Collect
Eternal God, you called from the womb the prophets and then the Christ to bring your gracious word of redemption to all humankind. Bless us now with their universal vision and compassion: that, seeing beyond our narrow boundaries, we may learn to show love and concern even for those least like us. In the spirit of Jesus we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Most compassionate God, we confess that even during this Holy Week we find it all too easy to apply the benefits of the life and death of Jesus to ourselves and those most like us, and to fail to see in him your love for all humankind. Forgive us our selfishness and narrowness of vision, we pray, and broaden and deepen our compassion, so that it better resembles the boundless scope of your mercy and the bottomless depths of your love. In the name and the cross of the Christ we pray. Amen
Tuesday in Holy Week
Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Theme:
The "foolishness" of faith
Exegetical note: The Greek philosophical tradition had apparently left its impression on the Corinthians, for Paul here finds it necessary to shake their confidence in their own wisdom and knowledge. His claim here is that redemption and righteousness reside in God's "foolishness," i.e., the weak, lowly, despised, and crucified Christ.
Call to Worship
Leader:
Let us worship the God of righteousness!
People:
LET US WORSHIP THE GOD WHO REDEEMS!
Leader:
For ours is a God whose weakness overcomes all of the world's powers!
People:
OURS IS A GOD WHOSE FOOLISHNESS CONFOUNDS ALL OF THE WORLD'S WISDOM!
Collect
Life-giving God, you have taught us to embrace a "foolish" faith in a Christ who was lowly, gentle, despised, and finally killed by the powers and authorities of his day. Teach us at last to embrace such faith: that, in the face of all the world's "sane" values and "sensible" claims, we may still trust in your incredible love. In the spirit of Jesus we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of love, we admit that we often feel and show contempt for the very characteristics displayed by the Jesus whom we claim to serve: humility, gentleness, selflessness, poverty, and pacifism; and we even find ways to baptize their opposites and call them "Christian." Forgive us, we pray, and teach us to look always to the image of the despised, defeated, and finally dead "loser" on the cross, and to see there our only true model of human success, triumph, victory, and achievement: a life given in selflessness to you and humankind. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen
Tuesday in Holy Week
Gospel:
John 12:20-36
Theme:
The glory of Golgotha
Exegetical note: This passage has the feeling of a kind of "hodgepodge" drawn together (but not very tightly!) by John. The clearest image here is his distinctive view of the crucifixion of Jesus as a glorification rather than a humiliation, an experience of exaltation rather than of passion. The initial request of the Greeks (Gentiles) to see Jesus is merely a literary "set-up" for that powerful image.
Call to Worship
Leader:
Sisters and brothers, if you would see Jesus, behold the cross!
People:
FOR THE CHRIST WHO REDEEMS IS THE ONE CRUCIFIED THERE!
Leader:
Disciples of the Christ, if you would follow him, you must be drawn to his glory!
People:
AND HIS GLORY IS THAT OF GOLGOTHA!
Collect
Everliving God, you gave us a glimpse of glory on Golgotha in a suffering Savior. Help us now to set our eyes and hearts on him: that, reliving his crucifixion, we may see not only his humiliation and execution, but his glorification and exaltation in service to your will and coming Reign. In his redeeming name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Eternal God, we confess our seeming inability to grasp your many mysteries, and particularly the subtleties of your self-manifestation in a suffering Christ, executed as a criminal. We admire worldly "winners" and success stories, and despise the very kinds of "bleeding hearts" and "do-gooders" that most emulate Jesus. Forgive us, we pray, and help us finally to adjust our values in such a way that we shall at last be able to look beyond appearances of weakness and defeat to behold your strength and victory. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen
Call to Worship
Leader:
We gather today as servants of the Christ!
People:
WE MEET AS FOLLOWERS OF JESUS, WHOSE MISSION BEGAN IN MARY'S WOMB!
Leader:
We worship as disciples of that Nazarene, whose ministry was for all humankind!
People:
IN HIS GLORIOUS NAME, LET US GIVE PRAISE AND THANKS TO GOD!
Collect
Eternal God, you called from the womb the prophets and then the Christ to bring your gracious word of redemption to all humankind. Bless us now with their universal vision and compassion: that, seeing beyond our narrow boundaries, we may learn to show love and concern even for those least like us. In the spirit of Jesus we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Most compassionate God, we confess that even during this Holy Week we find it all too easy to apply the benefits of the life and death of Jesus to ourselves and those most like us, and to fail to see in him your love for all humankind. Forgive us our selfishness and narrowness of vision, we pray, and broaden and deepen our compassion, so that it better resembles the boundless scope of your mercy and the bottomless depths of your love. In the name and the cross of the Christ we pray. Amen
Tuesday in Holy Week
Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Theme:
The "foolishness" of faith
Exegetical note: The Greek philosophical tradition had apparently left its impression on the Corinthians, for Paul here finds it necessary to shake their confidence in their own wisdom and knowledge. His claim here is that redemption and righteousness reside in God's "foolishness," i.e., the weak, lowly, despised, and crucified Christ.
Call to Worship
Leader:
Let us worship the God of righteousness!
People:
LET US WORSHIP THE GOD WHO REDEEMS!
Leader:
For ours is a God whose weakness overcomes all of the world's powers!
People:
OURS IS A GOD WHOSE FOOLISHNESS CONFOUNDS ALL OF THE WORLD'S WISDOM!
Collect
Life-giving God, you have taught us to embrace a "foolish" faith in a Christ who was lowly, gentle, despised, and finally killed by the powers and authorities of his day. Teach us at last to embrace such faith: that, in the face of all the world's "sane" values and "sensible" claims, we may still trust in your incredible love. In the spirit of Jesus we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of love, we admit that we often feel and show contempt for the very characteristics displayed by the Jesus whom we claim to serve: humility, gentleness, selflessness, poverty, and pacifism; and we even find ways to baptize their opposites and call them "Christian." Forgive us, we pray, and teach us to look always to the image of the despised, defeated, and finally dead "loser" on the cross, and to see there our only true model of human success, triumph, victory, and achievement: a life given in selflessness to you and humankind. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen
Tuesday in Holy Week
Gospel:
John 12:20-36
Theme:
The glory of Golgotha
Exegetical note: This passage has the feeling of a kind of "hodgepodge" drawn together (but not very tightly!) by John. The clearest image here is his distinctive view of the crucifixion of Jesus as a glorification rather than a humiliation, an experience of exaltation rather than of passion. The initial request of the Greeks (Gentiles) to see Jesus is merely a literary "set-up" for that powerful image.
Call to Worship
Leader:
Sisters and brothers, if you would see Jesus, behold the cross!
People:
FOR THE CHRIST WHO REDEEMS IS THE ONE CRUCIFIED THERE!
Leader:
Disciples of the Christ, if you would follow him, you must be drawn to his glory!
People:
AND HIS GLORY IS THAT OF GOLGOTHA!
Collect
Everliving God, you gave us a glimpse of glory on Golgotha in a suffering Savior. Help us now to set our eyes and hearts on him: that, reliving his crucifixion, we may see not only his humiliation and execution, but his glorification and exaltation in service to your will and coming Reign. In his redeeming name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Eternal God, we confess our seeming inability to grasp your many mysteries, and particularly the subtleties of your self-manifestation in a suffering Christ, executed as a criminal. We admire worldly "winners" and success stories, and despise the very kinds of "bleeding hearts" and "do-gooders" that most emulate Jesus. Forgive us, we pray, and help us finally to adjust our values in such a way that we shall at last be able to look beyond appearances of weakness and defeat to behold your strength and victory. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen
