Concerning Retaliation and Loving Enemies
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle A Gospel Texts
Adoration And Praise
Invitation to the Celebration
(Early in the week, ask four people to introduce worship by sharing new or renewed insights about what they have learned this Epiphany season. Include a preteen, a teenager, a young adult, and an older adult. Invite two males and two females. Ask them to speak no more than one minute apiece.) Begin worship with words similar to these: Welcome to the seventh Sunday in Epiphany, the season of the evangel, the recognition that the Christ has come for the whole world, not just our little corner of it. We continue by hearing from four people in the congregation what they have learned or relearned during these weeks of Epiphany. Following each presentation, I invite us to respond with these words: "Praise God for new insights and renewed commitments. Cheers to God and to (name of person). So be it!"
Response
"Let's Go!" (by Avery and Marsh, from Alive and Singing. See Appendix I for address). You may want to use this either before or after the four presentations; or use the first three stanzas before and the fourth one after.
Confession And Forgiveness
The Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
Snoopy sits shivering in the snow. Charlie Brown says to Linus, "Snoopy looks kind of cold, doesn't he?" Linus responds, "I'll say he does ... Maybe we'd better go over and comfort him...." So they walk over to Snoopy, look him in the eyes, and greet him. "Be of good cheer, Snoopy ... Yes, be of good cheer...." And then, both of them walk away, leaving Snoopy sitting in the snow with a big question mark. As evangels of the Evangel, whom have we left sitting in the snow this week, our children who need our presence, a mate going through an illness, a conscience dulled by our busyness? For several moments of silence, consider those persons whom God has placed in our lives, but to whom we were too preoccupied to give our attention. At the end of the silence, ask the people to respond, verbally, with these words, "Lord, have mercy on me ..." and then, in silence, ask the people to give the name of the person whom they ignored, or sidestepped, or forgot.
The Act of Receiving New Life
God gives us multitudes of opportunities, yes, even missed opportunities, to respond again. Perhaps only fear keeps us from doing so. Yet, God has announced the greatest news this world has ever received. God asks few of us to stand on street corners as evangels. God has placed persons in our lives who need to see the good news spoken and lived through us. This coming week, I invite us to have a new or awakened sensitivity to the people around us, those whom we call friends and those whom we call enemies. Seek out someone who needs to know that God loves him/her. We are God's evangel to let people know the good news. What a privilege and joy, and probably some fear, to know that God has called us to such a noble task!
P: The Good News of the gospel tells us, in no uncertain terms, that the past is finished and gone. God accepts all of its pain and brokenness.
M: In Jesus the Christ, we are a new creation set free from the weight of sin, whatever form it takes.
P: In Jesus the Christ, we are a new creation; so I invite us to live as those who know to whom they belong.
M: We will live as a community of faith, hope, love, embracing new beginnings with courage, compassion, obedience, and commitment, because of God's amazing love and faithfulness to us. Let it be so!
Response
"Amazing Grace." For those who choose, change "wretch" to "someone."
Listening And Proclaiming
Message with the Children of All Ages
Ask the children what they think the Scripture means. Instead of reading the whole text, select the essence of Jesus' words. Affirm them for their responses. Ask if any have experienced the truth of the lesson; and if so, how did they respond? Share one of your own examples. And point out that children often do better than adults about not striking back and loving those who aren't lovable.
Reading from the Newer Covenant
Have two people read the Scripture, one to take the part of Jesus and the other to read the section from the older Covenant. Following the reading, ask the congregation for its response. What did the people hear; and do they really believe that Jesus' words are practical, or even possible?
Proclamation of the Good News
For part of the message, focus on the last line, "Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect." Many have no understanding of what it means and become discouraged that, because they are imperfect, they will never make it into the presence of God. In an article (source lost) the author says that God is perfect because God is God, and therefore can be trusted always, to be true to His/Her identity. "For us to be perfect," the author says, "as God is perfect is to be true to our role as human beings. We sin when we step outside of our proper relational role, when we try to play god for others, or when we become as animals, tearing and devouring each other ... mortality in the sight of the gospel is being true to relationships, not adhering to an external code." Of course, we will fail. Perhaps the word "complete" would help some people to understand. "Be complete as your Heavenly Father is complete."
Stewardship Challenge
1. Hand out the Epiphany stars only to those who have not yet received them.
2. Ask two people, in advance, to share their experience about the message on their stars.
Charge to the Congregation
Use the same question as last week. In the evening of life, only one question will be asked: "How well have you loved?" So, what is the most important thing that you, as a Christian, want to say to your neighbor from whom you are alienated, to your boss, to your pastor, to your spouse or best friend, to your children, to yourself? If you can't or won't say verbally, will you write a letter? Look at your responses. In what category do your answers fall? He/she is a sinner? He/she is a person whom God loves, even though I may not?
Benediction
Before the words of the benediction, ask the people to look around the sanctuary. Ask, whom do you see? Whom do you avoid looking at? I invite you, this week, to be an evangel to those whom you avoid.
Response
"Glory be to God on High! Alleluia! (Repeat) Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Alleluia!" (Repeat, until they get enthusiastic.)
Meditation
A young Christian was considering overseas missions as a life work. He was asked to open a new field in a distant land. He hesitated, "I just can't bring myself to go out there alone." "Would you go there," he was asked, "with a man such as David Livingstone?" "Yes, I'd be glad to." "Then why not go with Christ?" (Wesleyan Methodist). We all go everywhere with Christ.
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Epiphany hymns, or "Agnus Dei" by Bach.
Hymn of Praise: "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty," Joachim Neander, 1680; Catherine Winkworth, trans., 1863, alt.
Response to the Prayer of Praise: "Now Let Every Tongue Adore Thee," J. S. Bach.
Response to the Act of Receiving New Life: "The King of Love My Shepherd Is," Ancient Irish Melody.
Response to the Message with the Children: "Have Thine Own Way, Lord," Adelaide A. Pollard.
Offertory: "Pastorale" by Purvis.
Hymn of Commitment: "Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise," Welsh Folk Song. Walter Chalmers Smith, 1867, 1884, alt.
Music for Dismissal: Medley of Epiphany hymns, or "Con Spirito" by Handel.
Invitation to the Celebration
(Early in the week, ask four people to introduce worship by sharing new or renewed insights about what they have learned this Epiphany season. Include a preteen, a teenager, a young adult, and an older adult. Invite two males and two females. Ask them to speak no more than one minute apiece.) Begin worship with words similar to these: Welcome to the seventh Sunday in Epiphany, the season of the evangel, the recognition that the Christ has come for the whole world, not just our little corner of it. We continue by hearing from four people in the congregation what they have learned or relearned during these weeks of Epiphany. Following each presentation, I invite us to respond with these words: "Praise God for new insights and renewed commitments. Cheers to God and to (name of person). So be it!"
Response
"Let's Go!" (by Avery and Marsh, from Alive and Singing. See Appendix I for address). You may want to use this either before or after the four presentations; or use the first three stanzas before and the fourth one after.
Confession And Forgiveness
The Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
Snoopy sits shivering in the snow. Charlie Brown says to Linus, "Snoopy looks kind of cold, doesn't he?" Linus responds, "I'll say he does ... Maybe we'd better go over and comfort him...." So they walk over to Snoopy, look him in the eyes, and greet him. "Be of good cheer, Snoopy ... Yes, be of good cheer...." And then, both of them walk away, leaving Snoopy sitting in the snow with a big question mark. As evangels of the Evangel, whom have we left sitting in the snow this week, our children who need our presence, a mate going through an illness, a conscience dulled by our busyness? For several moments of silence, consider those persons whom God has placed in our lives, but to whom we were too preoccupied to give our attention. At the end of the silence, ask the people to respond, verbally, with these words, "Lord, have mercy on me ..." and then, in silence, ask the people to give the name of the person whom they ignored, or sidestepped, or forgot.
The Act of Receiving New Life
God gives us multitudes of opportunities, yes, even missed opportunities, to respond again. Perhaps only fear keeps us from doing so. Yet, God has announced the greatest news this world has ever received. God asks few of us to stand on street corners as evangels. God has placed persons in our lives who need to see the good news spoken and lived through us. This coming week, I invite us to have a new or awakened sensitivity to the people around us, those whom we call friends and those whom we call enemies. Seek out someone who needs to know that God loves him/her. We are God's evangel to let people know the good news. What a privilege and joy, and probably some fear, to know that God has called us to such a noble task!
P: The Good News of the gospel tells us, in no uncertain terms, that the past is finished and gone. God accepts all of its pain and brokenness.
M: In Jesus the Christ, we are a new creation set free from the weight of sin, whatever form it takes.
P: In Jesus the Christ, we are a new creation; so I invite us to live as those who know to whom they belong.
M: We will live as a community of faith, hope, love, embracing new beginnings with courage, compassion, obedience, and commitment, because of God's amazing love and faithfulness to us. Let it be so!
Response
"Amazing Grace." For those who choose, change "wretch" to "someone."
Listening And Proclaiming
Message with the Children of All Ages
Ask the children what they think the Scripture means. Instead of reading the whole text, select the essence of Jesus' words. Affirm them for their responses. Ask if any have experienced the truth of the lesson; and if so, how did they respond? Share one of your own examples. And point out that children often do better than adults about not striking back and loving those who aren't lovable.
Reading from the Newer Covenant
Have two people read the Scripture, one to take the part of Jesus and the other to read the section from the older Covenant. Following the reading, ask the congregation for its response. What did the people hear; and do they really believe that Jesus' words are practical, or even possible?
Proclamation of the Good News
For part of the message, focus on the last line, "Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect." Many have no understanding of what it means and become discouraged that, because they are imperfect, they will never make it into the presence of God. In an article (source lost) the author says that God is perfect because God is God, and therefore can be trusted always, to be true to His/Her identity. "For us to be perfect," the author says, "as God is perfect is to be true to our role as human beings. We sin when we step outside of our proper relational role, when we try to play god for others, or when we become as animals, tearing and devouring each other ... mortality in the sight of the gospel is being true to relationships, not adhering to an external code." Of course, we will fail. Perhaps the word "complete" would help some people to understand. "Be complete as your Heavenly Father is complete."
Stewardship Challenge
1. Hand out the Epiphany stars only to those who have not yet received them.
2. Ask two people, in advance, to share their experience about the message on their stars.
Charge to the Congregation
Use the same question as last week. In the evening of life, only one question will be asked: "How well have you loved?" So, what is the most important thing that you, as a Christian, want to say to your neighbor from whom you are alienated, to your boss, to your pastor, to your spouse or best friend, to your children, to yourself? If you can't or won't say verbally, will you write a letter? Look at your responses. In what category do your answers fall? He/she is a sinner? He/she is a person whom God loves, even though I may not?
Benediction
Before the words of the benediction, ask the people to look around the sanctuary. Ask, whom do you see? Whom do you avoid looking at? I invite you, this week, to be an evangel to those whom you avoid.
Response
"Glory be to God on High! Alleluia! (Repeat) Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Alleluia!" (Repeat, until they get enthusiastic.)
Meditation
A young Christian was considering overseas missions as a life work. He was asked to open a new field in a distant land. He hesitated, "I just can't bring myself to go out there alone." "Would you go there," he was asked, "with a man such as David Livingstone?" "Yes, I'd be glad to." "Then why not go with Christ?" (Wesleyan Methodist). We all go everywhere with Christ.
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Epiphany hymns, or "Agnus Dei" by Bach.
Hymn of Praise: "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty," Joachim Neander, 1680; Catherine Winkworth, trans., 1863, alt.
Response to the Prayer of Praise: "Now Let Every Tongue Adore Thee," J. S. Bach.
Response to the Act of Receiving New Life: "The King of Love My Shepherd Is," Ancient Irish Melody.
Response to the Message with the Children: "Have Thine Own Way, Lord," Adelaide A. Pollard.
Offertory: "Pastorale" by Purvis.
Hymn of Commitment: "Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise," Welsh Folk Song. Walter Chalmers Smith, 1867, 1884, alt.
Music for Dismissal: Medley of Epiphany hymns, or "Con Spirito" by Handel.
