Epiphany 8
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle C Gospel Texts
Liturgical Color: Green
Gospel: Luke 6:39-49
Theme: Toothpicks and Logs; Good and Evil; Strong and Weak Foundations. Which image do you fit?
The Gathering
Choral Invitation
"Welcome Song," Paul Graham. (See Epiphany 5.)
Pastoral Invitation
Pastor and Ministers
In the name of God the Creator, God the Liberator, God the Sustainer, God the Energizer, take a deep breath and prepare yourselves for another bumpy ride. Keep in mind that God rides with us no matter how bumpy the going. So, rejoice in this worship for the opportunity to grow in grace and works. And now, hear and respond in this declaration of joy:
P: Fellow adventurers in the new life in Christ, we belong to each other, and with each other! Christ has made us a new breed of humanity, filled us with his Spirit, and released us to be persons for others. We praise him for this fellowship in which we have learned to love him, ourselves, one another, and the world. And we have learned, are learning, to be his justice-seekers in a world which too often ignores justice-issues.
M: We are new men and women, boys and girls, through the Christ. As transformed, renewed, released people, we worship with adoration and praise.
P: The living Christ is here! Our communion is with him, and through his love and justice, with each other, and with a world which desperately needs our care, concern, compassion. I invite us to open ourselves to him, to each other, and to the world. In Christ's name, greet those around you.
Hymn of Praise
"O Praise the Gracious Power," Thomas H. Troeger, 1984; Carol Doran, 1984.
Prayer of Praise
(If you have invited the people to read today's Scripture before coming to worship, you may want to begin this way:) Lord, despite your presence with us, we come with fear and trembling about your expectations for us. We wonder how we can possibly live up to your word. It seems impossible. We continue because of the promise of your presence and power, because your desire to heal us is greater than our desire to be healed. Thank you.
The Introspection
Introduction to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
Some people say that they enjoy reading the Scriptures. I keep wondering which parts they enjoy. I wonder if they include the first third of today's lesson. (Have someone read verses Luke 6:39-42 from the floor of the sanctuary. Practice ahead of time with the person; have the person read it from the pew, slowly and deliberately; practice with him or her. Consider reading it from the Cotton Patch Version. Before the person reads the passage, ask the congregation to listen carefully and to write down their thoughts. After the reading, give two minutes of silence. Following the silence, ask:) Is anyone willing to share? (Wait.) Why does the church spend so much time and energy making value judgments about the sexual sins, and little time and energy on the sin of hypocrisy? (Silence.) Write down your response.
Response
"Christ Has Called Us to New Visions," Jane Parker Huber, 1981; traditional Dutch Melody, from Joy In Singing. (See Appendix I for address.)
Introduction to the Act of Receiving New Life
Pastor and Ministers
In a Christian Century article (September 10-17, 1997), Peter Storey tells of a police officer who masterminded the butchering of a number of families in an attack on a rural village, who stood and faced his victims. "I can never undo what I have done. I have no right to ask your forgiveness, but I ask that you will allow me to spend my life helping you to rebuild your village and put your lives together." We can do nothing about the specks we have pointed out up to this moment. We can, from this moment, clear out the logjams in our own lives first. So, in Christ, we learn to relate differently to each other.
M: Despite our sin, and because of our repentance, our rethinking life, we are worthwhile persons. It is good to be who we are.
P: I invite us to eliminate the logs, in order to find new ways to love each other.
M: That's a deal! We will do just that, beginning now!
Response
"Here, O My Lord, I See Thee (You) Face to Face," stanzas 1 and 4 only, unless you are also serving communion. Horatius Bonar, 1855; Frederick C. Atkinson, 1870.
The Teaching
Message with the Children of All Ages
Use verses 43-45. Bring a tree which has its proper fruit. And then, add by tying on some weed or thorn which does not belong. Tie this in with the kinds of things we listen to and often mimic. Tony Compolo reports that the president of MTV was asked if he believed that MTV influences children and young people. "No," he replied, "we own them."
Prayer
Focus on the necessity of hearing good news instead of trash. (Steve Allen and the Parents' Television Council have begun a petition about how you and I can stop television from leading children down a moral sewer. Address: P. T. C., Dept. 41, 600 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90017.)
Reading from the Scripture
Focus on verses 46-49. Build the message around weak and strong foundations. We do know the difference; and waiting until we're "old" to begin building a strong one holds no water. Now is the hour. One way we can strengthen each other is to use our time together to share the good news, instead of the latest athletic event, the weather, making value judgments about others, playing emotional games, name your own.
Response
(Adult Choir) "Hymn of Wisdom," Eugene Butler.
The Dedication
Stewardship Challenge
Consider your stewardship of specks and logs, of good trees and bad trees, of shaky and strong foundations. How will your life be different because you came to worship today?
Prayer Response
We pray that our gratitude may be as great as the world's need.
Charge to the Congregation
From a magazine for people who work for the state in job placement: I invite you, on this day, to mend a quarrel, dismiss a suspicion and replace it with trust, examine your demands on others and vow to reduce or eliminate them, tell someone you love him or her. Tell them again, and again, and again.
Hymn of Commitment
"My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less," Edward Mote, c. 1834; William Batchelder Bradbury, 1863.
Meditation
Looking at, understanding, and taking charge of our own lives, releases us from trying to live other people's lives; it is essential that we run out of scapegoats; because, after all, we control nothing, except ourselves.
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Epiphany hymns (list in the bulletin the ones you have sung and learned this Epiphany season); or, "Two Chorales," Buxtehude.
Response to the Prayer of Praise: (Adult Choir) "Psalm Fantasia," Pachelbel.
Offertory: "Rejoice My Soul," Brahms.
Hymn of Commitment: "O Sing a New Song to the Lord," Charles H. Gabriel (1856-1932); alt.; Percy C. Buck, 1918.
Music for Dismissal: Medley of Epiphany hymns. (Ask the congregation to remain and to explore the season of Epiphany, what they learned about new hymns, about themselves, and about their stars.)
Gospel: Luke 6:39-49
Theme: Toothpicks and Logs; Good and Evil; Strong and Weak Foundations. Which image do you fit?
The Gathering
Choral Invitation
"Welcome Song," Paul Graham. (See Epiphany 5.)
Pastoral Invitation
Pastor and Ministers
In the name of God the Creator, God the Liberator, God the Sustainer, God the Energizer, take a deep breath and prepare yourselves for another bumpy ride. Keep in mind that God rides with us no matter how bumpy the going. So, rejoice in this worship for the opportunity to grow in grace and works. And now, hear and respond in this declaration of joy:
P: Fellow adventurers in the new life in Christ, we belong to each other, and with each other! Christ has made us a new breed of humanity, filled us with his Spirit, and released us to be persons for others. We praise him for this fellowship in which we have learned to love him, ourselves, one another, and the world. And we have learned, are learning, to be his justice-seekers in a world which too often ignores justice-issues.
M: We are new men and women, boys and girls, through the Christ. As transformed, renewed, released people, we worship with adoration and praise.
P: The living Christ is here! Our communion is with him, and through his love and justice, with each other, and with a world which desperately needs our care, concern, compassion. I invite us to open ourselves to him, to each other, and to the world. In Christ's name, greet those around you.
Hymn of Praise
"O Praise the Gracious Power," Thomas H. Troeger, 1984; Carol Doran, 1984.
Prayer of Praise
(If you have invited the people to read today's Scripture before coming to worship, you may want to begin this way:) Lord, despite your presence with us, we come with fear and trembling about your expectations for us. We wonder how we can possibly live up to your word. It seems impossible. We continue because of the promise of your presence and power, because your desire to heal us is greater than our desire to be healed. Thank you.
The Introspection
Introduction to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
Some people say that they enjoy reading the Scriptures. I keep wondering which parts they enjoy. I wonder if they include the first third of today's lesson. (Have someone read verses Luke 6:39-42 from the floor of the sanctuary. Practice ahead of time with the person; have the person read it from the pew, slowly and deliberately; practice with him or her. Consider reading it from the Cotton Patch Version. Before the person reads the passage, ask the congregation to listen carefully and to write down their thoughts. After the reading, give two minutes of silence. Following the silence, ask:) Is anyone willing to share? (Wait.) Why does the church spend so much time and energy making value judgments about the sexual sins, and little time and energy on the sin of hypocrisy? (Silence.) Write down your response.
Response
"Christ Has Called Us to New Visions," Jane Parker Huber, 1981; traditional Dutch Melody, from Joy In Singing. (See Appendix I for address.)
Introduction to the Act of Receiving New Life
Pastor and Ministers
In a Christian Century article (September 10-17, 1997), Peter Storey tells of a police officer who masterminded the butchering of a number of families in an attack on a rural village, who stood and faced his victims. "I can never undo what I have done. I have no right to ask your forgiveness, but I ask that you will allow me to spend my life helping you to rebuild your village and put your lives together." We can do nothing about the specks we have pointed out up to this moment. We can, from this moment, clear out the logjams in our own lives first. So, in Christ, we learn to relate differently to each other.
M: Despite our sin, and because of our repentance, our rethinking life, we are worthwhile persons. It is good to be who we are.
P: I invite us to eliminate the logs, in order to find new ways to love each other.
M: That's a deal! We will do just that, beginning now!
Response
"Here, O My Lord, I See Thee (You) Face to Face," stanzas 1 and 4 only, unless you are also serving communion. Horatius Bonar, 1855; Frederick C. Atkinson, 1870.
The Teaching
Message with the Children of All Ages
Use verses 43-45. Bring a tree which has its proper fruit. And then, add by tying on some weed or thorn which does not belong. Tie this in with the kinds of things we listen to and often mimic. Tony Compolo reports that the president of MTV was asked if he believed that MTV influences children and young people. "No," he replied, "we own them."
Prayer
Focus on the necessity of hearing good news instead of trash. (Steve Allen and the Parents' Television Council have begun a petition about how you and I can stop television from leading children down a moral sewer. Address: P. T. C., Dept. 41, 600 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90017.)
Reading from the Scripture
Focus on verses 46-49. Build the message around weak and strong foundations. We do know the difference; and waiting until we're "old" to begin building a strong one holds no water. Now is the hour. One way we can strengthen each other is to use our time together to share the good news, instead of the latest athletic event, the weather, making value judgments about others, playing emotional games, name your own.
Response
(Adult Choir) "Hymn of Wisdom," Eugene Butler.
The Dedication
Stewardship Challenge
Consider your stewardship of specks and logs, of good trees and bad trees, of shaky and strong foundations. How will your life be different because you came to worship today?
Prayer Response
We pray that our gratitude may be as great as the world's need.
Charge to the Congregation
From a magazine for people who work for the state in job placement: I invite you, on this day, to mend a quarrel, dismiss a suspicion and replace it with trust, examine your demands on others and vow to reduce or eliminate them, tell someone you love him or her. Tell them again, and again, and again.
Hymn of Commitment
"My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less," Edward Mote, c. 1834; William Batchelder Bradbury, 1863.
Meditation
Looking at, understanding, and taking charge of our own lives, releases us from trying to live other people's lives; it is essential that we run out of scapegoats; because, after all, we control nothing, except ourselves.
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Epiphany hymns (list in the bulletin the ones you have sung and learned this Epiphany season); or, "Two Chorales," Buxtehude.
Response to the Prayer of Praise: (Adult Choir) "Psalm Fantasia," Pachelbel.
Offertory: "Rejoice My Soul," Brahms.
Hymn of Commitment: "O Sing a New Song to the Lord," Charles H. Gabriel (1856-1932); alt.; Percy C. Buck, 1918.
Music for Dismissal: Medley of Epiphany hymns. (Ask the congregation to remain and to explore the season of Epiphany, what they learned about new hymns, about themselves, and about their stars.)
