The holiness and truth of God centered in the response of God's creation
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Planning Ideas And Resources For The Entire Church Year
Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration
One pastor did this:
(1) Begin with this statement: God has called us for a special purpose, to witness to Christ's resurrection, presence, truth in the world. I invite us to celebrate God in order to receive the strength and courage to witness to the good news.
(2) You may want to contine with this litany:
Pastor: We remember the good news of our liberation.
Ministers: Christ has declared our self-worth.
Pastor:
Christ has forgiven, accepted, received us.
Ministers: Christ has given the present new meaning; therefore, the future is full of new possibilities.
Pastor:
Because of Christ, we live fully and responsibly.
Ministers: Alleluia! Amen!
The Act of Recognizing our Humanness and The Act of Receiving New Life
Try this:
Introduce the confession with these, or similar, questions:
1. What causes our fears and loneliness?
2. Do we enjoy them because they give us something to think and talk about?
3. Why do we hang onto them, rather than letting God and others minister to those fears and loneliness.
(you may want to print these in the order of worship.)
For the prayer of confession, you may want to have a soloist sing "Eleanor Rigby," by Lennon and McCartney (Beatles), copyright 1966 Northern Songs, Lt., 71-75 New Oxford Street, W. C. 1, England. Or, "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll," by Bob Dylan.
(give three minutes of silence following the solo.)
Summarize this part of worship with a prayer which promises wholeness and healing for those who put their trust in the living God, who never fails.
Message with the Children of All Ages
Consider this:
Has anyone made you a promise, and then broken it? How did you feel about that? Give the children plenty of time and encouragement to respond. Then ask, did you ever make a promise, and then break it? How do you suppose the other person felt? Probably the same way you did. Jesus made us a promise in today's Scripture. And he never broke, he never breaks his promise. Spell it out a bit; and then, conclude with a prayer of thanks that Jesus does not break his promise to us.
Proclamation of the Word
Consider these ideas:
Topic:
Claiming our Wholeness.
Spend some time with the theme of promises, promises, promises!
1. Name means "power." To name Christ is to claim Christ.
2. Christ promises joy to his followers; yet, multitudes, even within the church, look for joy elsewhere. We substitute temporary happiness for eternal joy.
3. We are promised truth, God's truth. And, we need to go cautiously at this point. Think of the injustice perpetuated by those who claim to know God's truth; we have justified all kinds of seductive and des-tructive behavior in the Name of God.
Stewardship Challenge
Suggestion:
We claim to be Christ's people, and we are. We claim to believe in the Great Commission, and we do. Yet, how much do we believe? We believe only to the extent that we act. Figure out how much your congregation gives per member per day to the mission of Christ beyond the local congregation. Most will be astounded, and hopefully, ashamed; and hopefully, willing to do something about it.
After the offering, give this prayer: We have received the greatest gift in the world. Thank you, Lord. Grant that our response in thanks may exceed our speaking about thanks, for the sake of your world.
Charge to the Congregation
Suggestion:
Jesus promises the presence and power of Holy Spirit, no matter what we tackle in his name. So, I invite you/us to consider these two questions this week, in the Name of God the Parent, Child, Spirit:
1. If you had no fear of failure, what would you attempt for God?
2. If the renewal of the church had to start with you, where would you begin with yourself?
Planning for Your Congregation
Suggestions
Your Situation
I. Other Scriptures
Liturgist:
Psalm 1
Psalm 47
Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20
Acts 1:15-26
1 John 5:9-13
1 John 4:11-21
II. Suggested Hymns
Coordinator:
"Sing to the Lord of Harvest"
John S. B. Monsell, 1866; alt.
"We Greet You, Sure Redeemer from All Strife"
Attr. to John Calvin, 1545 Trans. by Elizabeth L. Smith, 1868; alt.
"God of Our Fathers (Mothers), Whose Almighty Hand"
Daniel C. Roberts, 1876
(a non-sexist version of his hymn has been written.)
III. Other Music Possibilities
Music for Preparation
Either, "Before Thy Throne" Bach
or Medley of Eastertide Hymns
(Last Sunday in Eastertide)
Response to the Word
"Blessed Are You" Emma Lou Diemer
Response to the Children's Message
"Beyond a Dream"
Words and Music by David Yantis from New Wine, United Methodist Church
Response to the Proclamation
"Rise Up, Children" Jim Strathdee
from New Wine
Response to the Stewardship Challenge
"Agnus Dei" by Couperin
or,
"Pastorale" by McKay
Music for Dismissal
Medley of Eastertide Hymns
IV. Bulletin Cover
Church secretary:
V. Bulletin Symbols
VI. Miscellaneous Details (Assignments:)
Ushers
Candlelighters
Hosts/Hostesses
Banners
Flowers
Greeters
Posters
Name-tags
Others
One pastor did this:
(1) Begin with this statement: God has called us for a special purpose, to witness to Christ's resurrection, presence, truth in the world. I invite us to celebrate God in order to receive the strength and courage to witness to the good news.
(2) You may want to contine with this litany:
Pastor: We remember the good news of our liberation.
Ministers: Christ has declared our self-worth.
Pastor:
Christ has forgiven, accepted, received us.
Ministers: Christ has given the present new meaning; therefore, the future is full of new possibilities.
Pastor:
Because of Christ, we live fully and responsibly.
Ministers: Alleluia! Amen!
The Act of Recognizing our Humanness and The Act of Receiving New Life
Try this:
Introduce the confession with these, or similar, questions:
1. What causes our fears and loneliness?
2. Do we enjoy them because they give us something to think and talk about?
3. Why do we hang onto them, rather than letting God and others minister to those fears and loneliness.
(you may want to print these in the order of worship.)
For the prayer of confession, you may want to have a soloist sing "Eleanor Rigby," by Lennon and McCartney (Beatles), copyright 1966 Northern Songs, Lt., 71-75 New Oxford Street, W. C. 1, England. Or, "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll," by Bob Dylan.
(give three minutes of silence following the solo.)
Summarize this part of worship with a prayer which promises wholeness and healing for those who put their trust in the living God, who never fails.
Message with the Children of All Ages
Consider this:
Has anyone made you a promise, and then broken it? How did you feel about that? Give the children plenty of time and encouragement to respond. Then ask, did you ever make a promise, and then break it? How do you suppose the other person felt? Probably the same way you did. Jesus made us a promise in today's Scripture. And he never broke, he never breaks his promise. Spell it out a bit; and then, conclude with a prayer of thanks that Jesus does not break his promise to us.
Proclamation of the Word
Consider these ideas:
Topic:
Claiming our Wholeness.
Spend some time with the theme of promises, promises, promises!
1. Name means "power." To name Christ is to claim Christ.
2. Christ promises joy to his followers; yet, multitudes, even within the church, look for joy elsewhere. We substitute temporary happiness for eternal joy.
3. We are promised truth, God's truth. And, we need to go cautiously at this point. Think of the injustice perpetuated by those who claim to know God's truth; we have justified all kinds of seductive and des-tructive behavior in the Name of God.
Stewardship Challenge
Suggestion:
We claim to be Christ's people, and we are. We claim to believe in the Great Commission, and we do. Yet, how much do we believe? We believe only to the extent that we act. Figure out how much your congregation gives per member per day to the mission of Christ beyond the local congregation. Most will be astounded, and hopefully, ashamed; and hopefully, willing to do something about it.
After the offering, give this prayer: We have received the greatest gift in the world. Thank you, Lord. Grant that our response in thanks may exceed our speaking about thanks, for the sake of your world.
Charge to the Congregation
Suggestion:
Jesus promises the presence and power of Holy Spirit, no matter what we tackle in his name. So, I invite you/us to consider these two questions this week, in the Name of God the Parent, Child, Spirit:
1. If you had no fear of failure, what would you attempt for God?
2. If the renewal of the church had to start with you, where would you begin with yourself?
Planning for Your Congregation
Suggestions
Your Situation
I. Other Scriptures
Liturgist:
Psalm 1
Psalm 47
Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20
Acts 1:15-26
1 John 5:9-13
1 John 4:11-21
II. Suggested Hymns
Coordinator:
"Sing to the Lord of Harvest"
John S. B. Monsell, 1866; alt.
"We Greet You, Sure Redeemer from All Strife"
Attr. to John Calvin, 1545 Trans. by Elizabeth L. Smith, 1868; alt.
"God of Our Fathers (Mothers), Whose Almighty Hand"
Daniel C. Roberts, 1876
(a non-sexist version of his hymn has been written.)
III. Other Music Possibilities
Music for Preparation
Either, "Before Thy Throne" Bach
or Medley of Eastertide Hymns
(Last Sunday in Eastertide)
Response to the Word
"Blessed Are You" Emma Lou Diemer
Response to the Children's Message
"Beyond a Dream"
Words and Music by David Yantis from New Wine, United Methodist Church
Response to the Proclamation
"Rise Up, Children" Jim Strathdee
from New Wine
Response to the Stewardship Challenge
"Agnus Dei" by Couperin
or,
"Pastorale" by McKay
Music for Dismissal
Medley of Eastertide Hymns
IV. Bulletin Cover
Church secretary:
V. Bulletin Symbols
VI. Miscellaneous Details (Assignments:)
Ushers
Candlelighters
Hosts/Hostesses
Banners
Flowers
Greeters
Posters
Name-tags
Others
