Jesus' confrontation with James and John about sharing power
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Planning Ideas And Resources For The Entire Church Year
Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration
One pastor did this:
How did we prepare ourselves to come to worship today - as a lord or as a servant? Think about this past week, those times when we "lorded" it over others, those times when we sought to serve others, not because we had to, but because we chose to. How we come will determine what we expect. What do we expect today: not much or a great deal? Somebody doing something for us, or our doing for others? Nurturing or rescuing? However we've come, expect some surprises from the Spirit of God; expect some surprises from today's Scriptures. Here is an initial clue for the day: Use this litany between pastor and ministers:
Pastor:
The call of Christ is not an easy one, even if we hope to make it easy.
Ministers: It is an invitation of self-giving, even though we make demands from God to receive.
Pastor:
It requires hard work in the face of disappointment and rejection, sometimes from our closest friends.
Ministers: It means going on when everyone else has given up.
Pastor:
We will need to support each other if we are to follow Christ.
Ministers: We offer such support to each other as we celebrate Christ's life together.
Pastor:
(Invite the people to offer this support verbally by reaching out to one another.)
The Act of Recognizing our Humanness and The Act of Receiving New Life
Suggestion:
Bill Moyers, in a television program titled, "Power of the Myth," said that the "world is full of people who have stopped listening to themselves." The Bible calls this sin. We have seen the power of that remark in regards to our body and health, as we continue to smoke, drink, take drugs, overeat, work ourselves into an early grave. James and John, in our text for today, had stopped listening to themselves; or they never would have asked the question they did. Augustine once said that "the goal of life is not to seek for security which will remain elusive if that's our goal. Our seeking of security only increases the insecurity we hope to avoid."
After a few moments of silence, have the congregation sing, "Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart," strongly and quietly, making this their prayer of pardon, thanksgiving, commitment. Continue to sit in silence a few moments after the hymn.
Message with the Children of All Ages
Try this:
(Keep encouraging the "older" children to come forward each week.) Prepare, ahead of time, two of the older children to be James and John; you be Jesus. Be certain to stress the right emotional responses from all three. After the drama, give Jesus' response about serving. Ask the children to give synonyms to describe serve. Then ask, how do they serve; how do others serve them?
Proclamation of the Word
Consider these ideas:
Topic:
Servant! Are You Kidding!
Introduce: Most of us would rather have servants than be servants.
I. Define servanthood.
A. Diakonos: One who waits on others.
B. Doulos: Latrine Keeper.
Some years ago, the Roman Catholics and Presbyterians developed a series to do television spots together. One of them shows a nun in a far country ministering to a dying black man. A voice says, "I wouldn't do that for a million dollars." The nun responds, "Neither would I."
II. Content of our service.
A. Inspired by the love of God, freely given.
B. Assured by the victory of God, freely given.
The Russian Pope, in "the Shoes ofthe Fisherman," responding to the world's needs, pledged to the world, the resources, the money, the wealth of the Vatican to feed the hungry.
Stewardship Challenge
Suggestion:
Stewardship of servanthood: we do not truly and truthfully trust God until we trust God with our money. If we give with strings attached, we're still trying to run the show.
Charge to the Congregation
Consider this:
Eugene Overton, in a book, Responsibility ofLeaders, publisher unknown, insists the caliber of a human is determined, not by the number of his servants, but by the number of people whom he serves. And Albert T. Rasmussen has said that "the great sin of the church is to be so interested in serving those within it that it cannot (I say, will not) serve the needs of those without." (source unknown)
Planning for Your Congregation
Suggestions
Your Situation
I. Other Scriptures
Liturgist:
Psalm 35:17-28
Psalm 91:9-16
Psalm 33:4-5, 18-20, 22
Isaiah 23:7-12
Isaiah 53:10-12
Hebrews 4:9-16
II. Suggested Hymns
Coordinator:
"Let Us With a Gladsome Mind"
Psalm 136:1, 2, 7, 25 Para. by John Milton, 1624; alt.
"Call Jehovah Your Salvation" Based on Psalm 91
James Montgomery, 1822; alt., 1972
"The Man Who Once Has Found Abode"
from Psalm 91 Para. in The Book ofPsalms, 1871; alt., 1972
"God's Word Is Like a Flaming Sword"
Carl Bernhard Garve, 1825 Trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1855; alt., 1972
"Our Faith Is in the Christ Who Walks with Men"
Thomas Curtis Clark (1877-1953)
III. Other Music Possibilities
Organist/Choir director:
Music for Preparation and Dismissal
Use hymns above not sung; indicate page numbers in the order of worship of people to follow.
Response to the Confession of Sin
"Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart" Attr. to George Croly, 1867
Response to the Prayer of Praise Adult Choir
"Let Us Sing to the Lord" Moyer (Psalm 95)
Response to the Stewardship Challenge
"A Prayer for the Innocent" McKay
Response to the Benediction
"Four-fold Amen" Choir and Congregation
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:
How did we prepare ourselves to come to worship today - as a lord or as a servant? Think about this past week, those times when we "lorded" it over others, those times when we sought to serve others, not because we had to, but because we chose to. How we come will determine what we expect. What do we expect today: not much or a great deal? Somebody doing something for us, or our doing for others? Nurturing or rescuing? However we've come, expect some surprises from the Spirit of God; expect some surprises from today's Scriptures. Here is an initial clue for the day: Use this litany between pastor and ministers:
Pastor:
The call of Christ is not an easy one, even if we hope to make it easy.
Ministers: It is an invitation of self-giving, even though we make demands from God to receive.
Pastor:
It requires hard work in the face of disappointment and rejection, sometimes from our closest friends.
Ministers: It means going on when everyone else has given up.
Pastor:
We will need to support each other if we are to follow Christ.
Ministers: We offer such support to each other as we celebrate Christ's life together.
Pastor:
(Invite the people to offer this support verbally by reaching out to one another.)
The Act of Recognizing our Humanness and The Act of Receiving New Life
Suggestion:
Bill Moyers, in a television program titled, "Power of the Myth," said that the "world is full of people who have stopped listening to themselves." The Bible calls this sin. We have seen the power of that remark in regards to our body and health, as we continue to smoke, drink, take drugs, overeat, work ourselves into an early grave. James and John, in our text for today, had stopped listening to themselves; or they never would have asked the question they did. Augustine once said that "the goal of life is not to seek for security which will remain elusive if that's our goal. Our seeking of security only increases the insecurity we hope to avoid."
After a few moments of silence, have the congregation sing, "Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart," strongly and quietly, making this their prayer of pardon, thanksgiving, commitment. Continue to sit in silence a few moments after the hymn.
Message with the Children of All Ages
Try this:
(Keep encouraging the "older" children to come forward each week.) Prepare, ahead of time, two of the older children to be James and John; you be Jesus. Be certain to stress the right emotional responses from all three. After the drama, give Jesus' response about serving. Ask the children to give synonyms to describe serve. Then ask, how do they serve; how do others serve them?
Proclamation of the Word
Consider these ideas:
Topic:
Servant! Are You Kidding!
Introduce: Most of us would rather have servants than be servants.
I. Define servanthood.
A. Diakonos: One who waits on others.
B. Doulos: Latrine Keeper.
Some years ago, the Roman Catholics and Presbyterians developed a series to do television spots together. One of them shows a nun in a far country ministering to a dying black man. A voice says, "I wouldn't do that for a million dollars." The nun responds, "Neither would I."
II. Content of our service.
A. Inspired by the love of God, freely given.
B. Assured by the victory of God, freely given.
The Russian Pope, in "the Shoes ofthe Fisherman," responding to the world's needs, pledged to the world, the resources, the money, the wealth of the Vatican to feed the hungry.
Stewardship Challenge
Suggestion:
Stewardship of servanthood: we do not truly and truthfully trust God until we trust God with our money. If we give with strings attached, we're still trying to run the show.
Charge to the Congregation
Consider this:
Eugene Overton, in a book, Responsibility ofLeaders, publisher unknown, insists the caliber of a human is determined, not by the number of his servants, but by the number of people whom he serves. And Albert T. Rasmussen has said that "the great sin of the church is to be so interested in serving those within it that it cannot (I say, will not) serve the needs of those without." (source unknown)
Planning for Your Congregation
Suggestions
Your Situation
I. Other Scriptures
Liturgist:
Psalm 35:17-28
Psalm 91:9-16
Psalm 33:4-5, 18-20, 22
Isaiah 23:7-12
Isaiah 53:10-12
Hebrews 4:9-16
II. Suggested Hymns
Coordinator:
"Let Us With a Gladsome Mind"
Psalm 136:1, 2, 7, 25 Para. by John Milton, 1624; alt.
"Call Jehovah Your Salvation" Based on Psalm 91
James Montgomery, 1822; alt., 1972
"The Man Who Once Has Found Abode"
from Psalm 91 Para. in The Book ofPsalms, 1871; alt., 1972
"God's Word Is Like a Flaming Sword"
Carl Bernhard Garve, 1825 Trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1855; alt., 1972
"Our Faith Is in the Christ Who Walks with Men"
Thomas Curtis Clark (1877-1953)
III. Other Music Possibilities
Organist/Choir director:
Music for Preparation and Dismissal
Use hymns above not sung; indicate page numbers in the order of worship of people to follow.
Response to the Confession of Sin
"Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart" Attr. to George Croly, 1867
Response to the Prayer of Praise Adult Choir
"Let Us Sing to the Lord" Moyer (Psalm 95)
Response to the Stewardship Challenge
"A Prayer for the Innocent" McKay
Response to the Benediction
"Four-fold Amen" Choir and Congregation
IV. Bulletin Cover
Church secretary:
V. Bulletin Symbols
VI. Miscellaneous Details (Assignments:)
Ushers
Candlelighters
Hosts/Hostesses
Banners
Flowers
Greeters
Posters
Name-tags
Others
