Jesus deals with the question of divorce
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Planning Ideas And Resources For The Entire Church Year
Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration
One pastor did this:
We're here to cheer for God and to give thanks to God for the opportunities and responsibilities that God has given to us. So, as we begin, I invite us to translate the word "Alleluia" to "Hip-hip-hurray!" Let's try it out. (Use it in several ways.) Now, I invite us to speak our own litany; everyone is encouraged to participate; as for example, "thanks for ice cream and hot dogs. Hip-hip-hurray! Thanks for kites and going fishing. Hip-hip-hurray! Thanks for learning and using our learning to serve others. Hip-hip-hurray! Thanks for books to read and pencils to write. Hip-hip-hurray!" Invent your own as you continue.
The Act of Recognizing our Humanness and The Act of Receiving New Life
Try this:
Do we recognize how easily we get sidetracked from our commitment to Christ, how easily we major on minors, how easily we put last things first and the first last? I invite us to sing the response to each of my statements:
Pastor:
The cross is then and now. If it were not then, it cannot be now. And if it is not now a reality in our lives, what it was then is denied as its liberating power in our lives.
Ministers: Sing stanza one of "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross."
Pastor:
I invite us to confess the ways we crucify Christ anew in our lives by rejecting his love, resisting his guidance, refusing to love others as God loves us, and tolerating the same injustices which hung him on the cross.
Ministers: Sing stanza two of "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross."
Pastor:
I invite us to confess the faithless familiarity with which we related to the cross and miss the liberating power of forgiveness for ourselves, and through us to others.
Ministers: Sing stanza three of "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross."
Pastor:
What are the patterns of our corporate life, our community customs, our prejudiced preconceptions, our limited idea of life in the family, which entomb the dynamic of Christ in our lives now?
Ministers: Sing stanza four of "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross."
(silence)
resource unknown
Perhaps you will want to conclude with a prayer of pardon.
Message with the Children of All Ages
Consider this:
Use a picture of the "Laughing Christ." CCS Pub. House, 19W311 Butterfield Rd., Downers Grove, Ill. 60515 has one. Jesus enjoyed children; he had time for children; he laughed with children. Jesus got angry with the disciples because they wanted to get on "with more important" things. Again, however, Jesus used as his model of the kingdom the children. Jesus touched them in loving, not harmful, ways. We do need to be careful about how we touch each other.
Proclamation of the Word
Consider this:
You may want to tackle the issue of divorce, or the Pharisees' attempt to trap Jesus around that issue; or you may want to focus on Jesus' model of the child for the kingdom.
Here are some suggestions:
1. "The basic word the church must say to the man-woman relationship is this: the war between the sexes is over. The peace was declared in Golgotha. Reconciliation between man and woman is accomplished in Jesus Christ; the hostility had ended.... When the church decides to be serious about the man-woman relationship, it will have to abandon advice-giving."
Louise Orr, from an article in Trends, January 1969
2. "The most important ingredient necessary to have a healthy marriage: choose the right parents, parents who have a loving relationship. By far the most important ingredient in a child's maturity is the casual conversation that goes on in the home." Archbishop Temple
quoted by renowned marriage counselor, David Mace.
(source unknown)
3. If you focus on the child as model, you may want to title the sermon, "Away with the Children! " and talk about how the disciples wanted Jesus to get on with more important matters, and how we do the same. Within the church's life, we even refer, unfortunately, to the church of the future, instead of the present. And most of the membership would rather do anything than teach the children; especially true of men. Discuss how we prevent the children from coming.
Stewardship Challenge
Suggestion:
Stewardship of baptism. You may want to read the baptismal vows to the congregation, and define what they mean according to your denomination's understanding. I wonder how many ever hear and integrate their responsibility to lead and to teach children, and indeed, each other to grow in grace.
Charge to the Congregation
Suggestion:
All worship requires a response, or it is not worship. How will you respond to the celebration today? Build the challenge around words similar to these: A wise sage once said, "Don't look before you leap; if you do, you will decide to sit down." Throughout our history, we find too much calculated, skeptical looking, and far too little courageous, sanctified leaping. What will your leap look like this week?
Planning for Your Congregation
Suggestions
Your Situation
I. Other Scriptures
Liturgist:
Psalm 128
Genesis 2:18-24
Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:9-18
II. Suggested Hymns
Coordinator:
"Praise to the Lord, the Almighty"
Joachim Neander, 1680 Trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1863; alt.
"God of Our Life, Through All the Circling Years"
Hugh T. Kerr, 1916; alt., 1928, 1972
"Christ, of All My Hopes the Ground"
Ralph Wardlaw, 1817
"Jesus, Friend, So Kind and Gentle"
Philip E. Gregory, 1948
III. Other Music Possibilities
Organist/Choir director:
Music for Preparation
from "St. Matthew Passion" Bach
Act of Confession and Pardon
"When I Survey and Wondrous Cross"
Isaac Watts, 1707, 1709
Response to the Children's Message Youth Choir or Congregation
"Come As A Child"
Richard Avery and Don Marsh from The Avery and Marsh Songbook Proclamation Productions, Inc.
Orange Square, Port Jervis, N.Y. 12771
Response to the Scripture Adult Choir
"O Lord, Thou Hast Searched Me" Eugene Butler
Response to the Stewardship Challenge
"Before the Cross" Dupre
Music for Dismissal
One of the hymn suggestions not used.
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:
We're here to cheer for God and to give thanks to God for the opportunities and responsibilities that God has given to us. So, as we begin, I invite us to translate the word "Alleluia" to "Hip-hip-hurray!" Let's try it out. (Use it in several ways.) Now, I invite us to speak our own litany; everyone is encouraged to participate; as for example, "thanks for ice cream and hot dogs. Hip-hip-hurray! Thanks for kites and going fishing. Hip-hip-hurray! Thanks for learning and using our learning to serve others. Hip-hip-hurray! Thanks for books to read and pencils to write. Hip-hip-hurray!" Invent your own as you continue.
The Act of Recognizing our Humanness and The Act of Receiving New Life
Try this:
Do we recognize how easily we get sidetracked from our commitment to Christ, how easily we major on minors, how easily we put last things first and the first last? I invite us to sing the response to each of my statements:
Pastor:
The cross is then and now. If it were not then, it cannot be now. And if it is not now a reality in our lives, what it was then is denied as its liberating power in our lives.
Ministers: Sing stanza one of "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross."
Pastor:
I invite us to confess the ways we crucify Christ anew in our lives by rejecting his love, resisting his guidance, refusing to love others as God loves us, and tolerating the same injustices which hung him on the cross.
Ministers: Sing stanza two of "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross."
Pastor:
I invite us to confess the faithless familiarity with which we related to the cross and miss the liberating power of forgiveness for ourselves, and through us to others.
Ministers: Sing stanza three of "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross."
Pastor:
What are the patterns of our corporate life, our community customs, our prejudiced preconceptions, our limited idea of life in the family, which entomb the dynamic of Christ in our lives now?
Ministers: Sing stanza four of "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross."
(silence)
resource unknown
Perhaps you will want to conclude with a prayer of pardon.
Message with the Children of All Ages
Consider this:
Use a picture of the "Laughing Christ." CCS Pub. House, 19W311 Butterfield Rd., Downers Grove, Ill. 60515 has one. Jesus enjoyed children; he had time for children; he laughed with children. Jesus got angry with the disciples because they wanted to get on "with more important" things. Again, however, Jesus used as his model of the kingdom the children. Jesus touched them in loving, not harmful, ways. We do need to be careful about how we touch each other.
Proclamation of the Word
Consider this:
You may want to tackle the issue of divorce, or the Pharisees' attempt to trap Jesus around that issue; or you may want to focus on Jesus' model of the child for the kingdom.
Here are some suggestions:
1. "The basic word the church must say to the man-woman relationship is this: the war between the sexes is over. The peace was declared in Golgotha. Reconciliation between man and woman is accomplished in Jesus Christ; the hostility had ended.... When the church decides to be serious about the man-woman relationship, it will have to abandon advice-giving."
Louise Orr, from an article in Trends, January 1969
2. "The most important ingredient necessary to have a healthy marriage: choose the right parents, parents who have a loving relationship. By far the most important ingredient in a child's maturity is the casual conversation that goes on in the home." Archbishop Temple
quoted by renowned marriage counselor, David Mace.
(source unknown)
3. If you focus on the child as model, you may want to title the sermon, "Away with the Children! " and talk about how the disciples wanted Jesus to get on with more important matters, and how we do the same. Within the church's life, we even refer, unfortunately, to the church of the future, instead of the present. And most of the membership would rather do anything than teach the children; especially true of men. Discuss how we prevent the children from coming.
Stewardship Challenge
Suggestion:
Stewardship of baptism. You may want to read the baptismal vows to the congregation, and define what they mean according to your denomination's understanding. I wonder how many ever hear and integrate their responsibility to lead and to teach children, and indeed, each other to grow in grace.
Charge to the Congregation
Suggestion:
All worship requires a response, or it is not worship. How will you respond to the celebration today? Build the challenge around words similar to these: A wise sage once said, "Don't look before you leap; if you do, you will decide to sit down." Throughout our history, we find too much calculated, skeptical looking, and far too little courageous, sanctified leaping. What will your leap look like this week?
Planning for Your Congregation
Suggestions
Your Situation
I. Other Scriptures
Liturgist:
Psalm 128
Genesis 2:18-24
Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:9-18
II. Suggested Hymns
Coordinator:
"Praise to the Lord, the Almighty"
Joachim Neander, 1680 Trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1863; alt.
"God of Our Life, Through All the Circling Years"
Hugh T. Kerr, 1916; alt., 1928, 1972
"Christ, of All My Hopes the Ground"
Ralph Wardlaw, 1817
"Jesus, Friend, So Kind and Gentle"
Philip E. Gregory, 1948
III. Other Music Possibilities
Organist/Choir director:
Music for Preparation
from "St. Matthew Passion" Bach
Act of Confession and Pardon
"When I Survey and Wondrous Cross"
Isaac Watts, 1707, 1709
Response to the Children's Message Youth Choir or Congregation
"Come As A Child"
Richard Avery and Don Marsh from The Avery and Marsh Songbook Proclamation Productions, Inc.
Orange Square, Port Jervis, N.Y. 12771
Response to the Scripture Adult Choir
"O Lord, Thou Hast Searched Me" Eugene Butler
Response to the Stewardship Challenge
"Before the Cross" Dupre
Music for Dismissal
One of the hymn suggestions not used.
IV. Bulletin Cover
Church secretary:
V. Bulletin Symbols
VI. Miscellaneous Details (Assignments:)
Ushers
Candlelighters
Hosts/Hostesses
Banners
Flowers
Greeters
Posters
Name-tags
Others
