Jesus' invitation to the disciples to leave the crowd and to rest
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Planning Ideas And Resources For The Entire Church Year
Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration
Suggestion:
Begin, what do you expect to happen today? God promises that if we expect little, we will receive little; if we expect much, we will receive much. The decision is in the eye of the beholder.
Continue with this litany:
Pastor: The call of Christ is not an easy one.
Ministers: It is an invitation to self-giving.
Pastor:
It requires hard work in the face of disappointment.
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 each other this support, along with our compassion, as we celebrate the life in Christ together.
The Act of Recognizing our Humanness and The Act of Receiving New Life
Consider this:
Elton Trueblood (source unknown) suggests that the Lord's Prayer sums up our need for continuous forgiveness, when he says that "there is one thing worse than the act of those who know not what they do. That is the act of those who know perfectly well what they are doing, and go ahead, regardless of the consequences to others." Think about specific instances in our life this past week in which we acted harshly and unkindly, toward family members, co-workers, fellow worshipers, knowing exactly what we were doing to maintain control and power.
Think about the Lord's Prayer, in which we pray to be forgiven as we forgive.
Continue with this printed prayer:
Gracious and Holy Lord, I have forgotten often what forgiveness means. I have been reluctant to respond to my neighbor's needs. I have talked behind people's backs when they could not defend themselves. I have held on selfishly to spiritual and material idols when I knew better. Forgive me again, Lord, Help me to see ajoyful tomorrow, where you and I and we will work together for this quality that we call compassion.
(silence)
Begin the assurance with this statement: If we believe that God has forgiven us, why, in God's Name, have we not forgiven ourselves? Phillips Brooks has said that "life is too short to be vengeful/malicious; life is too short to be petty/unkind."
Follow those remarks with this litany:
Pastor: The Word of Christ is Good News.
Ministers: God has received our humanity; we can be ourselves.
Pastor:
The past is forgiven, all of it; the future is open, all of it.
Ministers: We shall live with courage and with a deep compassion for people.
Pastor:
I invite us to give thanks and embrace our lives.
Ministers: Let's do! Amen! Let it be so!
Follow with a contemporary version of
"You are the Lord, Giver of Mercy."
Message with the Children of All Ages
Suggestion:
Invite the children to find, with you, a hidden place in the sanctuary. (You will need a microphone if you want all to hear.) Ahead of time, ask a couple of church members to bring a group of adults to that hiding place, as happened with Jesus and the disciples. And point out, that, even though they needed to rest, Jesus had compassion on the people. Define and illustrate compassion in children's language. (Empathy: feeling with and not feeling sorry for.)
Proclamation of the Word
Consider this:
The Dimensions of Compassion
I. What it isn't:
Feeling sorry for.
II. What it is:
Feeling with.
Maybe you will want to incorporate this story: A man once talked with his pastor about a fellow worker whose work had been shabby and sloppy for years. The pastor asked his parishioner if he'd ever prayed for the man. The church member responded, "Pray for him? I don't even like him." Two weeks later, the man called his pastor to say that he had prayed for, and written to, his fellow worker to tell him how he felt. He had written: "Some things have been happening to me in my church; and I'm sorry for the difficulty between us. I hope that we will bridge it. I have regard for you as a man and for your family. I have been praying for you; and I hope we can talk about this." His colleague responded, "I'm grateful that you care, and I want to know what's happening between you and your church. Let's meet for lunch." They did, several times. They decided to share their experience with others. They invited eight people to share their problems, and the meaning of their work, once a week.
Stewardship Challenge
Consider this:
The stewardship of compassion. Have you noticed how much easier it is for Us to be unkind than kind? I have a word for it, as I experience it in my congregation. I call it, "negative apathy," that is not only does the person do nothing he criticizes those who do something, and do it well. God forgives nail-prints, and asks us to forgive pin-pricks.
Charge to the Congregation
Consider this:
How will you alow the Spirit of God to change your lack of compassion into compassion? George Herbert once said that "the person who cannot (I say, will not) forgive breaks the bridge over which he must pass." Bishop Phillip Brooks has said that "the chief business of the Christian is the forgiveness of sins." And I add, to do so because Christ has shown, does show, and will keep on showing compassion to us.
Planning for Your Congregation
Suggestions
Your Situation
I. Other Scriptures
Liturgist:
Psalm 53
Psalm 23
2 Samuel 11:1-15
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Ephesians 2:11-22
II. Suggested Hymns
Coordinator:
"Come, You People, Rise and Sing"
Cyril A. Alington (1872-1955); alt., 1972
"The Lord's My Shepherd" Psalm 23;
Para. in the Scottish Psalter, 1650
"My Shepherd Will Supply My Need" Psalm 23;
Para. by Isaac Watts, 1719; alt., 1972
"Here, O Lord, Your Servants Gather"
Tokuo Yamaguchi, 1958 Para. by Everett M. Stowe, 1958; alt., 1972
"Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation"
Latin Hymn, 7th century
Trans. by John Mason Neale, 1851; alt., 1861, 1972
"Love Them Now" Dick Avery and Don Marsh
The Avery and Marsh Songbook Proclamation Productions, Inc. Orange Square, Port Jervis, New York 12771
III. Other Music Possibilities
Organist/Choir director:
Music for Preparation
"From God Shall Naught Divide Me" J.S. Bach
Response to the Children's Message
"Seek and You Shall Find" Kentucky-Tennessee Gospel Song from New Wine, United Methodist Church
Response to the Stewardship Challenge
"Offertory in E Flat" Dubois
Music for Dismissal
"They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love" Peter Scholtes
IV. Bulletin Cover
Church secretary:
V. Bulletin Symbols
VI. Miscellaneous Details (Assignments:)
Ushers
Candlelights
Hosts/Hostesses
Banners
Flowers
Greeters
Posters
Name-tags
Others
Suggestion:
Begin, what do you expect to happen today? God promises that if we expect little, we will receive little; if we expect much, we will receive much. The decision is in the eye of the beholder.
Continue with this litany:
Pastor: The call of Christ is not an easy one.
Ministers: It is an invitation to self-giving.
Pastor:
It requires hard work in the face of disappointment.
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 each other this support, along with our compassion, as we celebrate the life in Christ together.
The Act of Recognizing our Humanness and The Act of Receiving New Life
Consider this:
Elton Trueblood (source unknown) suggests that the Lord's Prayer sums up our need for continuous forgiveness, when he says that "there is one thing worse than the act of those who know not what they do. That is the act of those who know perfectly well what they are doing, and go ahead, regardless of the consequences to others." Think about specific instances in our life this past week in which we acted harshly and unkindly, toward family members, co-workers, fellow worshipers, knowing exactly what we were doing to maintain control and power.
Think about the Lord's Prayer, in which we pray to be forgiven as we forgive.
Continue with this printed prayer:
Gracious and Holy Lord, I have forgotten often what forgiveness means. I have been reluctant to respond to my neighbor's needs. I have talked behind people's backs when they could not defend themselves. I have held on selfishly to spiritual and material idols when I knew better. Forgive me again, Lord, Help me to see ajoyful tomorrow, where you and I and we will work together for this quality that we call compassion.
(silence)
Begin the assurance with this statement: If we believe that God has forgiven us, why, in God's Name, have we not forgiven ourselves? Phillips Brooks has said that "life is too short to be vengeful/malicious; life is too short to be petty/unkind."
Follow those remarks with this litany:
Pastor: The Word of Christ is Good News.
Ministers: God has received our humanity; we can be ourselves.
Pastor:
The past is forgiven, all of it; the future is open, all of it.
Ministers: We shall live with courage and with a deep compassion for people.
Pastor:
I invite us to give thanks and embrace our lives.
Ministers: Let's do! Amen! Let it be so!
Follow with a contemporary version of
"You are the Lord, Giver of Mercy."
Message with the Children of All Ages
Suggestion:
Invite the children to find, with you, a hidden place in the sanctuary. (You will need a microphone if you want all to hear.) Ahead of time, ask a couple of church members to bring a group of adults to that hiding place, as happened with Jesus and the disciples. And point out, that, even though they needed to rest, Jesus had compassion on the people. Define and illustrate compassion in children's language. (Empathy: feeling with and not feeling sorry for.)
Proclamation of the Word
Consider this:
The Dimensions of Compassion
I. What it isn't:
Feeling sorry for.
II. What it is:
Feeling with.
Maybe you will want to incorporate this story: A man once talked with his pastor about a fellow worker whose work had been shabby and sloppy for years. The pastor asked his parishioner if he'd ever prayed for the man. The church member responded, "Pray for him? I don't even like him." Two weeks later, the man called his pastor to say that he had prayed for, and written to, his fellow worker to tell him how he felt. He had written: "Some things have been happening to me in my church; and I'm sorry for the difficulty between us. I hope that we will bridge it. I have regard for you as a man and for your family. I have been praying for you; and I hope we can talk about this." His colleague responded, "I'm grateful that you care, and I want to know what's happening between you and your church. Let's meet for lunch." They did, several times. They decided to share their experience with others. They invited eight people to share their problems, and the meaning of their work, once a week.
Stewardship Challenge
Consider this:
The stewardship of compassion. Have you noticed how much easier it is for Us to be unkind than kind? I have a word for it, as I experience it in my congregation. I call it, "negative apathy," that is not only does the person do nothing he criticizes those who do something, and do it well. God forgives nail-prints, and asks us to forgive pin-pricks.
Charge to the Congregation
Consider this:
How will you alow the Spirit of God to change your lack of compassion into compassion? George Herbert once said that "the person who cannot (I say, will not) forgive breaks the bridge over which he must pass." Bishop Phillip Brooks has said that "the chief business of the Christian is the forgiveness of sins." And I add, to do so because Christ has shown, does show, and will keep on showing compassion to us.
Planning for Your Congregation
Suggestions
Your Situation
I. Other Scriptures
Liturgist:
Psalm 53
Psalm 23
2 Samuel 11:1-15
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Ephesians 2:11-22
II. Suggested Hymns
Coordinator:
"Come, You People, Rise and Sing"
Cyril A. Alington (1872-1955); alt., 1972
"The Lord's My Shepherd" Psalm 23;
Para. in the Scottish Psalter, 1650
"My Shepherd Will Supply My Need" Psalm 23;
Para. by Isaac Watts, 1719; alt., 1972
"Here, O Lord, Your Servants Gather"
Tokuo Yamaguchi, 1958 Para. by Everett M. Stowe, 1958; alt., 1972
"Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation"
Latin Hymn, 7th century
Trans. by John Mason Neale, 1851; alt., 1861, 1972
"Love Them Now" Dick Avery and Don Marsh
The Avery and Marsh Songbook Proclamation Productions, Inc. Orange Square, Port Jervis, New York 12771
III. Other Music Possibilities
Organist/Choir director:
Music for Preparation
"From God Shall Naught Divide Me" J.S. Bach
Response to the Children's Message
"Seek and You Shall Find" Kentucky-Tennessee Gospel Song from New Wine, United Methodist Church
Response to the Stewardship Challenge
"Offertory in E Flat" Dubois
Music for Dismissal
"They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love" Peter Scholtes
IV. Bulletin Cover
Church secretary:
V. Bulletin Symbols
VI. Miscellaneous Details (Assignments:)
Ushers
Candlelights
Hosts/Hostesses
Banners
Flowers
Greeters
Posters
Name-tags
Others
