Jesus Prays for His Disciples, Then, and Now
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle B
An Invitation To The Easter Celebration
Pastoral Invitation (Pastor and Ministers)
In the name of the One who prayed for, and continues to pray for, his disciples, welcome to this last Sunday in Easter. I invite us to take one minute of silence to recall what we have learned this Easter season, and to recount new acts of obedience. Write them down; let them guide you as, next week, we move into the Season of Pentecost.
P: The call of Christ is no easy one.
M: We know that it is an invitation of self-giving.
P: It requires hard work in the face of disappointment.
M: We know that it means going on when it seems that everyone else has given up.
P: We can know that, no matter what, Jesus who prayed for his disciples continues to pray for us through the pleasure and the pain. Therefore, we need to support and encourage each other.
M: Because of Jesus' prayer, we offer this support and encouragement as we celebrate the life of faith together. So be it!
Hymn of Praise
"People, Clap Your Hands," para. Joy F. Patterson, 1989; Genevan Psalter, 1551; harm. Claude Goudimel, 1564. Include all of your musical instruments; encourage the people to clap.
Prayer of Praise
Keep on reminding the people that Christ continues to pray for us. Ask if any of them would be willing to offer a praise word or sentence. Some of them may say to themselves, "But I can't pray." This often means, "I won't pray." Offer this idea, suggested by former Sister Corita: Repeat the letters of the alphabet, and let God arrange them into the appropriate words of the prayer. Do this either silently or verbally.
Taking Responsibility For Ourselves
Introduction to the Act of Confession
It is strange that in much of our praying, we seldom ask for a change of character, our own, that is, only for a change of circumstances. We may play "if, and if only" games. "If only he/she would change, my life would be great." Consider, silently, the content of our prayers of confession. (One minute of silence.)
Unison Prayer of Confession
(Pray only that part of the prayer that you are willing to believe and obey.) Lord of all time and space, Lord of our generation, Lord of our society, Lord of our personal lives, we confess our slowness to bathe ourselves in your prayer. You have called us to use our minds to discover the mind of Christ, yet we are lethargic. We have so many problems and ambiguities. We spend so much of our time in denial. Thanks for your reminders of your presence and power. You seek to challenge our thinking; and yet, we long to find some neat phrase or pattern to escape being thoughtful Christians. Awake us to the exciting adventure of hearing your prayer on our behalf, and receiving guidance from you. By your Spirit, help us break out of uncreative patterns of preconception and prejudice. Release us from the unexamined life which no longer seeks to learn and to love. Motivated by your prayer and love, create in us the desire to know your perspective in our lives. Forgive us, Lord, for our reluctance to think. (Ask the people to reread the prayer in silence.)
Response
A contemporary version of "Lord, Have Mercy."
Introduction to the Act of Taking Responsibility (Pastor and Ministers)
E. Stanley Jones once said, "Be careful how you pray; you may be the answer." Someone else reminds us, "Pray as if everything depended on God; work as if everything depended on you." In the light of Jesus' prayer, if we are one of his disciples, we do not ask for everything and everything; we sort out the necessities from the luxuries. (Two minutes of silence.)
P: This statement is completely reliable and should be universally accepted: Christ Jesus entered the world to rescue sinners. If a person is in Christ, that person becomes a new person altogether -- the past is finished and gone! Everything has become fresh and new.
M: "Into My Heart," words and music by Harry D. Clarke, from Let the People Sing. (See Appendix I for address.)
The Teaching
Message with the Children of All Ages
Did you know that Jesus prays for us? That's his promise in today's scripture. Identify some of the content of Jesus' prayer. So, whenever we feel glad or sad, we can know that Jesus continues to pray for us. During the week, write down the things that you pray for. How do your prayers fit into the prayers of Jesus?
Praying the Gospel Lesson
With the children still present, have someone pray the prayer that Jesus offered on behalf of his disciples.
Proclamation of the Good News
Identify the reasons for Jesus' prayer, the purpose of his prayer, and the anticipated results of his prayer.
Being Responsible In The World
Stewardship Challenge
Do not expect a 1,000-dollar answer to a 10-cent prayer.
The Scattering
Charge to the Congregation
"There is really no such thing as a person who prays, but only a person of prayer" (Geoffrey Knowlton). Therefore, consider throwing away your devotional books. Develop a life of devotion, rather than a devotional life.
Hymn of Commitment
"Your Faithfulness, O Lord, Is Sure," para. Joy F. Patterson, 1989; harm. William Henry Monk, 1847; alt.
Meditation
Jesus calls us friend, and prays for us. There is no greater intimacy with another than that which is built up by holding that person in prayer. Unfortunately, as someone has said, "Some people pray like a jackrabbit eating cabbage," instead of realizing that "prayer is the oxygen of our spiritual lungs."
Note
Sometime during worship, invite the people, in preparation for Pentecost, to wear red. In addition plan to decorate the sanctuary in red, using lots of balloons and the symbols of WIND and FIRE. Hit Pentecost hard: It's the only church holy day ignored by the mass media. Emphasize: Without Pentecost, no Easter.
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Easter or Prayer hymns; or, "Before Thy Throne," J. S. Bach.
Hymn of Praise: "Sing to the Lord of Harvest," John S. B. Monsell, 1866; alt.; or, "We Greet You, Sure Redeemer from All Strife," attr. to John Calvin, 1545; trans. by Elizabeth L. Smith, 1868; alt.
Response to the Message with Children: "Beyond a Dream," words and music by David Yantis, from New Wine. (See Appendix I for address.)
Response to the Scripture: "Blessed Are You," Emma Lou Diemer.
Response to the Proclamation: "Rise Up, Children,"Êby Jim Strathdee; from New Wine. (See Appendix I for address.)
Response to the Stewardship Challenge: "Agnus Dei," by Couperin; or, "Pastorale," by McKay.
Hymn of Commitment: "God of the Ages, Whose Almighty Hand,"ÊDaniel Crane Roberts, 1876; alt.; George William Warren, 1892.
Music for Dismissal: Medley of Easter or Prayer hymns. Ask the people to stay and discuss what has happened to them during the Easter season in regard to their faith.
Pastoral Invitation (Pastor and Ministers)
In the name of the One who prayed for, and continues to pray for, his disciples, welcome to this last Sunday in Easter. I invite us to take one minute of silence to recall what we have learned this Easter season, and to recount new acts of obedience. Write them down; let them guide you as, next week, we move into the Season of Pentecost.
P: The call of Christ is no easy one.
M: We know that it is an invitation of self-giving.
P: It requires hard work in the face of disappointment.
M: We know that it means going on when it seems that everyone else has given up.
P: We can know that, no matter what, Jesus who prayed for his disciples continues to pray for us through the pleasure and the pain. Therefore, we need to support and encourage each other.
M: Because of Jesus' prayer, we offer this support and encouragement as we celebrate the life of faith together. So be it!
Hymn of Praise
"People, Clap Your Hands," para. Joy F. Patterson, 1989; Genevan Psalter, 1551; harm. Claude Goudimel, 1564. Include all of your musical instruments; encourage the people to clap.
Prayer of Praise
Keep on reminding the people that Christ continues to pray for us. Ask if any of them would be willing to offer a praise word or sentence. Some of them may say to themselves, "But I can't pray." This often means, "I won't pray." Offer this idea, suggested by former Sister Corita: Repeat the letters of the alphabet, and let God arrange them into the appropriate words of the prayer. Do this either silently or verbally.
Taking Responsibility For Ourselves
Introduction to the Act of Confession
It is strange that in much of our praying, we seldom ask for a change of character, our own, that is, only for a change of circumstances. We may play "if, and if only" games. "If only he/she would change, my life would be great." Consider, silently, the content of our prayers of confession. (One minute of silence.)
Unison Prayer of Confession
(Pray only that part of the prayer that you are willing to believe and obey.) Lord of all time and space, Lord of our generation, Lord of our society, Lord of our personal lives, we confess our slowness to bathe ourselves in your prayer. You have called us to use our minds to discover the mind of Christ, yet we are lethargic. We have so many problems and ambiguities. We spend so much of our time in denial. Thanks for your reminders of your presence and power. You seek to challenge our thinking; and yet, we long to find some neat phrase or pattern to escape being thoughtful Christians. Awake us to the exciting adventure of hearing your prayer on our behalf, and receiving guidance from you. By your Spirit, help us break out of uncreative patterns of preconception and prejudice. Release us from the unexamined life which no longer seeks to learn and to love. Motivated by your prayer and love, create in us the desire to know your perspective in our lives. Forgive us, Lord, for our reluctance to think. (Ask the people to reread the prayer in silence.)
Response
A contemporary version of "Lord, Have Mercy."
Introduction to the Act of Taking Responsibility (Pastor and Ministers)
E. Stanley Jones once said, "Be careful how you pray; you may be the answer." Someone else reminds us, "Pray as if everything depended on God; work as if everything depended on you." In the light of Jesus' prayer, if we are one of his disciples, we do not ask for everything and everything; we sort out the necessities from the luxuries. (Two minutes of silence.)
P: This statement is completely reliable and should be universally accepted: Christ Jesus entered the world to rescue sinners. If a person is in Christ, that person becomes a new person altogether -- the past is finished and gone! Everything has become fresh and new.
M: "Into My Heart," words and music by Harry D. Clarke, from Let the People Sing. (See Appendix I for address.)
The Teaching
Message with the Children of All Ages
Did you know that Jesus prays for us? That's his promise in today's scripture. Identify some of the content of Jesus' prayer. So, whenever we feel glad or sad, we can know that Jesus continues to pray for us. During the week, write down the things that you pray for. How do your prayers fit into the prayers of Jesus?
Praying the Gospel Lesson
With the children still present, have someone pray the prayer that Jesus offered on behalf of his disciples.
Proclamation of the Good News
Identify the reasons for Jesus' prayer, the purpose of his prayer, and the anticipated results of his prayer.
Being Responsible In The World
Stewardship Challenge
Do not expect a 1,000-dollar answer to a 10-cent prayer.
The Scattering
Charge to the Congregation
"There is really no such thing as a person who prays, but only a person of prayer" (Geoffrey Knowlton). Therefore, consider throwing away your devotional books. Develop a life of devotion, rather than a devotional life.
Hymn of Commitment
"Your Faithfulness, O Lord, Is Sure," para. Joy F. Patterson, 1989; harm. William Henry Monk, 1847; alt.
Meditation
Jesus calls us friend, and prays for us. There is no greater intimacy with another than that which is built up by holding that person in prayer. Unfortunately, as someone has said, "Some people pray like a jackrabbit eating cabbage," instead of realizing that "prayer is the oxygen of our spiritual lungs."
Note
Sometime during worship, invite the people, in preparation for Pentecost, to wear red. In addition plan to decorate the sanctuary in red, using lots of balloons and the symbols of WIND and FIRE. Hit Pentecost hard: It's the only church holy day ignored by the mass media. Emphasize: Without Pentecost, no Easter.
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Easter or Prayer hymns; or, "Before Thy Throne," J. S. Bach.
Hymn of Praise: "Sing to the Lord of Harvest," John S. B. Monsell, 1866; alt.; or, "We Greet You, Sure Redeemer from All Strife," attr. to John Calvin, 1545; trans. by Elizabeth L. Smith, 1868; alt.
Response to the Message with Children: "Beyond a Dream," words and music by David Yantis, from New Wine. (See Appendix I for address.)
Response to the Scripture: "Blessed Are You," Emma Lou Diemer.
Response to the Proclamation: "Rise Up, Children,"Êby Jim Strathdee; from New Wine. (See Appendix I for address.)
Response to the Stewardship Challenge: "Agnus Dei," by Couperin; or, "Pastorale," by McKay.
Hymn of Commitment: "God of the Ages, Whose Almighty Hand,"ÊDaniel Crane Roberts, 1876; alt.; George William Warren, 1892.
Music for Dismissal: Medley of Easter or Prayer hymns. Ask the people to stay and discuss what has happened to them during the Easter season in regard to their faith.
