The Laborers in the Vineyard
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle A Gospel Texts
Remembering Whose We Are
Invitation to the Celebration
Begin with words similar to those: Who are you? Who am I? Who are we in relation to God and each other? We are many things. We have many differences. Some of us are "big shots"Êin the world's eyes; some of us are "small shots." In the eyes of God, we are all on the same level, absolutely dependent on the grace and mercy and justice of God. As Sheldon Kopp says in his book, If You Meet the Buddha on the Road, Kill Him, "No one is any stronger or any weaker than anyone else."
Response
Have the choir chant its response, while the congregation speaks its response. (Choir - C; People - P)
C: Come, come with open hearts and minds.
P: O Lord, we come.
C: Come into community, communion with one another, and with God.
P: O Lord, we come, we come.
C: Come then, awake, awake hearts and hopes waiting.
P: O Lord, we come, we come, we come.
C: Come to meet the reality of today and the vision of tomorrow.
P: O Lord, we come, we come, we come, we come. We are here!
Prayer of Praise
Incorporate these ideas: Eternal Christ, who has called your church into being to witness to your reconciling power, we thank you, and rejoice in you for this high calling. O God, we pray for a continuous reawakening and renewal among your people. We pray for a new recognition of the presence of your Spirit which will gird us for the task. We pray for our acceptance of the power of your Spirit which will make us bold without our being obnoxious.
Hymn of Praise
"God Created Heaven and Earth" (Taiwanese hymn, Pi-po melody; trans. Boris and Clare Anderson, 1981; harm. I-to Loh, 1963; rev. 1982).
Facing Up To Ourselves
Introduction to Our Brokenness
Some questions to consider: "Lord, do I try to do your will, and end up trying your patience? If so, how? (Pause.) Do I make promises I know that I will not keep? Name a few. (Pause.) Does the conflict between what I say and what I do startle you but not me? How? (Pause.) Do I envy those who have more than I, and lord it over those who have less? In what ways?" Invite the people to repeat this prayer after you: "Lord, help me, (your name) to prepare a place for you, before tempting you to think twice before preparing a place for me." (Two minutes of silence.)
Response
"Look All Around You" (words and music by John Fischer, from the recording Cold Cathedral, copyright 1969 by F.E.L. Publishing, Ltd.; found in New Wine, editors, Jim Strathdee and Nelson Stringer. See address in Appendix I). As people sing, have them look around at each other; and have them ask, "Whom do I envy and whom do I not envy -- and why?"
The Act of Receiving Forgiveness
Robert West has said that "nothing is easier than faultfinding; no talent, no self-denial, no brain, no character are required to set up in the grumbling business." In the eyes of God, we are all on the same level. Our danger is to think that those who commit the more obvious sins are greater sinners than we are. Our greatest sin, of course, is to think that we do not need forgiveness for our spiritual sins.
P: In Christ we are willing to admit our humanity.
M: There is no need for us to hide. We can be ourselves.
P: Our lives have been accepted. We have been set free.
M: We give thanks now, and live now.
Looking Out To Others
Message with the Children of All Ages
Focus on the theme of envy. Do you wish you were someone else? Do you wish that you had what others have? Some steal to get what they want. Some of us "grouse around" for what we do not have. Who needs the greatest forgiveness?
Reading from the Newer Covenant
With the children present, act out the text between Jesus and the laborers. Update the unfair labor practices in a contemporary setting.
Proclamation of the Good News
Title the sermon "It's Not Fair!" Life is not fair. Who said it would be? Really? Who did? It wasn't fair that Jesus died at age 33. Cancer, heart attacks, disease aren't fair either. If we're in it for the reward, then our reward is only the hope of getting a reward. If we're in it for the joy of serving, that joy is our reward.
Remembering Our Reason For Being The Church
Stewardship Challenge
We can give in three ways: Grudge giving, duty giving, thanks giving. Which of these, do you think, avoids envy?
Acting On Our Faith
Charge to the Congregation
Seniority doesn't mean diddly in the eyes and in the response of God to us. Our reward will be, not according to our length of service, or notoriety of service, or popularity of service, but only according to God's grace, and our response to it (WHK).
Response
"The Strife Is O'er," insists God. (From anonymous Latin text, music by James Minchin; found in New Wine.) After singing, say, "God has won the victory; God calls us to celebrate the victory. We can give up our envy."
Meditation
Socrates called envy "the ulcer of the soul." Have we experienced it gnawing within us? If so, then we need to integrate what Epictetus said: "Fortify yourself with contentment, for this is an impregnable fortress."
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: "Let Us With a Gladsome Mind," from Psalm 136; John Milton, 1623, alt.
Hymn of Praise: "God Is Our Strong Salvation," from Psalm 27, James Montgomery, para. 1822; alt., 1972.
Response to the Newer Covenant: Could also be used for the offertory. "What Shall I Render to the Lord?" from Psalm 116; The Psalter, 1912.
Response to the Proclamation: "Jesus, Lover of My Soul," Charles Wesley.
Music for Dismissal: "There's a Wideness in God's Mercy," Frederick Faber, 1854.
Invitation to the Celebration
Begin with words similar to those: Who are you? Who am I? Who are we in relation to God and each other? We are many things. We have many differences. Some of us are "big shots"Êin the world's eyes; some of us are "small shots." In the eyes of God, we are all on the same level, absolutely dependent on the grace and mercy and justice of God. As Sheldon Kopp says in his book, If You Meet the Buddha on the Road, Kill Him, "No one is any stronger or any weaker than anyone else."
Response
Have the choir chant its response, while the congregation speaks its response. (Choir - C; People - P)
C: Come, come with open hearts and minds.
P: O Lord, we come.
C: Come into community, communion with one another, and with God.
P: O Lord, we come, we come.
C: Come then, awake, awake hearts and hopes waiting.
P: O Lord, we come, we come, we come.
C: Come to meet the reality of today and the vision of tomorrow.
P: O Lord, we come, we come, we come, we come. We are here!
Prayer of Praise
Incorporate these ideas: Eternal Christ, who has called your church into being to witness to your reconciling power, we thank you, and rejoice in you for this high calling. O God, we pray for a continuous reawakening and renewal among your people. We pray for a new recognition of the presence of your Spirit which will gird us for the task. We pray for our acceptance of the power of your Spirit which will make us bold without our being obnoxious.
Hymn of Praise
"God Created Heaven and Earth" (Taiwanese hymn, Pi-po melody; trans. Boris and Clare Anderson, 1981; harm. I-to Loh, 1963; rev. 1982).
Facing Up To Ourselves
Introduction to Our Brokenness
Some questions to consider: "Lord, do I try to do your will, and end up trying your patience? If so, how? (Pause.) Do I make promises I know that I will not keep? Name a few. (Pause.) Does the conflict between what I say and what I do startle you but not me? How? (Pause.) Do I envy those who have more than I, and lord it over those who have less? In what ways?" Invite the people to repeat this prayer after you: "Lord, help me, (your name) to prepare a place for you, before tempting you to think twice before preparing a place for me." (Two minutes of silence.)
Response
"Look All Around You" (words and music by John Fischer, from the recording Cold Cathedral, copyright 1969 by F.E.L. Publishing, Ltd.; found in New Wine, editors, Jim Strathdee and Nelson Stringer. See address in Appendix I). As people sing, have them look around at each other; and have them ask, "Whom do I envy and whom do I not envy -- and why?"
The Act of Receiving Forgiveness
Robert West has said that "nothing is easier than faultfinding; no talent, no self-denial, no brain, no character are required to set up in the grumbling business." In the eyes of God, we are all on the same level. Our danger is to think that those who commit the more obvious sins are greater sinners than we are. Our greatest sin, of course, is to think that we do not need forgiveness for our spiritual sins.
P: In Christ we are willing to admit our humanity.
M: There is no need for us to hide. We can be ourselves.
P: Our lives have been accepted. We have been set free.
M: We give thanks now, and live now.
Looking Out To Others
Message with the Children of All Ages
Focus on the theme of envy. Do you wish you were someone else? Do you wish that you had what others have? Some steal to get what they want. Some of us "grouse around" for what we do not have. Who needs the greatest forgiveness?
Reading from the Newer Covenant
With the children present, act out the text between Jesus and the laborers. Update the unfair labor practices in a contemporary setting.
Proclamation of the Good News
Title the sermon "It's Not Fair!" Life is not fair. Who said it would be? Really? Who did? It wasn't fair that Jesus died at age 33. Cancer, heart attacks, disease aren't fair either. If we're in it for the reward, then our reward is only the hope of getting a reward. If we're in it for the joy of serving, that joy is our reward.
Remembering Our Reason For Being The Church
Stewardship Challenge
We can give in three ways: Grudge giving, duty giving, thanks giving. Which of these, do you think, avoids envy?
Acting On Our Faith
Charge to the Congregation
Seniority doesn't mean diddly in the eyes and in the response of God to us. Our reward will be, not according to our length of service, or notoriety of service, or popularity of service, but only according to God's grace, and our response to it (WHK).
Response
"The Strife Is O'er," insists God. (From anonymous Latin text, music by James Minchin; found in New Wine.) After singing, say, "God has won the victory; God calls us to celebrate the victory. We can give up our envy."
Meditation
Socrates called envy "the ulcer of the soul." Have we experienced it gnawing within us? If so, then we need to integrate what Epictetus said: "Fortify yourself with contentment, for this is an impregnable fortress."
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: "Let Us With a Gladsome Mind," from Psalm 136; John Milton, 1623, alt.
Hymn of Praise: "God Is Our Strong Salvation," from Psalm 27, James Montgomery, para. 1822; alt., 1972.
Response to the Newer Covenant: Could also be used for the offertory. "What Shall I Render to the Lord?" from Psalm 116; The Psalter, 1912.
Response to the Proclamation: "Jesus, Lover of My Soul," Charles Wesley.
Music for Dismissal: "There's a Wideness in God's Mercy," Frederick Faber, 1854.
