Lazarus' Death and Resurrection
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle A Gospel Texts
The Community Gathers
Invitation to the Celebration
In the name of the Christ who approaches the Cross, welcome to the fifth Sunday in Lent, the season of renewal. What new or renewed insights have you received this Lenten season? How have those insights influenced your behavior? Would anyone care to respond? You may want to ask two or three persons before worship if they would be willing to share during the worship.
P: The Call of Christ is no easy one, even though we want to make it easy.
M: It is an invitation to self-giving and sacrificial giving.
P: It requires hard work in the face of disappointments and disillusion.
M: It means going on when, seemingly, everyone else has given up.
P: We will need to support each other if we are to follow Christ.
M: We offer our support to each other as we celebrate life together.
Response
"Help Us to Accept Each Other" (words by Fred Kaan, music by Jim Strathdee, from Singing the Lord's Song, distributed by Discipleship Resources, P. O. Box 189, 1908 Grand Avenue, Nashville, TN 37202).
Prayer of Praise
Merciful and Holy God, to whom all generations have turned for help, look upon us with your Maternal and Paternal compassion. Grant that your presence may come upon us, and your love surround us, this Lenten season. Keep on making yourself known to us, in whatever way necessary for us to pay attention to your presence. Grant that we will spend our time in the
light of your presence, even when it seems that we prefer the darkness; so that we may see anew that the Good News is good news, for our health and not our destruction. Indeed!
Hymn of Praise
"Blessed Jesus, at Your Word" (Tobias Clausnitzer, 1663; Johann Rudolph Ahle, 1664; trans. Catherine Winkworth, 1858; alt. 1972; harm. Johann Sebastian Bach, 1658-1750, alt.).
The Community Takes Responsibility For Itself
The Act of Recognizing Our Humanity (Pastor and Ministers)
"What counts is change, so I struggle so hard to stay the same" (from On Dusting the Wind, David P. Young). We say that we want Christ to change us; yet we prefer to run our own lives. As we enter into the confession, review that remark in regard to our own decisions.
P: Almighty God, you alone are good and holy. Purify our lives and make us brave disciples. We ask, not for you to keep us safe, but keep us loyal; so we may serve the Christ, who, though tempted in every way as we are, remained faithful to you.
M: Make it so, Lord.
P: From cowardice that dares not face truth; from laziness content with half-truth; from arrogance that thinks it knows it all;
M: O God, deliver us.
P: From artificial life and worship, from all that is hollow or insincere;
M: O God, deliver us.
P: From cynicism about others; from intolerance and cruel indifference;
M: O God, deliver us.
P: From being satisfied with things as they are, as the church or in the world; from failing to share your indignation;
M: O God, deliver us.
P: For everything in us that may hide your light;
M: O God, light of life, forgive us, and show us how to forgive each other.
The Act of Receiving New Life
The choir will sing the antiphon; the congregation will speak the responses as follows:
Choir: The living Christ works in our hearts. Through us, with us, he saves. (The choir will write its own tune to those words.)
Congregation:
1: Knowledge opens our hearts to you; show us the secret to your love.
2: Absorbed in you, we find ourselves; we now accept your plans for us.
3: The seeds have been planted by you; make them grow, working in us.
4: May our community sprout with your love; let it open that love to the world.
5: Guide our hands as we reach to help; be with us as we are with others.
6: Make us, Christ, extensions of you, as we think your thoughts, say your words.
The Community Responds To God's Truth
Message with the Children of All Ages and the Reading of the Newer Covenant
Again, this Scripture provides an excellent opportunity for a drama. By now, perhaps, you have several people interested in forming a drama group. At the end of the drama, you may want to point out the humanity of Jesus, his weeping. Someone has said that "tears represent the purest form of prayer."
Proclamation of the Good News
You may want to emphasize the following: Show why Abraham, Esau, Joseph, King Hezekiah, Peter, Paul all wept. Paul said, "Out of such affliction and anguish of heart, and with many tears, I wrote to you...." Yes, boys and men do cry, and for good reason. In tears, we find our true humanity.
Stewardship Challenge
How would you describe the stewardship of your tears? Over what do we weep? The death of 40,000 children each day? Poverty in Third World countries? Alcohol and drug-related deaths? Pentagon overkill? Greedy politicians? Millionaire CEOs? Before receiving the offering, ask the congregation what they cry about.
Charge to the Congregation
Tears represent love, and love is not weak but strong. In tears, we discover our humanity. Ecclesiastes tells us, "There is a time to weep and a time to laugh." Unless we know how to weep, we will never know how to laugh in healthy ways. Jesus knew how to do both. He accepted his humanity, with all of its emotions. He invites us to live our humanity to its fullest.
Meditation
"Tears are the substance that heals wounds that are too deep for hands and words to touch" (author unknown).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Lenten hymns, or "Therefore, So Great a Sacrament," Bedell.
Choral Introit: "The Lord Is King," Conder.
Hymn of Praise: "Whate'er Our God Ordains Is Right," Samuel Rodigast, 1674; Catherine Winkworth, trans. 1858, 1863; alt., 1972.
Response to the Reading of the Newer Covenant: "When Jesus Wept," William Billings, 1770; as in New England Psalm Singer, 1770.
Response to the Prayer after the Proclamation: "Hear Our Prayer, O, Lord," George Whelpton, 1897.
Offertory: "But the Lord Is Mindful of His Own," Mendelssohn.
Hymn of Commitment: "Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life," Frank Mason North (hymn for the second half of Lent).
Music for Dismissal: Medley of Lenten hymns, or "Postlude," J. Cramer; or, "Lord, from the Depths to You I Cry," para. in the Scottish Psalter, 1650 alt.
Invitation to the Celebration
In the name of the Christ who approaches the Cross, welcome to the fifth Sunday in Lent, the season of renewal. What new or renewed insights have you received this Lenten season? How have those insights influenced your behavior? Would anyone care to respond? You may want to ask two or three persons before worship if they would be willing to share during the worship.
P: The Call of Christ is no easy one, even though we want to make it easy.
M: It is an invitation to self-giving and sacrificial giving.
P: It requires hard work in the face of disappointments and disillusion.
M: It means going on when, seemingly, everyone else has given up.
P: We will need to support each other if we are to follow Christ.
M: We offer our support to each other as we celebrate life together.
Response
"Help Us to Accept Each Other" (words by Fred Kaan, music by Jim Strathdee, from Singing the Lord's Song, distributed by Discipleship Resources, P. O. Box 189, 1908 Grand Avenue, Nashville, TN 37202).
Prayer of Praise
Merciful and Holy God, to whom all generations have turned for help, look upon us with your Maternal and Paternal compassion. Grant that your presence may come upon us, and your love surround us, this Lenten season. Keep on making yourself known to us, in whatever way necessary for us to pay attention to your presence. Grant that we will spend our time in the
light of your presence, even when it seems that we prefer the darkness; so that we may see anew that the Good News is good news, for our health and not our destruction. Indeed!
Hymn of Praise
"Blessed Jesus, at Your Word" (Tobias Clausnitzer, 1663; Johann Rudolph Ahle, 1664; trans. Catherine Winkworth, 1858; alt. 1972; harm. Johann Sebastian Bach, 1658-1750, alt.).
The Community Takes Responsibility For Itself
The Act of Recognizing Our Humanity (Pastor and Ministers)
"What counts is change, so I struggle so hard to stay the same" (from On Dusting the Wind, David P. Young). We say that we want Christ to change us; yet we prefer to run our own lives. As we enter into the confession, review that remark in regard to our own decisions.
P: Almighty God, you alone are good and holy. Purify our lives and make us brave disciples. We ask, not for you to keep us safe, but keep us loyal; so we may serve the Christ, who, though tempted in every way as we are, remained faithful to you.
M: Make it so, Lord.
P: From cowardice that dares not face truth; from laziness content with half-truth; from arrogance that thinks it knows it all;
M: O God, deliver us.
P: From artificial life and worship, from all that is hollow or insincere;
M: O God, deliver us.
P: From cynicism about others; from intolerance and cruel indifference;
M: O God, deliver us.
P: From being satisfied with things as they are, as the church or in the world; from failing to share your indignation;
M: O God, deliver us.
P: For everything in us that may hide your light;
M: O God, light of life, forgive us, and show us how to forgive each other.
The Act of Receiving New Life
The choir will sing the antiphon; the congregation will speak the responses as follows:
Choir: The living Christ works in our hearts. Through us, with us, he saves. (The choir will write its own tune to those words.)
Congregation:
1: Knowledge opens our hearts to you; show us the secret to your love.
2: Absorbed in you, we find ourselves; we now accept your plans for us.
3: The seeds have been planted by you; make them grow, working in us.
4: May our community sprout with your love; let it open that love to the world.
5: Guide our hands as we reach to help; be with us as we are with others.
6: Make us, Christ, extensions of you, as we think your thoughts, say your words.
The Community Responds To God's Truth
Message with the Children of All Ages and the Reading of the Newer Covenant
Again, this Scripture provides an excellent opportunity for a drama. By now, perhaps, you have several people interested in forming a drama group. At the end of the drama, you may want to point out the humanity of Jesus, his weeping. Someone has said that "tears represent the purest form of prayer."
Proclamation of the Good News
You may want to emphasize the following: Show why Abraham, Esau, Joseph, King Hezekiah, Peter, Paul all wept. Paul said, "Out of such affliction and anguish of heart, and with many tears, I wrote to you...." Yes, boys and men do cry, and for good reason. In tears, we find our true humanity.
Stewardship Challenge
How would you describe the stewardship of your tears? Over what do we weep? The death of 40,000 children each day? Poverty in Third World countries? Alcohol and drug-related deaths? Pentagon overkill? Greedy politicians? Millionaire CEOs? Before receiving the offering, ask the congregation what they cry about.
Charge to the Congregation
Tears represent love, and love is not weak but strong. In tears, we discover our humanity. Ecclesiastes tells us, "There is a time to weep and a time to laugh." Unless we know how to weep, we will never know how to laugh in healthy ways. Jesus knew how to do both. He accepted his humanity, with all of its emotions. He invites us to live our humanity to its fullest.
Meditation
"Tears are the substance that heals wounds that are too deep for hands and words to touch" (author unknown).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Lenten hymns, or "Therefore, So Great a Sacrament," Bedell.
Choral Introit: "The Lord Is King," Conder.
Hymn of Praise: "Whate'er Our God Ordains Is Right," Samuel Rodigast, 1674; Catherine Winkworth, trans. 1858, 1863; alt., 1972.
Response to the Reading of the Newer Covenant: "When Jesus Wept," William Billings, 1770; as in New England Psalm Singer, 1770.
Response to the Prayer after the Proclamation: "Hear Our Prayer, O, Lord," George Whelpton, 1897.
Offertory: "But the Lord Is Mindful of His Own," Mendelssohn.
Hymn of Commitment: "Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life," Frank Mason North (hymn for the second half of Lent).
Music for Dismissal: Medley of Lenten hymns, or "Postlude," J. Cramer; or, "Lord, from the Depths to You I Cry," para. in the Scottish Psalter, 1650 alt.
