Lent 1
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle C Gospel Texts
Liturgical Color: Purple
Gospel: Luke 4:1-13
Theme: The Temptation of Jesus. How do you go about keeping your priorities straight?
Praise Of God
Pastoral and Choral Invitation
Good morning, Church! Welcome to God's world! Welcome to Lent, the season of renewal. Where do you want to be by Easter in your journey with God? We begin where Jesus began. (Have a soloist sing stanza one of "Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley." Then, silence for one minute.) Once again, where do you want to be in your journey when Easter arrives? (Soloist sings stanza two, while the congregation hums. Then, for stanza three, everyone sings; change "you" to "I." Then, sing stanza three again, changing "I" to "we" because while we face the cross as an individual, we also face it together. Silence for one minute.) How will you, how will we, allow God's Spirit to lead us into greater truth and commitment in the name of the Living Christ? (One minute of silence.)
Hymn of Praise
Introduce the hymn with words similar to these: Renewal keys the season of Lent. This hymn begins to prepare us for this season. Rejoice. "O Sing to the Lord," Brazilian folk song; trans. Gerhard Cartford, b. 1923.
Prayer of Praise
Pastor and Ministers
P: The Lord be with you as we begin the Lenten season.
M: And also with you, pastor. We welcome this season of renewal.
P: Praise the living Lord!
M: We do praise the living Lord!
All: Loving and Holy God, you have expressed your love for us by the gift of Jesus the Christ. We thank you for inviting us to express our love to you this worship hour, so that we will live out your justice beyond this hour. We thank you for the power of the cross in our lives. By your Spirit, cause us to take up our crosses daily, and follow him who gave his life, that we will be free from subtle and manipulative I-centeredness and broken relationships.
Forgiveness From God
Introduction to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
In the midst of a struggle, we know what to do, and then decide to go ahead and do it, and then, knowing that it was wrong, offer the following or similar excuses, rationalizations, or justifications: "Hey, I'm only human ... It just happened ... I couldn't help myself." (Two minutes of silence.) Did we wrestle with the decision, or did we throw the match? Someone has said that "opportunity knocks. Temptation kicks the door down." If we gave in to the temptation, how was our conscience and behavior from then on? (Two minutes of silence.)
Prayer of Confession
Holy God of love, it's the knowledge of our potential, not just our problems, which brings us to confession today. We wonder what people who view our actions think about the new life in Christ that we talk about. We have spent more time playing games, knowing exactly what we are doing, than we do seeking your will. We have exhausted more energy on our fears of being caught, than in creative fear of being unfaithful to your infinite source of truth and meaning, packaged in your unpredictable possibilities. Lord, forgive us for what we have been, change what we are, and give us the power to be satisfied with nothing less than what you intend us to be.
Choral Response
"O Lamb of God Most Holy," Nikolaus Decius, 1541; trans. Arthur Tozer Russell, 1806-1874.
Introduction to the Act of Receiving New Life
Charlene Anderson has written, "By your choice, Lord, I am an invention of your fingers ... something picked up and created by you to enjoy. But I ran as I wished, seeking pleasure on my own. You waited, knowing I must give up sometime, and I did. Now, Lord, fashion me once again after yourself ... melt my love into yours, so what I become will be your exquisite possession." And someone else has written, "When you flee temptation, be sure you don't leave a forwarding address." God wishes us new life whenever we want it. Receive the good news and rejoice, because we have listed, and listened to, our rationalizations, justifications, and excuses long enough. For those who take God's promises seriously, in the name of Jesus the Christ, I declare your forgiveness for every sin up to this moment.
Congregational Response
Christ, we thank you for your promise. We believe you. And now, we are better equipped to live honest and wholesome lives, because we have stopped playing the deadly games which keep us from you and each other and our best selves.
Response
"Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days," Claudia F. I. Hernaman, 1873; alt.; Day's Psalter, 1562.
Instruction About God
Message with the Children of All Ages
Have you ever done something that you knew was wrong, and you did it anyway? I did. And, if you tell me one of yours, I'll tell you one of mine. (Wait to see; you may want to be very selective about one of yours.) After you did it, what did you think? How did you feel? (Help them to identify their thoughts and feelings.) Did you know that Jesus was tempted or tested in every way that you and I are tempted or tested? (Talk about what that means.) He never gave in. We know that we do give in; and then, we try to hide our actions from our parents, friends, and so on. Jesus will forgive us, if we want his forgiveness.
Dramatizing the Scripture
Make this a dialogue between "Jesus" and "Satan." Have them dressed in everyday attire, and put the biblical words into their own language and experience.
Proclamation of the Good News
(1) You may want to help the congregation wrestle with the question: Was Jesus unable to sin, or was he able not to sin? (2) Temptation is not an accurate translation. A better translation is "testing." These testings of Jesus, as well as our own, are not meant to make us sin, but to enable us to conquer sin; not to weaken, but to strengthen us; not the penalty of being a person, but the glory of being a person. (3) Notice, in the Gospels, that Jesus' testing came immediately after his baptism; a high was followed by a low. The testing came as an inner struggle, not from what he could visually see. The testing was not once and for all time, but a daily, lifelong battle. The testing came at a point of his, and our, greatest strength, not at our greatest weakness. (4) You may want to title the sermon, "Keeping Priorities Straight."
Response
"Christ, of Human Life the Model," Jane Parker Huber, 1981; Ludwig van Beethoven, 1824; arr. by Edward Hodges, 1796-1867.
Dedication To God
Stewardship Challenge
Do excuses, justifications, rationalizations infect our giving? How? If so, what will you do about it as the offering plate and pledge cards come your way each week, each year?
Prayer Response
We wonder, Lord, if these gifts represent what we really think about you and your world. Whatever our motives for giving, receive our gifts, and us, by your grace, and use them in your power.
Charge to the Congregation
How will you respond to the temptations to, the testings of, power, prestige, and popularity which Jesus faced?
Hymn of Obedience
Again, use "Lonesome Valley." The instrumentalists will play it through once. The soloist will sing stanza one, and then will sing stanza two, using "you." The people will sing stanza three using "I." The musicians will play it as people leave.
Meditation
"Take this rule -- whatever impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes the relish off spiritual things, that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself" (Susannah Wesley, to her son, John).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Lenten hymns.
Response to the Prayer of Praise: "Praise the Lord," Marjorie Jillson, 1970; Heinz Werner Zimmermann, 1970.
Response to the Assurance of Pardon: "Let All That You Do," words and music by Gary Hasson, 1973; Folk Encounter. (See Appendix I for address.)
Response to the Scripture: "You Are the Lord, Giver of Mercy," based on an Appalachian folk melody, 1970, 1972.
Offertory: "Cantilene," Stravinsky.
Music for Dismissal: Medley of Lenten hymns.
Gospel: Luke 4:1-13
Theme: The Temptation of Jesus. How do you go about keeping your priorities straight?
Praise Of God
Pastoral and Choral Invitation
Good morning, Church! Welcome to God's world! Welcome to Lent, the season of renewal. Where do you want to be by Easter in your journey with God? We begin where Jesus began. (Have a soloist sing stanza one of "Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley." Then, silence for one minute.) Once again, where do you want to be in your journey when Easter arrives? (Soloist sings stanza two, while the congregation hums. Then, for stanza three, everyone sings; change "you" to "I." Then, sing stanza three again, changing "I" to "we" because while we face the cross as an individual, we also face it together. Silence for one minute.) How will you, how will we, allow God's Spirit to lead us into greater truth and commitment in the name of the Living Christ? (One minute of silence.)
Hymn of Praise
Introduce the hymn with words similar to these: Renewal keys the season of Lent. This hymn begins to prepare us for this season. Rejoice. "O Sing to the Lord," Brazilian folk song; trans. Gerhard Cartford, b. 1923.
Prayer of Praise
Pastor and Ministers
P: The Lord be with you as we begin the Lenten season.
M: And also with you, pastor. We welcome this season of renewal.
P: Praise the living Lord!
M: We do praise the living Lord!
All: Loving and Holy God, you have expressed your love for us by the gift of Jesus the Christ. We thank you for inviting us to express our love to you this worship hour, so that we will live out your justice beyond this hour. We thank you for the power of the cross in our lives. By your Spirit, cause us to take up our crosses daily, and follow him who gave his life, that we will be free from subtle and manipulative I-centeredness and broken relationships.
Forgiveness From God
Introduction to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
In the midst of a struggle, we know what to do, and then decide to go ahead and do it, and then, knowing that it was wrong, offer the following or similar excuses, rationalizations, or justifications: "Hey, I'm only human ... It just happened ... I couldn't help myself." (Two minutes of silence.) Did we wrestle with the decision, or did we throw the match? Someone has said that "opportunity knocks. Temptation kicks the door down." If we gave in to the temptation, how was our conscience and behavior from then on? (Two minutes of silence.)
Prayer of Confession
Holy God of love, it's the knowledge of our potential, not just our problems, which brings us to confession today. We wonder what people who view our actions think about the new life in Christ that we talk about. We have spent more time playing games, knowing exactly what we are doing, than we do seeking your will. We have exhausted more energy on our fears of being caught, than in creative fear of being unfaithful to your infinite source of truth and meaning, packaged in your unpredictable possibilities. Lord, forgive us for what we have been, change what we are, and give us the power to be satisfied with nothing less than what you intend us to be.
Choral Response
"O Lamb of God Most Holy," Nikolaus Decius, 1541; trans. Arthur Tozer Russell, 1806-1874.
Introduction to the Act of Receiving New Life
Charlene Anderson has written, "By your choice, Lord, I am an invention of your fingers ... something picked up and created by you to enjoy. But I ran as I wished, seeking pleasure on my own. You waited, knowing I must give up sometime, and I did. Now, Lord, fashion me once again after yourself ... melt my love into yours, so what I become will be your exquisite possession." And someone else has written, "When you flee temptation, be sure you don't leave a forwarding address." God wishes us new life whenever we want it. Receive the good news and rejoice, because we have listed, and listened to, our rationalizations, justifications, and excuses long enough. For those who take God's promises seriously, in the name of Jesus the Christ, I declare your forgiveness for every sin up to this moment.
Congregational Response
Christ, we thank you for your promise. We believe you. And now, we are better equipped to live honest and wholesome lives, because we have stopped playing the deadly games which keep us from you and each other and our best selves.
Response
"Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days," Claudia F. I. Hernaman, 1873; alt.; Day's Psalter, 1562.
Instruction About God
Message with the Children of All Ages
Have you ever done something that you knew was wrong, and you did it anyway? I did. And, if you tell me one of yours, I'll tell you one of mine. (Wait to see; you may want to be very selective about one of yours.) After you did it, what did you think? How did you feel? (Help them to identify their thoughts and feelings.) Did you know that Jesus was tempted or tested in every way that you and I are tempted or tested? (Talk about what that means.) He never gave in. We know that we do give in; and then, we try to hide our actions from our parents, friends, and so on. Jesus will forgive us, if we want his forgiveness.
Dramatizing the Scripture
Make this a dialogue between "Jesus" and "Satan." Have them dressed in everyday attire, and put the biblical words into their own language and experience.
Proclamation of the Good News
(1) You may want to help the congregation wrestle with the question: Was Jesus unable to sin, or was he able not to sin? (2) Temptation is not an accurate translation. A better translation is "testing." These testings of Jesus, as well as our own, are not meant to make us sin, but to enable us to conquer sin; not to weaken, but to strengthen us; not the penalty of being a person, but the glory of being a person. (3) Notice, in the Gospels, that Jesus' testing came immediately after his baptism; a high was followed by a low. The testing came as an inner struggle, not from what he could visually see. The testing was not once and for all time, but a daily, lifelong battle. The testing came at a point of his, and our, greatest strength, not at our greatest weakness. (4) You may want to title the sermon, "Keeping Priorities Straight."
Response
"Christ, of Human Life the Model," Jane Parker Huber, 1981; Ludwig van Beethoven, 1824; arr. by Edward Hodges, 1796-1867.
Dedication To God
Stewardship Challenge
Do excuses, justifications, rationalizations infect our giving? How? If so, what will you do about it as the offering plate and pledge cards come your way each week, each year?
Prayer Response
We wonder, Lord, if these gifts represent what we really think about you and your world. Whatever our motives for giving, receive our gifts, and us, by your grace, and use them in your power.
Charge to the Congregation
How will you respond to the temptations to, the testings of, power, prestige, and popularity which Jesus faced?
Hymn of Obedience
Again, use "Lonesome Valley." The instrumentalists will play it through once. The soloist will sing stanza one, and then will sing stanza two, using "you." The people will sing stanza three using "I." The musicians will play it as people leave.
Meditation
"Take this rule -- whatever impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes the relish off spiritual things, that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself" (Susannah Wesley, to her son, John).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Lenten hymns.
Response to the Prayer of Praise: "Praise the Lord," Marjorie Jillson, 1970; Heinz Werner Zimmermann, 1970.
Response to the Assurance of Pardon: "Let All That You Do," words and music by Gary Hasson, 1973; Folk Encounter. (See Appendix I for address.)
Response to the Scripture: "You Are the Lord, Giver of Mercy," based on an Appalachian folk melody, 1970, 1972.
Offertory: "Cantilene," Stravinsky.
Music for Dismissal: Medley of Lenten hymns.
