Lent 1
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook, Series IV, Cycle C
Soul Motion
Object:
You shall pass judgment on yourself. That is the hardest thing of all ...
If you succeed in judging yourself, it is because you are truly wise.
(The king on a planet to the prince)
-- Saint Exupery, The Little Prince
Call To Worship
Leader: You're here! Winter is upon us and things seem very still. But we know that dormancy hides the workings of life soon to erupt into spring! Six weeks of Epiphany and transfiguration are finished, and we find ourselves with ash smudges on our heads and hands.
(Candles can be lighted to count the Sundays until Easter.)
People: It surely does slow us down when we consider how our lives are spent and how we manifest God's loving presence! Taking seriously our own suffering and the pain of the world demands a lot of prayer and stillness.
Leader: During the silently lengthening days, we will accentuate the goodness that lies within us. We will promote awareness of Holy Presence, and we will modify our goals and values.
People: In the spring light, we will let go of old guilt and as Easter comes, we will relish new energies in nature and in our own psyches.
Leader: A Divine Message comes to us in the ancient story of Jesus of Nazareth: God is One who blesses each person who seeks.
People: We are searching to live in ways which satisfy us and serve the Holy One throughout every season of our lives.
Prayer Of Thanksgiving (Unison)
Living God -- for every goodness of every season of life, we are grateful. Thank you for being with us in times of disaster and violence, in times of upheaval and stillness. During these winter days leading to resurrection celebration, we stop our scurrying so we can be attentive to our mortality. Create in us a tip-toe breathlessness so we can take in your work. Our attention turns to you and we listen for your voice. Amen.
Call To Confession (Leader)
There are times in our lives when we struggle with what is good and what is evil. There are times when we are aimless and have difficulty balancing the goods of our culture with the truth of our own hearts. In these moments of silence, welcome the Spirit to put things in right order.
Community Confession (Unison)
Holy One -- our minds are open before you.
When temptations come -- for they surely will -- give us clarity about your will for our lives.
When idols sneak into our thoughts and activities, remind us not to toy with your grace and power.
Nurture our souls with words and silences, with relationships and fresh opportunities.
We walk the human path Jesus walked; grant us insight to be faithful. Amen.
Congregational Choral Response
Dear God And Father Of Mankind (v. 4)
Drop thy still dews of quietness Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress
And let our ordered lives confess The beauty of thy peace.
Sermon Idea
We know who our ancestors were and we know that some of them were not particularly nice. The patriarchal stories have plots, which have produced violence for women as well as for other groups. Land-grabbing and wars continue thousands of years later out of these ancient nomadic families. One bit of good news from Jesus is that we can stop replicating their plots and crimes. Harvest gifts to the temple nullified the suffering and hardship of survival. Perhaps. But presenting offerings to the church and to God do not cancel out our bribery and disrespect for one another and for the earth. Phyllis Trible's Texts of Terror, Anita Diamant's The Red Tent, and J.S. Spong's The Sins of Scriptures provide many ideas for developing Lenten themes of temptation, suffering, and guilt in contemporary interpretations of ancient sacred stories. In Luke 4, Jesus resists old and new arguments for self-gratification and aggrandizement. The challenge for us is to be aware of what has shaped our understandings of God and follow the Christ into new patterns for gratitude and celebration, for relationships and rituals.
Contemporary Affirmation (Unison)
The Holy comes to us in many different ways.
God continues to create in and around us, leading us to food for our souls and our bodies.
We find courage in Jesus of Nazareth who resisted the temptations that come to humankind: power over others, material wealth that obscures divine goodness, and arrogance that resists attention to divine presence.
With Holy Spirit enthusing us, we choose to live in ways that are hospitable and gracious, insightful and generous in kind deeds.
Together, we have a significant voice in our culture to demand justice for all.
In our living and in our dying, we are not alone. God is with us. Amen.
Offertory Statement (Leader)
Making the world a better place and brightening this corner of town are happening because we are blessed. Ministry in this place continues because you faithfully give money to pay the electricity, the water, and repair the walls. Ministry continues here because you give yourself to God. Our plates are big enough to receive what you can put on them.
Doxology
O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High (v. 5, modified)
tune: DEO GRACIAS
All glory to the living God for love so deep, so high, so broad;
The Trinity whom we adore forever and forever more.
Prayer For Thanksgiving (Leader)
Praise to you, Holy One, from all of us --
For dawn and dusk, for stillness and liveliness,
For time and resources enough to share.
Praise to you for grace spilling over all creatures. Amen.
Intercessory Prayers (Leader or Readers)
Fathering God -- Jesus of Nazareth trusted you to bring something good out of difficult circumstances. We, too, have learned that sometimes in the midst of suffering and usually after the worst is over, some new hope, some fresh understanding emerges from our depths. Continue to work within us and this congregation so that we are bearers of fairness and equality. Continue to work among us so that children throughout this global village are educated and nourished with information and skills, civility and collaboration.
Mothering God -- Jesus of Nazareth trusted you to establish a neighborly way of being in the world. We, too, want the kingdom of heaven to come to earth. Halt warring factions where they are festering. Halt behaviors that maim and starve children. Halt indoctrination that bruises souls. Bring an end to the evils that pit one country against another. Bring an end to struggles for land and water; enable all humankind to share what is available.
Majestic God -- we do appreciate the mountains and oceans, the sand and rocks, the water and sky! We marvel at the whole expanding universe! And we marvel at what our bodies can and can't do. Cure us or heal us with a full awareness of your presence. Soothe our pains and give us strength to endure until our time on this human journey is complete.
Judging God -- you see how voraciously we consume the earth's resources -- oil, trees, waters, air ... Before it is too late, give us self-discipline and our leaders wisdom so that we might be healthy and so we pass along to the next generations full oil and gas veins, productive land, nutritious seeds, clean air, unpolluted oceans, vital forests, and bright skies. Help us resist the temptation to think someone else will fix things.
God of all -- see us through this winter and bring us happily to resurrection day. Amen.
Benediction (Leader)
May the road continue smooth before you;
May there be enough light along the way;
May peace greet you at every cross road
And joy accompany you to the end.
Through whatever pain and suffering is yours to endure
Know that God is in it with you.
Amid every temptation that comes to you
Be aware that wisdom is yours for the asking.
Music
Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley
Words and Music: American spiritual
LONESOME VALLEY
My Song Is Love Unknown
Words: Samuel Crossman, 1664
Music: John Ireland, 1918
LOVE UNKNOWN
Pues Si Vivimos (When We Are Living)
Words: St. 1 anonymous; tr. Elise S. Eslinger, 1983; sts. 2-4 Roberto Escamilla, 1983; tr. George Lockwood, 1987
Music: Traditional Spanish melody; harm. Celebremos, 1983; alt.
SOMOS DEL SENOR
We Meet You, O Christ
Words: Fred Kaan, 1966
Music: Carl F. Schalk, 1987
STANLEY BEACH
With The Wings Of Our Mind
Words: Ik-Wham Mun, Korea; tr. Marion Pope (20th century)
Music: Don-Whan Cho, Korea, alt. Francisco F. Feliciano
TTUGOUN MAUM
If you succeed in judging yourself, it is because you are truly wise.
(The king on a planet to the prince)
-- Saint Exupery, The Little Prince
Call To Worship
Leader: You're here! Winter is upon us and things seem very still. But we know that dormancy hides the workings of life soon to erupt into spring! Six weeks of Epiphany and transfiguration are finished, and we find ourselves with ash smudges on our heads and hands.
(Candles can be lighted to count the Sundays until Easter.)
People: It surely does slow us down when we consider how our lives are spent and how we manifest God's loving presence! Taking seriously our own suffering and the pain of the world demands a lot of prayer and stillness.
Leader: During the silently lengthening days, we will accentuate the goodness that lies within us. We will promote awareness of Holy Presence, and we will modify our goals and values.
People: In the spring light, we will let go of old guilt and as Easter comes, we will relish new energies in nature and in our own psyches.
Leader: A Divine Message comes to us in the ancient story of Jesus of Nazareth: God is One who blesses each person who seeks.
People: We are searching to live in ways which satisfy us and serve the Holy One throughout every season of our lives.
Prayer Of Thanksgiving (Unison)
Living God -- for every goodness of every season of life, we are grateful. Thank you for being with us in times of disaster and violence, in times of upheaval and stillness. During these winter days leading to resurrection celebration, we stop our scurrying so we can be attentive to our mortality. Create in us a tip-toe breathlessness so we can take in your work. Our attention turns to you and we listen for your voice. Amen.
Call To Confession (Leader)
There are times in our lives when we struggle with what is good and what is evil. There are times when we are aimless and have difficulty balancing the goods of our culture with the truth of our own hearts. In these moments of silence, welcome the Spirit to put things in right order.
Community Confession (Unison)
Holy One -- our minds are open before you.
When temptations come -- for they surely will -- give us clarity about your will for our lives.
When idols sneak into our thoughts and activities, remind us not to toy with your grace and power.
Nurture our souls with words and silences, with relationships and fresh opportunities.
We walk the human path Jesus walked; grant us insight to be faithful. Amen.
Congregational Choral Response
Dear God And Father Of Mankind (v. 4)
Drop thy still dews of quietness Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress
And let our ordered lives confess The beauty of thy peace.
Sermon Idea
We know who our ancestors were and we know that some of them were not particularly nice. The patriarchal stories have plots, which have produced violence for women as well as for other groups. Land-grabbing and wars continue thousands of years later out of these ancient nomadic families. One bit of good news from Jesus is that we can stop replicating their plots and crimes. Harvest gifts to the temple nullified the suffering and hardship of survival. Perhaps. But presenting offerings to the church and to God do not cancel out our bribery and disrespect for one another and for the earth. Phyllis Trible's Texts of Terror, Anita Diamant's The Red Tent, and J.S. Spong's The Sins of Scriptures provide many ideas for developing Lenten themes of temptation, suffering, and guilt in contemporary interpretations of ancient sacred stories. In Luke 4, Jesus resists old and new arguments for self-gratification and aggrandizement. The challenge for us is to be aware of what has shaped our understandings of God and follow the Christ into new patterns for gratitude and celebration, for relationships and rituals.
Contemporary Affirmation (Unison)
The Holy comes to us in many different ways.
God continues to create in and around us, leading us to food for our souls and our bodies.
We find courage in Jesus of Nazareth who resisted the temptations that come to humankind: power over others, material wealth that obscures divine goodness, and arrogance that resists attention to divine presence.
With Holy Spirit enthusing us, we choose to live in ways that are hospitable and gracious, insightful and generous in kind deeds.
Together, we have a significant voice in our culture to demand justice for all.
In our living and in our dying, we are not alone. God is with us. Amen.
Offertory Statement (Leader)
Making the world a better place and brightening this corner of town are happening because we are blessed. Ministry in this place continues because you faithfully give money to pay the electricity, the water, and repair the walls. Ministry continues here because you give yourself to God. Our plates are big enough to receive what you can put on them.
Doxology
O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High (v. 5, modified)
tune: DEO GRACIAS
All glory to the living God for love so deep, so high, so broad;
The Trinity whom we adore forever and forever more.
Prayer For Thanksgiving (Leader)
Praise to you, Holy One, from all of us --
For dawn and dusk, for stillness and liveliness,
For time and resources enough to share.
Praise to you for grace spilling over all creatures. Amen.
Intercessory Prayers (Leader or Readers)
Fathering God -- Jesus of Nazareth trusted you to bring something good out of difficult circumstances. We, too, have learned that sometimes in the midst of suffering and usually after the worst is over, some new hope, some fresh understanding emerges from our depths. Continue to work within us and this congregation so that we are bearers of fairness and equality. Continue to work among us so that children throughout this global village are educated and nourished with information and skills, civility and collaboration.
Mothering God -- Jesus of Nazareth trusted you to establish a neighborly way of being in the world. We, too, want the kingdom of heaven to come to earth. Halt warring factions where they are festering. Halt behaviors that maim and starve children. Halt indoctrination that bruises souls. Bring an end to the evils that pit one country against another. Bring an end to struggles for land and water; enable all humankind to share what is available.
Majestic God -- we do appreciate the mountains and oceans, the sand and rocks, the water and sky! We marvel at the whole expanding universe! And we marvel at what our bodies can and can't do. Cure us or heal us with a full awareness of your presence. Soothe our pains and give us strength to endure until our time on this human journey is complete.
Judging God -- you see how voraciously we consume the earth's resources -- oil, trees, waters, air ... Before it is too late, give us self-discipline and our leaders wisdom so that we might be healthy and so we pass along to the next generations full oil and gas veins, productive land, nutritious seeds, clean air, unpolluted oceans, vital forests, and bright skies. Help us resist the temptation to think someone else will fix things.
God of all -- see us through this winter and bring us happily to resurrection day. Amen.
Benediction (Leader)
May the road continue smooth before you;
May there be enough light along the way;
May peace greet you at every cross road
And joy accompany you to the end.
Through whatever pain and suffering is yours to endure
Know that God is in it with you.
Amid every temptation that comes to you
Be aware that wisdom is yours for the asking.
Music
Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley
Words and Music: American spiritual
LONESOME VALLEY
My Song Is Love Unknown
Words: Samuel Crossman, 1664
Music: John Ireland, 1918
LOVE UNKNOWN
Pues Si Vivimos (When We Are Living)
Words: St. 1 anonymous; tr. Elise S. Eslinger, 1983; sts. 2-4 Roberto Escamilla, 1983; tr. George Lockwood, 1987
Music: Traditional Spanish melody; harm. Celebremos, 1983; alt.
SOMOS DEL SENOR
We Meet You, O Christ
Words: Fred Kaan, 1966
Music: Carl F. Schalk, 1987
STANLEY BEACH
With The Wings Of Our Mind
Words: Ik-Wham Mun, Korea; tr. Marion Pope (20th century)
Music: Don-Whan Cho, Korea, alt. Francisco F. Feliciano
TTUGOUN MAUM
