Lent 4
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle C Gospel Texts
Liturgical Color: Purple
Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
Theme: Parable of the Prodigal Sons. With which son do you most easily identify?
Praise Of God
Pastoral Invitation
In the name of this Jesus who moves closer and closer to the Cross, how goes your renewal this Lenten season? As always, we're here to examine our reason for our presence. We do so in the Presence and Power of God's Spirit who leads us into truth, truth about ourselves, the hardest truth to learn; truth about others, and their relationship with us; and truth about the world, which will die without the truth of Christ. It is no easy pilgrimage; but then, it was no picnic for Jesus of Nazareth either.
Hymn of Praise
"God, You Spin the Whirling Planets," Jane Parker Huber; Franz Joseph Haydn, 1797.
Prayer of Praise
Pastor and Ministers
P: Lift up your hearts, minds, wills. The living Christ is here.
M: We come to celebrate Christ's presence and power!
P: An exciting, adventurous life in Christ is available!
M: We come to be reminded that we live in his Spirit.
P: Christ said, "I am the door; if anyone enters by me, he/she will be saved and liberated"; and, "Behold! I set before you an open door. I am the way, the truth, and the life. I am the light of the world; you are the light of the world." We acknowledge the presence of the living Christ.
M: Yes, we do! Amen!
Response
"I Sing the Mighty Power of God," Isaac Watts, 1715; alt.
Confessions Before God
Introduction to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
The cartoonist, Jules Feiffer, gives our initial insight into the Scripture. In this cartoon, a young woman is talking to herself. "First, I blamed myself. (Good start.) Later, I blamed my mother. Later, I blamed the educational system. Later, I blamed the government. Later, I blamed capitalism. Finally, I realized who's really to blame. My husband. And he's only a symptom." With which son do we identify, most of the time? (One minute of silence.)
Prayer Response
As we pray this prayer, consider with which son, and how, we identify our behavior. "God our Creator, who shaped our hearts to love you and our bodies and minds to serve you, we admit that we have been untrue to your design. With the prodigal sons, we have reshaped ourselves in an image of our own choosing. This choice has made us self-seekers. This has caused us to forget your will, neglect our fellow humans, and hurt our relationships. Forgive us, Lord, and by your Spirit, begin to reshape us again in the image of Jesus, through whom we seek your pardon." (One minute of silence.)
Choral Response
"Lord, Have Mercy Upon Us," The Worshipbook, 1972; arr. David N. Johnson, 1972. Hum it once; choir sing it once; congregation sing it three times.
Introduction to the Act of Receiving New Life
When my son was very young, I placed him in front of the mirror, not so much to entertain him, but me. At first, he did not recognize himself. No doubt, he enjoyed seeing the strange object in front of him. But one day, his facial expression changed, as he began to recognize himself, until finally, he seemed to say, "That's me." One son, at least in the parable, saw himself; the other did not. Repentance, which means "change your mind and behavior," can occur only when we see ourselves in the Scriptures. See yourself, and receive the good news of forgiveness, now!
Prayer Response
God, our Father/Mother, we realize what we do when we find others to blame for our situation. We also know that you gave us the Christ to empower us to take responsibility for our own actions. We accept his gift as we seek to live responsible lives.
Choral Response
"O Lamb of God Most Holy!" (See Lent 1.) Use verse three only; sing it three times.
Instruction About God
Message with the Children of All Ages and Reading from the Scripture
*Clarence Jordan has recorded several of the parables. If you are unable to locate them, read the passage from the Cotton Patch Version. You may want to replace the word "prostitute" or "whore" with another word. Before you offer the Scripture, ask the children, and the entire congregation, to check out with which son they most identify. Then, make no moralisms; remain in silence for one minute. Following the silence, pray about the two sons.
Response
"Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley." The musicians play the three verses. No one sings. Let each person apply it personally.
Proclamation of the Good News
Make this a stewardship sermon without using the word "stewardship." (1) Examine the sons' attitudes about property. (2) Consider the sons' behavior in crisis. (3) Consider the sons' responses toward accountability.
Response
"O for a World," Miriam Therese Winter, 1987; Carl Gotthelf Glaser, 1829; arr. Lowell Mason, 1839.
Dedication To God
Stewardship Challenge
With which son does your stewardship lie? How does your stewardship of life affect your relationship with God, others, self?
Prayer Response
Meditational prayer by Michel Quoist, from Prayers. "Help Me to Say, 'Yes.' " (See Appendix II for address.)
Charge to the Congregation
God has given us life, abundant, and eternal. God has given us oxygen to sustain life, friends to enrich life, Christ to redeem life, purpose to enhance life, conflicts to challenge life. It is all a trust from God. We can spoil it or utilize it; exploit it or invest it; devour it or manage it; exhaust it or restore it. It is not ours to do with as we please. As Christians, our pleasure is God's pleasure in and through us. God holds us accountable for every penny we spend, every minute we consume, every talent we hide.
Hymn of Obedience
"Camina, Pueblo de Dios" ("Walk On, O People of God"), Cesàreo Gabaràin; trans. George Lockwood, 1987.
Meditation
God in Christ has taken all the risks for our reconciliation and liberation. The father dashes to greet his first prodigal. The father assures his second prodigal that everything he had was also his. So, we come to God to receive love; we go to the world to express love.
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Lenten hymns or, "Meditation III"aby McKay.
Choral Invitation: "Hallelujah!" by Warner. If you are unable to locate the music, make up your own music to these words: "Hallelujah! Hallelujah! In God's temple, God be praised; in the high and heavenly places be the sounding anthem raised."
Response to the Scripture: (Adult Choir) "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing," Lloyd Pfausch. Identify where the words can be found in the hymnal.
Offertory: "Come, Holy Ghost." Identify hymn words for people to follow.
Music for Dismissal: Medley of Lenten hymns; or, "Alleluia, Sing Praise," J. S. Bach.
Note: You can order Clarence Jordan cassettes from Koinonia Partners, 1324 Georgia Highway 49 South, Americus, Georgia 31709-9508, (800-569-4128).
Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
Theme: Parable of the Prodigal Sons. With which son do you most easily identify?
Praise Of God
Pastoral Invitation
In the name of this Jesus who moves closer and closer to the Cross, how goes your renewal this Lenten season? As always, we're here to examine our reason for our presence. We do so in the Presence and Power of God's Spirit who leads us into truth, truth about ourselves, the hardest truth to learn; truth about others, and their relationship with us; and truth about the world, which will die without the truth of Christ. It is no easy pilgrimage; but then, it was no picnic for Jesus of Nazareth either.
Hymn of Praise
"God, You Spin the Whirling Planets," Jane Parker Huber; Franz Joseph Haydn, 1797.
Prayer of Praise
Pastor and Ministers
P: Lift up your hearts, minds, wills. The living Christ is here.
M: We come to celebrate Christ's presence and power!
P: An exciting, adventurous life in Christ is available!
M: We come to be reminded that we live in his Spirit.
P: Christ said, "I am the door; if anyone enters by me, he/she will be saved and liberated"; and, "Behold! I set before you an open door. I am the way, the truth, and the life. I am the light of the world; you are the light of the world." We acknowledge the presence of the living Christ.
M: Yes, we do! Amen!
Response
"I Sing the Mighty Power of God," Isaac Watts, 1715; alt.
Confessions Before God
Introduction to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
The cartoonist, Jules Feiffer, gives our initial insight into the Scripture. In this cartoon, a young woman is talking to herself. "First, I blamed myself. (Good start.) Later, I blamed my mother. Later, I blamed the educational system. Later, I blamed the government. Later, I blamed capitalism. Finally, I realized who's really to blame. My husband. And he's only a symptom." With which son do we identify, most of the time? (One minute of silence.)
Prayer Response
As we pray this prayer, consider with which son, and how, we identify our behavior. "God our Creator, who shaped our hearts to love you and our bodies and minds to serve you, we admit that we have been untrue to your design. With the prodigal sons, we have reshaped ourselves in an image of our own choosing. This choice has made us self-seekers. This has caused us to forget your will, neglect our fellow humans, and hurt our relationships. Forgive us, Lord, and by your Spirit, begin to reshape us again in the image of Jesus, through whom we seek your pardon." (One minute of silence.)
Choral Response
"Lord, Have Mercy Upon Us," The Worshipbook, 1972; arr. David N. Johnson, 1972. Hum it once; choir sing it once; congregation sing it three times.
Introduction to the Act of Receiving New Life
When my son was very young, I placed him in front of the mirror, not so much to entertain him, but me. At first, he did not recognize himself. No doubt, he enjoyed seeing the strange object in front of him. But one day, his facial expression changed, as he began to recognize himself, until finally, he seemed to say, "That's me." One son, at least in the parable, saw himself; the other did not. Repentance, which means "change your mind and behavior," can occur only when we see ourselves in the Scriptures. See yourself, and receive the good news of forgiveness, now!
Prayer Response
God, our Father/Mother, we realize what we do when we find others to blame for our situation. We also know that you gave us the Christ to empower us to take responsibility for our own actions. We accept his gift as we seek to live responsible lives.
Choral Response
"O Lamb of God Most Holy!" (See Lent 1.) Use verse three only; sing it three times.
Instruction About God
Message with the Children of All Ages and Reading from the Scripture
*Clarence Jordan has recorded several of the parables. If you are unable to locate them, read the passage from the Cotton Patch Version. You may want to replace the word "prostitute" or "whore" with another word. Before you offer the Scripture, ask the children, and the entire congregation, to check out with which son they most identify. Then, make no moralisms; remain in silence for one minute. Following the silence, pray about the two sons.
Response
"Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley." The musicians play the three verses. No one sings. Let each person apply it personally.
Proclamation of the Good News
Make this a stewardship sermon without using the word "stewardship." (1) Examine the sons' attitudes about property. (2) Consider the sons' behavior in crisis. (3) Consider the sons' responses toward accountability.
Response
"O for a World," Miriam Therese Winter, 1987; Carl Gotthelf Glaser, 1829; arr. Lowell Mason, 1839.
Dedication To God
Stewardship Challenge
With which son does your stewardship lie? How does your stewardship of life affect your relationship with God, others, self?
Prayer Response
Meditational prayer by Michel Quoist, from Prayers. "Help Me to Say, 'Yes.' " (See Appendix II for address.)
Charge to the Congregation
God has given us life, abundant, and eternal. God has given us oxygen to sustain life, friends to enrich life, Christ to redeem life, purpose to enhance life, conflicts to challenge life. It is all a trust from God. We can spoil it or utilize it; exploit it or invest it; devour it or manage it; exhaust it or restore it. It is not ours to do with as we please. As Christians, our pleasure is God's pleasure in and through us. God holds us accountable for every penny we spend, every minute we consume, every talent we hide.
Hymn of Obedience
"Camina, Pueblo de Dios" ("Walk On, O People of God"), Cesàreo Gabaràin; trans. George Lockwood, 1987.
Meditation
God in Christ has taken all the risks for our reconciliation and liberation. The father dashes to greet his first prodigal. The father assures his second prodigal that everything he had was also his. So, we come to God to receive love; we go to the world to express love.
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Lenten hymns or, "Meditation III"aby McKay.
Choral Invitation: "Hallelujah!" by Warner. If you are unable to locate the music, make up your own music to these words: "Hallelujah! Hallelujah! In God's temple, God be praised; in the high and heavenly places be the sounding anthem raised."
Response to the Scripture: (Adult Choir) "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing," Lloyd Pfausch. Identify where the words can be found in the hymnal.
Offertory: "Come, Holy Ghost." Identify hymn words for people to follow.
Music for Dismissal: Medley of Lenten hymns; or, "Alleluia, Sing Praise," J. S. Bach.
Note: You can order Clarence Jordan cassettes from Koinonia Partners, 1324 Georgia Highway 49 South, Americus, Georgia 31709-9508, (800-569-4128).
