The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle A Gospel Texts
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Invitation to the Celebration
Walk out into the middle of the sanctuary, and say, "In the Name of the Living God, welcome to the celebration. How (not why) have you come today? Ready? With expectations? Alert? Mark Twain said, 'Blessed are those who expect nothing (and I add, those who expect the wrong things); for they will not be disappointed.' And I say again, 'Blessed are those who come, not as observers, but as participants, ready and ripe, responsive and responsible to God, others, self -- for they shall be filled!' However we have come, we are here -- to celebrate the Presence and Power of the living God."
Response
"Morning Has Broken" (Gaelic Melody, adapted by Cat Stevens; words by Eleanor Farjeon).
Prayer of Praise
God of the awesome vision, Who imagined the universe, and it became; Who thought a people, and we lived; grant to us the courage to dream dreams, and to make plans, worthy of Your catholic church, and to see visions of what Your people may be/do when obedient to the Holy Spirit; so that we may dare great things for You, venture everything for the sake of Your Kingdom and glory; and Your church, indeed, be the force that the world dare not ignore, through Jesus the Christ, the sovereign one and our Lord (author unknown, revised).
Hymn of Praise
"O God of Earth and Space" (Hebrew Melody; Jane Parker Huber, 1980; adapt. Thomas Olivers and Meyer Lyon, 1770).
We Seek Forgiveness
The Act of Confession
Some of us have developed the art of procrastination into a science. "I have plenty of time -- for whatever." Identify some aspects of your life in which you procrastinate. Write them down. (Three minutes of silence.) Yes, this will be uncomfortable for some; better now than later, when we have no more time. Offer this idea: Procrastination usually means internalized anger. "I'll show you; I'll get around to it when I get around to it, so buzz off!" We see and experience this in our homes, at school, in our jobs. Nobody is going to tell us what to do and when to do it! So there! (One minute of silence.)
Response
"Sleepers, Awake" (Richard Avery and Don Marsh, from The Second Avery and Marsh Songbook, Hope Publishing Company). Though, technically, this is a Christmas hymn, it can be used here to encourage people to get ready for that event which comes in a few weeks. The idea is to wake us up, and to be prepared for the Christ-event.
The Act of Receiving Pardon for Our Procrastination
You may find this example helpful: One day a young man just beginning in the banking business came to his pastor. "I'm about to get fired; I always come to work twenty minutes late. My boss is tired of it." During a one-hour counseling session, the young man discovered his anger toward his father; his boss reminded him of his father; so he was going to "show" his father by taking it out on his boss. The insight cleared up the problem. Obviously, not all problems are solved that easily. However, what will we do to solve our problem delays? (Two minutes of silence; write down your new decision about readiness.) Anyone want to take the risk of sharing? If you dare, you, the pastor, share one of your favorites.
Response
"Rejoice! Rejoice! Believers" (Welsh Folk Melody; Laurentius Laurenti, 1700; trans. Sarah Borthwick Findlater, 1854; alt. The Hymnal, 1982).
We Are Listening!
Message with the Children of All Ages
With the children present, act out the Scripture. Afterward, ask them what it means, and if it has anything to do with them. Do they always do their homework before watching television? Do they always do their chores without fifty reminders? Remind them of the importance of readiness, in ways that pertain to your situation.
Reading from the Newer Covenant
See Message with the Children of All Ages.
Proclamation of the Good News
Continue to make the comparison between readiness and procrastination. Many of us have said something similar to this: "Later, Lord, later, I'll become a Christian when I'm older; I want to have my fun first. Then, just before I conk out, I'll make a deal with you." Of course, the trouble with this attitude is that our indecision is one of the things that will keep us from the Kingdom of God. The disease of indecision infected the foolish maidens. It infects many of us who like to believe that we are on God's side, never questioning if God is on our side. It infects those of us who cry out "Lord, Lord," but who do not do God's will. It infects those who want the benefits of the Kingdom, without obeying the Lord of the Kingdom. It infects the fence-sitters, the spiritual sponges, the passive onlookers.
Response
" 'Sleepers, Wake!' A Voice Astounds Us" (Philip Nicolai, 1599; trans. Carl P. Daw, Jr., 1982; harm. Johann Sebastian Bach, 1731).
We Are Accountable!
Stewardship Challenge
What kind of a life-story are we writing each day, one of readiness, or one of waiting until a "more opportune time"? Ask the people to write down their thoughts before receiving the offering.
Prayer of Commitment
God, possess us by your power; illuminate us by your truth; fire us by your flame; enable us by your presence; be made visible in us by your fruits....
We Leave For Ministry!
Charge to the Congregation
I do hope not, but perhaps some of us have missed the point. At this moment, we still have time to make a decision, or a re-decision, for a life in Christ. What shall we do with this kairos moment? Waste it, destroy it, rationalize it, sluff it off, and then hear Christ say, "Away with you, fools"? Or instead, shall we use it, cherish it, redeem it, and then hear Christ's words, "Enter with me into the joy of life, and death, and eternity, beginning now!"?
Meditation
"It's the set of the sail, and not the gale, that determines the way we go" (from the cover of Quote magazine).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: "Fantasie Chorale," Whitlock.
Hymn of Praise: "God of the Living, in Whose Eyes," John Ellerton, 1859, 1862; alt., 1972.
Response to the Act of Confession: "For These Blessings," source unknown, from Folk Encounter, copyright 1972, Music for Young Voices, Hope Publishing Company.
Response to the Newer Covenant: "All Good Gifts," Schwartz.
Offertory: "Andante," Franck.
Hymn of Commitment: "Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying," Philip Nicolai, 1599; trans. Catherine Winkworth, 1958, 1863; alt., 1972.
Music for Dismissal: A version of the passage, "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near."
Invitation to the Celebration
Walk out into the middle of the sanctuary, and say, "In the Name of the Living God, welcome to the celebration. How (not why) have you come today? Ready? With expectations? Alert? Mark Twain said, 'Blessed are those who expect nothing (and I add, those who expect the wrong things); for they will not be disappointed.' And I say again, 'Blessed are those who come, not as observers, but as participants, ready and ripe, responsive and responsible to God, others, self -- for they shall be filled!' However we have come, we are here -- to celebrate the Presence and Power of the living God."
Response
"Morning Has Broken" (Gaelic Melody, adapted by Cat Stevens; words by Eleanor Farjeon).
Prayer of Praise
God of the awesome vision, Who imagined the universe, and it became; Who thought a people, and we lived; grant to us the courage to dream dreams, and to make plans, worthy of Your catholic church, and to see visions of what Your people may be/do when obedient to the Holy Spirit; so that we may dare great things for You, venture everything for the sake of Your Kingdom and glory; and Your church, indeed, be the force that the world dare not ignore, through Jesus the Christ, the sovereign one and our Lord (author unknown, revised).
Hymn of Praise
"O God of Earth and Space" (Hebrew Melody; Jane Parker Huber, 1980; adapt. Thomas Olivers and Meyer Lyon, 1770).
We Seek Forgiveness
The Act of Confession
Some of us have developed the art of procrastination into a science. "I have plenty of time -- for whatever." Identify some aspects of your life in which you procrastinate. Write them down. (Three minutes of silence.) Yes, this will be uncomfortable for some; better now than later, when we have no more time. Offer this idea: Procrastination usually means internalized anger. "I'll show you; I'll get around to it when I get around to it, so buzz off!" We see and experience this in our homes, at school, in our jobs. Nobody is going to tell us what to do and when to do it! So there! (One minute of silence.)
Response
"Sleepers, Awake" (Richard Avery and Don Marsh, from The Second Avery and Marsh Songbook, Hope Publishing Company). Though, technically, this is a Christmas hymn, it can be used here to encourage people to get ready for that event which comes in a few weeks. The idea is to wake us up, and to be prepared for the Christ-event.
The Act of Receiving Pardon for Our Procrastination
You may find this example helpful: One day a young man just beginning in the banking business came to his pastor. "I'm about to get fired; I always come to work twenty minutes late. My boss is tired of it." During a one-hour counseling session, the young man discovered his anger toward his father; his boss reminded him of his father; so he was going to "show" his father by taking it out on his boss. The insight cleared up the problem. Obviously, not all problems are solved that easily. However, what will we do to solve our problem delays? (Two minutes of silence; write down your new decision about readiness.) Anyone want to take the risk of sharing? If you dare, you, the pastor, share one of your favorites.
Response
"Rejoice! Rejoice! Believers" (Welsh Folk Melody; Laurentius Laurenti, 1700; trans. Sarah Borthwick Findlater, 1854; alt. The Hymnal, 1982).
We Are Listening!
Message with the Children of All Ages
With the children present, act out the Scripture. Afterward, ask them what it means, and if it has anything to do with them. Do they always do their homework before watching television? Do they always do their chores without fifty reminders? Remind them of the importance of readiness, in ways that pertain to your situation.
Reading from the Newer Covenant
See Message with the Children of All Ages.
Proclamation of the Good News
Continue to make the comparison between readiness and procrastination. Many of us have said something similar to this: "Later, Lord, later, I'll become a Christian when I'm older; I want to have my fun first. Then, just before I conk out, I'll make a deal with you." Of course, the trouble with this attitude is that our indecision is one of the things that will keep us from the Kingdom of God. The disease of indecision infected the foolish maidens. It infects many of us who like to believe that we are on God's side, never questioning if God is on our side. It infects those of us who cry out "Lord, Lord," but who do not do God's will. It infects those who want the benefits of the Kingdom, without obeying the Lord of the Kingdom. It infects the fence-sitters, the spiritual sponges, the passive onlookers.
Response
" 'Sleepers, Wake!' A Voice Astounds Us" (Philip Nicolai, 1599; trans. Carl P. Daw, Jr., 1982; harm. Johann Sebastian Bach, 1731).
We Are Accountable!
Stewardship Challenge
What kind of a life-story are we writing each day, one of readiness, or one of waiting until a "more opportune time"? Ask the people to write down their thoughts before receiving the offering.
Prayer of Commitment
God, possess us by your power; illuminate us by your truth; fire us by your flame; enable us by your presence; be made visible in us by your fruits....
We Leave For Ministry!
Charge to the Congregation
I do hope not, but perhaps some of us have missed the point. At this moment, we still have time to make a decision, or a re-decision, for a life in Christ. What shall we do with this kairos moment? Waste it, destroy it, rationalize it, sluff it off, and then hear Christ say, "Away with you, fools"? Or instead, shall we use it, cherish it, redeem it, and then hear Christ's words, "Enter with me into the joy of life, and death, and eternity, beginning now!"?
Meditation
"It's the set of the sail, and not the gale, that determines the way we go" (from the cover of Quote magazine).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: "Fantasie Chorale," Whitlock.
Hymn of Praise: "God of the Living, in Whose Eyes," John Ellerton, 1859, 1862; alt., 1972.
Response to the Act of Confession: "For These Blessings," source unknown, from Folk Encounter, copyright 1972, Music for Young Voices, Hope Publishing Company.
Response to the Newer Covenant: "All Good Gifts," Schwartz.
Offertory: "Andante," Franck.
Hymn of Commitment: "Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying," Philip Nicolai, 1599; trans. Catherine Winkworth, 1958, 1863; alt., 1972.
Music for Dismissal: A version of the passage, "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near."
