The Parable of the Wedding Banquet
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle A Gospel Texts
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Invitation to the Celebration
Have all of your musicians begin with banquet music, which invites people to a party. Then, with much enthusiasm, reverently shout, "Ring the bells! Throw confetti from the rooftops! Deck the city with banners! Cover one another with flowers! Clap your hands and shout for joy! Christ is risen! Christ is here! Celebrate the feast of life!"
P: God in Christ invites us to the party!
M: We come to celebrate the Spirit's Presence and Power!
P: What a privilege! What a joy! What an honor!
M: We come with expectations! We come to experience what God can do with lives receptive to the living Christ!
P: We open ourselves, our own needs, the needs of others, our relationships, and the world to Christ's Spirit.
Response
"Rejoice, You Pure in Heart!" Stanza 1 only. Sing it until the people sing it as if they were attending a party.
Prayer of Praise
Center it around the theme that God has invited us to a banquet, a party, in which God is Host, that Jesus enjoys a good laugh, and that the Holy Spirit inspires a joyful worshiping people. (Well in advance, order from The Fellowship of Merry Christians one of the new portraits of the "Laughing Christ." You probably will be unable to find autographed portraits which a radio station from Texas advertised a few years ago. FMC address: P.O. Box 895, Portage, MI 49081-0895; 616-324-0990.)
Hymn of Praise
"The Lord of the Dance" (Sydney Carter, 1963; American Shaker Melody).
We Seek Forgiveness
Introduction to the Act of Self-awareness
If we could choose whom we would invite to God's banquet, whom would we choose; to whom would we send no invitation? (Two minutes of silence.) Write down the names of those whom you would and would not invite. Now, in another two minutes of silence, write down the names of those who, you think, would and would not invite you, and why. Write down their names also. Conclude the confession with these words of Walter Wink, in the February, 1987 issue of Sojourners: "It is not out there, but in me, that the oppressor must die." Our calling, of course, is to let God make the decisions about who is, and who is not, invited to the banquet.
Invitation to the Act of Healthy Self-awareness
Frederick Buechner, in his book Telling the Truth: Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairy Tale, says that "if we want to make a fool of ourselves, we can most effectively do that by telling the truth," and I add, "Recognizing and telling the truth about oneself." What truth about yourself do you need to face today? God offers us a new invitation now to share in the banquet of life. Do we really want to attend, or do we only say that we want to attend, so long as we get to send out the invitations?
P: Listen folks! Here is the Good News! Jesus the Christ came into the world to liberate us from our I-centeredness. In him, the Lord of Life, we are forgiven, made whole, and free to be responsible.
M: I hear! We hear! This is Good news indeed! Jesus the Christ came into the world to liberate me, us. In him, I am, we are, forgiven, made whole, free to be responsible. What a deal!
Response
"Thank You, Lord!" (Avery and Marsh, from The Avery and Marsh Sonbgook, Hope Publishing Company. See Appendix I for address).
We Are Listening!
Message with the Children of All Ages
Probably most children have never attended a banquet; they have attended parties. Discuss whom they invited and whom they did not invite and their reasons. Refer to the banquet in this parable. Have them remain while the Scripture is dramatized.
Reading from the Newer Covenant
Again, this parable lends itself to an easy, though painful, dramatization. Let the passage speak for itself; interpretation and application come in the sermon. Offer this prayer after the reading of the biblical passages for the day: "Lord, we have heard the biblical words; teach us to respond to your biblical truths."
Proclamation of the Good News
Indeed, this may sound like bad news. Point out the surprise about who gets invited, who rejects the invitation at their own expense, and then who gets invited. This whole business of who's in, who's out is not ours to decide. On whose side are we?
Response
"God of Justice, God of Mercy" (Jane Parker Huber, 1983; Rowland Hugh Prichard, 1855; from Joy in Singing. See Appendix I for address). Sing the first two stanzas only.
We Are Accountable!
Stewardship Challenge
Jacque Ellul has said that "if we feel too much sadness in giving, if we feel torn or irritated, it is better not to give."ÊHowever, we need to know what this means: it means that our money still controls us, that we love our resources more than we love God, and that we still fail to understand and receive forgiveness and grace.
Prayer Following the Offering
Forgive us, Lord, if these gifts of money represent only the leftovers of our lives. If so, commit us to a renewal of, a recommitment of, ourselves to you.
We Leave For Ministry!
Charge to the Congregation
Auntie Mame speaks to us once again. "Live! Live! Life is a banquet ... and there are so many fools starving to death." What a sad commentary on us, if we profess to be followers of the Way, the Truth, and the Life. How will we allow the Spirit of the living Christ to transform our sadness into gladness?
Response
Sing the last three stanzas of "God of Justice, God of Mercy."
Meditation
"People (you? I?) love to label. If we didn't label, we might discover that we know next to nothing" (Lukas Foss).
"The Christian church has all the language of a party, but hasn't been able to pull it off" (Floyd Shaffer).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Use some of the hymns the congregation has learned this year. Put the page numbers in the bulletin, and invite the congregation to read, sing, hum, or whistle them as they prepare for worship.
Hymn of Praise: "Rejoice, the Lord is King," Charles Wesley, 1746; alt.
Response to the Assurance of Pardon: "My Shepherd Will Supply My Need," Psalm 23, Isaac Watts, para. 1719; alt., 1972.
Hymn of Commitment: "The Lord's My Shepherd," Psalm 23, para. in The Scottish Psalter, 1650; tunes Chrimond C.M. and Evan C.M.
Music for Dismissal: See Music for Preparation.
Invitation to the Celebration
Have all of your musicians begin with banquet music, which invites people to a party. Then, with much enthusiasm, reverently shout, "Ring the bells! Throw confetti from the rooftops! Deck the city with banners! Cover one another with flowers! Clap your hands and shout for joy! Christ is risen! Christ is here! Celebrate the feast of life!"
P: God in Christ invites us to the party!
M: We come to celebrate the Spirit's Presence and Power!
P: What a privilege! What a joy! What an honor!
M: We come with expectations! We come to experience what God can do with lives receptive to the living Christ!
P: We open ourselves, our own needs, the needs of others, our relationships, and the world to Christ's Spirit.
Response
"Rejoice, You Pure in Heart!" Stanza 1 only. Sing it until the people sing it as if they were attending a party.
Prayer of Praise
Center it around the theme that God has invited us to a banquet, a party, in which God is Host, that Jesus enjoys a good laugh, and that the Holy Spirit inspires a joyful worshiping people. (Well in advance, order from The Fellowship of Merry Christians one of the new portraits of the "Laughing Christ." You probably will be unable to find autographed portraits which a radio station from Texas advertised a few years ago. FMC address: P.O. Box 895, Portage, MI 49081-0895; 616-324-0990.)
Hymn of Praise
"The Lord of the Dance" (Sydney Carter, 1963; American Shaker Melody).
We Seek Forgiveness
Introduction to the Act of Self-awareness
If we could choose whom we would invite to God's banquet, whom would we choose; to whom would we send no invitation? (Two minutes of silence.) Write down the names of those whom you would and would not invite. Now, in another two minutes of silence, write down the names of those who, you think, would and would not invite you, and why. Write down their names also. Conclude the confession with these words of Walter Wink, in the February, 1987 issue of Sojourners: "It is not out there, but in me, that the oppressor must die." Our calling, of course, is to let God make the decisions about who is, and who is not, invited to the banquet.
Invitation to the Act of Healthy Self-awareness
Frederick Buechner, in his book Telling the Truth: Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairy Tale, says that "if we want to make a fool of ourselves, we can most effectively do that by telling the truth," and I add, "Recognizing and telling the truth about oneself." What truth about yourself do you need to face today? God offers us a new invitation now to share in the banquet of life. Do we really want to attend, or do we only say that we want to attend, so long as we get to send out the invitations?
P: Listen folks! Here is the Good News! Jesus the Christ came into the world to liberate us from our I-centeredness. In him, the Lord of Life, we are forgiven, made whole, and free to be responsible.
M: I hear! We hear! This is Good news indeed! Jesus the Christ came into the world to liberate me, us. In him, I am, we are, forgiven, made whole, free to be responsible. What a deal!
Response
"Thank You, Lord!" (Avery and Marsh, from The Avery and Marsh Sonbgook, Hope Publishing Company. See Appendix I for address).
We Are Listening!
Message with the Children of All Ages
Probably most children have never attended a banquet; they have attended parties. Discuss whom they invited and whom they did not invite and their reasons. Refer to the banquet in this parable. Have them remain while the Scripture is dramatized.
Reading from the Newer Covenant
Again, this parable lends itself to an easy, though painful, dramatization. Let the passage speak for itself; interpretation and application come in the sermon. Offer this prayer after the reading of the biblical passages for the day: "Lord, we have heard the biblical words; teach us to respond to your biblical truths."
Proclamation of the Good News
Indeed, this may sound like bad news. Point out the surprise about who gets invited, who rejects the invitation at their own expense, and then who gets invited. This whole business of who's in, who's out is not ours to decide. On whose side are we?
Response
"God of Justice, God of Mercy" (Jane Parker Huber, 1983; Rowland Hugh Prichard, 1855; from Joy in Singing. See Appendix I for address). Sing the first two stanzas only.
We Are Accountable!
Stewardship Challenge
Jacque Ellul has said that "if we feel too much sadness in giving, if we feel torn or irritated, it is better not to give."ÊHowever, we need to know what this means: it means that our money still controls us, that we love our resources more than we love God, and that we still fail to understand and receive forgiveness and grace.
Prayer Following the Offering
Forgive us, Lord, if these gifts of money represent only the leftovers of our lives. If so, commit us to a renewal of, a recommitment of, ourselves to you.
We Leave For Ministry!
Charge to the Congregation
Auntie Mame speaks to us once again. "Live! Live! Life is a banquet ... and there are so many fools starving to death." What a sad commentary on us, if we profess to be followers of the Way, the Truth, and the Life. How will we allow the Spirit of the living Christ to transform our sadness into gladness?
Response
Sing the last three stanzas of "God of Justice, God of Mercy."
Meditation
"People (you? I?) love to label. If we didn't label, we might discover that we know next to nothing" (Lukas Foss).
"The Christian church has all the language of a party, but hasn't been able to pull it off" (Floyd Shaffer).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Use some of the hymns the congregation has learned this year. Put the page numbers in the bulletin, and invite the congregation to read, sing, hum, or whistle them as they prepare for worship.
Hymn of Praise: "Rejoice, the Lord is King," Charles Wesley, 1746; alt.
Response to the Assurance of Pardon: "My Shepherd Will Supply My Need," Psalm 23, Isaac Watts, para. 1719; alt., 1972.
Hymn of Commitment: "The Lord's My Shepherd," Psalm 23, para. in The Scottish Psalter, 1650; tunes Chrimond C.M. and Evan C.M.
Music for Dismissal: See Music for Preparation.
