The Peoples' Amazement at Jesus Teaching; Driving out an Evil Spirit.
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle B
Pastoral Invitation
Once more, plus four more Epiphany Sundays, we celebrate the Presence and Power of the Evangel. Because God has called us, because God is present with us, worship then is never an obligation, a duty, a requirement. It is, rather, an invitation to examine our faith. It is not a rule of safety; it is an adventure of the spirit, a flight after the unattainable. So, are you ready? (Wait for a response; if none, or only a meager response, ask again, with more energy) ARE YOU READY?
e: Yes! Yes! Yes! We are ready! We are ready! We are ready for a God-event in our personal lives, and in the life of this congregation. Reveal to us, God, what you want us to learn; so we can be active evangels in your world.
Hymn for the First Half of Epiphany
"From a Distant Home."
Prayer of Praise
Include the reality that when we pay attention to what God is doing in this world, we shall be as amazed as the people who were present when Jesus drove out the evil spirit.
Response
"Glory Be to God On High," tune: "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore"; from Folk Encounter. (See Appendix I for address.)
The evangels Face Up To Themselves
Introduction to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
(You may want to print this in the bulletin.) Am I serious enough about my desire to know the truth about God, and therefore, about myself, that I am willing to make God, and God alone, the object of my thoughts, and thus, to put aside, perhaps even sacrifice, my personal, religious, social, and political wishes and prejudices? (Two minutes of silence to confess, to seek forgiveness, for the evil spirit you want Christ to drive from your life.) Follow this silence with a prayer similar to this: "Lord, by your Spirit, give me the courage to release my evil spirit to you."
Introduction to the Act of Receiving New Life (Pastor and evangels)
God gives us new life, even though we want to hang on to the old life for its comfort and security. Receive this new life now; for your life this moment is sustained by the Lord. Your being is utterly significant. You are pronounced free. Receive the gift of your life, free from your evil spirit; and make bold to call the One who gives it, "Lord of all Life."
e: Lord of the new life, Lord of our new life, cause us to trust and obey this, your promise.
P: You have been set free to celebrate.
e: We rejoice that all things are possible!
P: Rise up, get moving, as living persons.
e: We shall! We do! So be it.
Response
"O Sing All You Lands," Burger (based on Psalm 100).
The evangels Respond To God's Good News
Message with the Children of All Ages
What do you like about school? Other than recess? (Give them an opportunity to respond; keep the discussion on the positive.) What do you think that the people of Jesus' day liked about Jesus' teaching? (Wait.)
Response
Jesus knew what he was talking about; but, unlike the other teachers, he didn't go around quoting scripture to prove his point. He lived what he taught And the people were amazed. When we take time to think about Jesus and what he taught, we too will be amazed.
Reading from the Scripture
Have someone portraying Jesus sit on a stool, teaching the whole congregation. Have someone from the congregation simulate the man with the evil spirit. Jesus responds with the man's healing. Invite the people to express amazement to each other. Someone offstage says for all to hear, "News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee."
Proclamation of the Good News
You may want to focus on Jesus the teacher, and the amazement of the people. If so, also identify the urgency of teaching the evangels for their vocation of teaching, sharing the Good News wherever they are, whatever they do.
Stewardship Challenge
Henri Nouwen has said that "knowledge (which comes through learning truth) is no longer a gift to be shared, but a property to be defended." An Outer Limits episode, titled "Fallen Star," has one of the characters say, "The value and purpose of life depends, not on how many know our name, but how many lives we touch."
Hymn of Commitment
"Called as Partners in Christ's Service,"ÊJane Parker Huber, 1981; John Zundel, 1870. (Hymn of the month for the last four Sundays of Epiphany)
Charge to the Congregation
"The only person who is educated is the person who has learned to grow" (Carl Rogers). How will we grow; how will we help each other to grow this week, month, year?
Response to the Charge and Benediction (Pastor and evangels)
P: Alleluia!
e: You said it, and we agree!
Choral Response
"Threefold Amen" (lively and energetically)
Meditation
"... it is in fact nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods of instruction have not yet entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry; for this delicate little planet, aside from stimulation, stands mainly in need of freedom; without this it goes to wrack and ruin without fail" (Albert Einstein).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation and Dismissal: Medley of Epiphany hymns.
Hymn of Praise: "As with Gladness Men of Old," William Chatterton Dix, c. 1858; Conrad Docher, 1838; harm. The English Hymnal, 1906.
Response to the Proclamation: "Break Thou the Bread of Life," Mary Ann Lathbury, 1877; alt.; William Fish Sherwin, 1877; alt. (Note that this is a hymn about scripture, not about the Lord's Supper.)
Response to the Stewardship Challenge: "Air from Suite in D," J. S. Bach.
Once more, plus four more Epiphany Sundays, we celebrate the Presence and Power of the Evangel. Because God has called us, because God is present with us, worship then is never an obligation, a duty, a requirement. It is, rather, an invitation to examine our faith. It is not a rule of safety; it is an adventure of the spirit, a flight after the unattainable. So, are you ready? (Wait for a response; if none, or only a meager response, ask again, with more energy) ARE YOU READY?
e: Yes! Yes! Yes! We are ready! We are ready! We are ready for a God-event in our personal lives, and in the life of this congregation. Reveal to us, God, what you want us to learn; so we can be active evangels in your world.
Hymn for the First Half of Epiphany
"From a Distant Home."
Prayer of Praise
Include the reality that when we pay attention to what God is doing in this world, we shall be as amazed as the people who were present when Jesus drove out the evil spirit.
Response
"Glory Be to God On High," tune: "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore"; from Folk Encounter. (See Appendix I for address.)
The evangels Face Up To Themselves
Introduction to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
(You may want to print this in the bulletin.) Am I serious enough about my desire to know the truth about God, and therefore, about myself, that I am willing to make God, and God alone, the object of my thoughts, and thus, to put aside, perhaps even sacrifice, my personal, religious, social, and political wishes and prejudices? (Two minutes of silence to confess, to seek forgiveness, for the evil spirit you want Christ to drive from your life.) Follow this silence with a prayer similar to this: "Lord, by your Spirit, give me the courage to release my evil spirit to you."
Introduction to the Act of Receiving New Life (Pastor and evangels)
God gives us new life, even though we want to hang on to the old life for its comfort and security. Receive this new life now; for your life this moment is sustained by the Lord. Your being is utterly significant. You are pronounced free. Receive the gift of your life, free from your evil spirit; and make bold to call the One who gives it, "Lord of all Life."
e: Lord of the new life, Lord of our new life, cause us to trust and obey this, your promise.
P: You have been set free to celebrate.
e: We rejoice that all things are possible!
P: Rise up, get moving, as living persons.
e: We shall! We do! So be it.
Response
"O Sing All You Lands," Burger (based on Psalm 100).
The evangels Respond To God's Good News
Message with the Children of All Ages
What do you like about school? Other than recess? (Give them an opportunity to respond; keep the discussion on the positive.) What do you think that the people of Jesus' day liked about Jesus' teaching? (Wait.)
Response
Jesus knew what he was talking about; but, unlike the other teachers, he didn't go around quoting scripture to prove his point. He lived what he taught And the people were amazed. When we take time to think about Jesus and what he taught, we too will be amazed.
Reading from the Scripture
Have someone portraying Jesus sit on a stool, teaching the whole congregation. Have someone from the congregation simulate the man with the evil spirit. Jesus responds with the man's healing. Invite the people to express amazement to each other. Someone offstage says for all to hear, "News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee."
Proclamation of the Good News
You may want to focus on Jesus the teacher, and the amazement of the people. If so, also identify the urgency of teaching the evangels for their vocation of teaching, sharing the Good News wherever they are, whatever they do.
Stewardship Challenge
Henri Nouwen has said that "knowledge (which comes through learning truth) is no longer a gift to be shared, but a property to be defended." An Outer Limits episode, titled "Fallen Star," has one of the characters say, "The value and purpose of life depends, not on how many know our name, but how many lives we touch."
Hymn of Commitment
"Called as Partners in Christ's Service,"ÊJane Parker Huber, 1981; John Zundel, 1870. (Hymn of the month for the last four Sundays of Epiphany)
Charge to the Congregation
"The only person who is educated is the person who has learned to grow" (Carl Rogers). How will we grow; how will we help each other to grow this week, month, year?
Response to the Charge and Benediction (Pastor and evangels)
P: Alleluia!
e: You said it, and we agree!
Choral Response
"Threefold Amen" (lively and energetically)
Meditation
"... it is in fact nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods of instruction have not yet entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry; for this delicate little planet, aside from stimulation, stands mainly in need of freedom; without this it goes to wrack and ruin without fail" (Albert Einstein).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation and Dismissal: Medley of Epiphany hymns.
Hymn of Praise: "As with Gladness Men of Old," William Chatterton Dix, c. 1858; Conrad Docher, 1838; harm. The English Hymnal, 1906.
Response to the Proclamation: "Break Thou the Bread of Life," Mary Ann Lathbury, 1877; alt.; William Fish Sherwin, 1877; alt. (Note that this is a hymn about scripture, not about the Lord's Supper.)
Response to the Stewardship Challenge: "Air from Suite in D," J. S. Bach.
