The preaching ministry
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Planning Ideas And Resources For The Entire Church Year
Pastoral Invitation to the Celebration
Suggestion:
Welcome to worship in the Name of the God of wholeness. God has sent Christ to bring healing, liberation, salvation to the world, the world which God loves, and asks us to do the same.
Continue with this litany:
Pastor:
Our wholeness is in the name of the Lord,
Ministers: Who made heaven and earth our home.
Pastor:
Praise the Lord.
Ministers: The Lord's name be praised.
The Act of Recognizing our Humanness and The Act of Receiving New Life
Considier this:
Begin the act by asking what people, these people, expect from God for their obedience, no matter what form it takes, casual or committed. Perhaps some would take the risk of sharing.
Some expect their lives lived always on the mountaintop; others expect material blessing; still others, peace and prosperity. Those who expect these things quote the proper Scriptures.
If this is what we expect, share some of the hard sayings of Jesus: Don't look back; it won't be easy; you will receive a cross. These, we don't like to hear; yet, we cannot have resurrection without crucifixion.
Give several moments for the people to be silent.
Following the silence, offer a prayer of confession and forgiveness for having the wrong expectations.
Conclude with this litany:
Pastor:
Christ has set us free of our false expectations in order to live our lives as his people.
Ministers: We believe, if we choose to believe, that God has forgiven us of our false expectations.
Pastor:
I invite us now, with new expectations, to give thanks and embrace life, Christ's life in us.
Ministers: We seek a creative, Christ-centered, role in God's world.
Pastor:
So be it!
Ministers: Be it so!
Message with the Children of All Ages
Consider this:
You may want to continue with the idea of expectation. Ask, did you get what you expected for Christmas? If you didn't, what did you think and feel? What did you do about it? Complain? Pout? Scream? Demand. Develop the idea further as necessary.
At the beginning of Jesus' ministry, he healed a great many people. Later, the people asked for more and more. Then later, when they didn't get what they expected, they demanded his death. Even though he came to make people whole, he came to tell us about the love of God for the world. He asks us to do the same, even when we don't feel like it, or get our own way.
Proclamation of the Word
Suggestion:
Put the emphasis, not so much on the healing miracles, but rather on verse 38, "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also; for that is why I came." (R.S.V.)
Stewardship Challenge
Consider this:
The stewardship of expectation: When we come to God, do we come with our pre-conceived notions about how God is supposed to respond to us; or are we willing to listen in silence long enough to discover what God has in mind for us?
Charge to the Congregation
Suggestion:
Are you so open to God's will that you are willing to wait upon God's Word to you? In other words, do you believe in God? Most will say "yes," Believe, in the Bible, means, trusting to the point of obedience; are you willing to take a risk? How does your belief affect your life - your relationship with others - beginning in your own home, reaching into your vocation and vacation, to those whom you don't know for whom Christ also died, and to whom Christ has called you to serve. Harry Emerson Fosdick once said that "a mature religion (faith) is always to be judged by what it does for the underdog," and I add, not by what it gets for itself.
Planning for Your Congregation
Suggestions
Your Situation
I. Other Scriptures
Liturgist:
Psalm 147:1-13
Job 7:1-7
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
II. Suggested Hymns
Coordinator:
"Come, O Thou God of Grace" William E. Evans, 1886
"God Himself Is with Us" Gerhard Tersteegen, 1729
Trans. composite, as in The Hymnal, 1941; alt., 1972
"Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies" Charles Wesley, 1740
III. Other Music Possibilities
Organist/Choir director:
Music for Preparation and Dismissal
Medley of Epiphany hymns
Response to the Act of Receiving New Life
"You are the Lord, Giver of Mercy" Contemporary version
Response to the Scripture
"Alleluia" Source Unknown from Folk Encounter, Hope Publishing Company 380 South Main Place
Carol Stream, Illinois 60187
Response to the Stewardship Challenge
"Truth Shall Make You Free" based on John 8:31-32 John F. Wilson Folk Encounter
Response to the Benediction
"Glory Be to God on High" Folk Encounter
IV. Bulletin Cover
Church secretary:
V. Bulletin Symbols
VI. Miscellaneous Details (Assignments:)
Ushers
Candlelighters
Hosts/Hostesses
Banners
Flowers
Greeters
Posters
Name-tags
Others
Suggestion:
Welcome to worship in the Name of the God of wholeness. God has sent Christ to bring healing, liberation, salvation to the world, the world which God loves, and asks us to do the same.
Continue with this litany:
Pastor:
Our wholeness is in the name of the Lord,
Ministers: Who made heaven and earth our home.
Pastor:
Praise the Lord.
Ministers: The Lord's name be praised.
The Act of Recognizing our Humanness and The Act of Receiving New Life
Considier this:
Begin the act by asking what people, these people, expect from God for their obedience, no matter what form it takes, casual or committed. Perhaps some would take the risk of sharing.
Some expect their lives lived always on the mountaintop; others expect material blessing; still others, peace and prosperity. Those who expect these things quote the proper Scriptures.
If this is what we expect, share some of the hard sayings of Jesus: Don't look back; it won't be easy; you will receive a cross. These, we don't like to hear; yet, we cannot have resurrection without crucifixion.
Give several moments for the people to be silent.
Following the silence, offer a prayer of confession and forgiveness for having the wrong expectations.
Conclude with this litany:
Pastor:
Christ has set us free of our false expectations in order to live our lives as his people.
Ministers: We believe, if we choose to believe, that God has forgiven us of our false expectations.
Pastor:
I invite us now, with new expectations, to give thanks and embrace life, Christ's life in us.
Ministers: We seek a creative, Christ-centered, role in God's world.
Pastor:
So be it!
Ministers: Be it so!
Message with the Children of All Ages
Consider this:
You may want to continue with the idea of expectation. Ask, did you get what you expected for Christmas? If you didn't, what did you think and feel? What did you do about it? Complain? Pout? Scream? Demand. Develop the idea further as necessary.
At the beginning of Jesus' ministry, he healed a great many people. Later, the people asked for more and more. Then later, when they didn't get what they expected, they demanded his death. Even though he came to make people whole, he came to tell us about the love of God for the world. He asks us to do the same, even when we don't feel like it, or get our own way.
Proclamation of the Word
Suggestion:
Put the emphasis, not so much on the healing miracles, but rather on verse 38, "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also; for that is why I came." (R.S.V.)
Stewardship Challenge
Consider this:
The stewardship of expectation: When we come to God, do we come with our pre-conceived notions about how God is supposed to respond to us; or are we willing to listen in silence long enough to discover what God has in mind for us?
Charge to the Congregation
Suggestion:
Are you so open to God's will that you are willing to wait upon God's Word to you? In other words, do you believe in God? Most will say "yes," Believe, in the Bible, means, trusting to the point of obedience; are you willing to take a risk? How does your belief affect your life - your relationship with others - beginning in your own home, reaching into your vocation and vacation, to those whom you don't know for whom Christ also died, and to whom Christ has called you to serve. Harry Emerson Fosdick once said that "a mature religion (faith) is always to be judged by what it does for the underdog," and I add, not by what it gets for itself.
Planning for Your Congregation
Suggestions
Your Situation
I. Other Scriptures
Liturgist:
Psalm 147:1-13
Job 7:1-7
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
II. Suggested Hymns
Coordinator:
"Come, O Thou God of Grace" William E. Evans, 1886
"God Himself Is with Us" Gerhard Tersteegen, 1729
Trans. composite, as in The Hymnal, 1941; alt., 1972
"Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies" Charles Wesley, 1740
III. Other Music Possibilities
Organist/Choir director:
Music for Preparation and Dismissal
Medley of Epiphany hymns
Response to the Act of Receiving New Life
"You are the Lord, Giver of Mercy" Contemporary version
Response to the Scripture
"Alleluia" Source Unknown from Folk Encounter, Hope Publishing Company 380 South Main Place
Carol Stream, Illinois 60187
Response to the Stewardship Challenge
"Truth Shall Make You Free" based on John 8:31-32 John F. Wilson Folk Encounter
Response to the Benediction
"Glory Be to God on High" Folk Encounter
IV. Bulletin Cover
Church secretary:
V. Bulletin Symbols
VI. Miscellaneous Details (Assignments:)
Ushers
Candlelighters
Hosts/Hostesses
Banners
Flowers
Greeters
Posters
Name-tags
Others
