Proper 10 / Ordinary Time 15 / Pentecost 5
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook, Series IV, Cycle C
Soul Motion
Zoos are no longer in people's good graces.
Religion faces the same problem.
Certain illusions about freedom plague them both.
-- Yann Martel, Life of Pi
Call To Worship
Leader: It's a good morning! Are you awake? Are you ready to sing?
People: Ah, yes. We are thankful for life and we express our gratitude to the living God!
Leader: We have called to God many times and the Holy One has sustained us and restored us to hopefulness.
People: With music and dance, with words and silence, we thank God for divine goodness among us!
Prayer Of Thanksgiving (Leader)
Holy One -- sometimes your presence among us is so subtle, we almost miss you. Stretch our imaginations till we can perceive your amazing grace. Strengthen our voices so we can say what we experience and think. Thank you for the various ways you are among us and for the multiples ways you bless us. We sing to you and we enjoy one another. Amen.
Call To Confession (Leader)
We have many ways of measuring what is important to us. We take a few moments to look within ourselves and notice what is not measuring up to our hopes for our lives. Pray with me the printed prayer and then have your personal conversation with the Holy One.
Community Confession (Unison)
Ceaseless Creator -- we do not want to be like walls out of kilter or people with crooked behaviors. Create in us minds that are eager to live into mystery and to be bear-ers not of plumb lines but of hope and nurturing actions. Let our living reflect the teachings of Jesus and the light of your love. Amen.
Sermon Idea
The story of Amos' plumb line is easy to transpose to twenty-first-century politics, international justice, and systemic oppression of the bottom 2/3 of society. With a plumb line, it is easy to make the story graphic. Depending on the congregation, the sermon might explore the good Samaritan story with the people identifying with the wounded person. If generalized, how might American citizens respond to the government's continual blindness to people not earning enough to eat or to shelter and to provide care for a family? Do Americans think the middle and lower socioeconomic groups are being mistreated? Perhaps the plumb line measuring justice and fairness in the USA is reasonably straight. The sermon also might explore the perception of the president's responding to the moral and ethical challenges in America that affect the whole global environment. Amos says that he does not make his public statements for pay. How does that idea bounce off moneys for preachers and politicians?
Contemporary Affirmation (Unison)
We know God, the Creator, by many names;
we believe that God, the Holy One, loves us and all creation.
We know Jesus of Nazareth taught people to love friends and enemies;
we believe Jesus' teachings lead us to satisfaction in living.
We believe the Holy Spirit is moving throughout the global village,
inviting all peoples to live peaceably together;
we experience the Holy Spirit to be motivating us to journey toward
internal contentment and external service for justice.
In community, we are stimulated intellectually to ask questions
about the meaning of life and Mystery.
We are challenged to know ourselves and to relate to God.
We are soothed during the painful parts of life and in good times,
we share our rejoicings! Hurrah! Yippee! Hallelujah!
Offertory Statement (Leader)
With your own sense of what is appropriate and helpful, this is the moment when you can respond with generosity to Holy Generosity so that tangible goodness continues in this place.
Doxology
The Lone, Wild Bird (v. 2, modified), tune: PROSPECT
The ends of earth are in God's hand, The sea's dark deep and far-off land.
And I am yours! I rest in you. Great Spirit, come, and rest in me.
Prayer Of Thanksgiving (Leader)
Creating God -- we are glad that we are made in your image and can be creative in many ways. We are grateful for the call to care for people and the earth and for the resources to do what you ask. Amen.
Intercessory Prayers (Leader or Readers)
God of the Ancients and the Contemporaries -- we like to think of ourselves as "Good Samaritans," as people who care effectively for others. As we read the scriptures, we examine our motives and our ability to stick to our goals. Give us strength and courage to meet the challenges that come to us.
Fathering God -- remember our origin and do not challenge us beyond what our talents are. For those of us in pain, speak encouragement; for those of us struggling with disease, speak healing; for those of us who are depressed and disillusioned, speak hope. For those of us whose burdens seem unbearable, lift us with options; for those of us whose baggage hampers wholeness, touch us with surprising possibilities. Whatever our need, heal us and fill us with shalom.
Mothering God -- we want to think you preside over the whole world. When we think literally, we get confused over what we can expect of you. We want to hold you accountable for our problems and for our prosperity. Help us connect the dots between our prayers and our actions, between our thoughts and our words, and between communal values and human wants.
God of Religions -- you are Mystery and light for our lives. We try again and again to understand your teachings, your kindness, and your constant love. Violence makes us afraid yet many people live in peril every day. War repels us yet we participate in terrorizing people around the planet in order to get what our nation wants or needs. Hunger and disease plague children and adults. Competition between religious systems stoke murderous actions. We find solace in the psalms: Remember your mercy toward us; relieve us of our worries and save us from our troubles. Feed the hungry and heal the sick. With trust, we turn to you for safety.
God of Reason -- we have come to see that thinking about things is not adequate to grow our faith community nor to save the planet. Unite us humans to see ourselves whole and to live caringly in the world so that our children receive the gifts of fresh air, sparkling waters, tall trees, and nourishing foods. Amen.
Benediction (Leader)
Life is a journey to Mystery.
Experiment with multiple names for God;
Explore different ways to respond to the Holy Spirit.
Laugh each day and unbuild the overwhelming towers of the world.
Notice possibilities around each corner;
Make dreams and cultivate a glad heart!
Holy Spirit empowers you and me to live real life --
Peace be yours, deep peace. Amen.
Music
Bring Many Names
Words: Brian Wren, 1987
Music: Carlton R. Young, 1987
WESTCHASE
Colorful Creator
Words: Ruth Duck, 1992
Music: Carlton R. Young, 1992
HOUGHTON
Let The Whole Creation Cry
Words: Stopford A. Brooke, 1881, alt.
Music: Robert Williams, 1817
LLANFAIR
Restless Weaver
Words: O. I. Cricket Harrison, 1988, rev. 1993
Music: Attr. B. F. White, 1844; harm. Ronald A. Nelson, 1978
BEACH SPRING
When In Our Music God Is Glorified
Words: Fred Pratt Green, 1971
Music: Charles V. Stanford, 1904
ENGLEBERG
Religion faces the same problem.
Certain illusions about freedom plague them both.
-- Yann Martel, Life of Pi
Call To Worship
Leader: It's a good morning! Are you awake? Are you ready to sing?
People: Ah, yes. We are thankful for life and we express our gratitude to the living God!
Leader: We have called to God many times and the Holy One has sustained us and restored us to hopefulness.
People: With music and dance, with words and silence, we thank God for divine goodness among us!
Prayer Of Thanksgiving (Leader)
Holy One -- sometimes your presence among us is so subtle, we almost miss you. Stretch our imaginations till we can perceive your amazing grace. Strengthen our voices so we can say what we experience and think. Thank you for the various ways you are among us and for the multiples ways you bless us. We sing to you and we enjoy one another. Amen.
Call To Confession (Leader)
We have many ways of measuring what is important to us. We take a few moments to look within ourselves and notice what is not measuring up to our hopes for our lives. Pray with me the printed prayer and then have your personal conversation with the Holy One.
Community Confession (Unison)
Ceaseless Creator -- we do not want to be like walls out of kilter or people with crooked behaviors. Create in us minds that are eager to live into mystery and to be bear-ers not of plumb lines but of hope and nurturing actions. Let our living reflect the teachings of Jesus and the light of your love. Amen.
Sermon Idea
The story of Amos' plumb line is easy to transpose to twenty-first-century politics, international justice, and systemic oppression of the bottom 2/3 of society. With a plumb line, it is easy to make the story graphic. Depending on the congregation, the sermon might explore the good Samaritan story with the people identifying with the wounded person. If generalized, how might American citizens respond to the government's continual blindness to people not earning enough to eat or to shelter and to provide care for a family? Do Americans think the middle and lower socioeconomic groups are being mistreated? Perhaps the plumb line measuring justice and fairness in the USA is reasonably straight. The sermon also might explore the perception of the president's responding to the moral and ethical challenges in America that affect the whole global environment. Amos says that he does not make his public statements for pay. How does that idea bounce off moneys for preachers and politicians?
Contemporary Affirmation (Unison)
We know God, the Creator, by many names;
we believe that God, the Holy One, loves us and all creation.
We know Jesus of Nazareth taught people to love friends and enemies;
we believe Jesus' teachings lead us to satisfaction in living.
We believe the Holy Spirit is moving throughout the global village,
inviting all peoples to live peaceably together;
we experience the Holy Spirit to be motivating us to journey toward
internal contentment and external service for justice.
In community, we are stimulated intellectually to ask questions
about the meaning of life and Mystery.
We are challenged to know ourselves and to relate to God.
We are soothed during the painful parts of life and in good times,
we share our rejoicings! Hurrah! Yippee! Hallelujah!
Offertory Statement (Leader)
With your own sense of what is appropriate and helpful, this is the moment when you can respond with generosity to Holy Generosity so that tangible goodness continues in this place.
Doxology
The Lone, Wild Bird (v. 2, modified), tune: PROSPECT
The ends of earth are in God's hand, The sea's dark deep and far-off land.
And I am yours! I rest in you. Great Spirit, come, and rest in me.
Prayer Of Thanksgiving (Leader)
Creating God -- we are glad that we are made in your image and can be creative in many ways. We are grateful for the call to care for people and the earth and for the resources to do what you ask. Amen.
Intercessory Prayers (Leader or Readers)
God of the Ancients and the Contemporaries -- we like to think of ourselves as "Good Samaritans," as people who care effectively for others. As we read the scriptures, we examine our motives and our ability to stick to our goals. Give us strength and courage to meet the challenges that come to us.
Fathering God -- remember our origin and do not challenge us beyond what our talents are. For those of us in pain, speak encouragement; for those of us struggling with disease, speak healing; for those of us who are depressed and disillusioned, speak hope. For those of us whose burdens seem unbearable, lift us with options; for those of us whose baggage hampers wholeness, touch us with surprising possibilities. Whatever our need, heal us and fill us with shalom.
Mothering God -- we want to think you preside over the whole world. When we think literally, we get confused over what we can expect of you. We want to hold you accountable for our problems and for our prosperity. Help us connect the dots between our prayers and our actions, between our thoughts and our words, and between communal values and human wants.
God of Religions -- you are Mystery and light for our lives. We try again and again to understand your teachings, your kindness, and your constant love. Violence makes us afraid yet many people live in peril every day. War repels us yet we participate in terrorizing people around the planet in order to get what our nation wants or needs. Hunger and disease plague children and adults. Competition between religious systems stoke murderous actions. We find solace in the psalms: Remember your mercy toward us; relieve us of our worries and save us from our troubles. Feed the hungry and heal the sick. With trust, we turn to you for safety.
God of Reason -- we have come to see that thinking about things is not adequate to grow our faith community nor to save the planet. Unite us humans to see ourselves whole and to live caringly in the world so that our children receive the gifts of fresh air, sparkling waters, tall trees, and nourishing foods. Amen.
Benediction (Leader)
Life is a journey to Mystery.
Experiment with multiple names for God;
Explore different ways to respond to the Holy Spirit.
Laugh each day and unbuild the overwhelming towers of the world.
Notice possibilities around each corner;
Make dreams and cultivate a glad heart!
Holy Spirit empowers you and me to live real life --
Peace be yours, deep peace. Amen.
Music
Bring Many Names
Words: Brian Wren, 1987
Music: Carlton R. Young, 1987
WESTCHASE
Colorful Creator
Words: Ruth Duck, 1992
Music: Carlton R. Young, 1992
HOUGHTON
Let The Whole Creation Cry
Words: Stopford A. Brooke, 1881, alt.
Music: Robert Williams, 1817
LLANFAIR
Restless Weaver
Words: O. I. Cricket Harrison, 1988, rev. 1993
Music: Attr. B. F. White, 1844; harm. Ronald A. Nelson, 1978
BEACH SPRING
When In Our Music God Is Glorified
Words: Fred Pratt Green, 1971
Music: Charles V. Stanford, 1904
ENGLEBERG
