Proper 11
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series IV, Cycle A
Hymns
There Is A Wideness In God's Mercy (LBW290, NCH23, PH298, CBH145, UM121)
Nearer, My God, To Thee (NCH606, UM528)
Out Of The Depths (UM515, CBH133, NCH483)
Precious Lord, Take My Hand (PH404, UM474, CBH575, NCH472)
Prayer Is The Soul's Sincere Desire (CBH572, NCH508, UM492)
In The Bulb There Is A Flower (CBH614, NCH433, UM707)
If Thou But Trust In God To Guide Me (CBH576, NCH410, PH282, UM142)
Come, Ye Thankful People, Come (UM694, CBH94, NCH422, PH551)
Anthems
Every Time I Feel The Spirit, William Dawson, Tuskegee Music Press, SATB or TTBB
Jacob's Ladder, Kevin McChesney, Alfred Pub., 2 to 3--octave handbells
Psalm 139, Pote, CGA, SATB
We Are Children Of Our God, Michael Jothen, Unison/2--part
Call to Worship
Leader: Praise God for the heat of summer
People: God has created the seasons in all their intricacies
Leader: The heat of the sun fills our spirits and reminds us of all God's greatness.
People: As we come inside to get out of the heat, we come to worship all of God's creation.
Leader: Let us be filled with the heat of God's loving presence.
All: Surely our God is in this place! Amen.
Prayer of Invocation
All--encompassing God, we are in awe of you. We come to you in all of our seasons: when we are joy--filled or grief--filled, when our hearts are filled with love and when we're crippled with hatred, at the birth of a new baby, and at the death of a parent. You are the head of this family of faith, and we come to sit at the table and be fed. On this hot summer day, we are eager to hear your word and learn more of your desires for us. Teach us, O God, all that you want us to know. We are here to listen and be inspired to do your will. Amen.
Scripture Readings
Genesis 28:10--19a: This passage would really be a good one to have older elementary students dramatize. The cast includes a Narrator, Jacob, Angels (four or more), and God. Props include several large rocks, eight to twelve inches in diameter, a step ladder, and a small container for "pretend" oil. Jacob wears a typical biblical costume. God and Angels can wear white. Angels could have halos/wings if preferred, but not so they get in the way of their ability to go up and down the ladder.
Narrator: Jacob left Beer--Sheba and went toward Haran. (Jacob comes from back of sanctuary and up steps to chancel. Large stones are piled in front of the altar. Jacob sets up camp and chooses a stone to be his pillow) He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. (Jacob lies down with a stone for his pillow) And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up (Four or more Angels carry a ladder out and set it in front of Jacob. They take turns climbing up about three steps on the ladder) on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And the Lord stood beside him and said,
God: (Comes out stage right and stands right behind Jacob who is still asleep) I am Yahweh, God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.
Narrator: Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said,
Jacob: (Wakes up, stretches and stands up) Surely Yahweh is in this place, and I did not know it!
Narrator: And he was afraid, and said,
Jacob: How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
Narrator: So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under his head (Jacob piles rocks on top of each other and places a rock on the top. Then he pulls a flask from his pocket and pretends to pour oil over the rocks) and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it.
Jacob: I will call this place Bethel.
Narrator: but the name of the city was Luz at the first.
Matthew 13:24--30, 36--43: As a reader reads Matthew 13:24--30, a Sunday school class could pantomime the parable. The cast includes: the Householder, an Enemy, and Field Servants who discover the weeds. Beginning with verse 36, the children might become the disciples who ask what the parable means. They might sit at the reader's feet, and say, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field." Then the reader may finish the passage as if teaching the disciples.
Call to Offering
As we gather the offering today, may all that we give be used to sow the good seed of kindness in the world. The ushers will wait upon us for the morning offering.
Pastoral Prayer
O God, you have searched us and know us. The psalmist tells us that even before a word is on our tongues, you know what we are going to say. And yet we are compelled to pray together to thank you for all your good gifts to us. We thank you for the sun which makes the crops grow. We thank you for the cool of the evenings which produces the dew that keeps the earth cooler. You are a great God, and we love you. We ask today for your oversight of your world, God. So many of the people live in poverty, sickness, and war. Whisper into the ears of the world leaders, God. Encourage them to lust after peace and not power. Impel each of us to befriend someone different from ourselves - to understand that despite our differences we are very much alike.
God, we also ask your healing presence with all those who are sick, grieving, and filled with worry. Help those whom we name today to know that you are with them on their journey. Give them your steadfast love to walk through their lives without so much fear of the unknown. As the Psalmist says, "Hem us in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon us." Give us your peace. Amen.
Benediction
Leader: All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
People: Lead us, Holy Spirit.
Leader: Go in hope, go in peace, go in love.
People: Lead us, Holy Spirit. Amen.
There Is A Wideness In God's Mercy (LBW290, NCH23, PH298, CBH145, UM121)
Nearer, My God, To Thee (NCH606, UM528)
Out Of The Depths (UM515, CBH133, NCH483)
Precious Lord, Take My Hand (PH404, UM474, CBH575, NCH472)
Prayer Is The Soul's Sincere Desire (CBH572, NCH508, UM492)
In The Bulb There Is A Flower (CBH614, NCH433, UM707)
If Thou But Trust In God To Guide Me (CBH576, NCH410, PH282, UM142)
Come, Ye Thankful People, Come (UM694, CBH94, NCH422, PH551)
Anthems
Every Time I Feel The Spirit, William Dawson, Tuskegee Music Press, SATB or TTBB
Jacob's Ladder, Kevin McChesney, Alfred Pub., 2 to 3--octave handbells
Psalm 139, Pote, CGA, SATB
We Are Children Of Our God, Michael Jothen, Unison/2--part
Call to Worship
Leader: Praise God for the heat of summer
People: God has created the seasons in all their intricacies
Leader: The heat of the sun fills our spirits and reminds us of all God's greatness.
People: As we come inside to get out of the heat, we come to worship all of God's creation.
Leader: Let us be filled with the heat of God's loving presence.
All: Surely our God is in this place! Amen.
Prayer of Invocation
All--encompassing God, we are in awe of you. We come to you in all of our seasons: when we are joy--filled or grief--filled, when our hearts are filled with love and when we're crippled with hatred, at the birth of a new baby, and at the death of a parent. You are the head of this family of faith, and we come to sit at the table and be fed. On this hot summer day, we are eager to hear your word and learn more of your desires for us. Teach us, O God, all that you want us to know. We are here to listen and be inspired to do your will. Amen.
Scripture Readings
Genesis 28:10--19a: This passage would really be a good one to have older elementary students dramatize. The cast includes a Narrator, Jacob, Angels (four or more), and God. Props include several large rocks, eight to twelve inches in diameter, a step ladder, and a small container for "pretend" oil. Jacob wears a typical biblical costume. God and Angels can wear white. Angels could have halos/wings if preferred, but not so they get in the way of their ability to go up and down the ladder.
Narrator: Jacob left Beer--Sheba and went toward Haran. (Jacob comes from back of sanctuary and up steps to chancel. Large stones are piled in front of the altar. Jacob sets up camp and chooses a stone to be his pillow) He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. (Jacob lies down with a stone for his pillow) And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up (Four or more Angels carry a ladder out and set it in front of Jacob. They take turns climbing up about three steps on the ladder) on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And the Lord stood beside him and said,
God: (Comes out stage right and stands right behind Jacob who is still asleep) I am Yahweh, God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.
Narrator: Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said,
Jacob: (Wakes up, stretches and stands up) Surely Yahweh is in this place, and I did not know it!
Narrator: And he was afraid, and said,
Jacob: How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
Narrator: So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under his head (Jacob piles rocks on top of each other and places a rock on the top. Then he pulls a flask from his pocket and pretends to pour oil over the rocks) and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it.
Jacob: I will call this place Bethel.
Narrator: but the name of the city was Luz at the first.
Matthew 13:24--30, 36--43: As a reader reads Matthew 13:24--30, a Sunday school class could pantomime the parable. The cast includes: the Householder, an Enemy, and Field Servants who discover the weeds. Beginning with verse 36, the children might become the disciples who ask what the parable means. They might sit at the reader's feet, and say, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field." Then the reader may finish the passage as if teaching the disciples.
Call to Offering
As we gather the offering today, may all that we give be used to sow the good seed of kindness in the world. The ushers will wait upon us for the morning offering.
Pastoral Prayer
O God, you have searched us and know us. The psalmist tells us that even before a word is on our tongues, you know what we are going to say. And yet we are compelled to pray together to thank you for all your good gifts to us. We thank you for the sun which makes the crops grow. We thank you for the cool of the evenings which produces the dew that keeps the earth cooler. You are a great God, and we love you. We ask today for your oversight of your world, God. So many of the people live in poverty, sickness, and war. Whisper into the ears of the world leaders, God. Encourage them to lust after peace and not power. Impel each of us to befriend someone different from ourselves - to understand that despite our differences we are very much alike.
God, we also ask your healing presence with all those who are sick, grieving, and filled with worry. Help those whom we name today to know that you are with them on their journey. Give them your steadfast love to walk through their lives without so much fear of the unknown. As the Psalmist says, "Hem us in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon us." Give us your peace. Amen.
Benediction
Leader: All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
People: Lead us, Holy Spirit.
Leader: Go in hope, go in peace, go in love.
People: Lead us, Holy Spirit. Amen.
