Proper 11, Pentecost 9, Ordinary Time 16
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle C Gospel Texts
Liturgical Color: Green
Gospel: Luke 10:38-42
Theme: Jesus' Encounter with Mary and Martha: A Matter of Priorities. What do you consider your top three priorities?
Celebrating God's Activity
Pastoral Invitation
(Stand in the pulpit two minutes before giving the call to worship; that is, deliberately slow down the pace. Delay the call until people become uncomfortable.) Welcome to the celebration of the Good News. Raise your hand if you feel uncomfortable with the silence. What did you do with the silence? Anyone care to share? (If no one responds, suggest some possibilities: prayer, hostility, mind-wandering, appreciation, and so on.) Now, do we get more mileage being "Martha"apeople, hustling and bustling around, or "Mary"apeople who wait quietly on the Lord? (One minute of silence. By the way, this would be a good day not to have a bulletin, so the people would not have that crutch to lean on.)
Hymn of Praise
"For the Beauty of the Earth," Folliot Sandford Pierpoint, 1864; Conrad Kocher, 1838; abr. William Henry Monk, 1861; harm. The English Hymnal, 1906.
Prayer of Praise
God, we praise you for you, and for your truth given to us. By your Spirit, teach us how to receive that truth. When the world buffets us, and blusters at us, we wonder, in the midst of our rush-hour busyness, if we are known by you, or by anyone. Keep on reminding us, because we so easily forget, that you are in charge of the world; and that we need to take the time to discover, and rediscover that truth, every day. Teach us, Lord, to make your priorities, our priorities.
Examining Our Activities
Introduction to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
I invite us to be silent for two minutes. (At the end of the silence, play Simon and Garfunkle's "The Sound of Silence." After this, ask these or similar questions and allow several moments of silence after each.) (1) Are we more interested in our busyness, or in God's business? (2) How does our decision affect our daily routine? (3) Where do we hear the "still small voice of God"? (4) Do we have a compulsion to stay busy? If so, what do we hope to accomplish by that? (Add your own. At the end of the confession, have two minutes of silence. At the end of the silence, ask if the confessional silence is any different from the call to worship silence.)
Introduction to the Act of Receiving New Life
Offer a prayer which includes the virtues of being a Martha or Mary; because both persons are necessary. Also include Jesus' affirmation that, for the moment, Mary chose the better way to respond.
Allowing The Word To Examine Us
Message with the Children of All Ages
Have you children ever said, about three days into summer vacation, "There's nothing to do; I'm bored"? (Wait.) I know that many of us adults have to stay busy every minute, even if we are only watching television. And we pastors get all kinds of messages that the busier we are the better pastor we are. We sometimes even brag about how busy we are, running here and there, doing this and that; and then we wonder why people don't call us when they have a need to which we can respond. (At this point, act out the Scripture. Obviously, you will need a "Jesus," "Martha," and "Mary." Encourage the actors to use their own words. Following the drama, ask the children what Jesus is wanting to teach us. Include the whole congregation in that question. Conclude with a prayer which incorporates the message.)
Dramatizing the Scripture
See Message with the Children of All Ages.
Proclamation of the Good News
You may want to consider these ideas: (1) Martha was "distracted with much serving," literally means, "drawn in different directions." Sound familiar to anyone? (2) Martha was not so much active as fussy. She allowed herself to become worried over unimportant things; and finally, she lost her temper. Sound familiar to anyone? (3) Offer some ways that Jesus could bring peace and wholeness to our homes, and lives outside of our homes.
Response
Here is one response to the last question: "God Bless This Child," words and music by Dave Farley, New Wine. (See Appendix I for address.)
Responding To God's Activity In Our Homes And Beyond
Stewardship Challenge
When we consider our stewardship of life, with whom do we most identify, Martha or Mary? Are we willing to seek a balance between the two?
Hymn of Obedience
"You Are Before Me, Lord," Ian Pitt-Wilson, 1973, 1989; Alfred Morton Smith, 1941.
Charge to the Congregation
Someone has said that we Americans are "distracted from distractions by distractions." True for us? Someone else has said that we also serve when we sit and wait, for the right reasons. (Just before people leave, ask them not to speak to each other until they arrive home. A silent coffee hour, at least for fifteen minutes, might free people to think about many things they would never have considered previously.)
Meditation
Lucy of Peanuts fame knelt beside her bed, praying. She finished her prayer, went to breakfast, and said to her brother, "I was praying for greater patience and understanding, but I quit ... I was afraid I might get it." Today's Gospel lesson is the only one in the Bible, other than the Ten Commandments, which identifies the most important thing in life.
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: "Be Still, My Soul," from Psalm 46, Katharina von Schlegel, 1752; trans. by Jane Laurie Borthwick, 1855.
Doxology: Congregation in silence.
Music for Dismissal: "Hope of the World," Georgia Harkness, 1954; Genevan Psalter, 1551; or, "Be Still My Soul."
Gospel: Luke 10:38-42
Theme: Jesus' Encounter with Mary and Martha: A Matter of Priorities. What do you consider your top three priorities?
Celebrating God's Activity
Pastoral Invitation
(Stand in the pulpit two minutes before giving the call to worship; that is, deliberately slow down the pace. Delay the call until people become uncomfortable.) Welcome to the celebration of the Good News. Raise your hand if you feel uncomfortable with the silence. What did you do with the silence? Anyone care to share? (If no one responds, suggest some possibilities: prayer, hostility, mind-wandering, appreciation, and so on.) Now, do we get more mileage being "Martha"apeople, hustling and bustling around, or "Mary"apeople who wait quietly on the Lord? (One minute of silence. By the way, this would be a good day not to have a bulletin, so the people would not have that crutch to lean on.)
Hymn of Praise
"For the Beauty of the Earth," Folliot Sandford Pierpoint, 1864; Conrad Kocher, 1838; abr. William Henry Monk, 1861; harm. The English Hymnal, 1906.
Prayer of Praise
God, we praise you for you, and for your truth given to us. By your Spirit, teach us how to receive that truth. When the world buffets us, and blusters at us, we wonder, in the midst of our rush-hour busyness, if we are known by you, or by anyone. Keep on reminding us, because we so easily forget, that you are in charge of the world; and that we need to take the time to discover, and rediscover that truth, every day. Teach us, Lord, to make your priorities, our priorities.
Examining Our Activities
Introduction to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
I invite us to be silent for two minutes. (At the end of the silence, play Simon and Garfunkle's "The Sound of Silence." After this, ask these or similar questions and allow several moments of silence after each.) (1) Are we more interested in our busyness, or in God's business? (2) How does our decision affect our daily routine? (3) Where do we hear the "still small voice of God"? (4) Do we have a compulsion to stay busy? If so, what do we hope to accomplish by that? (Add your own. At the end of the confession, have two minutes of silence. At the end of the silence, ask if the confessional silence is any different from the call to worship silence.)
Introduction to the Act of Receiving New Life
Offer a prayer which includes the virtues of being a Martha or Mary; because both persons are necessary. Also include Jesus' affirmation that, for the moment, Mary chose the better way to respond.
Allowing The Word To Examine Us
Message with the Children of All Ages
Have you children ever said, about three days into summer vacation, "There's nothing to do; I'm bored"? (Wait.) I know that many of us adults have to stay busy every minute, even if we are only watching television. And we pastors get all kinds of messages that the busier we are the better pastor we are. We sometimes even brag about how busy we are, running here and there, doing this and that; and then we wonder why people don't call us when they have a need to which we can respond. (At this point, act out the Scripture. Obviously, you will need a "Jesus," "Martha," and "Mary." Encourage the actors to use their own words. Following the drama, ask the children what Jesus is wanting to teach us. Include the whole congregation in that question. Conclude with a prayer which incorporates the message.)
Dramatizing the Scripture
See Message with the Children of All Ages.
Proclamation of the Good News
You may want to consider these ideas: (1) Martha was "distracted with much serving," literally means, "drawn in different directions." Sound familiar to anyone? (2) Martha was not so much active as fussy. She allowed herself to become worried over unimportant things; and finally, she lost her temper. Sound familiar to anyone? (3) Offer some ways that Jesus could bring peace and wholeness to our homes, and lives outside of our homes.
Response
Here is one response to the last question: "God Bless This Child," words and music by Dave Farley, New Wine. (See Appendix I for address.)
Responding To God's Activity In Our Homes And Beyond
Stewardship Challenge
When we consider our stewardship of life, with whom do we most identify, Martha or Mary? Are we willing to seek a balance between the two?
Hymn of Obedience
"You Are Before Me, Lord," Ian Pitt-Wilson, 1973, 1989; Alfred Morton Smith, 1941.
Charge to the Congregation
Someone has said that we Americans are "distracted from distractions by distractions." True for us? Someone else has said that we also serve when we sit and wait, for the right reasons. (Just before people leave, ask them not to speak to each other until they arrive home. A silent coffee hour, at least for fifteen minutes, might free people to think about many things they would never have considered previously.)
Meditation
Lucy of Peanuts fame knelt beside her bed, praying. She finished her prayer, went to breakfast, and said to her brother, "I was praying for greater patience and understanding, but I quit ... I was afraid I might get it." Today's Gospel lesson is the only one in the Bible, other than the Ten Commandments, which identifies the most important thing in life.
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: "Be Still, My Soul," from Psalm 46, Katharina von Schlegel, 1752; trans. by Jane Laurie Borthwick, 1855.
Doxology: Congregation in silence.
Music for Dismissal: "Hope of the World," Georgia Harkness, 1954; Genevan Psalter, 1551; or, "Be Still My Soul."
