Proper 12
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series IV, Cycle A
Hymns
Sing Praise To God (NCH6, UM126, PH483)
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah (CBH582, NCH18, 19, UM127, PH281)
Like The Murmur Of The Dove's Song (NCH270, UM544, PH314)
O Love That Will Not Let Me Go (NCH485, UM480, PH342)
Jesus Priceless Treasure (CBH595, NCH480, UM532, PH365)
Thine Is The Glory (CBH269, NCH253, UM308, PH122)
By Gracious Powers (NCH412, UM517, PH342)
The Kingdom Of God (CBH224, UM275)
Anthems
The Love Of God, Natalie Sleeth, SATB
Seek The Lord, Anna Laura Page, Hinshaw, SATB
Sing God A Simple Song, Leonard Bernstein in Ecumenical Praise, Agape, Unison
We Will Sing For Joy, Scarlotti/Lowe, CGA, Unison
Call to Worship (based on Psalm 105)
Leader: O give thanks to Yahweh, call out the name, make known God's deeds among the peoples.
People: Sing to Yahweh, and tell of all God's wonderful works.
Leader: Glory in God's holy name; let the hearts of those who seek God rejoice.
People: Seek God's presence continually.
All: We come seeking Yahweh.
Call to Confession
The Spirit helps us in our weakness, says Paul; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. Let us now pray together our Prayer of Confession.
Prayer of Confession
Searching God, in the book of Romans we are told that "all things work together for good for those who love God because we are called according to your purpose." But we don't act as though we believe that. We act as though we are the only one that has our interests at heart. Perhaps that's because we don't listen for your voice telling us who we are and whose we are. We want to control our lives and the outcome of our lives. We don't necessarily want what you have in mind for us. We covet wealth and material things, you ask us to love each other. We covet power; you tell us God loves the humble. Help us, God, to remember who gave us life. No one can separate us from the love of God through Jesus Christ, our Savior. We believe - help our unbelief. Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness
Sisters and Brothers, remember the words of Paul: Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Alleluia! We are forgiven. Amen.
Scripture Readings
Genesis 29:15--28: Use a choral speaking choir for this passage.
1 2 3
4 5 6 7
Leah Rachel
Laban Jacob
Voice 5: Then Laban said to Jacob,
Laban: Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?
Voice 1: Now Laban had two daughters,
Voice 4: The name of the elder was Leah
Voice 7: And the name of the younger was Rachel.
Leah: Leah's eyes were lovely,
Rachel: And Rachel was graceful and beautiful.
Voice 6: Jacob loved Rachel, so he said,
Jacob: I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.
Laban: It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.
Voices 1, 2, and 3: So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.
Voice 5: Then Jacob said to Laban,
Jacob: Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.
All Voices: So Laban gathered together all the people of the place, and made a feast.
Leah: But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her.
Voice 4: Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her maid.
Voices 1, 2, and 3: When morning came, it was Leah!
Voice 7: And Jacob said to Laban,
Jacob: What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?
Laban: This is not done in our country - giving the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.
Voice 6: Jacob did so, and completed her week;
All Voices: Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife.
Matthew 13:31--33, 44--52: Have someone dressed as Jesus for this passage. Put the different objects of the parables on the altar, or on a table in front of the sanctuary. Have them decoratively assembled in addition to flowers. These would include an attractive glass bottle with mustard seeds, a package of yeast, a loaf of bread, a small expensive--looking box, a necklace of pearls, and a fish net. As Jesus tells the different parables, he will use the objects as props, picking them up as he speaks. When he gets to verse 49, he will move closer to the congregation. When he asks, "Have you understood all this?" Jesus will speak directly to the congregation. If they don't respond, he will say, "Have you?" Then he will continue, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."
Call to Offering
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to God's purpose. Let us come together to work for good by giving our morning offering generously.
Prayer of Dedication
God, we know that you love us. Not just those of us sitting here in these pews, but all of us. May this offering today go to help your people who need it the most: the lonely, the sick of heart and of body, the hungry, and the homeless. May our gifts help them to know that nothing can separate them from the love of Christ. Amen.
Benediction
Leader: The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed.
People: May we be like the tree, protecting God's creatures.
Leader: The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field.
People: May we continue to search until we find it.
Leader: The kingdom of heaven is like a fishing net.
People: May we be the fishermen, pulling up the nets.
Leader: Have you understood all of this?
People: Yes. We go in the name of our God. Amen.
Sing Praise To God (NCH6, UM126, PH483)
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah (CBH582, NCH18, 19, UM127, PH281)
Like The Murmur Of The Dove's Song (NCH270, UM544, PH314)
O Love That Will Not Let Me Go (NCH485, UM480, PH342)
Jesus Priceless Treasure (CBH595, NCH480, UM532, PH365)
Thine Is The Glory (CBH269, NCH253, UM308, PH122)
By Gracious Powers (NCH412, UM517, PH342)
The Kingdom Of God (CBH224, UM275)
Anthems
The Love Of God, Natalie Sleeth, SATB
Seek The Lord, Anna Laura Page, Hinshaw, SATB
Sing God A Simple Song, Leonard Bernstein in Ecumenical Praise, Agape, Unison
We Will Sing For Joy, Scarlotti/Lowe, CGA, Unison
Call to Worship (based on Psalm 105)
Leader: O give thanks to Yahweh, call out the name, make known God's deeds among the peoples.
People: Sing to Yahweh, and tell of all God's wonderful works.
Leader: Glory in God's holy name; let the hearts of those who seek God rejoice.
People: Seek God's presence continually.
All: We come seeking Yahweh.
Call to Confession
The Spirit helps us in our weakness, says Paul; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. Let us now pray together our Prayer of Confession.
Prayer of Confession
Searching God, in the book of Romans we are told that "all things work together for good for those who love God because we are called according to your purpose." But we don't act as though we believe that. We act as though we are the only one that has our interests at heart. Perhaps that's because we don't listen for your voice telling us who we are and whose we are. We want to control our lives and the outcome of our lives. We don't necessarily want what you have in mind for us. We covet wealth and material things, you ask us to love each other. We covet power; you tell us God loves the humble. Help us, God, to remember who gave us life. No one can separate us from the love of God through Jesus Christ, our Savior. We believe - help our unbelief. Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness
Sisters and Brothers, remember the words of Paul: Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Alleluia! We are forgiven. Amen.
Scripture Readings
Genesis 29:15--28: Use a choral speaking choir for this passage.
1 2 3
4 5 6 7
Leah Rachel
Laban Jacob
Voice 5: Then Laban said to Jacob,
Laban: Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?
Voice 1: Now Laban had two daughters,
Voice 4: The name of the elder was Leah
Voice 7: And the name of the younger was Rachel.
Leah: Leah's eyes were lovely,
Rachel: And Rachel was graceful and beautiful.
Voice 6: Jacob loved Rachel, so he said,
Jacob: I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.
Laban: It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.
Voices 1, 2, and 3: So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.
Voice 5: Then Jacob said to Laban,
Jacob: Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.
All Voices: So Laban gathered together all the people of the place, and made a feast.
Leah: But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her.
Voice 4: Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her maid.
Voices 1, 2, and 3: When morning came, it was Leah!
Voice 7: And Jacob said to Laban,
Jacob: What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?
Laban: This is not done in our country - giving the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.
Voice 6: Jacob did so, and completed her week;
All Voices: Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife.
Matthew 13:31--33, 44--52: Have someone dressed as Jesus for this passage. Put the different objects of the parables on the altar, or on a table in front of the sanctuary. Have them decoratively assembled in addition to flowers. These would include an attractive glass bottle with mustard seeds, a package of yeast, a loaf of bread, a small expensive--looking box, a necklace of pearls, and a fish net. As Jesus tells the different parables, he will use the objects as props, picking them up as he speaks. When he gets to verse 49, he will move closer to the congregation. When he asks, "Have you understood all this?" Jesus will speak directly to the congregation. If they don't respond, he will say, "Have you?" Then he will continue, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."
Call to Offering
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to God's purpose. Let us come together to work for good by giving our morning offering generously.
Prayer of Dedication
God, we know that you love us. Not just those of us sitting here in these pews, but all of us. May this offering today go to help your people who need it the most: the lonely, the sick of heart and of body, the hungry, and the homeless. May our gifts help them to know that nothing can separate them from the love of Christ. Amen.
Benediction
Leader: The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed.
People: May we be like the tree, protecting God's creatures.
Leader: The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field.
People: May we continue to search until we find it.
Leader: The kingdom of heaven is like a fishing net.
People: May we be the fishermen, pulling up the nets.
Leader: Have you understood all of this?
People: Yes. We go in the name of our God. Amen.
