Proper 14, Pentecost 12, Ordinary Time 19
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle C Gospel Texts
Liturgical Color: Green
Gospel: Luke 12:32-40
Theme: Jesus Commands Watchfulness, Both for the Faithful and Unfaithful. What kind of treasures do you have in your heart?
The Community Gathers To Celebrate God's Presence
Music for Preparation
Medley of Preparation hymns.
Pastoral Invitation
Pastor and Ministers
In the name of the Living God, are you ready for a Christ-invasion? If not, what would it take to get you ready? An earthquake? A death in the family? The loss of a job? The collapse of Wall Street? (List others.) What would it take, for Jesus constantly calls the people to be ready? So, as Wes Seeliger asks, "How do you treat the present? As the end of the past or the beginning of the future?" What kind of treasure do you put in your heart?
P: God calls us to a status of readiness.
M: Ready for what?
P: Ready for an invasion of God's transforming Spirit.
M: What is that supposed to mean?
P: This means, partly, that we carefully identify our treasure.
M: We hear the message, "Where our treasure is, that's where our heart will be." We need help sifting out our earthly from our eternal treasure.
P: In God's name, that's what we're here to do, as we support each other.
M: We need all the help we can get, from God, from each other.
Hymn of Praise
"Psalm 33," Psalm tone: Laurence Bevenot, 1987.
Prayer of Praise
Walk among the congregation and ask them to shout out praise words of readiness. Following each word, offer a sentence prayer.
Response
"Help Us Accept Each Other," Fred Kaan; John Ness Beck, from Let the People Sing. (See Appendix I for address.)
The Community Takes Responsibility For Its Behavior
Introduction to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
Where do we spend most of our time and energy? Rummaging around in the past, or worrying about the future? Take one minute to identify where you spend most of your time. If we spend our time in the past, we probably feel guilty, for good reason, as we regurgitate our sins. If we spend our time thinking about the future, we probably feel anxious about what's going to happen to us, and those closest to us. Consider these thoughts, and write down your responses. (Two minutes.)
Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
(Unison Prayer) "Holy and Loving God, we say that we follow you, yet much of the time, we try to go it on our own. We pray for your direction, and then go our direction. We claim that your love lives within us, but we become impatient with our family members and neighbors. We claim that we love our enemies, but we barely love our relatives. Occasionally, we tell others about our faith, but we often fail to live it. We say that Christ lives, but we act as though he does not live in us. We call you 'Daddy,' but we live as orphans. We confess our errors, mistakes, failures, but we ignore our sin. Save us, Lord, from our collecting the wrong treasures." (Prayer inspired by Leslie D. Rempel.)
Response
Once again sing, "Help Us Accept Each Other."
Introduction to the Act of Receiving New Life
Pastor and Ministers
I invite you to listen carefully. A certain product uses this ad: "It's not often you get something free." And then, in small words, this: "Buy one product; get another free." It's a con, of course. Let's understand that God is in the forgiveness business; God is unable to forgive unless we repent, which means, "Come to your senses; let the Holy Spirit turn your life around; start collecting God's treasure for eternity, rather than your treasures which are fleeting."
P: The word of Christ is good news; it means that we allow God to renew our lives, and to transform us from death to life.
M: We thank God for a new collection of treasures.
P: I invite us to live with courage, and with a deep concern for others.
M: We give thanks, and rejoice in our new treasure.
Response
(Soloist or duet) "Love Divine," Stainer.
The Community Exposes Itself To God's Word
Message with the Children of All Ages
Talk about some things that you need to get ready for. (Wait.) What kind of preparation do these take? (Wait.) Are any of you in the Boy Scouts? Its motto is "Be prepared." That's what Jesus is telling us in this Scripture today. Be ready, because you have no idea what the next minute will bring, let alone tomorrow.
Reading from the Scripture
Use Clarence Jordan's Cotton Patch Version. People have heard this passage so often, they may no longer hear it; or, even if they do listen to the words, they may wonder how they even apply to them, to all of us who are caught in the culture's web of more, more, more is better.
Proclamation of the Good News
We get trapped in two unhealthy ways to approach this Scripture: (1) We play God by debating Christ's estimated time arrival, rather than being about God's business; or (2) we "know" that it will happen later, after college, after family, after retirement. "Don't bug me now!" Realistically, however, how do we want God to find us when our life ends: With our work completed, reconciled with our fellow humans, at peace with God. So, I invite you, if you have not done so in the last three years, to update your will, to prepare your memorial service, to write your own obituary, and to make plans with your family (who will try to talk you out of it, because we have this silly notion that to talk about it will make it happen).
Response
"God of Justice, God of Mercy," Jane Parker Huber, 1983; Rowland Hugh Prichard, 1855; from Joy In Singing. (See Appendix I for address.)
The Community Takes Responsibility For Responding To The Word
Stewardship Challenge
Consider your stewardship of readiness. Write down in what areas of your life you need to do some specific preparation in order to sift your important treasures from your trivial pursuits. Place your list in the offering plate as an indication that you have made a commitment to do it.
Hymn of Obedience
"Lord of the Living,"aFred Kaan (b. 1929), Paris Antiphoner, 1681; harm. David Evans, 1927.
Charge to the Congregation
We're never truly prepared, we never truly live in the Holy Spirit, until we face the reality and fact of our own death. So, be prepared, because you never know when and where your life will end. Be prepared, and you will know how to live in and through and by and with the Holy Spirit.
Meditation
Do we expect the many benefits of Christianity, and ignore its sterner demands? If so, how will that affect our treasure-collection?
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: "Fairest Lord Jesus," MÙnster Gesangbuch, 1677; trans. Church Chorales and Choir Studies, 1850; alt. Silesian folk melody, in Schlesische Volkslieder, 1842.
Response to the Gospel: Any "Alleluia" chorus.
Hymn of Obedience: "God Has Spoken By His Prophets," George Wallace Briggs, 1952; alt. 1972. (Point out the sexist language; change the words as much as possible while singing.)
Response to the Benediction: "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore." Use this tune and find new, or write new, words for your congregation. Put your musicians to work.
Gospel: Luke 12:32-40
Theme: Jesus Commands Watchfulness, Both for the Faithful and Unfaithful. What kind of treasures do you have in your heart?
The Community Gathers To Celebrate God's Presence
Music for Preparation
Medley of Preparation hymns.
Pastoral Invitation
Pastor and Ministers
In the name of the Living God, are you ready for a Christ-invasion? If not, what would it take to get you ready? An earthquake? A death in the family? The loss of a job? The collapse of Wall Street? (List others.) What would it take, for Jesus constantly calls the people to be ready? So, as Wes Seeliger asks, "How do you treat the present? As the end of the past or the beginning of the future?" What kind of treasure do you put in your heart?
P: God calls us to a status of readiness.
M: Ready for what?
P: Ready for an invasion of God's transforming Spirit.
M: What is that supposed to mean?
P: This means, partly, that we carefully identify our treasure.
M: We hear the message, "Where our treasure is, that's where our heart will be." We need help sifting out our earthly from our eternal treasure.
P: In God's name, that's what we're here to do, as we support each other.
M: We need all the help we can get, from God, from each other.
Hymn of Praise
"Psalm 33," Psalm tone: Laurence Bevenot, 1987.
Prayer of Praise
Walk among the congregation and ask them to shout out praise words of readiness. Following each word, offer a sentence prayer.
Response
"Help Us Accept Each Other," Fred Kaan; John Ness Beck, from Let the People Sing. (See Appendix I for address.)
The Community Takes Responsibility For Its Behavior
Introduction to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
Where do we spend most of our time and energy? Rummaging around in the past, or worrying about the future? Take one minute to identify where you spend most of your time. If we spend our time in the past, we probably feel guilty, for good reason, as we regurgitate our sins. If we spend our time thinking about the future, we probably feel anxious about what's going to happen to us, and those closest to us. Consider these thoughts, and write down your responses. (Two minutes.)
Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
(Unison Prayer) "Holy and Loving God, we say that we follow you, yet much of the time, we try to go it on our own. We pray for your direction, and then go our direction. We claim that your love lives within us, but we become impatient with our family members and neighbors. We claim that we love our enemies, but we barely love our relatives. Occasionally, we tell others about our faith, but we often fail to live it. We say that Christ lives, but we act as though he does not live in us. We call you 'Daddy,' but we live as orphans. We confess our errors, mistakes, failures, but we ignore our sin. Save us, Lord, from our collecting the wrong treasures." (Prayer inspired by Leslie D. Rempel.)
Response
Once again sing, "Help Us Accept Each Other."
Introduction to the Act of Receiving New Life
Pastor and Ministers
I invite you to listen carefully. A certain product uses this ad: "It's not often you get something free." And then, in small words, this: "Buy one product; get another free." It's a con, of course. Let's understand that God is in the forgiveness business; God is unable to forgive unless we repent, which means, "Come to your senses; let the Holy Spirit turn your life around; start collecting God's treasure for eternity, rather than your treasures which are fleeting."
P: The word of Christ is good news; it means that we allow God to renew our lives, and to transform us from death to life.
M: We thank God for a new collection of treasures.
P: I invite us to live with courage, and with a deep concern for others.
M: We give thanks, and rejoice in our new treasure.
Response
(Soloist or duet) "Love Divine," Stainer.
The Community Exposes Itself To God's Word
Message with the Children of All Ages
Talk about some things that you need to get ready for. (Wait.) What kind of preparation do these take? (Wait.) Are any of you in the Boy Scouts? Its motto is "Be prepared." That's what Jesus is telling us in this Scripture today. Be ready, because you have no idea what the next minute will bring, let alone tomorrow.
Reading from the Scripture
Use Clarence Jordan's Cotton Patch Version. People have heard this passage so often, they may no longer hear it; or, even if they do listen to the words, they may wonder how they even apply to them, to all of us who are caught in the culture's web of more, more, more is better.
Proclamation of the Good News
We get trapped in two unhealthy ways to approach this Scripture: (1) We play God by debating Christ's estimated time arrival, rather than being about God's business; or (2) we "know" that it will happen later, after college, after family, after retirement. "Don't bug me now!" Realistically, however, how do we want God to find us when our life ends: With our work completed, reconciled with our fellow humans, at peace with God. So, I invite you, if you have not done so in the last three years, to update your will, to prepare your memorial service, to write your own obituary, and to make plans with your family (who will try to talk you out of it, because we have this silly notion that to talk about it will make it happen).
Response
"God of Justice, God of Mercy," Jane Parker Huber, 1983; Rowland Hugh Prichard, 1855; from Joy In Singing. (See Appendix I for address.)
The Community Takes Responsibility For Responding To The Word
Stewardship Challenge
Consider your stewardship of readiness. Write down in what areas of your life you need to do some specific preparation in order to sift your important treasures from your trivial pursuits. Place your list in the offering plate as an indication that you have made a commitment to do it.
Hymn of Obedience
"Lord of the Living,"aFred Kaan (b. 1929), Paris Antiphoner, 1681; harm. David Evans, 1927.
Charge to the Congregation
We're never truly prepared, we never truly live in the Holy Spirit, until we face the reality and fact of our own death. So, be prepared, because you never know when and where your life will end. Be prepared, and you will know how to live in and through and by and with the Holy Spirit.
Meditation
Do we expect the many benefits of Christianity, and ignore its sterner demands? If so, how will that affect our treasure-collection?
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: "Fairest Lord Jesus," MÙnster Gesangbuch, 1677; trans. Church Chorales and Choir Studies, 1850; alt. Silesian folk melody, in Schlesische Volkslieder, 1842.
Response to the Gospel: Any "Alleluia" chorus.
Hymn of Obedience: "God Has Spoken By His Prophets," George Wallace Briggs, 1952; alt. 1972. (Point out the sexist language; change the words as much as possible while singing.)
Response to the Benediction: "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore." Use this tune and find new, or write new, words for your congregation. Put your musicians to work.
