Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series IV, Cycle B
Call To Worship
Verses from Psalm 84.
Leader:
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord!
People:
My soul yearns to be in your courts,
Leader:
My heart cries out for the living God.
People:
Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
Leader:
They praise you forever.
People:
Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
Leader:
Their strength will never fail.
People:
Better is one day in your courts, O Lord,
Leader:
Than 1,000 with any other king.
People:
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord
Leader:
Than a lieutenant anywhere else.
People:
For the Lord is my light,
Leader:
And my protector.
People:
Blessed are they who trust in the Lord.
Leader:
Amen.
Option two.
Leader:
She stood staring at the spot.
People:
What she had come looking for wasn't there.
Leader:
It was a glorious old oak tree she had climbed as a youth,
People:
She had come to see it,
Leader:
But age and disease had felled the old tree in the park.
People:
She was disappointed, depressed.
Leader:
Her tree wasn't there,
People:
Not even a stump.
Leader:
She saw only emptiness,
People:
Felt the loss.
Leader:
But her younger sister, who had also come to see the old tree, turned her eyes from the empty place to the garden around it.
People:
It was magnificent.
Leader:
She walked paths scented with jasmine,
People:
Knelt beside pretty petunias,
Leader:
Delighted in every kind of beauty from azaleas to zinnias.
People:
As they walked home,
Leader:
The younger sister said to the older sister, "Wasn't the garden a delight?"
People:
The older sister replied, "What garden?"
Leader:
Isn't that like us, to miss the delightful garden in which God has planted us, because we choose to see only what is missing?
People:
Let us open our eyes to the garden.
Leader:
Amen.
People:
And worship the garden's Creator.
Leader:
Amen.
Written by Ms. Vicki Vanderhoff, a member of our congregation.
Leader:
There are the empty places
People:
Deep inside of us, Lord,
Leader:
Places that ache and yearn,
People:
Places seeking to learn,
Leader:
Places reaching for light,
People:
To disperse the dark night,
Leader:
Places crying to be heard,
People:
Places needing your word,
Leader:
Places thirsting for life,
People:
To help us battle the strife,
Leader:
Places longing for love,
People:
Places looking above,
Leader:
Places hungry for what's true,
People:
To help us know what to do.
Leader:
Fill us with your Spirit, Lord.
People:
Please fill us up with you.
Prayer Of Confession
We fail to arm ourselves for the spiritual battles of life. This prayer confesses that.
Leader:
Always available,
People:
Ready to talk.
Leader:
Willing to spend hours,
People:
Desiring our presence.
Leader:
Accepting of everything,
People:
Prepared to forgive,
Leader:
To comfort,
People:
To guide,
Leader:
To encourage,
People:
And yet ...
Leader:
And yet we forget him,
People:
Ignore him.
Leader:
Father, forgive us for going it alone,
People:
For too rarely coming to you,
Leader:
For neglecting prayerful contact
People:
With the one who knows all,
Leader:
Loves always,
People:
And desires our best.
Leader:
Forgive us, and let us be reminded this day
People:
Of your constant availability
Leader:
And deep longing to be with us.
People:
Amen.
Something a little different. You can recite it, or, if you are brave, you can canter it up to the point of the pause.
Leader:
This little light of mine,
People:
I'm gonna let it shine,
Leader:
This little light of mine,
People:
I'm gonna let it shine,
Leader:
Let it shine, let it shine,
People:
Let it shine.
Leader:
Put it under a bushel, no!
People:
I'm gonna let it shine,
Leader:
Put it under a bushel, no!
People:
I'm gonna let it shine,
Leader:
Let it shine, let it shine,
People:
Let it shine.
Leader:
Don't let Satan put it out,
People:
I'm gonna let it shine,
Leader:
Don't let Satan put it out,
People:
I'm gonna let it shine,
Leader:
Let it shine, let it shine,
People:
Let it shine.
(Brief pause)
Leader:
Father, we confess that we have put our light under a bushel.
People:
We have allowed the evil one to extinguish it.
Leader:
We have failed to let it shine,
People:
Forgive us,
Leader:
And enable us to let it shine, let it shine,
People:
Let it shine.
Assurance Of Pardon
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
This is good news -- hope in the Lord and he will renew you.
Invitation To The Offering
"Return to me," said the Lord to Israel, "and I will return to you."
But the people said, "How are we to return?"
The Lord replied, "In tithes and offerings. Bring to me the whole tithe. Put me to the test in this. Test me and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have enough room for it all. Then all the people will call you blessed for yours will be a delightful land."
The Lord deeply desires to bless us. But we must first put our whole trust in God. We must trust God with all of our time, with all our treasure, with all our talent. Then we will know the blessings of the deepest peace, and the most soaring joy.
Come, O people of God -- let us put our entire trust in Yahweh.
Prayer Of Dedication
Use this with children.
Child 1:
Let us pray.
Child 2:
Everything we have is a gift from you, God.
Child 1:
We thank you for all we have,
Child 2:
For warm homes,
Child 1:
And nice cars,
Child 2:
And fun toys,
Child 1:
And people who love us.
Child 2:
And we ask that you teach us to be generous
Child 1:
So that others can be as blessed as we are.
Child 2:
Amen.
Prayer For Illumination
Unison.
Father, we are drowned in words every day: radio, television, newspapers, and magazines. It has become so much so that we unconsciously press the mute buttons in our minds. Help us to hear these words now, for these are like no other words we hear. These are the words of life. In Jesus' name we ask. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
Suiting up for the game goes without saying. We would not hop on the ski lift without our skis, and boots, and poles. We would not take the field without bats, and balls, and ball gloves. We would not walk onto the courts without racquets, balls, and water bottles. And yet we enter the daily battle against the rulers of this present darkness almost completely unarmed. We have not dusted off the sword of the Word of God, we haven't polished up our shield of faith, we haven't even found our breastplate of right living. No wonder we fall so often to the slings and arrows of the enemy.
Lord, convict us this morning of our impotence in things spiritual, and convince us of the need to get armed. And keep us motivated, that we might dress ourselves appropriately, and that we might begin winning some of the skirmishes of daily life and enjoying the spoils of joy and abundant living that go to the victors.
Benediction
Let's not go unarmed into the arena. Let's put on the full armor of God, that we might stand against all the wiles of the enemy who seeks daily to drain us of peace, joy, love, and life. Amen.
Hymns
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Am I A Soldier Of The Cross
Battle Belongs To The Lord, The
Battle Is The Lord's, The
God Of Grace And God Of Glory
I Am A Soldier Of The Cross
I Sing The Mighty Power Of God
Jesus Loves Me
Lead On, O King Eternal
Lift High The Cross
Onward, Christian Soldiers
Rise Up, O Church Of God
Soldiers Of Christ, Arise
We Will Stand
Contemporary Choruses
Arms Of Love
Enough, Chris Tomlin
Here I Am To Worship, Tim Hughes
Shout To The Lord, Darlene Zschech
Worthy, You Are Worthy, Don Moen
Other Music
Breath Of Heaven, Amy Grant
A cry for God to breathe on us and fill us.
Mercy Said No, Greg Long
God's mercy protects us.
Verses from Psalm 84.
Leader:
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord!
People:
My soul yearns to be in your courts,
Leader:
My heart cries out for the living God.
People:
Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
Leader:
They praise you forever.
People:
Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
Leader:
Their strength will never fail.
People:
Better is one day in your courts, O Lord,
Leader:
Than 1,000 with any other king.
People:
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord
Leader:
Than a lieutenant anywhere else.
People:
For the Lord is my light,
Leader:
And my protector.
People:
Blessed are they who trust in the Lord.
Leader:
Amen.
Option two.
Leader:
She stood staring at the spot.
People:
What she had come looking for wasn't there.
Leader:
It was a glorious old oak tree she had climbed as a youth,
People:
She had come to see it,
Leader:
But age and disease had felled the old tree in the park.
People:
She was disappointed, depressed.
Leader:
Her tree wasn't there,
People:
Not even a stump.
Leader:
She saw only emptiness,
People:
Felt the loss.
Leader:
But her younger sister, who had also come to see the old tree, turned her eyes from the empty place to the garden around it.
People:
It was magnificent.
Leader:
She walked paths scented with jasmine,
People:
Knelt beside pretty petunias,
Leader:
Delighted in every kind of beauty from azaleas to zinnias.
People:
As they walked home,
Leader:
The younger sister said to the older sister, "Wasn't the garden a delight?"
People:
The older sister replied, "What garden?"
Leader:
Isn't that like us, to miss the delightful garden in which God has planted us, because we choose to see only what is missing?
People:
Let us open our eyes to the garden.
Leader:
Amen.
People:
And worship the garden's Creator.
Leader:
Amen.
Written by Ms. Vicki Vanderhoff, a member of our congregation.
Leader:
There are the empty places
People:
Deep inside of us, Lord,
Leader:
Places that ache and yearn,
People:
Places seeking to learn,
Leader:
Places reaching for light,
People:
To disperse the dark night,
Leader:
Places crying to be heard,
People:
Places needing your word,
Leader:
Places thirsting for life,
People:
To help us battle the strife,
Leader:
Places longing for love,
People:
Places looking above,
Leader:
Places hungry for what's true,
People:
To help us know what to do.
Leader:
Fill us with your Spirit, Lord.
People:
Please fill us up with you.
Prayer Of Confession
We fail to arm ourselves for the spiritual battles of life. This prayer confesses that.
Leader:
Always available,
People:
Ready to talk.
Leader:
Willing to spend hours,
People:
Desiring our presence.
Leader:
Accepting of everything,
People:
Prepared to forgive,
Leader:
To comfort,
People:
To guide,
Leader:
To encourage,
People:
And yet ...
Leader:
And yet we forget him,
People:
Ignore him.
Leader:
Father, forgive us for going it alone,
People:
For too rarely coming to you,
Leader:
For neglecting prayerful contact
People:
With the one who knows all,
Leader:
Loves always,
People:
And desires our best.
Leader:
Forgive us, and let us be reminded this day
People:
Of your constant availability
Leader:
And deep longing to be with us.
People:
Amen.
Something a little different. You can recite it, or, if you are brave, you can canter it up to the point of the pause.
Leader:
This little light of mine,
People:
I'm gonna let it shine,
Leader:
This little light of mine,
People:
I'm gonna let it shine,
Leader:
Let it shine, let it shine,
People:
Let it shine.
Leader:
Put it under a bushel, no!
People:
I'm gonna let it shine,
Leader:
Put it under a bushel, no!
People:
I'm gonna let it shine,
Leader:
Let it shine, let it shine,
People:
Let it shine.
Leader:
Don't let Satan put it out,
People:
I'm gonna let it shine,
Leader:
Don't let Satan put it out,
People:
I'm gonna let it shine,
Leader:
Let it shine, let it shine,
People:
Let it shine.
(Brief pause)
Leader:
Father, we confess that we have put our light under a bushel.
People:
We have allowed the evil one to extinguish it.
Leader:
We have failed to let it shine,
People:
Forgive us,
Leader:
And enable us to let it shine, let it shine,
People:
Let it shine.
Assurance Of Pardon
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
This is good news -- hope in the Lord and he will renew you.
Invitation To The Offering
"Return to me," said the Lord to Israel, "and I will return to you."
But the people said, "How are we to return?"
The Lord replied, "In tithes and offerings. Bring to me the whole tithe. Put me to the test in this. Test me and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have enough room for it all. Then all the people will call you blessed for yours will be a delightful land."
The Lord deeply desires to bless us. But we must first put our whole trust in God. We must trust God with all of our time, with all our treasure, with all our talent. Then we will know the blessings of the deepest peace, and the most soaring joy.
Come, O people of God -- let us put our entire trust in Yahweh.
Prayer Of Dedication
Use this with children.
Child 1:
Let us pray.
Child 2:
Everything we have is a gift from you, God.
Child 1:
We thank you for all we have,
Child 2:
For warm homes,
Child 1:
And nice cars,
Child 2:
And fun toys,
Child 1:
And people who love us.
Child 2:
And we ask that you teach us to be generous
Child 1:
So that others can be as blessed as we are.
Child 2:
Amen.
Prayer For Illumination
Unison.
Father, we are drowned in words every day: radio, television, newspapers, and magazines. It has become so much so that we unconsciously press the mute buttons in our minds. Help us to hear these words now, for these are like no other words we hear. These are the words of life. In Jesus' name we ask. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
Suiting up for the game goes without saying. We would not hop on the ski lift without our skis, and boots, and poles. We would not take the field without bats, and balls, and ball gloves. We would not walk onto the courts without racquets, balls, and water bottles. And yet we enter the daily battle against the rulers of this present darkness almost completely unarmed. We have not dusted off the sword of the Word of God, we haven't polished up our shield of faith, we haven't even found our breastplate of right living. No wonder we fall so often to the slings and arrows of the enemy.
Lord, convict us this morning of our impotence in things spiritual, and convince us of the need to get armed. And keep us motivated, that we might dress ourselves appropriately, and that we might begin winning some of the skirmishes of daily life and enjoying the spoils of joy and abundant living that go to the victors.
Benediction
Let's not go unarmed into the arena. Let's put on the full armor of God, that we might stand against all the wiles of the enemy who seeks daily to drain us of peace, joy, love, and life. Amen.
Hymns
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Am I A Soldier Of The Cross
Battle Belongs To The Lord, The
Battle Is The Lord's, The
God Of Grace And God Of Glory
I Am A Soldier Of The Cross
I Sing The Mighty Power Of God
Jesus Loves Me
Lead On, O King Eternal
Lift High The Cross
Onward, Christian Soldiers
Rise Up, O Church Of God
Soldiers Of Christ, Arise
We Will Stand
Contemporary Choruses
Arms Of Love
Enough, Chris Tomlin
Here I Am To Worship, Tim Hughes
Shout To The Lord, Darlene Zschech
Worthy, You Are Worthy, Don Moen
Other Music
Breath Of Heaven, Amy Grant
A cry for God to breathe on us and fill us.
Mercy Said No, Greg Long
God's mercy protects us.
