Proper 16, Pentecost 14, Ordinary Time 21
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle C Gospel Texts
Liturgical Color: Green
Gospel: Luke 13:10-17
Theme: Jesus Heals on the Sabbath: His Enemies Were Shamed; the People Rejoiced. How do we treat the Sabbath, now called the weekend?
The Community Gathers To Celebrate God's Presence
Music for Preparation
"Praeludium," Lemmens.
Pastoral Invitation
In the name of the Lord of the Sabbath, welcome. Are you glad you're here? If so, call out your favorite praise words or phrases. I will repeat each once; and then, you reverently shout the ones I repeat. So, are you ready?
Hymn of Praise
"O Come and Sing Unto the Lord," The Psalter, 1912; alt.; A Collection of Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1749.
Declaration of Joyful Expectations
Pastor and Ministers
P: I invite us to celebrate the presence of the Lord of the Sabbath.
M: We come to worship to be challenged intellectually to think with the mind of Christ, to receive his love for emotional strength, and to gain courage to choose to do his will in the tensions of our time.
P: We are God's people, called and appointed to live by his power and for his glory.
M: We have come to hear again, sometimes reluctantly, what this means, and to receive the energy we need to be faithful.
P: God provides beyond our wildest dreams. Therefore, surprised by joy and amazed by grace, I invite us to sing, and pray, and listen, and respond, as we continue to celebrate this Holy Spirit season.
All:
So be it! Amen! Tah-dah! (Offer your own affirmation.)
The Community Takes Responsibility For Its Behavior
Introduction to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
Do you ever think about how to observe Sunday, other than attend worship occasionally or often? Someone has said, "Most of us don't know what Sabbath observance is, and if we did know, we wouldn't like it." In today's Gospel lesson, Jesus' adversaries knew how they and others must observe the Sabbath. Giving their animals a drink of water was okay; healing a person was not. I invite us to take three minutes to write down how we observe Sunday. (Wait three minutes.) Look at your list, and ask yourself how you think God looks at your Sunday behavior. (One minute of silence.) Anyone care to share? (If not, offer a prayer which will encourage the people to examine their Sunday behavior.)
Introduction to the Act of Receiving New Life
God set the example for us; for God rested on the Sabbath. I invite us this week, and beyond, to examine our Sunday practice. How will we hit a balance between legalism and license, between "shoulds" to "anything goes"?
Response
(Unison Prayer) Lord of the Sabbath, and every other day, we are here to recognize our humanity, and to renew our love and appreciation for you, and each other, and life. We are here also to express our joy and gratitude for the discoveries we have made this past week, and so far, in worship today. We are persons who desire to live responsibly free lives, in the midst of a culture which constantly seeks to drag us into the gutter. We pray that we will grow together in our openness to life, to its demands, to each other, and to you. We pray that individually we will learn to give and receive love, experience a new sensitivity to our time, and become whole persons after the pattern of the Christ.
Choral Response
"Holy, Holy." (See Trinity Sunday.)
The Community Exposes Itself To The Word
Message with the Children of All Ages
(Tell the story of the Gospel, with the emphasis on Jesus' healing, along with the joy of the people and the anger of Jesus' enemies.) Why do you suppose that the two groups of people responded differently? His enemies were scared that they would lose their power over the people. They had everything figured out. For example, women were forbidden to look in the mirror. Really! If they discovered a gray hair, and pulled it out, that was reaping and harvesting. And that was a no-no. We have gone to the other extreme. Do we ever even think about what God wants us to do, or do we just go ahead and do whatever we want? (Conclude with prayer, which brings together these two extremes.)
Response
"Seek Ye (You) First." (See Advent 2.)
Dramatizing the Scripture
You will need "Jesus," a woman, and a ruler of the synagogue. Ahead of time ask the congregation to be prepared to shout out their joy at the end. If you do not dramatize the Gospel, read it from the Cotton Patch Version. (See Appendix II for address.)
Proclamation of the Good News
Remember that Jesus is speaking to the faithful. Here is my translation of the Fourth Commandment from the Hebrew: "Remember! the Sabbath (The first word in the sentence is always the strongest. That is, bring to your memory the Creation of the Sabbath) to keep it holy (to make it godly). Six days shall you work as a slave, and do all your work; and your day, the seventh, is a day of Jehovah your God." What a contrast with what happened during Jesus' time. The Scribes taught that the Fourth Commandment prohibited 39 principle types of labor; for example, traveling more than one-half mile, healing, eating eggs laid on the Sabbath, fighting in self-defense (the Jews' enemies took advantage of that). The Scribes also taught that the 39 principles also included 1,521 minor unlawful infractions (one of which we heard in the Message with the Children of All Ages). Most of us, however, don't know how to observe Sunday; and if we did know, we wouldn't like it. (Offer some creative possibilities.)
The Community Takes Responsibility For Responding To The Word
Stewardship Challenge
In our stewardship, do we ever even raise the question, "How does God want me to observe Sunday?" If not, why not? (One minute of silence.)
Charge to the Congregation
Some larger congregations provide special parking lots for those worshipers who want to attend the professional football games in their community. Where do you suppose the people who attend worship and then the game show their greatest enthusiasm, expend their greatest energy, and give the most money? Who is in charge of our Sundays, our lives, our time, money, or energy?
Hymn of Obedience
"When Morning Gilds the Skies," German hymn, c. 1800; trans. Edward Caswall, 1853, 1858; alt.; Joseph Barnby, 1868.
Meditation
The demise of the Seventh, now the First Day: from the Sabbath, to the Lord's day, to Sunday, to the weekend. Do we treat God's Holy Ground, including this day, as so much dirt to be swept under the rug?
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Hymn of Praise: "All Creatures of Our God and King," Francis of Assisi, 1225; trans. and para. William Henry Draper, c. 1910; alt.; Geistliche Kirchengesang, 1623; alt.; harm. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906.
Response to the Gospel: (Adult Choir) "O Be Joyful in the Lord," Don Muro.
Offertory: "O God, Thou Good God," Karg-Elert.
Gospel: Luke 13:10-17
Theme: Jesus Heals on the Sabbath: His Enemies Were Shamed; the People Rejoiced. How do we treat the Sabbath, now called the weekend?
The Community Gathers To Celebrate God's Presence
Music for Preparation
"Praeludium," Lemmens.
Pastoral Invitation
In the name of the Lord of the Sabbath, welcome. Are you glad you're here? If so, call out your favorite praise words or phrases. I will repeat each once; and then, you reverently shout the ones I repeat. So, are you ready?
Hymn of Praise
"O Come and Sing Unto the Lord," The Psalter, 1912; alt.; A Collection of Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1749.
Declaration of Joyful Expectations
Pastor and Ministers
P: I invite us to celebrate the presence of the Lord of the Sabbath.
M: We come to worship to be challenged intellectually to think with the mind of Christ, to receive his love for emotional strength, and to gain courage to choose to do his will in the tensions of our time.
P: We are God's people, called and appointed to live by his power and for his glory.
M: We have come to hear again, sometimes reluctantly, what this means, and to receive the energy we need to be faithful.
P: God provides beyond our wildest dreams. Therefore, surprised by joy and amazed by grace, I invite us to sing, and pray, and listen, and respond, as we continue to celebrate this Holy Spirit season.
All:
So be it! Amen! Tah-dah! (Offer your own affirmation.)
The Community Takes Responsibility For Its Behavior
Introduction to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
Do you ever think about how to observe Sunday, other than attend worship occasionally or often? Someone has said, "Most of us don't know what Sabbath observance is, and if we did know, we wouldn't like it." In today's Gospel lesson, Jesus' adversaries knew how they and others must observe the Sabbath. Giving their animals a drink of water was okay; healing a person was not. I invite us to take three minutes to write down how we observe Sunday. (Wait three minutes.) Look at your list, and ask yourself how you think God looks at your Sunday behavior. (One minute of silence.) Anyone care to share? (If not, offer a prayer which will encourage the people to examine their Sunday behavior.)
Introduction to the Act of Receiving New Life
God set the example for us; for God rested on the Sabbath. I invite us this week, and beyond, to examine our Sunday practice. How will we hit a balance between legalism and license, between "shoulds" to "anything goes"?
Response
(Unison Prayer) Lord of the Sabbath, and every other day, we are here to recognize our humanity, and to renew our love and appreciation for you, and each other, and life. We are here also to express our joy and gratitude for the discoveries we have made this past week, and so far, in worship today. We are persons who desire to live responsibly free lives, in the midst of a culture which constantly seeks to drag us into the gutter. We pray that we will grow together in our openness to life, to its demands, to each other, and to you. We pray that individually we will learn to give and receive love, experience a new sensitivity to our time, and become whole persons after the pattern of the Christ.
Choral Response
"Holy, Holy." (See Trinity Sunday.)
The Community Exposes Itself To The Word
Message with the Children of All Ages
(Tell the story of the Gospel, with the emphasis on Jesus' healing, along with the joy of the people and the anger of Jesus' enemies.) Why do you suppose that the two groups of people responded differently? His enemies were scared that they would lose their power over the people. They had everything figured out. For example, women were forbidden to look in the mirror. Really! If they discovered a gray hair, and pulled it out, that was reaping and harvesting. And that was a no-no. We have gone to the other extreme. Do we ever even think about what God wants us to do, or do we just go ahead and do whatever we want? (Conclude with prayer, which brings together these two extremes.)
Response
"Seek Ye (You) First." (See Advent 2.)
Dramatizing the Scripture
You will need "Jesus," a woman, and a ruler of the synagogue. Ahead of time ask the congregation to be prepared to shout out their joy at the end. If you do not dramatize the Gospel, read it from the Cotton Patch Version. (See Appendix II for address.)
Proclamation of the Good News
Remember that Jesus is speaking to the faithful. Here is my translation of the Fourth Commandment from the Hebrew: "Remember! the Sabbath (The first word in the sentence is always the strongest. That is, bring to your memory the Creation of the Sabbath) to keep it holy (to make it godly). Six days shall you work as a slave, and do all your work; and your day, the seventh, is a day of Jehovah your God." What a contrast with what happened during Jesus' time. The Scribes taught that the Fourth Commandment prohibited 39 principle types of labor; for example, traveling more than one-half mile, healing, eating eggs laid on the Sabbath, fighting in self-defense (the Jews' enemies took advantage of that). The Scribes also taught that the 39 principles also included 1,521 minor unlawful infractions (one of which we heard in the Message with the Children of All Ages). Most of us, however, don't know how to observe Sunday; and if we did know, we wouldn't like it. (Offer some creative possibilities.)
The Community Takes Responsibility For Responding To The Word
Stewardship Challenge
In our stewardship, do we ever even raise the question, "How does God want me to observe Sunday?" If not, why not? (One minute of silence.)
Charge to the Congregation
Some larger congregations provide special parking lots for those worshipers who want to attend the professional football games in their community. Where do you suppose the people who attend worship and then the game show their greatest enthusiasm, expend their greatest energy, and give the most money? Who is in charge of our Sundays, our lives, our time, money, or energy?
Hymn of Obedience
"When Morning Gilds the Skies," German hymn, c. 1800; trans. Edward Caswall, 1853, 1858; alt.; Joseph Barnby, 1868.
Meditation
The demise of the Seventh, now the First Day: from the Sabbath, to the Lord's day, to Sunday, to the weekend. Do we treat God's Holy Ground, including this day, as so much dirt to be swept under the rug?
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Hymn of Praise: "All Creatures of Our God and King," Francis of Assisi, 1225; trans. and para. William Henry Draper, c. 1910; alt.; Geistliche Kirchengesang, 1623; alt.; harm. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906.
Response to the Gospel: (Adult Choir) "O Be Joyful in the Lord," Don Muro.
Offertory: "O God, Thou Good God," Karg-Elert.
