Proper 18 / Ordinary Time 23 / Pentecost 15
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series III, Cycle A
Confession, Instruction, And Forgiveness
P: Holy God, in whose name we gather,
we ask you to give us life and to
free us from the evil that causes us
to hurt the ones you love.
C: What is evil? What shape does it take
in our sins?
P: For every sinful act there is an outer
dimension and an inner one.
There is what our families, neighbors, and
colleagues feel when we act inappropriately,
and then there are the intentions, the motives, and
the fears that lie deep in our hearts.
C: God sees them all; God hears them all;
and God desires to set us free from every
manner of evil.
P: Let us confess our sins, now, in God's presence.
Silence for prayer and confession
P: The God of love hears every prayer and sets you free to live in his name. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
Prayer Of The Day
P: Gathered in your name, most holy God, we seek to live out your grace and your mercy. Teach us to trust in you, that we might treat one another with dignity, respect, and great kindness, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C: Amen.
Intercessory Prayer
After each petition:
L: Gathered in your name,
C: hear our prayer.
Offertory Prayer
A: With hearts and hands and voices, we lift these gifts before you, O God.
C: May the fruits of the work, which you have given us to do be plentiful. And may each task be fulfilled among us as an act of love, that your praise would fill every dimension of our lives through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Dismissal
P: God has given you the most powerful tool in the world: Love.
Use it, increase it, and proclaim it.
C: Amen.
Hymns And Songs
God Himself Is Present -- LBW 249
In Christ There Is No East Or West -- LBW 359; MBW 523 & 781; G&P 565
Son Of God, Eternal Savior -- LBW 364; MBW 648
In Adam We Have All Been One -- LBW 372
Lord, Speak To Us, That We May Speak -- LBW 403; UMH 463; PH 420; MBW 646
Draw Us In The Spirit's Tether -- WOV 703; UMH 632; PH 504
Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us With Your Love -- WOV 765; UMH 432; PH 367; MBW 577; G&P 361
Seek Ye First The Kingdom Of God -- WOV 783; UMH 405; PH 333; MBW 605; G&P 608
There's A Sweet, Sweet Spirit In This Place -- TFF 102; G&P 405
Jesus, We Want To Meet -- TFF 145
The Lord Is Here! -- MBW 227
You Are Our Living Bread -- GATHER 608; G&P 523
The God Of All Eternity -- GATHER 648
Choral Psalm Setting
"Teach Me, O Lord" -- Knut Nystedt (Morning Star)
Choral Music
"Let Our Hearts Turn To God" -- Wm. J. Sutter, arr. John M. Rasley (Singspiration/Zondervan)
"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" -- arr. G. Alan (Fortress)
Service Notes
Is today the first day of Sunday school? Include a special blessing for your congregation's teachers, aides, and superintendent. Have the children form a circle around the staff and have them raise their hands in blessing as you speak.
Liturgical Art And Community Activities For Autumn
(illustrations in book)
Green continues as the liturgical color, but it might be a darker hue than summer's fertile green. Possibly another quilt of darker greens can be used on the altar before it is sent to a needy person or community.
If this Sunday is your Rally Day, the children and adults who will attend education classes might hold hands and walk through the aisles in serpentine style as an illustration of today's gospel text (where two or three are gathered ...).
Next week, cards might be put on a table in the narthex for members to record those they wish to forgive. The cards can again be put in bowls of water. Later the paper, ink, and water will be formed into doves or angels for the remembrance of Saint Michael and All Angels on the last Sunday of September. On that day members can be asked to bring an angel statue from home to form a display in the narthex. The teenagers and children can draw angels with chalk on the sidewalk in front of the church.
In early October a simple weaving loom or board may be placed in the narthex with cloth strips of blending colors to be woven by members the next few weeks. Such on-site weavings can be sent as a message of peace and healing to areas that are suffering from natural disasters and warfare. The weaving can announce that a potluck dinner, art show, and medical display will take place to honor Saint Luke, the patron saint of healing and art. Congregational members can create healing artwork for the show. Also, Sunday school classes can be asked to prepare group projects showing what heals us. Members who are part of the medical community can display brochures about topics such as hospice and health alerts, as well as take blood pressure readings. The mobile blood bank might visit that day.
Reformation Sunday is often a time when teenagers affirm their faith. Woven ribbon doves can be hung to represent each confirmand. In the narthex, a life-size cardboard statue of Martin Luther might hold a petition on which members can make helpful suggestions to improve our life as a church in these days. Older children can paint Martin Luther's rose symbol for display.
In November, the white lace altar cloth can be used both for All Saints and Christ The King Sundays. November is also a month to collect food for the needy. It can be displayed in front of the altar. Paper plates, with a list of the most needed items, can be handed out after a Sunday service. (The children might decorate the bags for carrying the food.)
For Christ The King Sunday a paper lace banner might be cut out by the art committee with a design that shows the majesty of Christ Jesus. A large wide piece of heavy white photography paper can be cut with sharp knives along lines that are drawn so that the paper is not stressed. A background paper of a pleasing color will highlight the design.
P: Holy God, in whose name we gather,
we ask you to give us life and to
free us from the evil that causes us
to hurt the ones you love.
C: What is evil? What shape does it take
in our sins?
P: For every sinful act there is an outer
dimension and an inner one.
There is what our families, neighbors, and
colleagues feel when we act inappropriately,
and then there are the intentions, the motives, and
the fears that lie deep in our hearts.
C: God sees them all; God hears them all;
and God desires to set us free from every
manner of evil.
P: Let us confess our sins, now, in God's presence.
Silence for prayer and confession
P: The God of love hears every prayer and sets you free to live in his name. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
Prayer Of The Day
P: Gathered in your name, most holy God, we seek to live out your grace and your mercy. Teach us to trust in you, that we might treat one another with dignity, respect, and great kindness, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C: Amen.
Intercessory Prayer
After each petition:
L: Gathered in your name,
C: hear our prayer.
Offertory Prayer
A: With hearts and hands and voices, we lift these gifts before you, O God.
C: May the fruits of the work, which you have given us to do be plentiful. And may each task be fulfilled among us as an act of love, that your praise would fill every dimension of our lives through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Dismissal
P: God has given you the most powerful tool in the world: Love.
Use it, increase it, and proclaim it.
C: Amen.
Hymns And Songs
God Himself Is Present -- LBW 249
In Christ There Is No East Or West -- LBW 359; MBW 523 & 781; G&P 565
Son Of God, Eternal Savior -- LBW 364; MBW 648
In Adam We Have All Been One -- LBW 372
Lord, Speak To Us, That We May Speak -- LBW 403; UMH 463; PH 420; MBW 646
Draw Us In The Spirit's Tether -- WOV 703; UMH 632; PH 504
Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us With Your Love -- WOV 765; UMH 432; PH 367; MBW 577; G&P 361
Seek Ye First The Kingdom Of God -- WOV 783; UMH 405; PH 333; MBW 605; G&P 608
There's A Sweet, Sweet Spirit In This Place -- TFF 102; G&P 405
Jesus, We Want To Meet -- TFF 145
The Lord Is Here! -- MBW 227
You Are Our Living Bread -- GATHER 608; G&P 523
The God Of All Eternity -- GATHER 648
Choral Psalm Setting
"Teach Me, O Lord" -- Knut Nystedt (Morning Star)
Choral Music
"Let Our Hearts Turn To God" -- Wm. J. Sutter, arr. John M. Rasley (Singspiration/Zondervan)
"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" -- arr. G. Alan (Fortress)
Service Notes
Is today the first day of Sunday school? Include a special blessing for your congregation's teachers, aides, and superintendent. Have the children form a circle around the staff and have them raise their hands in blessing as you speak.
Liturgical Art And Community Activities For Autumn
(illustrations in book)
Green continues as the liturgical color, but it might be a darker hue than summer's fertile green. Possibly another quilt of darker greens can be used on the altar before it is sent to a needy person or community.
If this Sunday is your Rally Day, the children and adults who will attend education classes might hold hands and walk through the aisles in serpentine style as an illustration of today's gospel text (where two or three are gathered ...).
Next week, cards might be put on a table in the narthex for members to record those they wish to forgive. The cards can again be put in bowls of water. Later the paper, ink, and water will be formed into doves or angels for the remembrance of Saint Michael and All Angels on the last Sunday of September. On that day members can be asked to bring an angel statue from home to form a display in the narthex. The teenagers and children can draw angels with chalk on the sidewalk in front of the church.
In early October a simple weaving loom or board may be placed in the narthex with cloth strips of blending colors to be woven by members the next few weeks. Such on-site weavings can be sent as a message of peace and healing to areas that are suffering from natural disasters and warfare. The weaving can announce that a potluck dinner, art show, and medical display will take place to honor Saint Luke, the patron saint of healing and art. Congregational members can create healing artwork for the show. Also, Sunday school classes can be asked to prepare group projects showing what heals us. Members who are part of the medical community can display brochures about topics such as hospice and health alerts, as well as take blood pressure readings. The mobile blood bank might visit that day.
Reformation Sunday is often a time when teenagers affirm their faith. Woven ribbon doves can be hung to represent each confirmand. In the narthex, a life-size cardboard statue of Martin Luther might hold a petition on which members can make helpful suggestions to improve our life as a church in these days. Older children can paint Martin Luther's rose symbol for display.
In November, the white lace altar cloth can be used both for All Saints and Christ The King Sundays. November is also a month to collect food for the needy. It can be displayed in front of the altar. Paper plates, with a list of the most needed items, can be handed out after a Sunday service. (The children might decorate the bags for carrying the food.)
For Christ The King Sunday a paper lace banner might be cut out by the art committee with a design that shows the majesty of Christ Jesus. A large wide piece of heavy white photography paper can be cut with sharp knives along lines that are drawn so that the paper is not stressed. A background paper of a pleasing color will highlight the design.
