Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series IV, Cycle B
Call To Worship
Psalm 19
Leader: The heavens sing of the glory of God;
People: The skies harmonize over the beauty of God's work.
Leader: Day after day praise pours forth from them;
People: Night after night they tell the story.
Leader: There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
People: Their voices go out into all the earth, saying,
Leader: The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.
People: The teaching of the Lord is trustworthy, making wise the simple.
Leader: The truths of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.
People: The commands of the Lord radiate, giving light to the eyes.
Leader: Reverence for the Lord is pure, enduring forever.
People: The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous.
Leader: They are more precious than gold, pure gold;
People: They are sweeter than honey straight from the comb.
Leader: By them we are protected;
People: And in keeping them there is great reward.
Leader: The heavens sing of the glory of God;
People: Let us sing as well. Amen.
This is an experiential Call To Worship. As leader you can lead the people through a centering time that may help them to find the presence of God in worship. Take your time as you lead them through this. Let them really hear God speak. Let them feel the pressures flee them.
Leader: Let us come into the presence of God.
People: How?
Leader: Close your eyes.
Be quiet, really quiet.
Let go of all the troubles you brought with you. Let them go.
And all your worries about tomorrow; forget them.
They are unimportant.
You're in God's hands now.
Feel God's presence.
Hear him say,
I am here.
I am with you. Always.
Fear not.
Just rest in me.
Let us come into the presence of God.
Open your eyes.
People: Let us worship God.
Prayer Of Confession
This one uses the metaphor of the journey for the Christian life.
Leader: The Master has said that the way through the wood is dangerous.
People: It is filled with temptations,
Leader: And fearsome creatures, but
People: If we just stay on the path
Leader: Which has been cleared for us
People: By a righteous pioneer,
Leader: Temptations will not affect us,
People: And the beasts will be powerless to harm us.
(Brief pause)
Leader: Master, we confess that we wander,
People: Off the path and into the tangle
Leader: Of thorns, and brambles,
People: Where we get ensnared
Leader: And often captured by the enemy.
People: Forgive our foolishness,
Leader: And give us the strength of will
People: To remain on the path cleared for us by Jesus Christ.
Leader: We ask it in his name,
People: Amen.
James addresses the problem of the tongue in our Epistle Reading for today.
Leader: Our tongues say we trust you, Lord.
People: Our checkbooks disagree.
Leader: We talk as if we are committed to you,
People: But our lives tell a different story.
Leader: Sunday morning finds us here in church,
People: But the rest of week, we disregard your will.
Leader: Father -- forgive us our hypocrisy,
People: And strengthen us
Leader: To entrust our whole lives to you.
People: Amen.
Option two.
Leader: Halfway measures,
People: Half-hearted commitment,
Leader: Our spare change,
People: A tip rather than a tithe,
Leader: The time that is left
People: After we've finished everything else,
Leader: Superficial sacrifices.
People: These are the things we give
Leader: To the God who made us;
People: Whose power sustains us;
Leader: Whose love has saved us.
People: Father -- forgive us.
Leader: Yes -- forgive us.
People: Amen.
Assurance Of Pardon
The way has been made clear by the one who is the perfecter and pioneer of our faith, Jesus Christ. He went to his cross where he conquered sin, and into his tomb where he overcame death.
This is good news! The way has been made clear to overcome our sin and death. All we need do is take up our crosses and follow him.
At first blush that might not seem like such good news. Taking up our crosses is no picnic, but the thing is that if you take your cross to him, he will replace it with a crown of glory. If you die to your old self, he will give you a new and perfect self.
If you are like me and have an old self you'd very much like to be rid of, it may not be comfortable news, but it is very good news.
Prayer Of Dedication
We want to trust you, Father, but the fear always gets in the way. Help us to take some steps that will stretch ourselves and allow us to see how faithful you are. Only as we take these steps can we find you faithful and grow in trust.
Prayer For Illumination
Today they say that there is no truth. They say that all truth is relative.
As we come to the reading of scripture, remind us that though we do not always properly understand it, these words are yours, and therefore they are truth.
Illumine our lives this morning with your truth and empower us to rightly understand and apply it to our lives. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
Let us pray: O the tongue. Lord, they used to ask me, "And you kiss your children with that mouth?" They asked it because I used profanity. But that really isn't the worst of it. The worst is when we use the gift of speech to tear down one another, to speak hateful words, even to incite violence. The worst is when we talk behind another's back and ruin a reputation. You have given us this incomparable gift, enable us to use it to build up, to encourage, to seek solutions, to bring peace. Lord, we ask that this be the case in the lives of all Christians everywhere. We ask it for those who are in positions of great power. May they use their speech to build bridges, to make positive connections, to disarm evil. We ask it for those in positions of influence with our children: teachers, coaches, and parents. May they speak in ways that guide our children in the loving ways of God. We ask it for ourselves. May we learn to use our words to speak the truth in places where it is needed, but to do so with the love of a Father who gave a Son to die for us.
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Benediction
If you wish to belong to Jesus, you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow him. For if you strive to save your life you will lose it, but if you are willing to lose your life for his sake you will save it. After all, what good is it for us to gain the whole world, and lose our souls?
Hymns
All Hail The Power Of Jesus' Name
Beneath The Cross Of Jesus
Come, All Christians, Be Committed
Have Thine Own Way
I Gave My Life For Thee
I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go
More Love To Thee
Take My Life And Let It Be
Contemporary Choruses
Above All, Lenny LeBlanc and Paul Baloche
I Will Offer Up My Life
Lamb of God
Nails In Your Hands, The
That's Why We Praise Him, Tommy Walker
Where You Are (can be found on the City on A Hill CD)
Other Music
Stand, Bebo Norman
Stand up for your faith because we are just passing through in this world.
Creative Ideas
Here is a creative idea for the use of the Lord's Prayer.
Leader: Our Father,
People: You conceived and made each of us.
Leader: Who art in heaven,
People: The perfect paradise,
Leader: Hallowed be thy name.
People: The most wonderful name in all the universe.
Leader: Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
People: In all its perfection,
Leader: On earth as it is in heaven.
People: That we may know the glory they knew in Eden.
Leader: And give us this day our daily bread,
People: Sustenance for the soul,
Leader: And forgive us our debts,
People: Every little sin,
Leader: As we forgive our debtors.
People: With mercy and love,
Leader: And lead us not into temptation,
People: For we are weak,
Leader: But deliver us from the evil one,
People: For he is strong and sly,
Leader: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever.
People: Amen.
Psalm 19
Leader: The heavens sing of the glory of God;
People: The skies harmonize over the beauty of God's work.
Leader: Day after day praise pours forth from them;
People: Night after night they tell the story.
Leader: There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
People: Their voices go out into all the earth, saying,
Leader: The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.
People: The teaching of the Lord is trustworthy, making wise the simple.
Leader: The truths of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.
People: The commands of the Lord radiate, giving light to the eyes.
Leader: Reverence for the Lord is pure, enduring forever.
People: The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous.
Leader: They are more precious than gold, pure gold;
People: They are sweeter than honey straight from the comb.
Leader: By them we are protected;
People: And in keeping them there is great reward.
Leader: The heavens sing of the glory of God;
People: Let us sing as well. Amen.
This is an experiential Call To Worship. As leader you can lead the people through a centering time that may help them to find the presence of God in worship. Take your time as you lead them through this. Let them really hear God speak. Let them feel the pressures flee them.
Leader: Let us come into the presence of God.
People: How?
Leader: Close your eyes.
Be quiet, really quiet.
Let go of all the troubles you brought with you. Let them go.
And all your worries about tomorrow; forget them.
They are unimportant.
You're in God's hands now.
Feel God's presence.
Hear him say,
I am here.
I am with you. Always.
Fear not.
Just rest in me.
Let us come into the presence of God.
Open your eyes.
People: Let us worship God.
Prayer Of Confession
This one uses the metaphor of the journey for the Christian life.
Leader: The Master has said that the way through the wood is dangerous.
People: It is filled with temptations,
Leader: And fearsome creatures, but
People: If we just stay on the path
Leader: Which has been cleared for us
People: By a righteous pioneer,
Leader: Temptations will not affect us,
People: And the beasts will be powerless to harm us.
(Brief pause)
Leader: Master, we confess that we wander,
People: Off the path and into the tangle
Leader: Of thorns, and brambles,
People: Where we get ensnared
Leader: And often captured by the enemy.
People: Forgive our foolishness,
Leader: And give us the strength of will
People: To remain on the path cleared for us by Jesus Christ.
Leader: We ask it in his name,
People: Amen.
James addresses the problem of the tongue in our Epistle Reading for today.
Leader: Our tongues say we trust you, Lord.
People: Our checkbooks disagree.
Leader: We talk as if we are committed to you,
People: But our lives tell a different story.
Leader: Sunday morning finds us here in church,
People: But the rest of week, we disregard your will.
Leader: Father -- forgive us our hypocrisy,
People: And strengthen us
Leader: To entrust our whole lives to you.
People: Amen.
Option two.
Leader: Halfway measures,
People: Half-hearted commitment,
Leader: Our spare change,
People: A tip rather than a tithe,
Leader: The time that is left
People: After we've finished everything else,
Leader: Superficial sacrifices.
People: These are the things we give
Leader: To the God who made us;
People: Whose power sustains us;
Leader: Whose love has saved us.
People: Father -- forgive us.
Leader: Yes -- forgive us.
People: Amen.
Assurance Of Pardon
The way has been made clear by the one who is the perfecter and pioneer of our faith, Jesus Christ. He went to his cross where he conquered sin, and into his tomb where he overcame death.
This is good news! The way has been made clear to overcome our sin and death. All we need do is take up our crosses and follow him.
At first blush that might not seem like such good news. Taking up our crosses is no picnic, but the thing is that if you take your cross to him, he will replace it with a crown of glory. If you die to your old self, he will give you a new and perfect self.
If you are like me and have an old self you'd very much like to be rid of, it may not be comfortable news, but it is very good news.
Prayer Of Dedication
We want to trust you, Father, but the fear always gets in the way. Help us to take some steps that will stretch ourselves and allow us to see how faithful you are. Only as we take these steps can we find you faithful and grow in trust.
Prayer For Illumination
Today they say that there is no truth. They say that all truth is relative.
As we come to the reading of scripture, remind us that though we do not always properly understand it, these words are yours, and therefore they are truth.
Illumine our lives this morning with your truth and empower us to rightly understand and apply it to our lives. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
Let us pray: O the tongue. Lord, they used to ask me, "And you kiss your children with that mouth?" They asked it because I used profanity. But that really isn't the worst of it. The worst is when we use the gift of speech to tear down one another, to speak hateful words, even to incite violence. The worst is when we talk behind another's back and ruin a reputation. You have given us this incomparable gift, enable us to use it to build up, to encourage, to seek solutions, to bring peace. Lord, we ask that this be the case in the lives of all Christians everywhere. We ask it for those who are in positions of great power. May they use their speech to build bridges, to make positive connections, to disarm evil. We ask it for those in positions of influence with our children: teachers, coaches, and parents. May they speak in ways that guide our children in the loving ways of God. We ask it for ourselves. May we learn to use our words to speak the truth in places where it is needed, but to do so with the love of a Father who gave a Son to die for us.
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Benediction
If you wish to belong to Jesus, you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow him. For if you strive to save your life you will lose it, but if you are willing to lose your life for his sake you will save it. After all, what good is it for us to gain the whole world, and lose our souls?
Hymns
All Hail The Power Of Jesus' Name
Beneath The Cross Of Jesus
Come, All Christians, Be Committed
Have Thine Own Way
I Gave My Life For Thee
I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go
More Love To Thee
Take My Life And Let It Be
Contemporary Choruses
Above All, Lenny LeBlanc and Paul Baloche
I Will Offer Up My Life
Lamb of God
Nails In Your Hands, The
That's Why We Praise Him, Tommy Walker
Where You Are (can be found on the City on A Hill CD)
Other Music
Stand, Bebo Norman
Stand up for your faith because we are just passing through in this world.
Creative Ideas
Here is a creative idea for the use of the Lord's Prayer.
Leader: Our Father,
People: You conceived and made each of us.
Leader: Who art in heaven,
People: The perfect paradise,
Leader: Hallowed be thy name.
People: The most wonderful name in all the universe.
Leader: Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
People: In all its perfection,
Leader: On earth as it is in heaven.
People: That we may know the glory they knew in Eden.
Leader: And give us this day our daily bread,
People: Sustenance for the soul,
Leader: And forgive us our debts,
People: Every little sin,
Leader: As we forgive our debtors.
People: With mercy and love,
Leader: And lead us not into temptation,
People: For we are weak,
Leader: But deliver us from the evil one,
People: For he is strong and sly,
Leader: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever.
People: Amen.
