Proper 21
Worship
Lectionary Worship Aids, Cradled in God's Heart
Series VIII, Cycle A
Object:
Call To Worship
One: God became an infant
All: so we would become God's children.
One: God walked the earth, telling stories
All: so the words would guide our choices.
One: God became poor
All: so our riches would help others.
One: God became foolish
All: so we would be wise enough to follow.
One: God turned the world upside down
All: so we would find our way home.
Prayer Of The Day
You nourish us,
Rock-Splitter,
with grace flowing from hardened hearts,
and children splashing in fountains;
with stories we have heard from our grandparents
and parables we live out;
with intelligence that can cure a disease
and imagination that builds sand castles.
You challenge us,
Self-Emptier,
to let our minds be transformed by your love
and our love to be given away without logic;
to allow our stubborn will
to be transfigured into service;
to set down our selfishness
and stand with those who have nothing.
You fill us,
Sharing Spirit,
with compassion made real
when we stretch our hearts
in service to others;
with love offered to children
who need a lap to sit on;
with obedience that bends our knees
in worship to you.
God in Community, Holy in One,
to whom we pray as Jesus taught us, saying,
Our Father ...
Call To Reconciliation
What do you think? There was a person who thought she had done nothing wrong, but whose heart is changed by God's grace and admits her mistakes. Another is always apologizing, but keeps on doing the same thing over and over. Which one is faithful to God's desires for us? Let us pause for a moment to think about this question and then pray together,
(pause)
Unison Prayer Of Confession
God of Glory,
our hearts are like rocks
that others strike with their needs;
crack us open
so our gifts may be poured out.
Our mistaken concept makes us think
we are better than those around us;
humble us,
so we might become
servants to the world.
Our focus on ourselves makes us confident,
our needs, our interests, take priority over all else;
fill our minds
with Christ and his love,
so we would think of others
instead of ourselves.
Silence is kept
Assurance Of Pardon
One: Let this be firmly planted in your minds: God loves you; God forgives you; God strengthens you for service.
All: May God's compassion make us more passionate to serve; may God's forgiveness make us eager to forgive; may God's love make us better lovers of the world. Thanks be to God. Amen.
One: God became an infant
All: so we would become God's children.
One: God walked the earth, telling stories
All: so the words would guide our choices.
One: God became poor
All: so our riches would help others.
One: God became foolish
All: so we would be wise enough to follow.
One: God turned the world upside down
All: so we would find our way home.
Prayer Of The Day
You nourish us,
Rock-Splitter,
with grace flowing from hardened hearts,
and children splashing in fountains;
with stories we have heard from our grandparents
and parables we live out;
with intelligence that can cure a disease
and imagination that builds sand castles.
You challenge us,
Self-Emptier,
to let our minds be transformed by your love
and our love to be given away without logic;
to allow our stubborn will
to be transfigured into service;
to set down our selfishness
and stand with those who have nothing.
You fill us,
Sharing Spirit,
with compassion made real
when we stretch our hearts
in service to others;
with love offered to children
who need a lap to sit on;
with obedience that bends our knees
in worship to you.
God in Community, Holy in One,
to whom we pray as Jesus taught us, saying,
Our Father ...
Call To Reconciliation
What do you think? There was a person who thought she had done nothing wrong, but whose heart is changed by God's grace and admits her mistakes. Another is always apologizing, but keeps on doing the same thing over and over. Which one is faithful to God's desires for us? Let us pause for a moment to think about this question and then pray together,
(pause)
Unison Prayer Of Confession
God of Glory,
our hearts are like rocks
that others strike with their needs;
crack us open
so our gifts may be poured out.
Our mistaken concept makes us think
we are better than those around us;
humble us,
so we might become
servants to the world.
Our focus on ourselves makes us confident,
our needs, our interests, take priority over all else;
fill our minds
with Christ and his love,
so we would think of others
instead of ourselves.
Silence is kept
Assurance Of Pardon
One: Let this be firmly planted in your minds: God loves you; God forgives you; God strengthens you for service.
All: May God's compassion make us more passionate to serve; may God's forgiveness make us eager to forgive; may God's love make us better lovers of the world. Thanks be to God. Amen.
