Proper 27 | Ordinary Time 32
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series IV, Cycle B
Call To Worship
The Hebrews passage talks about the great salvation we have been offered. This Call To Worship reminds us how great it is to have this salvation, and that we ought to share that story.
Leader:
We've a story to tell to the nations!
People:
A story of forgiveness,
Leader:
A story of love,
People:
A story of victory being snatched from certain defeat,
Leader:
A story everyone needs to hear.
People:
Let's broadcast the story.
Leader:
Let's tell the world that God's love is for them,
People:
That their mourning can be turned to dancing,
Leader:
That life has won over death.
People:
Praise God!
Leader:
All the earth!
People:
Praise the Lord. Amen.
A general Call To Worship on God's love for us.
Leader:
Jesus said, "If you who are selfish know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more lavish do you think your heavenly Father will be?"
People:
Are not sparrows two for a penny?
Leader:
Yet -- inexpensive as they are -- the Father constantly watches over them. Aren't you worth more than a half-penny?
People:
Far more!
Leader:
Like a shepherd who values each sheep so much that he will leave 99 behind in order to go find one lost one -- so God loves you,
People:
And will not allow any of us to be lost.
Leader:
This is why we can call Almighty God "Abba."
People:
Papa!
Leader:
Papa -- power modified by mercy. Strength tempered by love. How can we fail to worship such a God?
People:
Amen! Let us worship God.
A general Call To Worship celebrating God.
Leader:
Creator,
People:
Almighty God,
Leader:
Righteous Judge,
People:
Father,
Leader:
Abba,
People:
Papa,
Leader:
Merciful Redeemer.
People:
Praise God.
Leader:
All that is within me
People:
Praise his holy name!
Leader:
Amen!
People:
Amen!
Prayer Of Confession
A general confession.
Leader:
Lost,
People:
Alone,
Leader:
Frightened,
People:
Angry,
Leader:
Weary,
People:
Defeated,
Leader:
Disobedient,
People:
Selfish,
Leader:
Hateful.
People:
Lord, we are filled with these.
Leader:
Bring us back from them to you.
People:
Bring us back to ...
Leader:
Found,
People:
Fellowship,
Leader:
Safe,
People:
Serene,
Leader:
Vital,
People:
Victorious,
Leader:
Love.
People:
Bring us back to these, Lord. Amen.
The widow who gives all, in the reading from Mark, does so because she trusts God. This prayer wonders if we trust God, and it uses Daniel as an example.
Leader:
He lay awake on his bed,
People:
Wondering if he would be strong,
Leader:
Strong enough to be faithful
People:
Despite the king's decree.
Leader:
"No one shall be worshiped,
People:
But the king alone."
Leader:
He wondered. Worried. The night came and went. The day dawned. The time for prayer came,
People:
And Daniel was found in his usual place
Leader:
On his knees,
People:
Worshiping God.
Leader:
He lay awake in his cell, wondering if he had the courage to face the morning's den of lions.
People:
Punishment for his prayer.
Leader:
The time came, and into the pit he was led. But when they returned expecting blood and bones ...
People:
Out strode Daniel saying, "God is faithful."
Leader:
Father, forgive us for not trusting your faithfulness,
People:
And give us the faith of Daniel.
Leader:
In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
The witness of the widow who gave all to God is a powerful one. This prayer confesses our less effective witness.
Leader:
We're angry and sour,
People:
And bitter and dour,
Leader:
Hour by hour by hour.
People:
So that people say,
Leader:
Where's the evidence
People:
Of your God's power?
Leader:
Our lives are the same,
People:
We still play the game,
Leader:
Blindly seeking fame and acclaim.
People:
And the world wants to know
Leader:
What good is our faith,
People:
If our lives haven't changed.
Leader:
Lord, we can't change ourselves.
People:
Help us to want to change.
Leader:
Transform us in spite of ourselves.
People:
That we may bring honor to you. Amen.
One last one based on the widow's mite.
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
Goes with the Confession which talks about Daniel's faithfulness.
Leader:
Know this, the one who was faithful to Daniel amidst the lions will be faithful when we face our lions.
People:
May it be so.
Leader:
Amen.
Prayer Of Dedication
Lord, would that we would have the faith of the widow who gave her last penny to your work, for with trusting deeply comes the deep peace that disarms all of life's anxieties and worries. Give us such faith. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain we rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat. This is what the psalmist teaches us, Lord, but we have not learned the lesson. The lesson of trusting you for everything. The lesson of refraining from the obsessions of our culture; obsessions with money, and material goods, and financial security. Remind us that our security comes from you, in all circumstances it comes from you. When this lesson is learned, then and only then can we experience the gift that the psalmist talks about. The gift is that God grants his sleep to those he loves.
We place ourselves in your hands this morning, Lord, and we lift up to you and lay in your hands those in our family of faith who have special needs today ...
Benediction
Based on Hebrews 9:28.
Put all your trust in God. Be at peace. The day is coming when he will return again to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Amen.
Hymns
All For Thee
All Things Are Thine
Breathe On Me
Breathe On Me, Breath Of God
Cleanse Me
Close To Thee
Come, All Christians, Be Committed
Commit Thy Way
Give Me Jesus
Have Thine Own Way, Lord
His Way With Thee
I Am Thine, O Lord
I Bring Thee All
I Have Decided To Follow Jesus
I Surrender All
I'll Live For Him
Jesus Calls Us
Living For Jesus
More Love To Thee
Only One Life
Seek Ye First
Take My Life And Let It Be
Contemporary Choruses
Be Bold
Let My Words Be Few, Matt and Beth Redman
He Knows My Name, Tommy Walker
Other Music
Shelter, Jaci Valasquez
God is our shelter from all of life's troubles.
The Hebrews passage talks about the great salvation we have been offered. This Call To Worship reminds us how great it is to have this salvation, and that we ought to share that story.
Leader:
We've a story to tell to the nations!
People:
A story of forgiveness,
Leader:
A story of love,
People:
A story of victory being snatched from certain defeat,
Leader:
A story everyone needs to hear.
People:
Let's broadcast the story.
Leader:
Let's tell the world that God's love is for them,
People:
That their mourning can be turned to dancing,
Leader:
That life has won over death.
People:
Praise God!
Leader:
All the earth!
People:
Praise the Lord. Amen.
A general Call To Worship on God's love for us.
Leader:
Jesus said, "If you who are selfish know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more lavish do you think your heavenly Father will be?"
People:
Are not sparrows two for a penny?
Leader:
Yet -- inexpensive as they are -- the Father constantly watches over them. Aren't you worth more than a half-penny?
People:
Far more!
Leader:
Like a shepherd who values each sheep so much that he will leave 99 behind in order to go find one lost one -- so God loves you,
People:
And will not allow any of us to be lost.
Leader:
This is why we can call Almighty God "Abba."
People:
Papa!
Leader:
Papa -- power modified by mercy. Strength tempered by love. How can we fail to worship such a God?
People:
Amen! Let us worship God.
A general Call To Worship celebrating God.
Leader:
Creator,
People:
Almighty God,
Leader:
Righteous Judge,
People:
Father,
Leader:
Abba,
People:
Papa,
Leader:
Merciful Redeemer.
People:
Praise God.
Leader:
All that is within me
People:
Praise his holy name!
Leader:
Amen!
People:
Amen!
Prayer Of Confession
A general confession.
Leader:
Lost,
People:
Alone,
Leader:
Frightened,
People:
Angry,
Leader:
Weary,
People:
Defeated,
Leader:
Disobedient,
People:
Selfish,
Leader:
Hateful.
People:
Lord, we are filled with these.
Leader:
Bring us back from them to you.
People:
Bring us back to ...
Leader:
Found,
People:
Fellowship,
Leader:
Safe,
People:
Serene,
Leader:
Vital,
People:
Victorious,
Leader:
Love.
People:
Bring us back to these, Lord. Amen.
The widow who gives all, in the reading from Mark, does so because she trusts God. This prayer wonders if we trust God, and it uses Daniel as an example.
Leader:
He lay awake on his bed,
People:
Wondering if he would be strong,
Leader:
Strong enough to be faithful
People:
Despite the king's decree.
Leader:
"No one shall be worshiped,
People:
But the king alone."
Leader:
He wondered. Worried. The night came and went. The day dawned. The time for prayer came,
People:
And Daniel was found in his usual place
Leader:
On his knees,
People:
Worshiping God.
Leader:
He lay awake in his cell, wondering if he had the courage to face the morning's den of lions.
People:
Punishment for his prayer.
Leader:
The time came, and into the pit he was led. But when they returned expecting blood and bones ...
People:
Out strode Daniel saying, "God is faithful."
Leader:
Father, forgive us for not trusting your faithfulness,
People:
And give us the faith of Daniel.
Leader:
In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
The witness of the widow who gave all to God is a powerful one. This prayer confesses our less effective witness.
Leader:
We're angry and sour,
People:
And bitter and dour,
Leader:
Hour by hour by hour.
People:
So that people say,
Leader:
Where's the evidence
People:
Of your God's power?
Leader:
Our lives are the same,
People:
We still play the game,
Leader:
Blindly seeking fame and acclaim.
People:
And the world wants to know
Leader:
What good is our faith,
People:
If our lives haven't changed.
Leader:
Lord, we can't change ourselves.
People:
Help us to want to change.
Leader:
Transform us in spite of ourselves.
People:
That we may bring honor to you. Amen.
One last one based on the widow's mite.
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
Goes with the Confession which talks about Daniel's faithfulness.
Leader:
Know this, the one who was faithful to Daniel amidst the lions will be faithful when we face our lions.
People:
May it be so.
Leader:
Amen.
Prayer Of Dedication
Lord, would that we would have the faith of the widow who gave her last penny to your work, for with trusting deeply comes the deep peace that disarms all of life's anxieties and worries. Give us such faith. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain we rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat. This is what the psalmist teaches us, Lord, but we have not learned the lesson. The lesson of trusting you for everything. The lesson of refraining from the obsessions of our culture; obsessions with money, and material goods, and financial security. Remind us that our security comes from you, in all circumstances it comes from you. When this lesson is learned, then and only then can we experience the gift that the psalmist talks about. The gift is that God grants his sleep to those he loves.
We place ourselves in your hands this morning, Lord, and we lift up to you and lay in your hands those in our family of faith who have special needs today ...
Benediction
Based on Hebrews 9:28.
Put all your trust in God. Be at peace. The day is coming when he will return again to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Amen.
Hymns
All For Thee
All Things Are Thine
Breathe On Me
Breathe On Me, Breath Of God
Cleanse Me
Close To Thee
Come, All Christians, Be Committed
Commit Thy Way
Give Me Jesus
Have Thine Own Way, Lord
His Way With Thee
I Am Thine, O Lord
I Bring Thee All
I Have Decided To Follow Jesus
I Surrender All
I'll Live For Him
Jesus Calls Us
Living For Jesus
More Love To Thee
Only One Life
Seek Ye First
Take My Life And Let It Be
Contemporary Choruses
Be Bold
Let My Words Be Few, Matt and Beth Redman
He Knows My Name, Tommy Walker
Other Music
Shelter, Jaci Valasquez
God is our shelter from all of life's troubles.
