Proper 5, Pentecost 3, Ordinary Time 10
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle C Gospel Texts
Liturgical Color: Green
Gospel: Luke 7:11-17
Theme: Jesus Raises from the Dead the Son of a Widow from Nain. Do we allow the Spirit of the living Christ to raise us from the deadness of our lives; and if so, in what ways do we, by Christ's Spirit, help to raise others from their deadness?
The Community Gathers To Celebrate Life In Christ
Pastoral Invitation
In the name of the risen Christ, in the name of the Christ who lives, welcome to worship. Bring your deadness, dead thoughts, feelings, words, behavior, and give the risen Christ the opportunity to bring you to new life in the Holy Spirit. Are you willing to do that? (Wait for a response; if the people give only a halfhearted response, ask them again and again, until they show some life.)
Declaration of Joy (Reverently shouting!)
Pastor, Choir, and Ministers
P: Gladness is ours because we are Christ's!
C: Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
M: Gladness is ours; we are Christ's!
P: Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving.
M: Glorious things God has done for us, with us, through us.
P: Hills, plains,
C: Rock, sand,
M: Grass, trees, fields.
P: Clouds, sky,
C: Moon, stars,
M: Rain, wind, sun.
P: Gladness is ours. Hallelujah! Amen!
C: Hallelujah! Amen!
M: Hallelujah! Amen!
Hymn of Praise
"Sing Praise Unto the Name of God," Fred R. Anderson, 1983, 1989; attr. Matth us Greiter, 1525; Genevan Psalter, 1539.
Prayer of Praise
Invite the people to call out praise words of life. After each, ask the people to respond with "Christ raises us from the dead!"
The Community Examines Its Deadness
Introduction to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
I invite us to examine ourselves, and to write down, the thoughts, feelings, words, and behavior which bring deadness, even though they appear on the surface as exciting and exhilarating; as for example, doing something behind somebody's back, through gossip, passing rumors as fact, sneaking around, having an affair. (Add your own list.) Take three minutes of silence to examine ourselves, and to let the Holy Spirit examine us. (Wait three full minutes.)
The Act of Communal Self-Examination
God, you know us better than we know ourselves. You know us as we are and as we can become. You know what evil lurks in our minds which results in our unhealthy behavior. You know how we manipulate, con, and seduce others to get our way, even if only temporarily, because it makes us "feel good." Forgive us for the misuse of our mind and will to thwart your plan and purpose. Our self-centeredness is so subtle. Reach deeply into our inner nature, and reorient us around a desire and a decision to know your will and do it. Show us what life can be when you raise us from the dead daily.
Response
"Jesus the Man (Confession)," words and music by David Farley, from New Wine. (See Appendix I for address.) Use the stanzas which best fit the confession.
Introduction To The Act of Receiving New Life
Jesus said to the widow's son, "Young man, I say to you, arise!" Jesus says that to us daily. "Arise! Away with your deadness, your dead thoughts, feelings, ideas, behavior! I have come to bring you newness. Rejoice!"
The Act of Receiving New Life
Pastor and Ministers
P: Rejoice! Christ has set us free to live as responsible people.
M: We know that the past is forgiven; the future is before us.
P: I invite us to love life, and the people, animals, and nature who share it with us.
M: We embrace life in Christ, and we live as responsible people in Christ's name.
Response
"Come Sing to God," Fred R. Anderson, 1986; Katholischen Hofkapelle, 1784; alt. 1868. (Change "I" to "We" as you sing.)
The Community Receives The Living Word
Message with the Children of All Ages
Use the Gospel reading to discuss how Jesus gives us new life. Begin with that of the seed, the birth of a pet, or our own birth. Tie those into our growth through education, our learning by the limits put on us by others and then upon ourselves, through the things we learn from our friends (and even those who disagree with us). God uses all of these ways to bring to us new life.
Dramatizing the Scripture
Either act this, or use it as a dramatic reading. Put some life into it. Too much Scripture is read as though it's dead.
Proclamation of the Good News
Focus on these themes: (1) Do not weep. (2) Arise. (3) Be of good cheer.
Response To The Proclamation
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession. (Congregation responds with its favorite praise word after each prayer.)
Choral Response
(Adult Choir) "Canon of Praise," Pachelbel.
The Lively Community Responds To The Good News
Stewardship Challenge
What aspects of your stewardship of time, talent, and treasure contribute to life and which to death? (One minute of silence before the offering.)
Charge to the Congregation
I have a pulpit robe which on one side has the symbol of the cross, with the words, "from Death to Life." Which of the following statements for you as a person, for us as a congregation, bring death; which bring life? (1) A person separated from God, or a scratch on your new car? (2) A sermon ten minutes too long, or lunch a half-hour late? (3) The church not growing, or your lawn not growing? (4) The Bible unopened, or the paper unread? (5) The offering decreasing, or our income decreasing? (6) Your church work neglected, or your housework or homework neglected? (7) Missing a Bible study class, or missing your favorite television program? Which brings death; which brings life? (One minute of silence.)
Hymn of Commitment
"All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name," two tunes; stanzas 1-3, Edward Perronet, 1779, 1780; stanzas 2-3, alt. John Rippon, 1787; stanza 4, John Rippon, 1787; Oliver Holden, 1793; desc. Michael E. Young, 1979. James Ellor, 1838.
Meditation
What's the advantage of our living an extra ten or twenty years if we aren't really living anyway? How will we allow the risen, living Lord to raise us from the dead, the deadness of our old attitudes and routines?
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Sarabande on "Rockingham," Thiman.
Hymn of Praise: "O Worship the King, All Glorious Above!" Robert Grant, 1833; alt.; attr. Johann Michael Haydn (1737-1806); alt.
Response to the Assurance of Pardon: "Psalm 1" from New American Psalms, Megan. Have the congregation sing the antiphon.
Response to the Gospel Reading: "What Wondrous Love is This?" American folk hymn , c. 1811; Walker's Southern Harmony, 1835; harm. Cantate Domino, 1980.
Offertory: "Jesus, Priceless Treasure," Gardner Read.
Music for Dismissal: "Deo Gracias," Lorenz.
Gospel: Luke 7:11-17
Theme: Jesus Raises from the Dead the Son of a Widow from Nain. Do we allow the Spirit of the living Christ to raise us from the deadness of our lives; and if so, in what ways do we, by Christ's Spirit, help to raise others from their deadness?
The Community Gathers To Celebrate Life In Christ
Pastoral Invitation
In the name of the risen Christ, in the name of the Christ who lives, welcome to worship. Bring your deadness, dead thoughts, feelings, words, behavior, and give the risen Christ the opportunity to bring you to new life in the Holy Spirit. Are you willing to do that? (Wait for a response; if the people give only a halfhearted response, ask them again and again, until they show some life.)
Declaration of Joy (Reverently shouting!)
Pastor, Choir, and Ministers
P: Gladness is ours because we are Christ's!
C: Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
M: Gladness is ours; we are Christ's!
P: Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving.
M: Glorious things God has done for us, with us, through us.
P: Hills, plains,
C: Rock, sand,
M: Grass, trees, fields.
P: Clouds, sky,
C: Moon, stars,
M: Rain, wind, sun.
P: Gladness is ours. Hallelujah! Amen!
C: Hallelujah! Amen!
M: Hallelujah! Amen!
Hymn of Praise
"Sing Praise Unto the Name of God," Fred R. Anderson, 1983, 1989; attr. Matth us Greiter, 1525; Genevan Psalter, 1539.
Prayer of Praise
Invite the people to call out praise words of life. After each, ask the people to respond with "Christ raises us from the dead!"
The Community Examines Its Deadness
Introduction to the Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
I invite us to examine ourselves, and to write down, the thoughts, feelings, words, and behavior which bring deadness, even though they appear on the surface as exciting and exhilarating; as for example, doing something behind somebody's back, through gossip, passing rumors as fact, sneaking around, having an affair. (Add your own list.) Take three minutes of silence to examine ourselves, and to let the Holy Spirit examine us. (Wait three full minutes.)
The Act of Communal Self-Examination
God, you know us better than we know ourselves. You know us as we are and as we can become. You know what evil lurks in our minds which results in our unhealthy behavior. You know how we manipulate, con, and seduce others to get our way, even if only temporarily, because it makes us "feel good." Forgive us for the misuse of our mind and will to thwart your plan and purpose. Our self-centeredness is so subtle. Reach deeply into our inner nature, and reorient us around a desire and a decision to know your will and do it. Show us what life can be when you raise us from the dead daily.
Response
"Jesus the Man (Confession)," words and music by David Farley, from New Wine. (See Appendix I for address.) Use the stanzas which best fit the confession.
Introduction To The Act of Receiving New Life
Jesus said to the widow's son, "Young man, I say to you, arise!" Jesus says that to us daily. "Arise! Away with your deadness, your dead thoughts, feelings, ideas, behavior! I have come to bring you newness. Rejoice!"
The Act of Receiving New Life
Pastor and Ministers
P: Rejoice! Christ has set us free to live as responsible people.
M: We know that the past is forgiven; the future is before us.
P: I invite us to love life, and the people, animals, and nature who share it with us.
M: We embrace life in Christ, and we live as responsible people in Christ's name.
Response
"Come Sing to God," Fred R. Anderson, 1986; Katholischen Hofkapelle, 1784; alt. 1868. (Change "I" to "We" as you sing.)
The Community Receives The Living Word
Message with the Children of All Ages
Use the Gospel reading to discuss how Jesus gives us new life. Begin with that of the seed, the birth of a pet, or our own birth. Tie those into our growth through education, our learning by the limits put on us by others and then upon ourselves, through the things we learn from our friends (and even those who disagree with us). God uses all of these ways to bring to us new life.
Dramatizing the Scripture
Either act this, or use it as a dramatic reading. Put some life into it. Too much Scripture is read as though it's dead.
Proclamation of the Good News
Focus on these themes: (1) Do not weep. (2) Arise. (3) Be of good cheer.
Response To The Proclamation
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession. (Congregation responds with its favorite praise word after each prayer.)
Choral Response
(Adult Choir) "Canon of Praise," Pachelbel.
The Lively Community Responds To The Good News
Stewardship Challenge
What aspects of your stewardship of time, talent, and treasure contribute to life and which to death? (One minute of silence before the offering.)
Charge to the Congregation
I have a pulpit robe which on one side has the symbol of the cross, with the words, "from Death to Life." Which of the following statements for you as a person, for us as a congregation, bring death; which bring life? (1) A person separated from God, or a scratch on your new car? (2) A sermon ten minutes too long, or lunch a half-hour late? (3) The church not growing, or your lawn not growing? (4) The Bible unopened, or the paper unread? (5) The offering decreasing, or our income decreasing? (6) Your church work neglected, or your housework or homework neglected? (7) Missing a Bible study class, or missing your favorite television program? Which brings death; which brings life? (One minute of silence.)
Hymn of Commitment
"All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name," two tunes; stanzas 1-3, Edward Perronet, 1779, 1780; stanzas 2-3, alt. John Rippon, 1787; stanza 4, John Rippon, 1787; Oliver Holden, 1793; desc. Michael E. Young, 1979. James Ellor, 1838.
Meditation
What's the advantage of our living an extra ten or twenty years if we aren't really living anyway? How will we allow the risen, living Lord to raise us from the dead, the deadness of our old attitudes and routines?
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Sarabande on "Rockingham," Thiman.
Hymn of Praise: "O Worship the King, All Glorious Above!" Robert Grant, 1833; alt.; attr. Johann Michael Haydn (1737-1806); alt.
Response to the Assurance of Pardon: "Psalm 1" from New American Psalms, Megan. Have the congregation sing the antiphon.
Response to the Gospel Reading: "What Wondrous Love is This?" American folk hymn , c. 1811; Walker's Southern Harmony, 1835; harm. Cantate Domino, 1980.
Offertory: "Jesus, Priceless Treasure," Gardner Read.
Music for Dismissal: "Deo Gracias," Lorenz.
