Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series IV, Cycle B
Call To Worship
For those who pay attention to national days, this Sunday falls just before the Fourth of July. Here is a Call To Worship that may work for the holiday.
Leader:
Our country 'tis of thee,
People:
Of thee, O Lord, of thee.
Leader:
Sweet land of liberty,
People:
Authored by God.
Leader:
To thee we sing,
People:
O God of the universe.
Leader:
Blessed are the people whose God is Yahweh.
People:
May we be such a people,
Leader:
Who bring blessing to our nation,
People:
By our faithfulness to God,
Leader:
Who is the source of all true goodness
People:
And freedom.
Leader:
So let us celebrate our God,
People:
And the gift of freedom.
Leader:
Amen.
People:
Amen.
This one is based on the Psalm which reminds us that nations are as nothing to God.
Leader:
Why do the nations conspire and plot against me?
People:
Setting themselves against Yahweh, saying:
Leader:
Let us break the bonds God has placed on us.
People:
But he who sits in heaven laughs;
Leader:
He will say to them in a terrifying voice,
People:
I have made my Son King of kings.
Leader:
He shall break you in pieces like a clay pot.
People:
Therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned.
Leader:
Serve Yahweh with fear and trembling.
People:
For blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Leader:
Let us worship the King of kings. Amen.
Pure praise!
Leader:
Perfect.
People:
Faultless.
Leader:
Complete.
People:
Pure.
Leader:
Beautiful.
People:
Exulted.
Leader:
Awesome.
People:
Majestic.
Leader:
Magnificent.
People:
Holy.
Leader:
This is our God.
People:
The one who loves us.
Leader:
Come, let us bow down before him.
People:
Come, let us worship him.
Prayer Of Confession
From Micah 6:8.
Leader:
God has told us what is good, saying;
People:
What do I require of you?
Leader:
But to do justice,
People:
Love kindness,
Leader:
And to walk humbly with the Lord.
People:
Forgive us, Lord,
Leader:
For we are unconcerned with justice,
People:
Uninterested in kindness,
Leader:
And unwilling to be humble.
People:
Forgive us.
On a day when many celebrate the power of the nation we might encourage our people to think of where our true security comes from.
Leader:
She advocated more money for national defense.
People:
He had a cabinet full of guns for protection.
Leader:
Insurance policies galore.
People:
A personal bodyguard.
Leader:
She worked out to stay healthy.
People:
Ate all the right stuff.
Leader:
Took a handful of vitamins every day.
People:
He had his cars perfectly maintained.
Leader:
Surrounded himself with every protection he could think of ...
People:
But their trust was misplaced,
Leader:
For those protections are nothing without the protection of the Lord.
People:
Father, we confess that we have placed our trust in money and machines,
Leader:
In people and policies,
People:
And not in you.
Leader:
Forgive us,
People:
And teach us that you alone are worthy of our trust.
Leader:
Amen.
People:
Amen.
One more for July Fourth.
Leader:
America the beautiful.
People:
America the great.
Leader:
Land of the free.
People:
Home of the brave.
Leader:
Land on which God shed his grace,
People:
From sea to shining sea.
Leader:
Let us pray: God who has blessed us -- our confession on this weekend when we celebrate the gift of being Americans is that it is so easy to become complacent and self-centered. We are blessed with freedom -- with opportunity -- with prosperity and more. Remind us in our blessedness that with great blessedness comes great responsibility. Remind us that we are called to continue to be a haven for the world's desperate -- that we are to continue to adjust our society to bring justice to as many of our citizens as possible -- that we must recover the moral foundation that helped make us a great nation -- that our prosperity is given for sharing that it might create prosperity everywhere.
People:
Lord, we are a great nation,
Leader:
And a great people.
People:
And like it or not,
Leader:
We are called to be keepers of our brothers and sisters
People:
All around this world.
Leader:
Help us to rise to that calling,
People:
By your power.
Leader:
We pray it in the name of Jesus Christ,
People:
King of kings
Leader:
And Lord of lords.
People:
Amen.
Assurance Of Pardon
From Psalm 130.
Out of the depths we cry to you, O Lord;
Hear our voices,
Let your ears be attentive to our cry for mercy.
Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are revered.
We praise you for your unfailing love, and redemption.
A good response to this assurance might be to sing "Amazing Grace."
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved,
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Here is another Assurance Of Pardon that is a little different.
An old man said to me once from his deathbed, "It's too late for me."
I scoffed. For with the God of grace it is never too late.
As he came to see the truth of this he began to smile, for he had just heard the greatest news of his life. Even as he lay dying, even as he looked back on a life spent on all the wrong things, there was hope.
This is the awesome good news of the gospel. It is never too late with God.
Let's begin today to live as we ought. Let's surrender it all to him, commit ourselves to following him wherever he leads, and trust him to guide us into abundance of life.
If this is good news for you -- say Amen!
Prayer Of Dedication
Fourth of July emphasis.
Let us pray: There is no denying it, we Americans are the richest people to ever live on the face of the earth. Life is good for us. For that we praise you, God. Today, as we celebrate our good fortune at being born in this great nation, let us not forget that with great blessing comes great responsibility. So this day we dedicate all we have to you and your will. In the name of the Lord of lords, and King of kings, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Prayer For Illumination
Leader:
Bless now, O Lord, the speakers of your Word,
People:
That they may speak only what you put in their mouths.
Leader:
And bless the hearers,
People:
That we may hear what you want to say to us today.
Leader:
May your truth abound,
People:
In our speaking and hearing. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
This prayer deals with the paradox of God's power and tenderness.
Abba, what a privilege to call you that, "Abba," Papa. You are pure astonishing power and yet we can call you Papa. Thank you for loving us as a papa loves his babies. Come among us now, in these moments in such a way that we can know you, really know you, with the intimacy with which a child knows a daddy. And as we feel that love, that sweet safety, we ask that those we have mentioned this morning would know your love as we do. Whether they are dealing with loss; the burden of sadness; physical pain; brokenness in relationships; confusion of mind; whatever their burden may be, open their eyes to see a loving papa reaching out to them as if to an infant in need. Amen.
This one has a national holiday emphasis.
In a world where leaders grasp at power and strive to get their names and faces in the media, in a time when greatness is defined by wealth and influence, we pray for our leaders. When pride is proclaimed as a virtue and humility frowned upon, Lord, we pray for our leaders. We ask that they turn from the search for power to seeking out wisdom: that they become less concerned with image and more interested in truth; that awards not be their goal, but service. We even dare to ask that their hearts be smitten by you and your love, that the difficult problems they encounter and decisions they must make will be informed by grace, compassion, and service to the one who made them all. We ask it all in the name of the one who embodied these qualities, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Benediction
From Mark 5.
When it seemed that all was lost, and his daughter was dead, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe."
Hymns
All People That On Earth Do Dwell
Be Still And Know
God Is So Good
Great Physician, The
He Touched Me
Healing At The Fountain
How Sweet The Name Of Jesus Sounds
Jesus Grant That Balm And Healing
Jesus, I Come
Jesus, In Sickness and Pain
Just One Touch
Moment By Moment
There Is A Balm In Gilead
Thou, Whose Almighty Hand
Patriotic emphasis
America The Beautiful
Battle Hymn Of The Republic
Bless The Nation
Eternal Father, Strong To Save
God Of Our Fathers
If My People's Hearts Are Humbled
My Country 'Tis Of Thee
Contemporary Choruses
Come Just As You Are, Joseph Sabalick
Cry Of My Heart, Terry Butler
Draw Me Close, Kelly Carpenter
God Of Wonders, Marc Byrd
In The Secret, Andy Park
Trading My Sorrows, Darrell Evans
Other Music
God Is In Control, Twila Paris
For those who pay attention to national days, this Sunday falls just before the Fourth of July. Here is a Call To Worship that may work for the holiday.
Leader:
Our country 'tis of thee,
People:
Of thee, O Lord, of thee.
Leader:
Sweet land of liberty,
People:
Authored by God.
Leader:
To thee we sing,
People:
O God of the universe.
Leader:
Blessed are the people whose God is Yahweh.
People:
May we be such a people,
Leader:
Who bring blessing to our nation,
People:
By our faithfulness to God,
Leader:
Who is the source of all true goodness
People:
And freedom.
Leader:
So let us celebrate our God,
People:
And the gift of freedom.
Leader:
Amen.
People:
Amen.
This one is based on the Psalm which reminds us that nations are as nothing to God.
Leader:
Why do the nations conspire and plot against me?
People:
Setting themselves against Yahweh, saying:
Leader:
Let us break the bonds God has placed on us.
People:
But he who sits in heaven laughs;
Leader:
He will say to them in a terrifying voice,
People:
I have made my Son King of kings.
Leader:
He shall break you in pieces like a clay pot.
People:
Therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned.
Leader:
Serve Yahweh with fear and trembling.
People:
For blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Leader:
Let us worship the King of kings. Amen.
Pure praise!
Leader:
Perfect.
People:
Faultless.
Leader:
Complete.
People:
Pure.
Leader:
Beautiful.
People:
Exulted.
Leader:
Awesome.
People:
Majestic.
Leader:
Magnificent.
People:
Holy.
Leader:
This is our God.
People:
The one who loves us.
Leader:
Come, let us bow down before him.
People:
Come, let us worship him.
Prayer Of Confession
From Micah 6:8.
Leader:
God has told us what is good, saying;
People:
What do I require of you?
Leader:
But to do justice,
People:
Love kindness,
Leader:
And to walk humbly with the Lord.
People:
Forgive us, Lord,
Leader:
For we are unconcerned with justice,
People:
Uninterested in kindness,
Leader:
And unwilling to be humble.
People:
Forgive us.
On a day when many celebrate the power of the nation we might encourage our people to think of where our true security comes from.
Leader:
She advocated more money for national defense.
People:
He had a cabinet full of guns for protection.
Leader:
Insurance policies galore.
People:
A personal bodyguard.
Leader:
She worked out to stay healthy.
People:
Ate all the right stuff.
Leader:
Took a handful of vitamins every day.
People:
He had his cars perfectly maintained.
Leader:
Surrounded himself with every protection he could think of ...
People:
But their trust was misplaced,
Leader:
For those protections are nothing without the protection of the Lord.
People:
Father, we confess that we have placed our trust in money and machines,
Leader:
In people and policies,
People:
And not in you.
Leader:
Forgive us,
People:
And teach us that you alone are worthy of our trust.
Leader:
Amen.
People:
Amen.
One more for July Fourth.
Leader:
America the beautiful.
People:
America the great.
Leader:
Land of the free.
People:
Home of the brave.
Leader:
Land on which God shed his grace,
People:
From sea to shining sea.
Leader:
Let us pray: God who has blessed us -- our confession on this weekend when we celebrate the gift of being Americans is that it is so easy to become complacent and self-centered. We are blessed with freedom -- with opportunity -- with prosperity and more. Remind us in our blessedness that with great blessedness comes great responsibility. Remind us that we are called to continue to be a haven for the world's desperate -- that we are to continue to adjust our society to bring justice to as many of our citizens as possible -- that we must recover the moral foundation that helped make us a great nation -- that our prosperity is given for sharing that it might create prosperity everywhere.
People:
Lord, we are a great nation,
Leader:
And a great people.
People:
And like it or not,
Leader:
We are called to be keepers of our brothers and sisters
People:
All around this world.
Leader:
Help us to rise to that calling,
People:
By your power.
Leader:
We pray it in the name of Jesus Christ,
People:
King of kings
Leader:
And Lord of lords.
People:
Amen.
Assurance Of Pardon
From Psalm 130.
Out of the depths we cry to you, O Lord;
Hear our voices,
Let your ears be attentive to our cry for mercy.
Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are revered.
We praise you for your unfailing love, and redemption.
A good response to this assurance might be to sing "Amazing Grace."
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved,
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Here is another Assurance Of Pardon that is a little different.
An old man said to me once from his deathbed, "It's too late for me."
I scoffed. For with the God of grace it is never too late.
As he came to see the truth of this he began to smile, for he had just heard the greatest news of his life. Even as he lay dying, even as he looked back on a life spent on all the wrong things, there was hope.
This is the awesome good news of the gospel. It is never too late with God.
Let's begin today to live as we ought. Let's surrender it all to him, commit ourselves to following him wherever he leads, and trust him to guide us into abundance of life.
If this is good news for you -- say Amen!
Prayer Of Dedication
Fourth of July emphasis.
Let us pray: There is no denying it, we Americans are the richest people to ever live on the face of the earth. Life is good for us. For that we praise you, God. Today, as we celebrate our good fortune at being born in this great nation, let us not forget that with great blessing comes great responsibility. So this day we dedicate all we have to you and your will. In the name of the Lord of lords, and King of kings, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Prayer For Illumination
Leader:
Bless now, O Lord, the speakers of your Word,
People:
That they may speak only what you put in their mouths.
Leader:
And bless the hearers,
People:
That we may hear what you want to say to us today.
Leader:
May your truth abound,
People:
In our speaking and hearing. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
This prayer deals with the paradox of God's power and tenderness.
Abba, what a privilege to call you that, "Abba," Papa. You are pure astonishing power and yet we can call you Papa. Thank you for loving us as a papa loves his babies. Come among us now, in these moments in such a way that we can know you, really know you, with the intimacy with which a child knows a daddy. And as we feel that love, that sweet safety, we ask that those we have mentioned this morning would know your love as we do. Whether they are dealing with loss; the burden of sadness; physical pain; brokenness in relationships; confusion of mind; whatever their burden may be, open their eyes to see a loving papa reaching out to them as if to an infant in need. Amen.
This one has a national holiday emphasis.
In a world where leaders grasp at power and strive to get their names and faces in the media, in a time when greatness is defined by wealth and influence, we pray for our leaders. When pride is proclaimed as a virtue and humility frowned upon, Lord, we pray for our leaders. We ask that they turn from the search for power to seeking out wisdom: that they become less concerned with image and more interested in truth; that awards not be their goal, but service. We even dare to ask that their hearts be smitten by you and your love, that the difficult problems they encounter and decisions they must make will be informed by grace, compassion, and service to the one who made them all. We ask it all in the name of the one who embodied these qualities, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Benediction
From Mark 5.
When it seemed that all was lost, and his daughter was dead, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe."
Hymns
All People That On Earth Do Dwell
Be Still And Know
God Is So Good
Great Physician, The
He Touched Me
Healing At The Fountain
How Sweet The Name Of Jesus Sounds
Jesus Grant That Balm And Healing
Jesus, I Come
Jesus, In Sickness and Pain
Just One Touch
Moment By Moment
There Is A Balm In Gilead
Thou, Whose Almighty Hand
Patriotic emphasis
America The Beautiful
Battle Hymn Of The Republic
Bless The Nation
Eternal Father, Strong To Save
God Of Our Fathers
If My People's Hearts Are Humbled
My Country 'Tis Of Thee
Contemporary Choruses
Come Just As You Are, Joseph Sabalick
Cry Of My Heart, Terry Butler
Draw Me Close, Kelly Carpenter
God Of Wonders, Marc Byrd
In The Secret, Andy Park
Trading My Sorrows, Darrell Evans
Other Music
God Is In Control, Twila Paris
