Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series IV, Cycle B
Call To Worship
A bit of encouragement to start a worship time.
Leader:
Are you there, Lord? Sometimes my life is so dark that I can't see you.
People:
Sometimes it is so cold
Leader:
That I can't feel the warmth of your touch.
People:
So I feel abandoned;
Leader:
Alone, and I cry out,
People:
Are you there, Lord?
(The Leader should pause briefly here)
Leader:
When you feel lost and alone, listen for the voice of God
People:
On the winds,
Leader
In the song of the birds,
People:
And the beautiful noise of life.
Leader:
And watch for the presence of God
People:
In the sunset,
Leader:
And the soft falling rain of summer,
People:
Or the thunder of the waterfall.
Leader:
And feel the touch of the Creator
People:
When the sunshine falls on your face,
Leader:
Or a baby's skin brushes yours,
People:
Or the embrace of love comes to you.
Leader:
And know that you have not been abandoned simply, because Yahweh says he will never abandon us.
People:
And the promises of God
Leader:
Are as good as gold.
People:
Praise him!
Leader:
Glorify him all you people!
People:
Amen.
Option number two.
Leader:
Never does he forget us,
People:
Though we often forget him.
Leader:
Never does he reject us,
People:
Though many have rejected him.
Leader:
Never will he let his love die,
People:
Though our love runs hot and cold.
Leader:
For there is nothing in this life or the next,
People:
Neither demons or angels,
Leader:
No power, no matter how exalted,
People:
No matter how established,
Leader:
That can remove us from his love --
People:
Ever!
Leader:
So let us come to his throne to worship,
People:
Adore!
Leader:
Exult!
People:
And give thanks,
Leader:
For his eternal, unconditional, overwhelming
People:
Love.
Leader:
Amen.
Based on the Beatitudes. In our weakness God is there for us.
Leader:
Come, all you who are poor in spirit;
People:
Come, all who mourn;
Leader:
Come, you who are meek;
People:
And you who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Leader:
Come, you merciful people;
People:
You with pure hearts;
Leader:
You peacemakers;
People:
And you who are persecuted for your faith.
Leader:
Let us come together -- we who are weak, simple, powerless, foolish.
People:
And worship the source of life,
Leader:
Jesus Christ,
People:
Our Lord! Amen.
From Psalm 48.
Leader:
Great is the Lord,
People:
And worthy of praise,
Leader:
God's city is beautiful in its grandeur,
People:
It is a joy for the entire earth.
Leader:
When the powers of the earth joined forces against God,
People:
They saw the city and were so astounded
Leader:
They fled in terror.
People:
Trembling seized them,
Leader:
And they were destroyed like ships made of balsa wood.
People:
In the city of God,
Leader:
All inhabitants are secure forever.
People:
Therefore let all the earth praise God.
This one may only be useful in the aftermath of a great calamity. But such events occur all the time: September 11, hurricanes in Florida; Sudanese genocide; the tsunami in Asia. If there has been a tragedy like these any time recent to this Sunday, you might make use of this Call To Worship. It reminds us that in spite of appearances, God is in charge.
Leader:
O Lord, how could you allow it to happen?
People:
Thousands killed;
Leader:
Tens of thousands grief-stricken;
People:
Millions affected;
Leader:
A gaping wound in a great city;
People:
A financial crisis around the world;
Leader:
And a sense of vulnerability not known before.
People:
O Lord, how could you allow it?
Leader:
And in my mind comes a quiet answer,
People:
The whisper of God,
Leader:
My ways are higher than yours;
People:
All things work for ultimate good;
Leader:
Where, my child, were you when I created the heavens and the earth?
People:
Have you not known?
Leader:
Have you not heard?
People:
Yahweh is the everlasting God.
Leader:
He does not faint or grow weary,
People:
His understanding is unsearchable.
Leader:
We do not know.
People:
We do not understand.
Leader:
But we trust in our God.
People:
And sometimes
Leader:
Nothing else matters.
People:
Let us worship the one we trust.
Leader:
Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Based on Romans 8, but it resonates with the 2 Corinthians passage.
Leader:
If God be for us,
People:
Who can be against us?
Leader:
If God is our strength,
People:
Who can overcome us?
Leader:
If God is our protection,
People:
Who can strike us?
Leader:
Father of all power and might,
People:
Forgive us
Leader:
When we allow fear to creep into our hearts and minds,
People:
For with you there need be no fear.
Leader:
In these uncertain times
People:
Help us to lay all things,
Leader:
Every anxiety,
People:
Each little worry
Leader:
At your feet,
People:
And to believe with all our hearts
Leader:
That you are still in charge.
People:
Amen.
Option number two.
Leader:
O source of all life -- forgive our lack of faith in you.
People:
Heal our diseases and wash away our sin.
Leader:
Free us from our demons.
People:
Free us from every desire that enslaves us.
Leader:
Help us to always find our way to the fountain of living waters,
People:
Where we can be made clean and whole,
Leader:
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
People:
Amen.
Fear is the enemy of faith.
Leader:
She was so frightened she could hardly think.
People:
She could hear scary noises all around.
Leader:
And it was too dark to see anything.
People:
Was that a growl? A gunshot?
Leader:
Her heart raced. She wanted to run away and get out of there.
People:
But her daddy had told her to stay right here,
Leader:
He said that if she just stayed in her spot and kept quiet, everything would be okay.
People:
But it was so scary!
Leader:
Maybe Daddy left her here because he didn't care about her any more.
People:
Maybe he wanted her to get hurt, or even killed.
Leader:
"But he loves me," she thought. "That can't be it."
People:
Maybe he was an imposter.
Leader:
Maybe he wasn't really my daddy at all.
People:
Maybe I just dreamed that he was here.
Leader:
Maybe it was all in my imagination.
People:
But then, just as she was about to bolt,
Leader:
The clamor quieted and she heard a still small voice calling,
People:
My child, my baby, I am here.
Leader:
Fear not! I've come for you just as I said.
People:
And soon she felt the embrace of her papa,
Leader:
And all was well with her again.
People:
Lord, forgive us for not trusting you enough to follow your truth every day of our lives. Amen.
Who are you going to trust?
Leader:
My counselor;
People:
My financial advisor;
Leader:
My pastor;
People:
My spouse;
Leader:
A teacher;
People:
A hero;
Leader:
Me and me alone.
People:
Father, forgive me for trusting
Leader:
In everything and everyone but you,
People:
For there is no one with more knowledge,
Leader:
More power,
People:
Or more love,
Leader:
Than you. Help me,
People:
Help us,
Leader:
To put all things in your hands.
People:
In the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Assurance Of Pardon
Leader:
People of God, hear this and store it up in your hearts and minds. The one who spoke the universe into existence;
People:
Who formed every atom;
Leader:
Shaped every soul;
People:
Created each person;
Leader:
The great "I Am";
People:
Is not defeated by the kings of the earth;
Leader:
Is not overwhelmed by the vagaries of human life;
People:
Is not ever absent.
Leader:
No! He lives!
People:
And reigns forever and ever.
Leader:
Amen.
People:
Hallelujah!
Leader:
Amen.
Prayer For Illumination
Based on the Mark 6 reading.
In his own hometown Jesus could do no miracle because they did not believe in him. Truly the prophet is not without honor except in his own country. Lord, protect us from the familiarity that turns the scriptures into nothing more than words, lest your church become like Nazareth, a place you can do no good work. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
A prayer about the wastelands of weakness that we walk in along the way in this life.
Holy Father, life is full of wastelands of the mind and spirit. They are places of great weakness and we all walk them from time to time. Some of us wrestle with feelings of loneliness; others with depression and self-hatred; still others with fears of what tomorrow may bring, the loss of a job, a broken relationship, a secret found out, a dread illness discovered. For others among us the wasteland may be one of blind ambition, or greed, or sexual sin.
The wastelands are many, Lord. Strengthen us to face them. Help us to go deeply into them and find there, at the heart of darkness, the powerful and beautiful presence of the holy God. Help us to discover that in every weakness you are our strength.
We pray that in every wasteland, amidst every weakness, we would seek your experience, your presence, and your power. We especially ask this for those in the greatest need today. Amen.
Benediction
From 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.
The Lord said to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
Embrace your weakness, for in it you are made strong.
Hymns
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
A Shelter In The Time Of Storm
Cast Thy Burden Upon The Lord
Day By Day
God Will Take Care Of You
He Giveth More Grace
I Need Thee Every Hour
Is This The Crowning Day?
My Faith Has Found A Resting Place
Near To The Heart Of God
No One Understands Like Jesus
Solid Rock, The
Contemporary Choruses
Every Day, Joel Houston
Jesus Draw Me Close, Rick Founds
More Love, More Power, Jude Del Hierro
Potter's Hand, The, Darlene Zschech
Refiner's Fire, Brian Doerksen
Other Music
Deeper Still, Bebo Norman
God's love is deeper than our pain.
Hold On To Jesus, Steven Curtis Chapman
I Will Carry You, Michael W. Smith
Jesus will carry us when we can't make it on our own.
That's Where I Find You, Sierra
In life's tough times is where we find God.
Creative Ideas
If you like to include children in your worship this responsive prayer might be used with elementary students. It deals with God coming to our aid in the midst of trouble. You could use it to replace the Prayer Of Confession for this week.
Children:
Trouble here, trouble there;
People:
Trouble, trouble everywhere.
Children:
Trouble far, trouble near;
People:
Trouble causes us to fear,
Children:
God is gone, far, far away.
People:
O this is a terrible day;
Children:
We are afraid, we confess,
People:
But we needn't be,
Children:
No matter the mess,
People:
Because God is not gone,
Children:
He's always near,
People:
Power and love are always right here.
Children:
So we won't be scared,
People:
We won't cry,
Children:
We just trust that God
People:
Is at our side.
Children:
Amen!
A bit of encouragement to start a worship time.
Leader:
Are you there, Lord? Sometimes my life is so dark that I can't see you.
People:
Sometimes it is so cold
Leader:
That I can't feel the warmth of your touch.
People:
So I feel abandoned;
Leader:
Alone, and I cry out,
People:
Are you there, Lord?
(The Leader should pause briefly here)
Leader:
When you feel lost and alone, listen for the voice of God
People:
On the winds,
Leader
In the song of the birds,
People:
And the beautiful noise of life.
Leader:
And watch for the presence of God
People:
In the sunset,
Leader:
And the soft falling rain of summer,
People:
Or the thunder of the waterfall.
Leader:
And feel the touch of the Creator
People:
When the sunshine falls on your face,
Leader:
Or a baby's skin brushes yours,
People:
Or the embrace of love comes to you.
Leader:
And know that you have not been abandoned simply, because Yahweh says he will never abandon us.
People:
And the promises of God
Leader:
Are as good as gold.
People:
Praise him!
Leader:
Glorify him all you people!
People:
Amen.
Option number two.
Leader:
Never does he forget us,
People:
Though we often forget him.
Leader:
Never does he reject us,
People:
Though many have rejected him.
Leader:
Never will he let his love die,
People:
Though our love runs hot and cold.
Leader:
For there is nothing in this life or the next,
People:
Neither demons or angels,
Leader:
No power, no matter how exalted,
People:
No matter how established,
Leader:
That can remove us from his love --
People:
Ever!
Leader:
So let us come to his throne to worship,
People:
Adore!
Leader:
Exult!
People:
And give thanks,
Leader:
For his eternal, unconditional, overwhelming
People:
Love.
Leader:
Amen.
Based on the Beatitudes. In our weakness God is there for us.
Leader:
Come, all you who are poor in spirit;
People:
Come, all who mourn;
Leader:
Come, you who are meek;
People:
And you who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Leader:
Come, you merciful people;
People:
You with pure hearts;
Leader:
You peacemakers;
People:
And you who are persecuted for your faith.
Leader:
Let us come together -- we who are weak, simple, powerless, foolish.
People:
And worship the source of life,
Leader:
Jesus Christ,
People:
Our Lord! Amen.
From Psalm 48.
Leader:
Great is the Lord,
People:
And worthy of praise,
Leader:
God's city is beautiful in its grandeur,
People:
It is a joy for the entire earth.
Leader:
When the powers of the earth joined forces against God,
People:
They saw the city and were so astounded
Leader:
They fled in terror.
People:
Trembling seized them,
Leader:
And they were destroyed like ships made of balsa wood.
People:
In the city of God,
Leader:
All inhabitants are secure forever.
People:
Therefore let all the earth praise God.
This one may only be useful in the aftermath of a great calamity. But such events occur all the time: September 11, hurricanes in Florida; Sudanese genocide; the tsunami in Asia. If there has been a tragedy like these any time recent to this Sunday, you might make use of this Call To Worship. It reminds us that in spite of appearances, God is in charge.
Leader:
O Lord, how could you allow it to happen?
People:
Thousands killed;
Leader:
Tens of thousands grief-stricken;
People:
Millions affected;
Leader:
A gaping wound in a great city;
People:
A financial crisis around the world;
Leader:
And a sense of vulnerability not known before.
People:
O Lord, how could you allow it?
Leader:
And in my mind comes a quiet answer,
People:
The whisper of God,
Leader:
My ways are higher than yours;
People:
All things work for ultimate good;
Leader:
Where, my child, were you when I created the heavens and the earth?
People:
Have you not known?
Leader:
Have you not heard?
People:
Yahweh is the everlasting God.
Leader:
He does not faint or grow weary,
People:
His understanding is unsearchable.
Leader:
We do not know.
People:
We do not understand.
Leader:
But we trust in our God.
People:
And sometimes
Leader:
Nothing else matters.
People:
Let us worship the one we trust.
Leader:
Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Based on Romans 8, but it resonates with the 2 Corinthians passage.
Leader:
If God be for us,
People:
Who can be against us?
Leader:
If God is our strength,
People:
Who can overcome us?
Leader:
If God is our protection,
People:
Who can strike us?
Leader:
Father of all power and might,
People:
Forgive us
Leader:
When we allow fear to creep into our hearts and minds,
People:
For with you there need be no fear.
Leader:
In these uncertain times
People:
Help us to lay all things,
Leader:
Every anxiety,
People:
Each little worry
Leader:
At your feet,
People:
And to believe with all our hearts
Leader:
That you are still in charge.
People:
Amen.
Option number two.
Leader:
O source of all life -- forgive our lack of faith in you.
People:
Heal our diseases and wash away our sin.
Leader:
Free us from our demons.
People:
Free us from every desire that enslaves us.
Leader:
Help us to always find our way to the fountain of living waters,
People:
Where we can be made clean and whole,
Leader:
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
People:
Amen.
Fear is the enemy of faith.
Leader:
She was so frightened she could hardly think.
People:
She could hear scary noises all around.
Leader:
And it was too dark to see anything.
People:
Was that a growl? A gunshot?
Leader:
Her heart raced. She wanted to run away and get out of there.
People:
But her daddy had told her to stay right here,
Leader:
He said that if she just stayed in her spot and kept quiet, everything would be okay.
People:
But it was so scary!
Leader:
Maybe Daddy left her here because he didn't care about her any more.
People:
Maybe he wanted her to get hurt, or even killed.
Leader:
"But he loves me," she thought. "That can't be it."
People:
Maybe he was an imposter.
Leader:
Maybe he wasn't really my daddy at all.
People:
Maybe I just dreamed that he was here.
Leader:
Maybe it was all in my imagination.
People:
But then, just as she was about to bolt,
Leader:
The clamor quieted and she heard a still small voice calling,
People:
My child, my baby, I am here.
Leader:
Fear not! I've come for you just as I said.
People:
And soon she felt the embrace of her papa,
Leader:
And all was well with her again.
People:
Lord, forgive us for not trusting you enough to follow your truth every day of our lives. Amen.
Who are you going to trust?
Leader:
My counselor;
People:
My financial advisor;
Leader:
My pastor;
People:
My spouse;
Leader:
A teacher;
People:
A hero;
Leader:
Me and me alone.
People:
Father, forgive me for trusting
Leader:
In everything and everyone but you,
People:
For there is no one with more knowledge,
Leader:
More power,
People:
Or more love,
Leader:
Than you. Help me,
People:
Help us,
Leader:
To put all things in your hands.
People:
In the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Assurance Of Pardon
Leader:
People of God, hear this and store it up in your hearts and minds. The one who spoke the universe into existence;
People:
Who formed every atom;
Leader:
Shaped every soul;
People:
Created each person;
Leader:
The great "I Am";
People:
Is not defeated by the kings of the earth;
Leader:
Is not overwhelmed by the vagaries of human life;
People:
Is not ever absent.
Leader:
No! He lives!
People:
And reigns forever and ever.
Leader:
Amen.
People:
Hallelujah!
Leader:
Amen.
Prayer For Illumination
Based on the Mark 6 reading.
In his own hometown Jesus could do no miracle because they did not believe in him. Truly the prophet is not without honor except in his own country. Lord, protect us from the familiarity that turns the scriptures into nothing more than words, lest your church become like Nazareth, a place you can do no good work. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
A prayer about the wastelands of weakness that we walk in along the way in this life.
Holy Father, life is full of wastelands of the mind and spirit. They are places of great weakness and we all walk them from time to time. Some of us wrestle with feelings of loneliness; others with depression and self-hatred; still others with fears of what tomorrow may bring, the loss of a job, a broken relationship, a secret found out, a dread illness discovered. For others among us the wasteland may be one of blind ambition, or greed, or sexual sin.
The wastelands are many, Lord. Strengthen us to face them. Help us to go deeply into them and find there, at the heart of darkness, the powerful and beautiful presence of the holy God. Help us to discover that in every weakness you are our strength.
We pray that in every wasteland, amidst every weakness, we would seek your experience, your presence, and your power. We especially ask this for those in the greatest need today. Amen.
Benediction
From 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.
The Lord said to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
Embrace your weakness, for in it you are made strong.
Hymns
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
A Shelter In The Time Of Storm
Cast Thy Burden Upon The Lord
Day By Day
God Will Take Care Of You
He Giveth More Grace
I Need Thee Every Hour
Is This The Crowning Day?
My Faith Has Found A Resting Place
Near To The Heart Of God
No One Understands Like Jesus
Solid Rock, The
Contemporary Choruses
Every Day, Joel Houston
Jesus Draw Me Close, Rick Founds
More Love, More Power, Jude Del Hierro
Potter's Hand, The, Darlene Zschech
Refiner's Fire, Brian Doerksen
Other Music
Deeper Still, Bebo Norman
God's love is deeper than our pain.
Hold On To Jesus, Steven Curtis Chapman
I Will Carry You, Michael W. Smith
Jesus will carry us when we can't make it on our own.
That's Where I Find You, Sierra
In life's tough times is where we find God.
Creative Ideas
If you like to include children in your worship this responsive prayer might be used with elementary students. It deals with God coming to our aid in the midst of trouble. You could use it to replace the Prayer Of Confession for this week.
Children:
Trouble here, trouble there;
People:
Trouble, trouble everywhere.
Children:
Trouble far, trouble near;
People:
Trouble causes us to fear,
Children:
God is gone, far, far away.
People:
O this is a terrible day;
Children:
We are afraid, we confess,
People:
But we needn't be,
Children:
No matter the mess,
People:
Because God is not gone,
Children:
He's always near,
People:
Power and love are always right here.
Children:
So we won't be scared,
People:
We won't cry,
Children:
We just trust that God
People:
Is at our side.
Children:
Amen!
