A Sense Of Past And Future
Worship
Lectionary Worship Aids
Series VII, Cycle B
Call To Worship
Once again a new year, once again the old favorites of fierce winter and warm fires. Once again a new season, once again familiar words that call to us your people. Once again a new life, once again the perspective that comes with trust in your seasons, trust in your presence, trust in your word!
Collect
A time to be born and a time to die? We thank you for them both! A time to weep and a time to laugh? We praise you for rich tapestry of your life in ours. A time to keep and a time to throw away? All is yours. Nothing is ours to keep. As this new year begins we praise your name for this and every season! Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
To everything its season, Lord, and yet we rebel when you deny your surprises and seek a false security in the same old thing. Between our sense of past and future comes the now, the impossible, the deep. We are waiting to be filled with an irreplaceable moment of living like the kingdom. Amen.
Hymns
All Things Bright And Beautiful
All Beautiful The March Of Days
God Is Working His Purposes Out
New Year's Day
Second Lesson: Revelation 21:1-6a
Theme: Really Real Estate
Call To Worship
Maran Atha! Come Lord Jesus! Soon!
Collect (Revelation 21:3-4)
One:
See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them;
All:
he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.
Prayer Of Confession
True Lord, Alpha and Omega, the world kills and destroys over what others imagine is holy ground, which will pass away like everything else. Our hope, thanks to your revelation, is in a new heaven, a new earth, a new Jerusalem, which no one can threaten, no one can own, and all can enter. Amen.
Hymns
I See A New World Coming
Lift Every Voice And Sing
This Is A Day Of New Beginnings
New Year's Day
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 25:31-46
Theme: Faith Or Works? Faith That Works!
Call To Worship
Faith or works? The choice is clear -- depend on words only, or live our confession of faith. Gather together, people of God. Instill in each other a faith that works!
Collect
How great you are, God of creation. How greater still the task at hand which you have allowed us to share. When may we see you? In your people and in their needs! We see you, Lord. We come to you. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Judge, King, Master, Jesus, in your word you offer us a choice -- to open our hearts to the oppressed, the starving, those on the margins, the sick and suffering, prisoners and the poor -- and by so doing open our hearts to you, or to turn our backs on you by embracing the comforts of this world. Shock us, Lord, that we might avoid sugarcoating your warning, and instead work for your justice now, and not just attempt to coast to a heavenly reward as yet unmerited. Thank you for just one more chance. Amen.
Hymns
Holy, Holy, Holy
Open My Eyes That I May See
Great God, We Sing That Mighty Hand
Once again a new year, once again the old favorites of fierce winter and warm fires. Once again a new season, once again familiar words that call to us your people. Once again a new life, once again the perspective that comes with trust in your seasons, trust in your presence, trust in your word!
Collect
A time to be born and a time to die? We thank you for them both! A time to weep and a time to laugh? We praise you for rich tapestry of your life in ours. A time to keep and a time to throw away? All is yours. Nothing is ours to keep. As this new year begins we praise your name for this and every season! Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
To everything its season, Lord, and yet we rebel when you deny your surprises and seek a false security in the same old thing. Between our sense of past and future comes the now, the impossible, the deep. We are waiting to be filled with an irreplaceable moment of living like the kingdom. Amen.
Hymns
All Things Bright And Beautiful
All Beautiful The March Of Days
God Is Working His Purposes Out
New Year's Day
Second Lesson: Revelation 21:1-6a
Theme: Really Real Estate
Call To Worship
Maran Atha! Come Lord Jesus! Soon!
Collect (Revelation 21:3-4)
One:
See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them;
All:
he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.
Prayer Of Confession
True Lord, Alpha and Omega, the world kills and destroys over what others imagine is holy ground, which will pass away like everything else. Our hope, thanks to your revelation, is in a new heaven, a new earth, a new Jerusalem, which no one can threaten, no one can own, and all can enter. Amen.
Hymns
I See A New World Coming
Lift Every Voice And Sing
This Is A Day Of New Beginnings
New Year's Day
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 25:31-46
Theme: Faith Or Works? Faith That Works!
Call To Worship
Faith or works? The choice is clear -- depend on words only, or live our confession of faith. Gather together, people of God. Instill in each other a faith that works!
Collect
How great you are, God of creation. How greater still the task at hand which you have allowed us to share. When may we see you? In your people and in their needs! We see you, Lord. We come to you. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Judge, King, Master, Jesus, in your word you offer us a choice -- to open our hearts to the oppressed, the starving, those on the margins, the sick and suffering, prisoners and the poor -- and by so doing open our hearts to you, or to turn our backs on you by embracing the comforts of this world. Shock us, Lord, that we might avoid sugarcoating your warning, and instead work for your justice now, and not just attempt to coast to a heavenly reward as yet unmerited. Thank you for just one more chance. Amen.
Hymns
Holy, Holy, Holy
Open My Eyes That I May See
Great God, We Sing That Mighty Hand
