Seventh Sunday Of Easter
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series IV, Cycle B
Call To Worship
From Psalm 1:1-3 (The Message)
Leader:
Blessed are those who do not hang out at Sin Saloon,
People:
Or slink along dead-end road,
Leader:
Or go to Smart-mouth College,
People:
But who instead delight in the Word of God
Leader:
And meditate on it day and night.
People:
Those people are like trees planted beside fresh
streams,
Leader:
Bearing fruit every month,
People:
Never dropping a leaf,
Leader:
Always in blossom.
People:
Let us worship the God
Leader:
Who alone keeps us in bloom.
People:
Amen!
1 John 5:11-12
Leader:
This is the testimony,
People:
The absolute truth of God:
Leader:
God has given us eternal life,
People:
And this life is in his Son.
Leader:
God sent his Son,
People:
His only Son,
Leader:
Whom he loved.
People:
He sent him to us,
Leader:
So that whoever believed in him,
People:
Would have life,
Leader:
Eternal life,
People:
Abundant life.
Leader:
Do you believe in him?
People:
Yes! I believe.
Leader:
Will you follow him?
People:
Yes! With our whole hearts.
Leader:
Then you have life.
People:
Amen!
Leader:
Abundant and eternal life.
People:
Let us worship the God who gives life.
This prayer reminds us what love truly is, and that we are blessed to be its recipients.
Leader:
This is love:
People:
That when we were sinners,
Leader:
Christ gave his life for us.
People:
This is love:
Leader:
That though we rejected him,
People:
He accepted us.
Leader:
This is love:
People:
That we deserved death,
Leader:
But instead God gave us life!
People:
This is love:
Leader:
That the Creator of the universe,
People:
The Almighty Maker,
Leader:
Cares for each of us.
People:
Small, insignificant,
Leader:
Imperfect, impure.
People:
This truly is love.
Leader:
Let us worship and adore
People:
The one who is love.
Prayer Of Confession
Psalm 1:4-6 (The Message)
Leader:
The wicked, says the Lord, are like chaff;
People:
Dust,
Leader:
Dried-up leaves,
People:
Blown away by the wind.
Leader:
They will be unable to withstand judgment,
People:
Unfit company for the innocent.
Leader:
The path of the faithful, God watches over,
People:
But the way of the wicked is a dead end.
Leader:
Lord, forgive us for being chaff,
People:
Leaves that dry up
Leader:
Because we fail to plant ourselves by your streams,
People:
Relying on our own strength instead.
Leader:
Forgive us,
People:
And teach us
Leader:
How to rely on you and your strength,
People:
How to drink from your stream of spiritual strength,
Leader:
Your river of real life.
People:
For only in you can we flourish,
Leader:
And produce abundant fruit.
People:
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
This prayer asks if we are more concerned with a good image in the world than with being faithful to God.
Leader:
The truth, Lord, is that when push comes to shove,
People:
We often are more concerned with what the world thinks of us
Leader:
Than with what you think of us.
People:
We would rather look good in the eyes of others
Leader:
Than please you.
People:
Forgive us for keeping our eyes on the wrong people.
Leader:
And help us turn our eyes upon you! Amen.
About our failure in being and making faithful disciples.
Leader:
Jesus said to his disciples, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
People:
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
Leader:
Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
People:
And teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you;
Leader:
And as you do this, remember, I am with you always, to the close of the age."
People:
Lord, we confess we have failed to obey your command.
Leader:
We have not made disciples.
People:
Instead we have been content to play the church game,
Leader:
Or to let our priests and pastors do the disciple-making,
People:
And we have not taught what you commanded us,
Leader:
In fact, we have barely spent any time learning your teachings ourselves.
People:
Forgive our laziness and unwillingness to sacrifice.
Leader:
Forgive our wanting to be comfortable above all things.
People:
Change our hearts; make us more like you,
Leader:
Full of such love that we are willing to get uncomfortable for the sake of the gospel.
People:
We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
Assurance Of Pardon
This Assurance follows the Prayer Of Confession from Psalm 1:4-6 (The Message).
Leader:
If you are dried up, if your spirit is as dust,
People:
If you are desperate for a drink,
Leader:
Know that you can come to him, anytime
People:
And he will give living waters,
Leader:
No questions asked,
People:
No recriminations leveled.
Leader:
Just water,
People:
Graciously, lovingly given.
Leader:
So, come, you who are thirsty,
People:
And drink,
Leader:
And live.
A proclamation for all to hear! This Assurance says it all.
Here is the truth that makes Christianity unique and radical:
You are not forgiven by being obedient;
You are not forgiven because of your good character;
You are not forgiven due to your good behavior;
You are forgiven only by the grace of God through Jesus Christ.
Praise God for forgiveness.
Invitation To The Offering
Sometimes we need to remind the people of God why we give.
Leader:
An offering is taking something that God has given to us,
People:
And giving it back to him.
Leader:
When the offering basket is passed,
People:
And we put something in it,
Leader:
We are telling God that we understand
People:
That what we have comes from him,
Leader:
And we are showing God
People:
How much
Leader:
Or how little
People:
We trust him to take care of us.
Leader:
Let us present our offerings,
People:
And show God that we trust him a lot.
Prayer For Illumination
Settle us for the hearing of your word. Focus us for the grasping of your truth, and empower us for living it. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
Father in heaven, remind us as we go about our very comfortable lives that there are all over this world, sons and daughters of yours, sisters and brothers of ours, who have no comfort, no security, no justice. Guide us toward ways of thinking, living, and acting, that make possible the increase in the flow of the rivers of righteousness that you will for your people. We are ambassadors for Christ; agents of the Kingdom of God. Make us compassionate in our service and courageous in our witness to our communities, our country, and our world. Amen.
Benediction
"My prayer," says Jesus, "is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world." Go now into the world under the protection of God's Almighty hand and live as Jesus' faithful disciples. Amen.
Hymns
Come, Christians, Join To Sing
Freely, Freely
He Leadeth Me
He Touched Me
I Have Decided To Follow Jesus
Living For Jesus
Longer I Serve Him, The
O God, My Strength And Fortitude
O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee
People Need The Lord
Since Jesus Came Into My Heart
Trust And Obey
We Will Stand
Without Him I Could Do Nothing
Contemporary Choruses
I Will Call Upon The Lord, Michael O'Shields
Lord, Reign In Me, Brenton Brown
Potter's Hand, The, Darlene Zschesh
Step By Step, David (Beaker) Strasser
Take My Life, Scott Underwood
Sanctuary, John W. Thompson
Other Music
Carry Your Love, Caedmon's Call
This song is a cry for us to carry God's love to the world. This one is also listed for Easter 5 as it fits there as well.
I'd Rather See A Sermon, Bruce Carroll
Preaching is useless without lives that embody the gospel of love.
We Can Make A Difference, Jaci Valasquez
From Psalm 1:1-3 (The Message)
Leader:
Blessed are those who do not hang out at Sin Saloon,
People:
Or slink along dead-end road,
Leader:
Or go to Smart-mouth College,
People:
But who instead delight in the Word of God
Leader:
And meditate on it day and night.
People:
Those people are like trees planted beside fresh
streams,
Leader:
Bearing fruit every month,
People:
Never dropping a leaf,
Leader:
Always in blossom.
People:
Let us worship the God
Leader:
Who alone keeps us in bloom.
People:
Amen!
1 John 5:11-12
Leader:
This is the testimony,
People:
The absolute truth of God:
Leader:
God has given us eternal life,
People:
And this life is in his Son.
Leader:
God sent his Son,
People:
His only Son,
Leader:
Whom he loved.
People:
He sent him to us,
Leader:
So that whoever believed in him,
People:
Would have life,
Leader:
Eternal life,
People:
Abundant life.
Leader:
Do you believe in him?
People:
Yes! I believe.
Leader:
Will you follow him?
People:
Yes! With our whole hearts.
Leader:
Then you have life.
People:
Amen!
Leader:
Abundant and eternal life.
People:
Let us worship the God who gives life.
This prayer reminds us what love truly is, and that we are blessed to be its recipients.
Leader:
This is love:
People:
That when we were sinners,
Leader:
Christ gave his life for us.
People:
This is love:
Leader:
That though we rejected him,
People:
He accepted us.
Leader:
This is love:
People:
That we deserved death,
Leader:
But instead God gave us life!
People:
This is love:
Leader:
That the Creator of the universe,
People:
The Almighty Maker,
Leader:
Cares for each of us.
People:
Small, insignificant,
Leader:
Imperfect, impure.
People:
This truly is love.
Leader:
Let us worship and adore
People:
The one who is love.
Prayer Of Confession
Psalm 1:4-6 (The Message)
Leader:
The wicked, says the Lord, are like chaff;
People:
Dust,
Leader:
Dried-up leaves,
People:
Blown away by the wind.
Leader:
They will be unable to withstand judgment,
People:
Unfit company for the innocent.
Leader:
The path of the faithful, God watches over,
People:
But the way of the wicked is a dead end.
Leader:
Lord, forgive us for being chaff,
People:
Leaves that dry up
Leader:
Because we fail to plant ourselves by your streams,
People:
Relying on our own strength instead.
Leader:
Forgive us,
People:
And teach us
Leader:
How to rely on you and your strength,
People:
How to drink from your stream of spiritual strength,
Leader:
Your river of real life.
People:
For only in you can we flourish,
Leader:
And produce abundant fruit.
People:
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
This prayer asks if we are more concerned with a good image in the world than with being faithful to God.
Leader:
The truth, Lord, is that when push comes to shove,
People:
We often are more concerned with what the world thinks of us
Leader:
Than with what you think of us.
People:
We would rather look good in the eyes of others
Leader:
Than please you.
People:
Forgive us for keeping our eyes on the wrong people.
Leader:
And help us turn our eyes upon you! Amen.
About our failure in being and making faithful disciples.
Leader:
Jesus said to his disciples, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
People:
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
Leader:
Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
People:
And teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you;
Leader:
And as you do this, remember, I am with you always, to the close of the age."
People:
Lord, we confess we have failed to obey your command.
Leader:
We have not made disciples.
People:
Instead we have been content to play the church game,
Leader:
Or to let our priests and pastors do the disciple-making,
People:
And we have not taught what you commanded us,
Leader:
In fact, we have barely spent any time learning your teachings ourselves.
People:
Forgive our laziness and unwillingness to sacrifice.
Leader:
Forgive our wanting to be comfortable above all things.
People:
Change our hearts; make us more like you,
Leader:
Full of such love that we are willing to get uncomfortable for the sake of the gospel.
People:
We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
Assurance Of Pardon
This Assurance follows the Prayer Of Confession from Psalm 1:4-6 (The Message).
Leader:
If you are dried up, if your spirit is as dust,
People:
If you are desperate for a drink,
Leader:
Know that you can come to him, anytime
People:
And he will give living waters,
Leader:
No questions asked,
People:
No recriminations leveled.
Leader:
Just water,
People:
Graciously, lovingly given.
Leader:
So, come, you who are thirsty,
People:
And drink,
Leader:
And live.
A proclamation for all to hear! This Assurance says it all.
Here is the truth that makes Christianity unique and radical:
You are not forgiven by being obedient;
You are not forgiven because of your good character;
You are not forgiven due to your good behavior;
You are forgiven only by the grace of God through Jesus Christ.
Praise God for forgiveness.
Invitation To The Offering
Sometimes we need to remind the people of God why we give.
Leader:
An offering is taking something that God has given to us,
People:
And giving it back to him.
Leader:
When the offering basket is passed,
People:
And we put something in it,
Leader:
We are telling God that we understand
People:
That what we have comes from him,
Leader:
And we are showing God
People:
How much
Leader:
Or how little
People:
We trust him to take care of us.
Leader:
Let us present our offerings,
People:
And show God that we trust him a lot.
Prayer For Illumination
Settle us for the hearing of your word. Focus us for the grasping of your truth, and empower us for living it. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
Father in heaven, remind us as we go about our very comfortable lives that there are all over this world, sons and daughters of yours, sisters and brothers of ours, who have no comfort, no security, no justice. Guide us toward ways of thinking, living, and acting, that make possible the increase in the flow of the rivers of righteousness that you will for your people. We are ambassadors for Christ; agents of the Kingdom of God. Make us compassionate in our service and courageous in our witness to our communities, our country, and our world. Amen.
Benediction
"My prayer," says Jesus, "is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world." Go now into the world under the protection of God's Almighty hand and live as Jesus' faithful disciples. Amen.
Hymns
Come, Christians, Join To Sing
Freely, Freely
He Leadeth Me
He Touched Me
I Have Decided To Follow Jesus
Living For Jesus
Longer I Serve Him, The
O God, My Strength And Fortitude
O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee
People Need The Lord
Since Jesus Came Into My Heart
Trust And Obey
We Will Stand
Without Him I Could Do Nothing
Contemporary Choruses
I Will Call Upon The Lord, Michael O'Shields
Lord, Reign In Me, Brenton Brown
Potter's Hand, The, Darlene Zschesh
Step By Step, David (Beaker) Strasser
Take My Life, Scott Underwood
Sanctuary, John W. Thompson
Other Music
Carry Your Love, Caedmon's Call
This song is a cry for us to carry God's love to the world. This one is also listed for Easter 5 as it fits there as well.
I'd Rather See A Sermon, Bruce Carroll
Preaching is useless without lives that embody the gospel of love.
We Can Make A Difference, Jaci Valasquez
