Signs of the End of the Age and the Horror of That Day
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle B
Celebrating God's Presence And Power
Pastoral and Congregational Invitation
In the name of the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, welcome to worship. We are here in the name of God the Creator, Liberator, Sustainer, Energizer. Are you glad? (Pause and repeat until you get a response.) Are you willing to listen to the Spirit of Christ, not only when the message is comforting, but also when the message is confronting? (Pause and wait for a response.) Are we willing to hear what Christ wants of us -- and then, do it? (Pause and wait for a response.)
Hymn of Praise
" 'Sleepers, Wake!' A Voice Astounds Us." (See Advent 4.)
Prayer of Praise
O God, the light of the minds who know you, the life of the spirits who love you, and the strength of the wills who serve you, help us to know you that we may truly love you; so to love you that we may fully serve you, whom to serve is perfect freedom, when our life goes well, and when it doesn't, through Jesus the Christ, our Lord.
Creating Our Forgiveness
Call to Confession
Have you ever given your energy to guessing games, even with God? (Thirty seconds of silence.) What did you hope to gain from those games? (Thirty seconds of silence.) Consider, silently, the number of books and articles written about the Second Coming of Christ. Authors set dates, the dates pass; and the authors write more books, and make more money. (Pause.) Consider how the use of our time to share the Good News, and to seek forgiveness for our preferring to debate dates, rather than sharing the gospel, beginning in our own home, and among our fellow church members. (Pause.) I invite us to seek forgiveness for the times that we talk about the church program, or pastor, or people than to share the gift of life. (Pause.) Conclude with a prayer which incorporates these thoughts.
Response
Introduce the hymn with words similar to these: Despite all of our game-playing around the return of Jesus, consider the words of this hymn: "At the Name of Jesus." (See Lent 5.)
Call to Pardon
Playing time-games around the return of Christ is a waste of energy. Even Jesus had no idea, which should be good enough for the rest of us. The real issue is readiness. Are we ready? As forgiven people, God calls us to announce Christ's peace to a broken and shattered world, beginning where we live, work, play.
Response
"O Day of Peace," Carl P. Daw, Jr., 1982; C. Hubert H. Parry, 1916; harm. Richard Proulx, 1986.
Celebrating The Word
Message with the Children of All Ages
(From Cycle B of my first Lectionary Worship Workbook): Have you children ever been scared? Tell me about some of those times. Talk about your own fears. Without going into great detail about today's Gospel, point out that some people use these passages to scare people into the church. That happened to me between the ages of sixteen and twenty. People were predicting the end of the world. And I knew that I had better accept Jesus as my Savior before it was too late. We need to read the Bible carefully. We also need to hear the words of Jesus about the end. He did not know; only God knows. None of us knows when our end will come. Maybe some of your friends and relatives have died, long before you thought they would. The Boy Scouts have a motto, "Be prepared." Jesus taught us that long before the Boy Scouts existed. Conclude with a prayer that recognizes our fears; and that God creates the church and families where we can talk about our fears, and give love and support to each other as we grow together in our faith.
Response
"God Gives His People Strength," stanza 4 only; words and music from Miriam Therese Winter, from Let the People Sing. (See Appendix I for address.)
Reading the Scripture
Dramatize the passage. As "Jesus" prepares to leave the sanctuary, have someone say, "Look, Teacher, what massive stones. What magnificent buildings." Jesus responds (v. 2). Three of his disciples, walking with him, ask (v. 4). "Jesus" then speaks the rest of the passage, both parts if you choose.
Proclamation of the Good News
In seminary, we spend no time on the Rapture, and fifteen minutes on the Second Coming. So, several years after graduating, I offered a thirty-hour study on the book of Revelation. Two of the most helpful reference books were The Most Revealing Book of the Bible, by Vernard Eller, and The Last Book of the Bible, by Hanns Lilje. I invite you to read them before tackling this subject. I wrote one sermon based on this theme, titled "Raptured Into the Second Coming, or E.T.A. Later Than You Think." (If you want a copy, send me $3.00 and a SASE.)
Response
"Rejoice! Rejoice, Believers," Laurentius Laurenti, 1700; trans. Sarah Borthwick Findlater, 1854; alt., The Hymnal 1982; Welsh folk melody, as in English Hymnal, 1906.
Celebrating Our Obedience
Stewardship Challenge
It's time to give up game-playing, not only about Jesus' return, but to give up game-playing, period. Have Petula Clark, or a soloist, sing, "Games People Play." (Popular song)
Hymn of Commitment
"My Lord! What a Morning," African-American spiritual; arr. Melva W. Costen, 1989.
Charge to the Congregation
Now, even though we have no idea when Christ will return, are we eagerly awaiting for him to return? Think of the things for which we are eagerly awaiting: who will play in the World Series, our ship to come in, to see if our children will turn out okay, and what else?
Response
"When You Least Expect Him," Richard Avery and Don Marsh, stanza 4 only, from The Avery and Marsh Songbook. (See Appendix I for address.)
Meditation
"Surely, Jesus' word, 'I don't even know,' is good enough for us" (WKH).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: "What God Ordains Is Right,"ÊKellner.
Hymn of Praise: "O Lord, You Are Our God and King," from Psalm 145; 1-7; The Psalter, 1912; alt., 1972.
Response to the Pardon: "Jesus, Lead the Way," Nicholas L. von Zinzendorf,1721; recast by Arthur W. Farlander, 1939; alt. 1972.
Response to the Scripture: (Adult choir) "Spirit of God," Scholin. (Whenever possible, print the words to the music sung by the choirs.)
Response to the Stewardship Challenge: (Adult choir) "Beside Still Waters," Hamblen.
Hymn of Commitment: "Jesus Shall Reign," based on Psalm 72; Isaac Watts, 1719.
Music for Dismissal: "Prelude and Fugue in C-Major No. 1," J. S. Bach.
Pastoral and Congregational Invitation
In the name of the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, welcome to worship. We are here in the name of God the Creator, Liberator, Sustainer, Energizer. Are you glad? (Pause and repeat until you get a response.) Are you willing to listen to the Spirit of Christ, not only when the message is comforting, but also when the message is confronting? (Pause and wait for a response.) Are we willing to hear what Christ wants of us -- and then, do it? (Pause and wait for a response.)
Hymn of Praise
" 'Sleepers, Wake!' A Voice Astounds Us." (See Advent 4.)
Prayer of Praise
O God, the light of the minds who know you, the life of the spirits who love you, and the strength of the wills who serve you, help us to know you that we may truly love you; so to love you that we may fully serve you, whom to serve is perfect freedom, when our life goes well, and when it doesn't, through Jesus the Christ, our Lord.
Creating Our Forgiveness
Call to Confession
Have you ever given your energy to guessing games, even with God? (Thirty seconds of silence.) What did you hope to gain from those games? (Thirty seconds of silence.) Consider, silently, the number of books and articles written about the Second Coming of Christ. Authors set dates, the dates pass; and the authors write more books, and make more money. (Pause.) Consider how the use of our time to share the Good News, and to seek forgiveness for our preferring to debate dates, rather than sharing the gospel, beginning in our own home, and among our fellow church members. (Pause.) I invite us to seek forgiveness for the times that we talk about the church program, or pastor, or people than to share the gift of life. (Pause.) Conclude with a prayer which incorporates these thoughts.
Response
Introduce the hymn with words similar to these: Despite all of our game-playing around the return of Jesus, consider the words of this hymn: "At the Name of Jesus." (See Lent 5.)
Call to Pardon
Playing time-games around the return of Christ is a waste of energy. Even Jesus had no idea, which should be good enough for the rest of us. The real issue is readiness. Are we ready? As forgiven people, God calls us to announce Christ's peace to a broken and shattered world, beginning where we live, work, play.
Response
"O Day of Peace," Carl P. Daw, Jr., 1982; C. Hubert H. Parry, 1916; harm. Richard Proulx, 1986.
Celebrating The Word
Message with the Children of All Ages
(From Cycle B of my first Lectionary Worship Workbook): Have you children ever been scared? Tell me about some of those times. Talk about your own fears. Without going into great detail about today's Gospel, point out that some people use these passages to scare people into the church. That happened to me between the ages of sixteen and twenty. People were predicting the end of the world. And I knew that I had better accept Jesus as my Savior before it was too late. We need to read the Bible carefully. We also need to hear the words of Jesus about the end. He did not know; only God knows. None of us knows when our end will come. Maybe some of your friends and relatives have died, long before you thought they would. The Boy Scouts have a motto, "Be prepared." Jesus taught us that long before the Boy Scouts existed. Conclude with a prayer that recognizes our fears; and that God creates the church and families where we can talk about our fears, and give love and support to each other as we grow together in our faith.
Response
"God Gives His People Strength," stanza 4 only; words and music from Miriam Therese Winter, from Let the People Sing. (See Appendix I for address.)
Reading the Scripture
Dramatize the passage. As "Jesus" prepares to leave the sanctuary, have someone say, "Look, Teacher, what massive stones. What magnificent buildings." Jesus responds (v. 2). Three of his disciples, walking with him, ask (v. 4). "Jesus" then speaks the rest of the passage, both parts if you choose.
Proclamation of the Good News
In seminary, we spend no time on the Rapture, and fifteen minutes on the Second Coming. So, several years after graduating, I offered a thirty-hour study on the book of Revelation. Two of the most helpful reference books were The Most Revealing Book of the Bible, by Vernard Eller, and The Last Book of the Bible, by Hanns Lilje. I invite you to read them before tackling this subject. I wrote one sermon based on this theme, titled "Raptured Into the Second Coming, or E.T.A. Later Than You Think." (If you want a copy, send me $3.00 and a SASE.)
Response
"Rejoice! Rejoice, Believers," Laurentius Laurenti, 1700; trans. Sarah Borthwick Findlater, 1854; alt., The Hymnal 1982; Welsh folk melody, as in English Hymnal, 1906.
Celebrating Our Obedience
Stewardship Challenge
It's time to give up game-playing, not only about Jesus' return, but to give up game-playing, period. Have Petula Clark, or a soloist, sing, "Games People Play." (Popular song)
Hymn of Commitment
"My Lord! What a Morning," African-American spiritual; arr. Melva W. Costen, 1989.
Charge to the Congregation
Now, even though we have no idea when Christ will return, are we eagerly awaiting for him to return? Think of the things for which we are eagerly awaiting: who will play in the World Series, our ship to come in, to see if our children will turn out okay, and what else?
Response
"When You Least Expect Him," Richard Avery and Don Marsh, stanza 4 only, from The Avery and Marsh Songbook. (See Appendix I for address.)
Meditation
"Surely, Jesus' word, 'I don't even know,' is good enough for us" (WKH).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: "What God Ordains Is Right,"ÊKellner.
Hymn of Praise: "O Lord, You Are Our God and King," from Psalm 145; 1-7; The Psalter, 1912; alt., 1972.
Response to the Pardon: "Jesus, Lead the Way," Nicholas L. von Zinzendorf,1721; recast by Arthur W. Farlander, 1939; alt. 1972.
Response to the Scripture: (Adult choir) "Spirit of God," Scholin. (Whenever possible, print the words to the music sung by the choirs.)
Response to the Stewardship Challenge: (Adult choir) "Beside Still Waters," Hamblen.
Hymn of Commitment: "Jesus Shall Reign," based on Psalm 72; Isaac Watts, 1719.
Music for Dismissal: "Prelude and Fugue in C-Major No. 1," J. S. Bach.