Theme: Embarrassed Enough To Finally Listen?
Worship
Lectionary Worship Aids
Series VII, Cycle B
Call To Worship (Psalm 19:1-2, 7-9, 14)
One:
The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
All:
Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.
One:
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple;
All:
the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes;
One:
the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
All:
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Collect
Lord of wisdom, Lord of words, in your law and in your guidance we find comfort, a sure road through a world without landmarks. As we gather together to praise your name, bless us with your presence, fill us with your Spirit, grant us a measure of your wisdom. For your gracious gifts we thank you. We pray these things in your name. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Lord of wisdom, you bawl us out in front of our neighbors, you holler at us when we're walking down the street, you nag us when we're trying to watch a ball game, you bellow when we're trying to sleep, and bray when we're hanging out with our friends. You don't care what it takes, do you? Don't give up on us! Keep trying, Lord, until we listen! We're listening. Praise God, Hallelujah. Amen.
Hymns
Soon And Very Soon
Make Me A Captive
All Praise To Our Redeeming Lord
Proper 19 / Ordinary Time 24
Sunday between September 11 and September 17 inclusive
Second Lesson: James 3:1-12
Theme: Unbridled, Unstyled
Call To Worship (Mark 8:34-35)
One:
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
All:
For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it."
Collect
Lord God of Pentecost, send your Spirit again like tongues of flames so that as brothers and sisters, servants all, we might set this world aflame with your love. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Lord, it's the tongue that gets us into trouble -- yet we need to use our tongues to raise our voices in praise and song. There's no getting around it -- we need you at the helm of our brains, guiding and guarding us against the fire of our tongues, that we might bless and not curse our sisters and brothers. Wise God, fill the sails with your Spirit and send us swiftly toward your shores! Amen.
Hymns
Surely The Presence
Holy Ground
Majesty
Proper 19 / Ordinary Time 24
Sunday between September 11 and September 17 inclusive
Gospel Lesson: Mark 8:27-38
Theme: Who Do You Say That He Is?
Call To Worship
Men:
Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?"
Women:
And they answered him, "John the Baptist; and others Elijah, and still others, one of the prophets."
Men:
Jesus asked them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Women:
Peter answered him, "You are the Messiah."
Men:
But Peter did want a Messiah who would undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the authorities, and be killed --
Women:
and after three days rise again.
Men:
Jesus asks us who we say he is.
Women:
And we say he is Lord of time --
Men:
but not necessarily Lord of our workweek.
Women:
We say he is Lord of Creation --
Men:
but not necessarily Lord of our bank accounts.
Women:
We admire his cross --
Men:
but are reluctant to pick up our own.
All:
Set our minds Lord, on divine things, and not on human things.
Collect
Lamb of God, Shepherd King, we know you. We take up our cross and follow. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
We are not ashamed of you, Lord of life. Set our eyes on your cross and our cross. Make us worthy to follow you. For what will it profit us to gain the whole world and forfeit our lives? We praise you now and open the closed circles of our churches to invite others to join us, so that when you come in glory we shall truly be the worthy bride of Christ. Get behind us, worldly cares. Come before us, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Hymns
I Long For Your Commandments, Lord
The Old Rugged Cross
Take Up Your Cross
One:
The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
All:
Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.
One:
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple;
All:
the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes;
One:
the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
All:
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Collect
Lord of wisdom, Lord of words, in your law and in your guidance we find comfort, a sure road through a world without landmarks. As we gather together to praise your name, bless us with your presence, fill us with your Spirit, grant us a measure of your wisdom. For your gracious gifts we thank you. We pray these things in your name. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Lord of wisdom, you bawl us out in front of our neighbors, you holler at us when we're walking down the street, you nag us when we're trying to watch a ball game, you bellow when we're trying to sleep, and bray when we're hanging out with our friends. You don't care what it takes, do you? Don't give up on us! Keep trying, Lord, until we listen! We're listening. Praise God, Hallelujah. Amen.
Hymns
Soon And Very Soon
Make Me A Captive
All Praise To Our Redeeming Lord
Proper 19 / Ordinary Time 24
Sunday between September 11 and September 17 inclusive
Second Lesson: James 3:1-12
Theme: Unbridled, Unstyled
Call To Worship (Mark 8:34-35)
One:
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
All:
For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it."
Collect
Lord God of Pentecost, send your Spirit again like tongues of flames so that as brothers and sisters, servants all, we might set this world aflame with your love. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Lord, it's the tongue that gets us into trouble -- yet we need to use our tongues to raise our voices in praise and song. There's no getting around it -- we need you at the helm of our brains, guiding and guarding us against the fire of our tongues, that we might bless and not curse our sisters and brothers. Wise God, fill the sails with your Spirit and send us swiftly toward your shores! Amen.
Hymns
Surely The Presence
Holy Ground
Majesty
Proper 19 / Ordinary Time 24
Sunday between September 11 and September 17 inclusive
Gospel Lesson: Mark 8:27-38
Theme: Who Do You Say That He Is?
Call To Worship
Men:
Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?"
Women:
And they answered him, "John the Baptist; and others Elijah, and still others, one of the prophets."
Men:
Jesus asked them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Women:
Peter answered him, "You are the Messiah."
Men:
But Peter did want a Messiah who would undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the authorities, and be killed --
Women:
and after three days rise again.
Men:
Jesus asks us who we say he is.
Women:
And we say he is Lord of time --
Men:
but not necessarily Lord of our workweek.
Women:
We say he is Lord of Creation --
Men:
but not necessarily Lord of our bank accounts.
Women:
We admire his cross --
Men:
but are reluctant to pick up our own.
All:
Set our minds Lord, on divine things, and not on human things.
Collect
Lamb of God, Shepherd King, we know you. We take up our cross and follow. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
We are not ashamed of you, Lord of life. Set our eyes on your cross and our cross. Make us worthy to follow you. For what will it profit us to gain the whole world and forfeit our lives? We praise you now and open the closed circles of our churches to invite others to join us, so that when you come in glory we shall truly be the worthy bride of Christ. Get behind us, worldly cares. Come before us, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Hymns
I Long For Your Commandments, Lord
The Old Rugged Cross
Take Up Your Cross
