Third Sunday After The Epiphany
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series IV, Cycle B
Call To Worship
Psalm 62:5-8 -- Freely translated!
Leader:
My soul finds rest in God alone;
People:
Hope comes only from him.
Leader:
God alone is my rock and salvation;
People:
God is an impregnable fortress,
Leader:
I will be well protected.
People:
He is a rock-solid foundation for living;
Leader:
He is a refuge in times of trouble;
People:
He can be trusted at all times.
Leader:
Let us surrender our hearts to God,
People:
Who is our refuge.
Our focus in the rest of the materials this week will be the call to become fishers whose task is to reel others into the kingdom of God.
Leader:
He said to James and John, "Come follow me."
People:
Just like that?
Leader:
Just like that. And they dropped everything and followed.
People:
Everything?
Leader:
Everything. For it is in dropping everything that the real adventure of faith is lived.
People:
So, do we have to drop everything, too?
Leader:
Yes! For if we want the abundant life he offers,
People:
We must put God first.
Leader:
Yes. We must have no other gods but him.
People:
Well, here we are this morning,
Leader:
And once again he is calling, "Come follow me."
People:
So, let us drop everything and follow him
Leader:
Into a life of luring others into God's kingdom of glory.
People:
Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Being one who fishes for the Lord may cause us to face some of our prejudices, as it did Jonah. If you chose to approach these passages from that angle the following Prayers Of Confession may be useful.
Leader:
Why don't the Iraqis embrace us?
People:
Why do the French oppose us?
Leader:
Why do Muslims seem suspicious of us?
People:
Why do Arabs seem to hate us?
Leader:
The whole world seems to have turned against us.
People:
But we will show them.
Leader:
Forget them.
People:
Who needs them!
Leader:
They hate us,
People:
We'll hate them.
Leader:
Father, remind us that you call us to a higher way;
People:
The way that prays for those who hate us;
Leader:
The way that loves the enemy.
People:
Remind us,
Leader:
And forgive us for forgetting.
People:
Amen.
Another one on the same topic.
Leader:
He offers adventure,
People:
We seek security and comfort.
Leader:
He calls us to take risks,
People:
We, like Jonah, run and hide.
Leader:
He wants abundant life for us,
People:
We are satisfied with mere survival.
Leader:
Father, forgive us for being so much less alive than you made us to be.
People:
Forgive us for our obsession with security,
Leader:
Forgive us for trying to build that security ourselves,
People:
Forgive us for putting our trust in everything but you.
Leader:
Forgive us,
People:
Forget our sin,
Leader:
And fill us with the courage to live the lives
People:
You made us to live.
Leader:
In the name of Jesus the Christ.
People:
Amen.
Another aspect of faithfully following God is that it requires us to place our trust not in ourselves or the things of this world, but in God alone. This confession deals with trust.
Leader:
He advocated more money for national defense.
People:
He had a cabinet full of guns for protection,
Leader:
Insurance policies galore,
People:
A personal bodyguard.
Leader:
He worked out to stay healthy.
People:
Ate all the right stuff.
Leader:
Took a handful of vitamins every day.
People:
Had his cars perfectly maintained.
Leader:
Surrounded himself with every protection he could think of ...
People:
But his trust was misplaced.
Leader:
For those protections are nothing without the protection of the Lord.
People:
Father, we confess that we have placed our trust in money and machines,
Leader:
In people and policies,
People:
And not in you.
Leader:
Forgive us,
People:
And teach us that you alone are worthy of our trust.
Leader:
Amen.
People:
Amen.
Assurance Of Pardon
This Assurance is suitable with the above confessions.
And the time will come when at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth; and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. This is the good news. Let us rejoice and be glad. Amen.
Introduction To The Offering
This one requires a little boldness, but I believe it to be true. I also believe that our churches are generally terrible at trusting God with our finances and need to be challenged regularly to put their complete trust in God.
We often live like Jonah in many different areas of our lives. This is often most true when it comes to the use of the material resources God has given us. The Psalmist says, "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof." All that we have ultimately came from and belongs to God. It is ours only to use for godly purposes. But, like Jonah, we run from this responsibility. We keep our good fortune to ourselves.
This morning let us give all that God asks us to give. Open your heart and give generously of the treasures that you have received from God. Great things will come of it.
Prayer Of Dedication
Let us pray: Scripture tells us, O Lord, that you love a cheerful giver. Unfortunately, we are not always able to be cheerful in our giving. In truth, it scares us to give. We seek our security in our bank accounts, and when we lessen them we feel less secure. So this morning as we give, maybe with fear rather than cheer, deepen our trust in you so that one day we may give freely without worry, because we know that our true security is in you. Amen.
Prayer For Illumination
This prayer is done in unison.
God of truth, hearing your word is often not our problem. We hear just fine, but accepting and living these words is another matter. You say, "Forgive and forget. Be patient and kind. Love your enemy. Place your trust in me rather than your armies, or governments, or banks." So, this morning enable us not only to hear your word, but to understand how we can live it as well. In Jesus' name we ask. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
Times of international conflict often create a xenophobia that is not appropriate for God's people. We are Christians first and Americans second. Our first loyalty is to the cause of Christ. This prayer tries to lift up this concern.
Let us pray: O Lord, remind us in this time of peril that the greatest power on earth is nothing compared to your power; that the most awesome weapons pale, the most fearsome army is insignificant, the worst tragedy is minor, because not only is your power beyond all powers -- but so too is your love beyond all loves. We seek your love this morning -- for a world in need and for our loved ones that have been mentioned this morning ...
Benediction
Go and serve the Lord, remembering that wherever you go, God goes with you; and whatever God asks of you, he also equips you to do. Go in the peace and presence of God. Amen.
Hymns
A Shelter In The Time Of Storm
Beneath The Cross Of Jesus
Dear Lord And Father Of Mankind
Follow Me, The Master Said
How Shall I Follow Him I Serve?
I Love To Walk With Jesus
Jesus I My Cross Have Taken
Jesus My All To Heaven Has Gone
Leaving All To Follow Jesus
Master, We Thy Footsteps Follow
O Jesus, I Have Promised
O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee
Savior I Follow On
Shine Thou Upon Us, Lord
Take Time To Be Holy
Trust And Obey
Contemporary Choruses
As The Deer, Martin Nystrom
Cry Of My Heart, Terry Butler
Every Move I Make, David Ruis
More Love, More Power, Jude Del Hierro
Seek Ye First, Karen Lafferty
Step By Step, David (Beaker) Strasser
Take My Life, Scott Underwood
Other Music
A Different Road, Kathy Troccoli
Following God requires us to travel a different road.
I Surrender All, Clay Crosse
Psalm 62:5-8 -- Freely translated!
Leader:
My soul finds rest in God alone;
People:
Hope comes only from him.
Leader:
God alone is my rock and salvation;
People:
God is an impregnable fortress,
Leader:
I will be well protected.
People:
He is a rock-solid foundation for living;
Leader:
He is a refuge in times of trouble;
People:
He can be trusted at all times.
Leader:
Let us surrender our hearts to God,
People:
Who is our refuge.
Our focus in the rest of the materials this week will be the call to become fishers whose task is to reel others into the kingdom of God.
Leader:
He said to James and John, "Come follow me."
People:
Just like that?
Leader:
Just like that. And they dropped everything and followed.
People:
Everything?
Leader:
Everything. For it is in dropping everything that the real adventure of faith is lived.
People:
So, do we have to drop everything, too?
Leader:
Yes! For if we want the abundant life he offers,
People:
We must put God first.
Leader:
Yes. We must have no other gods but him.
People:
Well, here we are this morning,
Leader:
And once again he is calling, "Come follow me."
People:
So, let us drop everything and follow him
Leader:
Into a life of luring others into God's kingdom of glory.
People:
Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Being one who fishes for the Lord may cause us to face some of our prejudices, as it did Jonah. If you chose to approach these passages from that angle the following Prayers Of Confession may be useful.
Leader:
Why don't the Iraqis embrace us?
People:
Why do the French oppose us?
Leader:
Why do Muslims seem suspicious of us?
People:
Why do Arabs seem to hate us?
Leader:
The whole world seems to have turned against us.
People:
But we will show them.
Leader:
Forget them.
People:
Who needs them!
Leader:
They hate us,
People:
We'll hate them.
Leader:
Father, remind us that you call us to a higher way;
People:
The way that prays for those who hate us;
Leader:
The way that loves the enemy.
People:
Remind us,
Leader:
And forgive us for forgetting.
People:
Amen.
Another one on the same topic.
Leader:
He offers adventure,
People:
We seek security and comfort.
Leader:
He calls us to take risks,
People:
We, like Jonah, run and hide.
Leader:
He wants abundant life for us,
People:
We are satisfied with mere survival.
Leader:
Father, forgive us for being so much less alive than you made us to be.
People:
Forgive us for our obsession with security,
Leader:
Forgive us for trying to build that security ourselves,
People:
Forgive us for putting our trust in everything but you.
Leader:
Forgive us,
People:
Forget our sin,
Leader:
And fill us with the courage to live the lives
People:
You made us to live.
Leader:
In the name of Jesus the Christ.
People:
Amen.
Another aspect of faithfully following God is that it requires us to place our trust not in ourselves or the things of this world, but in God alone. This confession deals with trust.
Leader:
He advocated more money for national defense.
People:
He had a cabinet full of guns for protection,
Leader:
Insurance policies galore,
People:
A personal bodyguard.
Leader:
He worked out to stay healthy.
People:
Ate all the right stuff.
Leader:
Took a handful of vitamins every day.
People:
Had his cars perfectly maintained.
Leader:
Surrounded himself with every protection he could think of ...
People:
But his trust was misplaced.
Leader:
For those protections are nothing without the protection of the Lord.
People:
Father, we confess that we have placed our trust in money and machines,
Leader:
In people and policies,
People:
And not in you.
Leader:
Forgive us,
People:
And teach us that you alone are worthy of our trust.
Leader:
Amen.
People:
Amen.
Assurance Of Pardon
This Assurance is suitable with the above confessions.
And the time will come when at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth; and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. This is the good news. Let us rejoice and be glad. Amen.
Introduction To The Offering
This one requires a little boldness, but I believe it to be true. I also believe that our churches are generally terrible at trusting God with our finances and need to be challenged regularly to put their complete trust in God.
We often live like Jonah in many different areas of our lives. This is often most true when it comes to the use of the material resources God has given us. The Psalmist says, "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof." All that we have ultimately came from and belongs to God. It is ours only to use for godly purposes. But, like Jonah, we run from this responsibility. We keep our good fortune to ourselves.
This morning let us give all that God asks us to give. Open your heart and give generously of the treasures that you have received from God. Great things will come of it.
Prayer Of Dedication
Let us pray: Scripture tells us, O Lord, that you love a cheerful giver. Unfortunately, we are not always able to be cheerful in our giving. In truth, it scares us to give. We seek our security in our bank accounts, and when we lessen them we feel less secure. So this morning as we give, maybe with fear rather than cheer, deepen our trust in you so that one day we may give freely without worry, because we know that our true security is in you. Amen.
Prayer For Illumination
This prayer is done in unison.
God of truth, hearing your word is often not our problem. We hear just fine, but accepting and living these words is another matter. You say, "Forgive and forget. Be patient and kind. Love your enemy. Place your trust in me rather than your armies, or governments, or banks." So, this morning enable us not only to hear your word, but to understand how we can live it as well. In Jesus' name we ask. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
Times of international conflict often create a xenophobia that is not appropriate for God's people. We are Christians first and Americans second. Our first loyalty is to the cause of Christ. This prayer tries to lift up this concern.
Let us pray: O Lord, remind us in this time of peril that the greatest power on earth is nothing compared to your power; that the most awesome weapons pale, the most fearsome army is insignificant, the worst tragedy is minor, because not only is your power beyond all powers -- but so too is your love beyond all loves. We seek your love this morning -- for a world in need and for our loved ones that have been mentioned this morning ...
Benediction
Go and serve the Lord, remembering that wherever you go, God goes with you; and whatever God asks of you, he also equips you to do. Go in the peace and presence of God. Amen.
Hymns
A Shelter In The Time Of Storm
Beneath The Cross Of Jesus
Dear Lord And Father Of Mankind
Follow Me, The Master Said
How Shall I Follow Him I Serve?
I Love To Walk With Jesus
Jesus I My Cross Have Taken
Jesus My All To Heaven Has Gone
Leaving All To Follow Jesus
Master, We Thy Footsteps Follow
O Jesus, I Have Promised
O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee
Savior I Follow On
Shine Thou Upon Us, Lord
Take Time To Be Holy
Trust And Obey
Contemporary Choruses
As The Deer, Martin Nystrom
Cry Of My Heart, Terry Butler
Every Move I Make, David Ruis
More Love, More Power, Jude Del Hierro
Seek Ye First, Karen Lafferty
Step By Step, David (Beaker) Strasser
Take My Life, Scott Underwood
Other Music
A Different Road, Kathy Troccoli
Following God requires us to travel a different road.
I Surrender All, Clay Crosse
