True Happiness
Worship
Lectionary Worship Aids
Series VI, Cycle B
Call To Worship
Leader: Happy are those who reject the advice of evil people,
People: who do not follow the example of sinners or join those who have no use for God.
Leader: Instead, they find joy in obeying the law of the Lord,
People: and they study it day and night.
Leader: They are like trees that grow beside a stream,
People: that bear fruit at the right time, and whose leaves do not dry up.
Collect
Almighty God, our Creator and Redeemer, like your children everywhere we are caught up in the pursuit of happiness. There are those who urge us to find it in seeking wealth, and others who claim it can be found by being ambitious and seeking self-glorification. We come to worship you this morning because we believe true happiness can only be found in following your commands and serving you. Bless our worship, we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Lord, we want to serve you in a manner that could be rated among the best, but when we look at the attributes of one who serves her family best, we realize we fall far short. We are not as generous to the poor and needy as we could be. We often fear for the future. We do not always speak with a gentle wisdom, and in many other ways we need to improve. Strengthen us in our resolve to be better servants of our Lord, we pray in Jesus'Òname. Amen.
Hymns
"For The Beauty Of The Earth"
"O Happy Day, That Fixed My Choice"
Proper 20/Ordinary Time 25
Sunday between September 18 and September 24 inclusive
Second Lesson: James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a
Theme: Draw Near To God And He Will Draw Near To You
Call To Worship
We come together to worship Almighty God who alone can give us the wisdom and understanding we need to produce a harvest of good deeds free from prejudice and hypocrisy.
Come, draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
Collect
We draw near to you, O God, in the expectation that the Holy Spirit will bring us into communion with you. We confess Jesus to be our champion against the power of evil and seek his power to resist all evil in and around us. In his name we pray. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Lord, we confess that in our weakness, jealousy, bitterness, and selfishness sometimes seem to get the upper hand. Even though it leads to quarreling and disorder, we find it hard to overcome. We seek your forgiveness, Lord, and ask that through your Holy Spirit we may overcome these temptations and receive the wisdom from above that is pure, peace-loving, considerate, and open to reason. Amen.
Hymns
"Near To The Heart Of God"
"Nearer, My God To Thee"
Proper 20/Ordinary Time 25
Sunday between September 18 and September 24 inclusive
Gospel Lesson: Mark 9:30-37
Theme: Who Is The Greatest?
Call To Worship
Jesus said: "Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
Jesus said: "Whoever welcomes in my name one of these children, welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me, welcomes not only me but also the one who sent me."
Come, let us worship the Father who reminds us of our responsibility to welcome the children with enthusiasm, with respect, and with the open arms of the heart.
Collect
Christ who walked among us in human form and walks with us still in the indwelling Spirit, teach us the greatness that is expressed by the embrace of a child, rather than by rubbing shoulders with the rich and powerful, so that we may serve in the manner of your servanthood. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Lord, when we try to measure greatness we usually pass over the children, assuming that they are out of the running. We forget that Jesus taught us to embrace them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Open our eyes and our hearts, Lord, that we may come to understand that in your eyes all are precious, all may find wisdom and true greatness. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
Hymns
"Tell Me The Stories Of Jesus"
"Children Of The Heavenly Father"
Leader: Happy are those who reject the advice of evil people,
People: who do not follow the example of sinners or join those who have no use for God.
Leader: Instead, they find joy in obeying the law of the Lord,
People: and they study it day and night.
Leader: They are like trees that grow beside a stream,
People: that bear fruit at the right time, and whose leaves do not dry up.
Collect
Almighty God, our Creator and Redeemer, like your children everywhere we are caught up in the pursuit of happiness. There are those who urge us to find it in seeking wealth, and others who claim it can be found by being ambitious and seeking self-glorification. We come to worship you this morning because we believe true happiness can only be found in following your commands and serving you. Bless our worship, we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Lord, we want to serve you in a manner that could be rated among the best, but when we look at the attributes of one who serves her family best, we realize we fall far short. We are not as generous to the poor and needy as we could be. We often fear for the future. We do not always speak with a gentle wisdom, and in many other ways we need to improve. Strengthen us in our resolve to be better servants of our Lord, we pray in Jesus'Òname. Amen.
Hymns
"For The Beauty Of The Earth"
"O Happy Day, That Fixed My Choice"
Proper 20/Ordinary Time 25
Sunday between September 18 and September 24 inclusive
Second Lesson: James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a
Theme: Draw Near To God And He Will Draw Near To You
Call To Worship
We come together to worship Almighty God who alone can give us the wisdom and understanding we need to produce a harvest of good deeds free from prejudice and hypocrisy.
Come, draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
Collect
We draw near to you, O God, in the expectation that the Holy Spirit will bring us into communion with you. We confess Jesus to be our champion against the power of evil and seek his power to resist all evil in and around us. In his name we pray. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Lord, we confess that in our weakness, jealousy, bitterness, and selfishness sometimes seem to get the upper hand. Even though it leads to quarreling and disorder, we find it hard to overcome. We seek your forgiveness, Lord, and ask that through your Holy Spirit we may overcome these temptations and receive the wisdom from above that is pure, peace-loving, considerate, and open to reason. Amen.
Hymns
"Near To The Heart Of God"
"Nearer, My God To Thee"
Proper 20/Ordinary Time 25
Sunday between September 18 and September 24 inclusive
Gospel Lesson: Mark 9:30-37
Theme: Who Is The Greatest?
Call To Worship
Jesus said: "Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
Jesus said: "Whoever welcomes in my name one of these children, welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me, welcomes not only me but also the one who sent me."
Come, let us worship the Father who reminds us of our responsibility to welcome the children with enthusiasm, with respect, and with the open arms of the heart.
Collect
Christ who walked among us in human form and walks with us still in the indwelling Spirit, teach us the greatness that is expressed by the embrace of a child, rather than by rubbing shoulders with the rich and powerful, so that we may serve in the manner of your servanthood. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Lord, when we try to measure greatness we usually pass over the children, assuming that they are out of the running. We forget that Jesus taught us to embrace them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Open our eyes and our hearts, Lord, that we may come to understand that in your eyes all are precious, all may find wisdom and true greatness. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
Hymns
"Tell Me The Stories Of Jesus"
"Children Of The Heavenly Father"
