Bulletin Mark 6:1-29

Bulletin by Rev. Dr. Barb Hedges-Goettl

 

Welcome and Announcements                   Reader

Prelude Holy, Holy           (Blue Hymnal, 140)

 

Opening Prayer (from Psalm 24:4-5 The Living Bible paraphrase)

 Show us the path where we should go, O Lord; point out the right road for us to walk. 

 Lead us; teach us; for you are the God who gives us salvation. We have no hope except in you,           O Lord. Amen.

Call to Worship  (from Psalm 24:8-10, The Living Bible paraphrase)               Reader         

One: The Lord is good 

Many: and glad to teach the proper path to all who go astray.

One: The Lord will teach the ways that are right and best 

Many: to those who humbly turn to him. When we obey him,

One: the path on which God guides us is fragrant with his loving-kindness 

and his truth

ALL: THANKS BE TO GOD 

*Opening Hymn O Christ, the Great Foundation                           Blue, 443

*Call to Confession                   Reader                             God calls us to tell and live the truth; let us confess our need for God’s forgiveness and grace for the ways in which we do not live up to this call.

Prayer of Confession (unison)

(Silent Confession)                                                                                                                              Like Herod, we fear the truth of our role in injustice and oppression.                               We hide the truth of our own pain. We deny the truth of the pain of the voiceless.                   We close our ears to the truth in favor of what we already believe.   When the truth is hidden and twisted, we find it hard to speak up.                                               

Forgive us. Enable us to hear—and speak—the truth.

 

 

Words of Assurance (from John 8:32, 34, 36) Jesus promised “you will know

 the truth and the truth shall set you free. Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin, but if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 

Thank God for the Good News: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.                                                                                                                                                                  

Gloria Patri: (Blue #579) “Glory Be to the Father”                                          

Passing of the Peace: The peace of Christ be with you.     And also with you.

Prayers of the People/Lord’s Prayer (traditional)                       Blue Hymnal, p. 14

Celebration of Birthdays and Anniversaries             Reader

Offering Hymn God Is Here! Blue Hymnal, 461

* Doxology (Blue, #592)   Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow

* Prayer of Dedication (unison)     Pastor                                             

Prayer for Illumination Blue Hymnal, 327

O Word of God, incarnate, O Wisdom from on high, 

O Truth unchanged, unchanging, O Light of our dark sky: 

We praise You for the radiance That from the hallowed page. 

A lantern to our footsteps, Shines on from age to age.

                                                                                                                              Scripture Reading: Mark 6:1-39 Reader

Message: Speaking Truth to Power                                                                              

 

Communion Hymn Here I Am, Lord           Blue Hymnal, 525 *Confession of Faith – The Nicene Creed (Ecumenical)           Blue Hymnal, p.15

Invitation to Communion

Prayer of Great Thanksgiving

  Lift up your hearts.  We lift them up to the Lord.

  Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

  [Prayer continues]

  And so together we praise and thank you, O Lord.

Sharing of the Bread and the Cup

Prayer after Communion

*Closing Hymn Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts Blue Hymnal, 510

*Charge and Benediction                   Pastors Barb and Len

Postlude Lord, Make Us More Holy                                                (Blue Hymnal, 536)

*Stand in body and/or spirit   

**From http://theafricanamericanlectionary.org/PopupWorshipAid.asp?LRID=419.

 

Death of John the Baptist

Mark 6:1-29

Psalm 122

 Bulletin

Call to Worship

I was glad when they said unto me, let us go to the house of the Lord

Let us build this as a place of peace and security 

For the sake of our friends and family let us say to one another Peace be with you

Peace be with you, come let us seek good 

Call to Worship:

We are called and sent two by two

God provides us all we need

Let us pray and anoint and heal together

Come let us worship the Lord

Prayer of Confession: God we confess that we do not go into the world, we stay on the known path. We lack courage, we forget the weak, we ignore suffering. We do not honor each other, we have trouble loving and serving the Lord. Restore us to your house and teach us how to pass the peace we pray. Amen. 

Prayer of Confession:Discipleship is so hard, Lord. Often we are carrying too much baggage with us from place to place to place. When we are hurt, we have trouble shaking the dust off our feet and hear the echoes of what was said before. We doubt that we have the authority to banish demons. Encourage us in our discipleship we pray

Prayer of Confession: God, we confess that discipleship is hard. Often we carry baggage with us from place to place, much more than the recommended staff. We have trouble shaking the dust off our feet from troubling experiences. We struggle to take on the authority to banish demons. Help us to be the disciples you would have us to be.

Assurance of Pardon: Peace be with you. God’s grace reigns down and proclaims the truth In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of Dedication/Prayer of the Day: Lord, help us to seek the good. Help us to say Peace be with you for every single individual we meet, for the sake of all of our community for our friends, neighbors and families. Let us pray for peace within all our walls we pray.

Communion: Let us give thanks to the Prince of Peace, who welcomes us into the kingdom with a celebratory meal, bringing us together. The bread and cup tie us together, build our community and sends us out for the work of peace. May we share Christ by sharing the peace here today and everyday.

Hymns: Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God, We will serve the Lord, Called to Partner’s in Christ’s Service, All Hail for Christ’s Anointed, Be Thou My Vision, For All the Saints, Lead On O King Eternal

With Children: Pack for a trip (pretend pack with paper items), Talk about/write down hurtful words and things: rip them up/shake the dust from your feet, Anoint each other with oil and pray for each other.

Other Weeks of Seeds of Prayer Narrative Lectionary Resources available here

Image result for Jesus sends disciples mark 6

Image result for Jesus sends disciples mark 6

Communion Prayer by Rev. Dr. Barb Hedges-Goettl

Invitation

B: Come to me,

all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens,

and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me;

for I am gentle and humble in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

 

L: I am the bread of life.

Whoever comes to me will never be hungry,

and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

 

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

 

Prayer of Great Thanksgiving

B: O God, you commanded light to shine out of darkness.

You divided the sea and dry land.

You created the vast universe and called it good.

You made us in your image,

sending out your light and truth to lead us

to you and to your holy dwelling.

The sum of your word is truth;

You speak the truth, and declare what is right

And so we praise and thank you, O Lord.  

 

L: Then in the fullness of time,

out of your great love for the world,

you sent your only-begotten,

in whom your fullness dwells,

to be for us the way, the truth, and the life.

Revealing your truth and your love,

Jesus taught those who would hear him.

He healed those who believed in him.

He received all who sought him

and lifted the burden of their sin.

And so we praise and thank you, O Lord.  

 

B: In fulfillment of Christ’s promise,

you pour out the Holy Spirit upon your people,

filling us with the power of your truth.

By the Holy Spirit’s power over us

and over these earthly gifts of bread and wine,

you make this the communion of the body and blood of Christ,

and unite us to him and to one another.

And so we praise and thank you, O Lord.  

 

Prayer after communion

B: Having received this gift of communion, O God,

We ask that you kindle faith in us. Lead us into all truth,

Empower us to claim Jesus as the way, the truth and the life.

May his coming in glory find us

ever watchful in prayer,

strong in truth and love,

and faithful in the breaking of the bread. 

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Benediction

 

L: May the light of Christ

B: illuminate your way

L: show you the truth,

B: and empower you to live for him.

2: Until you feast with all the saints

in joy of Christ’s heavenly banquet. Amen.

 

Seeds of Prayer Jairus’ Daughter Healed

Jairus’ Daughter Healed

Mark 5:21-43

Psalm 131

Bulletin Resource written by Barb Hedges-Goettl

Call to Worship

Lord, we are imperfect and unready

Yet, Jesus says, child come.

We will come, whenever you call, for you are full of grace and healing

Let us worship the one who is the power and the resurrection forever.

Call to Worship

Come let us contemplate the Lord together

God your works are too marvelous for me to comprehend

Yet, like a weaned child with it’s mother, we are comforted

Come let us put our hope in the Lord

Prayer of Confession: God, I confess that I am unable to fully understand you in all of your might. When I am overwhelmed, lead me back to you, comfort me, nuzzle me, calm and quiet my soul I pray. Amen

Prayer of Confession: God, today, like the woman who suffered for twelve years, I come to you with an open wound. No healing has taken place, and my pain is dripping on the floor, embarrassing me. Teach me to but touch you today so that the healing I need may start I pray. Amen

Prayer of Confession: My soul cries out for the Lord, like a child. I sit on the floor and I scream, feeling like nothing will every be right again. But then you pick me up, hug me, feed me and put me safely to bed, enveloping me in your love. Surround me with that comfort I pray.

Princess Bride

Assurance of Pardon: God you are our comfort when the rest of the world is full of rocks and scrapes, no matter what scoop us down and put us back on our feet again and again. In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Assurance of Pardon: There is no mistake too big for God to forgive. That’s why God sent Jesus. Know the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God, you leave the light on for all of your children. Help us to go out into the world and invite others into your love we pray. Amen.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: Lord, you will repeat your message of love as often as we need to hear it. Let us echo in our minds, hearts and souls we pray.

Prayer of Communion: Lord, what have I to fear from you. You who loved us into being, breathing life into us, gifting us with the entire world to take care of. Then when we stumbled, you sent Jesus to be our sibling and make us co-heirs to your kingdom. You have assured a place for us in your house, and you make us welcome with the Kingdom meal, even here and now on earth. Send your Holy Spirit upon this feast so that we may celebrate communion with entire family of God we pray.

Hymns: This is Our Father’s World, Blessed Assurance Jesus is Mine, God is My Rock

With Children: Create a picture/clay/image of a mother God comforting a baby. Look through parenting magazine and create a collage of all the mothers and babies/children. Runaway Bunny, You are My I Love You, Follow the Moon, Take turns “sleeping” and having Jesus wake you up as Jairus’ child. Interrupting Chicken books, Talk about Important interruptions

Other Weeks of Seeds of Prayer Narrative Lectionary Resources available here

 

Rejected Sermon Titles: Jesus and the demons of our mind

Mark 5:1-20

Psalm 89:1-4

by Pastor Katy Stenta

“Legion: for We are many”

I think it is amazing that Jesus gets the man to name his demon…or the demon to name itself before Jesus expelled it from the poor man.

How many times do we need to name our demons before we can get rid of them? If it’s something that is (typically) smaller like jealousy or self-righteousness or something all encompassing like mental illness or addiction, so often we humans need to name a problem before we can even work on it.

And don’t we all have demon voices, terrible self-erasing voices in our heads twisting the way we see the world.

Whether they are the kind of demons that self-aggrandize (though I don’t think that is this demon’s way) telling us that we are better than everyone else, telling us we deserve more than others, dismissing others as meaningless, insignificant (or worse of all) dehumanizing them so that we don’t have to care for each other. There are strong echoes of the need for Anti-racists and Anti-Terf and Anti-Ageist work across the board. It’s the voice that tells us we are better Christians (or patriots or workers or whatever) and don’t need to listen to anybody else. Martin Luther King Jr looked towards the humanization of all people and basic humans rights, beyond the dehumanizing results of institutions and systems the include the church and capitalism and nationalism.

Or there is if it is the demon voice that points out every one of our anxieties and failings. It harps on our imperfections and plays our mistakes on repeat in our heads. It gets us to focus on all that is wrong with us and the world so that we cannot hear the voice of God anymore. We devalue ourselves, and can no longer see ourselves as the image of God.

Demons dehumanize.

They erase and X out our names and existence (Madeline L’engle covers this well in her Time Quartet)

When I hear the story of the man tormented by legion–even though no details are given as to how they are making him feel and act crazy only the side effects. When I hear he can’t stand still, and he is driven to live alone, uncleanly with the dead. When I hear that he is cast out as better to be with the dead than the living. I have no trouble hearing those doubting and harping demons in this man’s mind.

In essence that is what the Screwtape Letters is about. The demon has the human focus on the high pitch voices, the gum smacking neighbor and the squeaking shoe fidgeted until these people are no longer seen as community but as annoyances, and all of church is seen as annoying and there is no room to focus on God.

But when we name these problems in our lives, when we lift up our imperfections and sins for prayer, when we ask for support from others and talk about our insecurities. Then people can help us to name all that we did do that day, and how our imperfections are small compared to being a beloved child of God. They lift up that people care for us even when we make mistakes. And remind us of our friends and neighbors good qualities even when (especially when) they are driving us to distraction.

No photo description available.

Maybe then it is no surprise that Jesus restores the Gerasenes Man to his community. I do not think it is about if this man is good enough to follow Jesus, nor about his will to follow for he wants to follow Jesus. I think that Jesus has decided that to complete the healing, this man needs to be restored to his community–so he says “god back to your friends…” The community that hopefully can counter the years of bad and do a better job of nurturing and supporting this man. And I hope we as the church can do the same.

 

Rejected Sermon Titles: Jesus and disabilities

Mark 2:1-22

Psalm 103:6-14

There is a certain amount of mourning that goes on when you have a child with disabilities. Immediately you start to try to figure out “what went wrong” which is code for who to blame. Most people start with themselves. When I found out Westley had autism, I worried about my two week trip to Israel while I in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy. My mom pointed out that genes are formulated way before that.

My husband talked about his own worries “You know I”m neurotic, and I have ADD” for that matter people in my family have ADD too, and I didn’t eat most foods for most of my life because the textures bothered me, but sure it’s solely your fault that our child has autism.

I think in all societies there is a tendency to try to blame someone for disabilities and the imperfections. We try to find the sin that caused  the sin. It is here that we can start to understand that it was more shocking  for Jesus to forgive the paraplegic man than it was to see a bodily healing.

Eventually I have come to conclude that no human body is perfect. Not one of us has a body that works perfectly. We all have things that are different. And we are all sinners, we all are imperfect in that way too.

What causes this forgiveness and healing is the communal faith. The parapalegic faith, and his four friends. His friends who haul him up onto the roof, dig a hole in the grass and thatch and lower him down through the roof. Perhaps the lowering through the roof was less amazing than the fact that probably the friends had to touch this crippled man in order to get him to Jesus.

I wonder what that moment was like. I wonder if Jesus saw them trying to get through out of the corner of his eye, or if suddenly a man just appeared out of the sky, like an angel.

Like Jesus lowering himself to human level.

Like a miracle of community.

Then Jesus says because of all of their faith, not one, not another but all including the paraplegic man, he is forgiven…and then healed. Per usual in the Bible faith is used to describe the beliefs and actions of faith (as opposed to belief which is used in ref. to the individual). Not all of them had the same faith or beliefs, all of them had different bodies and skills, but together they formulated the faith for forgiveness and healing.

That is what we practice here in church. We pray for one another when our bodies don’t work well, when we sin, we work on forgiveness together. This church is a communal thing, because that is how we see Jesus.

Narrative Lectionary Prayer Resource, ordinary time, Year 2 Mark

Jan 12: Jesus Heals and Teachers-Mark 2:1-22, Psalm 103:6-14

Jan 19: Parables in Mark-Mark 4:1-34, Psalm 126

Jan 26: Jesus and the Gerasene Demon– Mark 5:1-20, Psalm 89:1-4

Feb 2: Jairus’ Daughter Healed-Mark 5:21-43, Psalm 131

Feb 9: Death of John the Baptist-Mark 6:1-29, Psalm 122

Feb 16th: What Defiles-Mark 7:1-23, Psalm 51:1-3, 6-7

Feb 23: Transfiguration-Mark 8:27-9:8, Psalm 27:1-4

Feb 26 Ash Weds Passion Prediction Mark: 9:30-37, Psalm 32:1-5 (order of worship/bulletin)

Seeds NL: Parables of Mark

Parables of Mark

Mark 4:1-34

Psalm 126

File:The Sower - My Dream.jpg

Image found here

Call to Worship

Lord give us the ears to hear and the eyes to see

 

Let our light shine!

Teach us the truth of your parables

Come let us learn about the Lord

Call to Worship

Plant the seed in our hearts

Let us tend it and let it grow

May our church be like the tree of heaven, with room for all

Come let spend some time at home with God

Call to Worship

The Lord has done great things for us

Let us rejoice

May those who sow in tears, reap with shouts of joy

Come, let us shout to the Lord, for he does great things. 

Prayer of Confession: God, we know we have trouble letting everyone into the nest. We claim there is not enough room, or resources, or we discriminate against the odd ducks who look or act different than us. Remind us that the kingdom of heaven is like a tree of bounty with enough food and room for all, and teach us to be more open, accepting and to share more we pray.
Prayer of Confession: I confess that my tears do not feel like they are watering anything today. I have forgotten what seeds I have planted, and have lost hope that they will grow. You know what work has been done, you know that the tending counts, help the good things grow into harvest I pray.

Assurance of Pardon: God promises that we will come home with shouts of joy, carrying a harvest of grace, Know the good news: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen.

Eucharist Prayer: God, you planted the very first seeds with Adam and Eve and continue to tend the gardens of the earth. On the day of Jesus’ resurrection, the first thing he did was to kneel in the dirt, and be mistaken for a gardener, because he is the gardener. May this meal together plan the seeds of grace in our souls to be tended and grown. Send your Holy Spirit on these elements to nourish us and our community we pray. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication/Prayer of the Day: Lord let us tend what needs to be tending. Help us to root out the weeds, and water and nourish all that is good in the world, help us to grow we pray. Amen.

Hymns: To God Be the Glory; Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God; Somebody’s Knocking At Your Door; Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise;

With Children: Treasure Hunt: explain that finding the meaning of parables is like a treasure hunt; plant seeds/mustard seeds; cut out and glue lots of kinds of birds on a big tree/nest;

Image may contain: one or more people, possible text that says 'Be a lamp, a lifeboat, a ladder. Help someone's soul heal. Walk out of your house like a shepherd. RUMI ILAIDA TUMBLA COM'

Other Weeks of Seeds of Prayer Narrative Lectionary Resources available here

Seeds Resource for NL: Jesus Heals and Teaches

Jesus Heals and Teaches

Image result for jesus heals the paralytic

Mark 2:1-22

Psalm 103:6-14

 

Call to Worship 

Bless the Lord, O my soul

Let all that is within me, bless his holy name

Bless the Lord all the angels that do his bidding and heed his word 

Bless the Lord all of his work, bless the Lord O my soul. 

 

Call to Worship

The Lord blesses and forgives

Bless God’s Holy Name

The Lord heals and comforts

Bless God’s Holy Name

Mighty is the God who loves us

Bless God’s Holy Name

 

Call to Worship

Those who wandered in darkness have seen the Light

God is good

Though we are dust God’s steadfast love is forever

All the Time, God is good.

Prayer of Confession: Lord we confess we are but dust, like dandelions in the field, we flourish and then quickly wither away. Because of this, we have trouble understanding that your love is forever. We live in fear of the day you stop living, hearing or acting. Remind us that your righteousness will extend to our children’s, children’s children we pray. Amen.

Prayer of Confession: Lord, we know so many humans who are suffering. We see how quickly life passes and we are afraid to act, afraid that we are too minuscule to matter. Remind us that love is everlasting, remind us that you are good all the time, remind us that we are but the seeds and that whatever we plant will be increased tenfold and a hundredfold past our time. Give us the courage to plant these seeds of healing we pray.

Assurance of Pardon: Grass withers and seasons change, but God’s love is from everlasting to everlasting; know the truth In Jesus Christ we are forgiven

Assurance of Pardon: God does not deal with us according to our sins but according to his love, which is mightier the the sun and longer than that seasons. Know the truth. Christ loves and forgives us. 

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: Lord help us to spread healing wherever we go, planting the seeds of love and giving the words of hope, we pray. Amen.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: Open us up to the Love of Jesus Christ, so that we can feel the hope of our ancestors and the energy of our children, continue to weave us together as a community so we no longer see our aches and pains, but our collective strength, we pray.

Communion Prayer: God, you created the world into being. Giving Adam and Eve gardens and animals and each other to take care of. When we faltered, and tried to climb mountains and build ladders to reach you, you stooped to earth in the form of Jesus Christ. Teaching us through love and healing and listening Jesus took the time to show us the value of grace and forgiveness. And when he ascended into heaven, he gave us this meal to celebrate our forgiveness, as many times as we need it. We ask you to send your Holy Spirit upon these elements so we might truly consume the bits of the Jesus Christ we need so that we can practice grace in the world. We pray this together. Amen.

Hymns:  Great is Thy Faithfulness, Taize: Bless the Lord My soul, There’s a Sweet, Sweet Spirit in This Place, There is A Balm in Gilead, We Walk By Faith and Not By Sight, Take My Life

With Children: Practice Anointing with Oil/Praying for those who are sick, Make cards for those who are ill, Put band aids on a world map and pray for places in need (Venezuela, Syria, Australia, Iran are appropriate this week in my context), Talk about forgiveness and how that is a different kind of healing/go over the Lord’s Prayer, Go over the Apostles’ Creed Talk about the Christmas story: review you are in the middle of Jesus Life. Play Doctor, Give Forgiveness to one another: symbolize it with cool band aids.

Note: Be cautious of Ableist language and assumptions: Be sure to point out that God loves everyone exactly as they are and it’s more important to be a good person–be sure to emphasize that there is no such thing as a perfect body.

Other Weeks of Seeds of Prayer Narrative Lectionary Resources available here

Advent 4: Zechariah’s Song: Waiting for Shalom/Love Luke 1:5-13 [14-25], 27-80, Psalm 113, Micah 4-5

Note: Micah 4-5can also be used throughout Advent

Advent 4: Zechariah’s Song: Waiting for Shalom Luke 1:5-13 [14-25], 27-80, Psalm 113Micah 4-5

Advent Hymns to Christmas Carol Tunes

Narrative Lectionary Advent Liturgy

More Advent Resources for the Series Year 2 Mark

Luke 1:5-25, 57-80

https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=4222

Stresses the parallels between Abraham/Sarai and John/Elizabeth and the long history leading to salvation.

https://clergystuff.com/daily-devotions/luke-15-13-57-80-zechariahs-song

Devotional on Zechariah’s song and John as the last prophet of the Messiah (newly discovered NL site)

http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2305-08532013000100035

This dramatic, scholarly monologue, examines the events that Luke 1 recounts, retelling them from the eyewitness viewpoint of Elizabeth, from a female and gynocentric perspective.

https://www.preceptaustin.org/luke-1-commentary

Multiple translations & commentaries of Luke 1 presented in interlinear fashion

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedictus_(Song_of_Zechariah)

Wikipedia on Song of Zechariah

https://zenit.org/articles/reflection-on-canticle-of-zechariah/

Pope John Paul II on the Song of Zechariah

https://www.efca.org/blog/understanding-scripture/advent-devotional-zechariah%E2%80%99s-song-benedictus-luke-167-79-cf-15-25-57

Exegetical commentary on Song of Zechariah from the Evangelical Free Church tradition

https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/zechariahs-song/

https://www.oneplace.com/ministries/truth-for-life/

Sermons on Zechariah’s Song by Alistair Begg (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alistair_Begg)

https://www.lifeway.com/en/articles/sermon-christmas-zecharaiah-song-benedictus-luke-1   Sermon: What did Zechariah sing? Includes retelling of story in Buechner-style fashion

https://spaciousfaith.com/new-testament-texts/luke-15-25/

Another one that reminds me of Buechner, but more pointed at the listeners than the last

https://www.salvationarmy.org.nz/zechariah%E2%80%99s-song

Sermon Zechariah’s song of salvation focusing on the salvation of the listeners

For Psalm 113 resources, see https://1drv.ms/w/s!AuB3z496aTHTrw8s7zJwjvREBpy8

For Psalm 113 bulletin, see https://1drv.ms/w/s!AuB3z496aTHTry3rylKpfkNxFuf6

For a sermon (in two voices) on Psalm 113 focusing on word study, see https://1drv.ms/w/s!AuB3z496aTHTry4vtnRwmk5Lx4b1

For bulletin on Song of Zechariah/Fourth Sunday of Advent which we are treating as joy:    Includes opening prayer, call to worship, rite of confession, hymns, offering prayer, Advent candle lighting (but we are calling this Sunday “joy.”)  https://1drv.ms/w/s!AuB3z496aTHTgbxGz2NX22aFtG-eCA

Images

Newly discovered site for NL bulletin covers and other NL resources!! https://clergystuff.com/free-stuff#narrative-lectionary-2019-20-bulletin-covers  Look for Zechariah’s song

Music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwavglPhNGA

James Beuaregard’s song is based on Luke 1:67-79; request chords/lyrics/notation from jamesbeauregardmusic@gmail.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rYw41Tkk_c

Chant of Canticle of Zechariah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feBexmmxpjo

Vaughn-Williams version of Song of Zechariah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne9DOokin9s

A contemporary take with Powerpoint including lyrics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm-2aEZKh4k

An animated musical theater-style version of Zechariah’s song (likely entitled “His name is John!”)

Luke 1:57-80 hymns (Presbyterian Hymnal)

1.68-79

1 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

2 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

186 Thy Mercy and Thy Truth, O Lord

204 Psalm 72

205 All Hail to God’s Anointed

230 This Is the Day the Lord Hath Made

236 Now Israel May Say

423 Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun

601 Song of Zechariah (Benedictus) *

602 Song of Zechariah (Benedictus) *

1.78-79

4 Creator of the Stars of Night

5.3 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

9.2 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

20 Watchman, Tell Us of the Night

30.2 Born in the Night, Mary’s Child

31.3 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

32 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

68.3 What Star Is This, with Beams So Bright

69 O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright

141.2 A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing

301.3 Lord Jesus, Think on Me

454.2+3 Blessed Jesus, at Your Word

462 Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies

463 Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies

506.1+2 Deck Yourself, My Soul, with Gladness

510.1+5 Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts

511.1+5 Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts

548.1+2 O Radiant Light, O Sun Divine

549.1 O Gladsome Light

550.1 O Light Whose Splendor Thrills

 

Psalm 113 PH

113

204 Psalm 72

205 All Hail to God’s Anointed

225 Praise the Lord! *

226 Sing Praise Unto the Name of God *

253 I’ll Praise My Maker

254 Psalm 146

600 Song of Mary (Magnificat)

113.1-4

185 Psalm 33

213 God, Our Lord, a King Remaining

214 O Come and Sing Unto the Lord

215 Come, Sing with Joy to God

220 All People That on Earth Do Dwell

227 Not Unto Us, O Lord of Heaven

423 Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun

477 Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim

491 Stand Up and Bless the Lord

113.3

205.3 All Hail to God’s Anointed

229.3 From All That Dwell Below the Skies

423.1 Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun

473.5 For the Beauty of the Earth

546 The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended

113.4-6

148 At the Name of Jesus

155 Rejoice, the Lord Is King

185.10 Psalm 33

191.3 God Is Our Refuge and Our Strength

194 Peoples, Clap Your Hands!

204.8-11 Psalm 72

205.3+4 All Hail to God’s Anointed

213 God, Our Lord, a King Remaining

227.1 Not Unto Us, O Lord of Heaven

259.1 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

113.5-9

49.2 Once in Royal David’s City

67.4 Brightest and Best of the Stars of the Morning

253.2+3 I’ll Praise My Maker

254.9 Psalm 146

332 Live Into Hope

600.4 Song of Mary (Magnificat)

Advent 3: Rebuilding the Temple: Waiting for Joy

Advent 3: Rebuilding the Temple: Waiting for Joy Ezra 1:1-4; 3:1-4, 10-13, Luke 2:25-32, Psalm 126 (used for Ruth), Psalm 98Psalm 30

Hanging of Greens Worship

Note: Micah 4-5can also be used throughout Advent

Advent Hymns to Christmas Carol Tunes

Narrative Lectionary Advent Liturgy

More Resources for rest of Advent

Call to Worship

Praise to the Lord our God who is good.

God’s steadfast love endures forever.

Our eyes have seen salvation. A light for revelation which you have prepared for all peoples.

Joy to the World! Let us repeat the sounding Joy!

Call to Worship

Sing to the Lord a new Song

God has down marvelous things

God remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of faithfulness

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.

Call to Worship

Let the seas roar, and all that fills it

Let the world roar and all who live in it

Let the floods clap their hands, let the hills sing together for joy.

The Lord is coming! Praise the Lord!

Prayer of Confession: Lord, we confess that often times it feels like everything is crumbling; our buildings, our homes, our relationships, our savings, our jobs, our faith. You promise us that all can be rebuilt, in such a way that it will not even be recognizable. Some people will cry at the changes, others will shout out with joy. Teach us how to be part of the rebuilding, the joy and the love, we pray. Amen.

Prayer of Confession: God, we confess that we are waiting for joy to come. We don’t feel joy to the world, we feel like the waiting goes on forever. Sometimes, the growing and the changes that need to be made and instead of celebrating the changes, we cry out in the midst of it all. Hold us while we cry, we pray, and help us to do the work and the waiting to be transformed we pray.

Prayer of Dedication/the Day: As we wait for you and dwell deeply into the season of Advent we pray that you rebuild us. Transform the work we do into works of faith, Strengthen the support we give to one another with the comfort of the Holy Spirit, and light our hearts on fire with the light of the Holy Spirit we pray.

Eucharist Prayer: Lord God, remind us that you are the alpha and omega. At the beginning of the earth you breathed your spirit across the oceans, and they clapped for joy, and then you gently awakened us with your breath. You are with us from our first laugh, to our first cry. You help us when we are building up and when we are falling up. You restore our souls, refresh our spirits and rebuild our faith. Send your spirit onto these elements so that we might be restored, refreshed and rebuilt we pray.

 

Hymns: O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Joy to the World,  Come Sing to God (Psalm 30 Ellacombe), When God Delivered Israel (Psalm 126), God of Ages Whose Almighty Hand, Savior of the Nations, Come, Com Thou Long-Expected Jesus, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (which really could be seen as more prophetic than Christmas-day)

With Children: Knock over towers and rebuild, build things with Clay, Cry/Shout at the same time and see if you can tell the difference, Create a chain of prayers (paper chain) perhaps hang it on a Christmas tree, Create Christmas Cards for those in need