prayer – Page 23 – katyandtheword

Call to Worship

The Lord is my light and my salvation

Whom should I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom should I be afraid?

Only you God, are worthy of praise, let us praise the Lord.

Prayer of Confession Lord, I am so fixated on making my life profitable. I want to be famous, or rich, or well liked. I do not want to take up my cross and follow, the world’s easy ways tempt me. Remind me of your kingdom and power forever I pray. Amen

Prayer of Confession: God I don’t want to know that you are going to die for me. It makes me feel weak, worthless, angry and sad all at the same time. Who am I that you are going to die for me. Remind me who I am in your eyes I pray.

Prayer of Confession: (unison) Help us to wait for you, O Lord. Be strong and take heart, you say. Give us the courage as we wait for the Lord. Send us forth believing that we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: God gave us his beloved son so we might hear and know the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Assurance of Pardon: God is our shelter from sin, his grace covers me so I know the truth. In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: One thing I ask, O Lord, that I may live in your house all the days of my life. Shelter me so that I might live in the shadow of your love today and everyday I pray. Amen

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: Help us to wait for you, O Lord. Be strong and take heart, you say. Give us the courage as we wait for the Lord we pray. Amen.

Hymns: Lift High the Cross, I want To Be a Christian in My Heart, Somebody’s Knocking at your Door, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty, Lift Up the Gates Eternal, Called to Partners in Christ’s Service, God is My Strong Salvation, Take My Life, Jesus on the Mountain Peak, O Wondrous Sight, O Vision Fair, Be Thou My Vision

With Children: Books Red, I Don’t Want to be a Frog, Transmorgificaion (Calvin and Hobbes box have them walk thru to be more themselves, Play with White Clay (Talk about how clay is always clay but dry/fired clay is different than wet clay)

Image result for Take up your cross

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Seeds of Prayer: What Defiles? Narrative Lectionary

Mark 7:1-23

Psalm 51:1-3,6-7

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Exegetical Resources

Call to Worship

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

For you accept all worship, no matter how imperfect, as long as it is sincere

Write your love on my lips and my head and my heart

That I might reflect it back to you in praise

Call to Worship

Symbols of worship are well and good, but Lord open my heart so that I might be filled with your Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit Come! Inspire us to Praise, Encourage us to Praise, Counsel us about who your are!

Lord create in us a new heart for you, for you are holy

Come Let us Praise the Lord

Prayer for Confession: Have mercy on me, O God. My sins itch in my soul. Soothe them away with your love. The jarring of my wrongs disturb the harmonies of my life. Sing them away with your grace. Comfort me, that I can still come into your perfect presence, and teach me your ways Lord.

Prayer of Confession: I am but a bag of crushed bones, weighed down by sins. I feel stuck. Deliver me God, so that I can once again sing of your deliverance I pray.

Assurance of Pardon: God promises to never ever leave us. As reliable as the mountains, as varied as the rainbow, as cyclical as a garden, God’s love never fails us. Therefore know the Truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Assurance of Pardon: God will restore our salvation again and again, sustaining in us a willing spirit. Know the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Assurance of Pardon: Hear the good news Jesus has already come, restoring us to salvation. Know the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Eucharist Prayer: God is love incarnate. When words and stars and rainbows and columns of burning fire and even covenants written in stone failed to impart the magnitude of God’s love to us, God embodied love for us in the boundary breaking, truth telling, justice fighting person of Jesus Christ. And I will tell us that Christ was born for us, Christ dies for us, Christ reigns in his Kingdom for us and Christ promises to return. We await that return with baited breath. Practicing the Kingdom meal over and over again, until the act of tasting a single crumb of bread and a single drop of the cup will serve help us to realize that heaven is home. We are practicing this here and now, Jesus, so please send your Holy Spirit here to embody, encourage, embolden and counsel us in all the ways we need to be coaxed into the kingdom. Lead us there today and throughout our day, year and life we pray.

Prayer of Dedication/Prayer of the Day: Holy God, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Grant us the echoes of grace we need to sustain our life, our hope, our faith we pray.

Hymns: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty, Create in Me a Clean Heart, If I had thousand Tongues to Sing, Amazing Grace, O God in a Mysterious Way

More Resources for Narrative Lectionary Year 2

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

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.

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

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)

Christmas Eve Bulletin, Lessons & Carols

Prelude “ O Holy Night”

FIRST LESSON Luke 1:26-30, 2:1-5

CAROL #43 v. 1&3 “O Little Town of Bethlehem”

WELCOME Pastor

SECOND LESSON Luke 1:46-56

CAROL #5 “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”

Holy Communion

Invitation from Christ

The Lord be with you

And also with you

Lift up your hearts

We lift our hearts to the lord

Give thanks to the Lord our God It is right to give our thanks and praise….(prayer continues) Let us continue our prayer with a silent offering of our confession. (Silence) In the grace if God let us eat this bread and drink this cup in celebration of the Forgiveness Jesus brings

….and praying as his son taught us to pray……..The Lord’s Prayer (unison)

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the glory and power forever. Amen.

Bread & Cup: Communion will be taken by intinction, where congregants come forward and dip the bread in the cup. If you need assistance, the pastor will come to serve you individually.]

THIRD LESSON Luke 2:5-7

CAROL # 24 “Away in a Manger”

Lighting of the Christ Candle: Hope, Peace, Joy, Love & Christ

(All Children are invited forward to assist with the lighting)

FOURTH LESSON Luke 2:8-14

CAROL # 23 “Angels We Have Heard on High”

CONFESSION OF FAITH

Christ the light of the world has come to dispel the darkness of our hearts.

In his light let us examine ourselves and confess our sin God our Father, you sent your Son full of grace and truth: forgive our failure to receive him. Jesus our Saviour, you were born in poverty and laid in a manger: forgive our greed and rejection of your ways. Spirit of love, your servant Mary responded joyfully to your call: forgive the hardness of our hearts.

May the God of all healing and forgiveness draw you to himself, that you may behold the glory of Jesus Christ the Word made flesh, and be cleansed from all your sins, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

FIFTH LESSON Luke 2:16-20

CAROL # 50 “There’s A Star in the East”

SIXTH LESSON & Offering Matthew 2:1-12

CAROL # 66 “We Three Kings” v. 1-4

SEVENTH LESSON Luke 1:46-55

CAROL #40 “Joy to the World”

EIGHTH LESSON John 3:16-17

CAROL (insert) “Silent Night”

•(Please encircle the nativity so we can pass the light of Christ to the entire congregation.)

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 113, Micah 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 98, Psalm 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

Narrative Lectionary Advent 2: Isaiah 40:1-11 (December 8, 2019)

Image by Jan Richardson; copyrighted and available for $15 or if you buy a membership. Go to

https://janrichardsonimages.com/details.php?gid=60&pid=560

This one is less mature/developed than some I have done, but there is a lot out there since this is also RCL.

Advent Hymns to Christmas Carol Tunes

Narrative Lectionary Advent Liturgy

EXEGESIS

https://www.ccel.org/ccel/henry/mhc4.Is.xli.html

As if it were designed for a prophetic summary of the New Testament, it begins with that which begins the gospels, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness” (ch. xl. 3), and concludes with that which concludes the book of the Revelation, “The new heavens and the new earth,” (ch. lxvi. 22).

“Speak to the heart of Jerusalem (v. 2); speak that which will revive her heart, and be a cordial to her and to all that belong to her and wish her well. Do not whisper it, but cry unto her: cry aloud, to show saints their comforts as well as to show sinners their transgressions; make her hear it:”

We must get into such a frame of spirit as will dispose us to receive Christ and his gospel: “Prepare you the way of the Lord; prepare yourselves for him, and let all that be suppressed which would be an obstruction to his entrance. Make room for Christ: Make straight a highway for him.”

http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=3491

(RCL context) Images, juxtapositions and sudden, surprising comfort

http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2254 (RCL context) Three proclamations build on the imperative to comfort God’s people in verse 1: highway in the desert; the Words; heralding good tidings.

http://www.textweek.com/prophets/isaiah40a.htm “Voices Crying Out: Comfort and Transformation in an Age of Mass Incarceration,”

“How might Christians raise awareness of different forms of exile in our nation and world?”

https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1099 (NL context)

Double imperative: Comfort! Comfort! The people of Jerusalem are not “deserving” of comfort according to the norms of retributive justice, but God insists — no, commands — that they be comforted.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H4DcY7g3R8&feature=youtu.be

Two minute Youtube video on “The people are like grass.”

See complete list of Isaiah 40:1-11 Working Preacher commentaries at https://www.workingpreacher.org/search/Default.aspx?cx=001947499050786061073:fplx-aun2rq&q=Isaiah%2040&cof=FORID:10&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&search_domain=WWW

Preaching and Worship resources from Calvin College’s curated resources

https://preachingandworship.org/search/Isaiah%2040%3A1-11?per_page=5&utm_expid=.L5KxfuTYSbqP5Sj9IZIYNA.1&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fpreachingandworship.org%2F

TEXT

Jewish Bible translation

https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/15971/jewish/Chapter-40.htm

Word study

Comfort

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H5162&t=KJV

speaking comfortably

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H3820&t=KJV

bringing good tidings

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H1319&t=KJV

LITURGY RESOURCES

BULLETIN

Advent candlelighting; opening prayer; call to worship; rite of confession; hymns; offering prayer; and a confession of faith. Please note **/*** at the end indicating sources and give appropriate credit. If not **/*** then from Barb Hedges-Goettl, please give credit if using/adapting these as well. Thank you.

https://1drv.ms/w/s!AuB3z496aTHTgbczUlfR4L9bVY0YzQ

LITURGICAL PIECES

Call to worship

https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2011/11/call-to-worship-isaiah-40-1-11.html

Opening liturgy

https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2011/11/opening-liturgy-isaiah-40-1-11.html

Advent 1: Promise of Messiah: Waiting for Hope Jeremiah 33:14- 18, Mark 8:27-29, Psalm 89, Psalm 31 Narrative Lectionary

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

Advent Hymns to Christmas Carol Tunes

Narrative Lectionary Advent Liturgy

Advent 1: Promise of Messiah: Waiting for Hope Jeremiah 33:14- 18, Mark 8:27-29, Psalm 89, Psalm 31

Call to Worship

Take heart, Jeremiah says the days are surely coming

The days are coming where God will fulfill God’s promises

And God will execute justice and righteousness throughout the land, and all people will be safe

Come Let us worship the lord.

Call To Worship

God is our very help in a time of trouble, what do we call Jesus?

Savior and Messiah, Wonderful Counselor, Protector of Peace

Come let us call upon the Lord

Let us worship God together

Call to Worship

Rejoice, O Pure of Heart.

We will rejoice, give thanks, and sing.

Let us praise God, for great things he has done.

Come let us worship the Lord

Prayer of Confession: At times I feel like do not want to give thanks. I forget that you are Lord and King, I sit in my smallness. Lord, remind me that I am blessed to be a blessing. Teach me to be as generous as you are, teach me to give thanks I pray. Amen.

Prayer of Confession: Lord, I confess I do not always know who you are and what it is you are doing in my life. I ignore you, or I get stuck in my own head. I get lost is petty thoughts or just feel too overwelmed by the trouble I see in the world. Teach me the grace to get through all of these things I pray.

Prayer of Confession: Lord, I confess that I get tired of waiting for things to change. So I give up. But you have promised that justice will ring out, and the all will be fulfilled. Grant me the hope I need I pray. Amen.

Prayer of Confession: You know I don’t have much hope right now. At best, I confess, I am hoping for hope. I feel empty–and yet you promise all will be fulfilled. Help me when hopelessness overwhelms me I pray.

Assurance of Pardon: God plants the seeds of hope in love, and our hope is in Jesus Christ, so we can be assured of the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Assurance of Pardon: God is coming! But know the truth God already loves and forgives us, hear the good news: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: Lord, you have promised to use us as a part of the promise of Jesus. This is our hope. Help us to go forward working so that all might be a fulfilled, we pray. Amen.

Communion Prayer: Lord, God, Jesus, Messiah. Let us name you and all the ways it is right to give you are thanks and praise. When we could no longer connect or feel your presence. When we felt distant from your love, you sent Jesus to be conceived and born of a human. Living, breathing, laughing and growing up, here on this earth. Jesus spent time with us, so we might truly begin to understand God’s love for us. And gifted us, even when he knew his time was up, with this Holy Meal, wherein we can call up a very real presence of Jesus whenever we might need it, and so that we can celebrate his love as a community. Send your Holy Spirit here on these elements, we pray, that we might taste and see your love, all the more, and so that we might live into the Hope of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Hymns: Live Into Hope, We Are One in the Spirit, Rejoice Ye Pure of Heart, For the Fruit of All Creation, God of the Sparrow, Advent Hymns to Christmas Carol Tunes

Children Ideas: Go through newspapers together and find stories of hope, Discuss what to do when one doesn’t feel hope, Light candles as beacons of Hope: Sing This Little Light of Mine, Discuss the Appearing of the Star and how that was a sign of Hope, Give everyone empty plates: discuss waiting and hoping for food–>pass out a snack to fill/fulfill the plate/hope

Category: prayer

Narrative Lectionary Transfiguration Seeds of Prayer

Seeds of Prayer: What Defiles? Narrative Lectionary

Death of John the Baptist

Seeds of Prayer Jairus’ Daughter Healed

Narrative Lectionary Prayer Resource, ordinary time, Year 2 Mark

Christmas Eve Bulletin, Lessons & Carols

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

Advent 3: Rebuilding the Temple: Waiting for Joy

Narrative Lectionary Advent 2: Isaiah 40:1-11 (December 8, 2019)

Advent 1: Promise of Messiah: Waiting for Hope Jeremiah 33:14- 18, Mark 8:27-29, Psalm 89, Psalm 31 Narrative Lectionary