katyandtheword

Narrative Lectionary, Year 3 Luke Week 4

March 30
Lent 4
Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
Luke 16:19-31
Psalm 41:1-3*
Verse 3: Lord sustains them in their sickbeds could be translated as God sustains them mutually in sickness or health

Lost Life? God reminds you what really matters
There is a theme of mutuality and community
As well as an interesting theme about weeping here: weeping wounds, weeping from sadness, etc.

Call to Worship
Blessed are those who consider the Poor
God protects
For God delivers them trouble
God sustains
God provide mutuality, in sickness or in health
God restores
Blessed be the Divine
From Everlasting to Everlasting, Blessed be God

Call to Worship
God we look to you in mourning
You love us
God of resurrection, You are rich beyond compare
You are the God of Love
You remind us to live in Love
May we greet one another in Love today

Prayer of Confession: God we confess that we are a country that hoards things: goods, power, influence. We are not good at sharing. And you are honest with us, resurrection and life and the Good News are sometimes not enough for us to hear. We confess that we are afraid of losing things. Teach us to live into love, relationships and community and to embrace joy and good whenever we can, so that we do not miss the riches we have we pray. Amen.

Prayer of Confession: Jesus we confess that we worry, we worry sometimes that we are the Rich Man, other times we worry that we are Lazarus with weeping wounds unable to help others. Help us when we are uncertain or scared of the outcomes, to remember that Christ is with us, doing the work of resurrection.

Assurance of Pardon: Hear the Good News Jesus came for us, loved us, taught us, died for us and is resurrected for us, so we know the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God your Good News calls us towards a Resurrection that is beyond riches. Teach us to hear and believe your Good News we pray. Amen.

Children: https://a.co/d/evgvo9h The Golden Goose Laughter and Joy over Money) Or the Selfish Giant The Kingdom of Heaven is sharing not Hoarding https://a.co/d/dJq9XqJ There are a million editions of both of these stories–and they could be told with figures too or cutouts as well

Narrative Lectionary Lent, Year 3 Luke Liturgy Collection

Themes: Lost, God is enough
Holding Uncertainty
Trusting that you can participate, plant seeds
and that acting in Love is enough
Every Story is God providing in unexpected ways

Food for thought Walking in Uncertain Times: Series Ponderings https://www.instagram.com/p/DFLTj3MP3n8/

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DF1jwIVN10D/?igsh=NGF1aGQ1M2g3MTdk

March 9th
Lent 1
Good Samaritan/Mary and Martha
Luke 10:25-42
Psalm 15
Lost Neighbors? God brings Strangers/Enemies/Immigrants

March 16
Lent 2
Lament over Jerusalem/Fig Tree Bore No Fruit
Luke 13:1-9, 31-35
Psalm 122
Lost Fruit/People? God Gives Time and Dirt (remember what humans are formed with)

March 23
Lent 3
Lost Sheep, Coin, Son
Luke 15:1-32
Psalm 119:167-176
Lost? God searches, and searches and finds you (Instead of You Finding God)

March 30
Lent 4
Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
Luke 16:19-31
Psalm 41:1-3
Lost Life? God reminds you what really matters

April 6
Lent 5
Zacchaeus
Luke 18:31-191:10
Psalm 84:1-4, 10-12
Lost Sight of Things? God calls You

April 13
Lent 6
Passion/Palm Sunday
Luke 19:29-44
Psalm 118:19-23
Triumph Entry, Jesus Weeps
Lost Peace? God weeps with you

April 20
Resurrection
Luke 24:1-12
Psalm 118:17, 21-24

Narrative Lectionary, Year 3 Lent 3, Luke

March 23
Lent 3
Lost Sheep, Coin, Son
Luke 15:1-32
Psalm 119:167-176
Lost? God searches, and searches and finds you (Instead of You Finding God)

Call to Worship
God, you seek us
Even when we feel lost and alone
You not only find us, you celebrate
God, help us to find you
God wants us to find each other
Come let us find one another and celebrate with God

Call to Worship (based on Psalm 119:169-176(
God’s hand is ready to help
We long for God’s liberation
Let us live, so that we can praise God
When we have gone astray, seek us out God, for you are our shepherd
My lips will pour forth praise, and you will give me understanding of your Word
Come let us sing of God’s promises together.

Call to Worship
God we may lose you
But you will find us
God sometimes I feel all alone
God you are the shepherd, the widow who never stops searching
God, you are the father who throws pride aside and runs and runs to greet his child
Come let us be with a God who wants to spend time with us

Prayer of Confession: God, I confess that I find myself searching. Sometimes I am not sure if I’m the one who is lost, or if it is others. Then I realize, it doesn’t matter, for we all belong to God. You just want us to find one another and you. Whether we are the sheep, shepherd, widow, elder or younger child or the parent in the story this week; help us to find and rejoice with one another we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: God promises that if we knock, the door will open, so we know whenever we ask, God will forgive, so let us proclaim the truth In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of Confession: God, we confess that the last minute stories of you finding and forgiving people make us uncomfortable. We are the people who are here on Sunday, worshipping, doing due diligence. Forgive us, teach us the unbridled joy of the Widow, Shepherd and Parent who rejoice, hug and dance when they find what they have been looking for we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: Hear the Good News: Jesus Christ loves us and give us grace to learn and be found again and again, let us rejoice together saying: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: May we go into the world continuing to seek communion with one another and God in the world wherever we go we pray. Amen.

Children: Are You My Mother (Note how the mother is looking too) https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/are-you-my-mother-by-pd-eastman/253060/all-editions/?resultid=4b79a176-20d6-45a9-b71b-9761563b534f, Alternative Where’s Waldo book (any)

Are You My Mother? (Bright & Early Board Books(... 0679890475 Book Cover

Narrative Lectionary Luke 3, Lent 2

March 16
Lent 2
Lament over Jerusalem/Fig Tree Bore No Fruit
Luke 13:1-9, 31-35
Psalm 122
Lost Fruit/People? God Gives Time and Dirt (remember what humans are formed with)

Call to Worship (based on Psalm 122)
I am glad, whenever I make it to God’s House
We stand at the Gates of God, and sigh
We are heading towards God, bind us together
Peace is on our lips
Put it in our hearts
Come let us experience the fruit of God

Prayer of Confession

God, we are looking for the fruit of our labors, and yet, we confess that it seems to be missing. Where is it? We are frustrated! Grant us patience, fertilizer, dirt, time, all of the time we need. Grant us the peace to grow we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: God of Time, a thousand years is like a day for you, and so we know that your forgiveness is quick. We will linger in your steadfast love and the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of Confession: God we confess that we long for your sanctuary and to seek your walls, but it is hard to get you. We cannot always find your peace. We can’t always get to church, find time to pray, or even remember that you are there to shout to God? Help us when we cannot find the ways to access you God, to take the time and space to do so, we pray. Remind us that you will fill the space for us. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: Jesus is the Prince of Peace, therefore we can rest in the truth In Jesus Christ we are Forgiven

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God, remind us as we enter the world, that you will give us time and food that we need, grant us the gift to do the same for others we pray. Amen.

Children’s Story: The Carrot Seed https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-carrot-seed-by-ruth-krauss/285680/?resultid=242d96a7-6ea9-4c2e-babe-8aefdb988163#edition=1904277&idiq=1569512

Paperback The Carrot Seed: 75th Anniversary Book

Narrative Lectionary Lent 1, Year 3 Luke

Under Construction

Food for thought: Build Knowledge and Community, not information: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFNixEuOv3L/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Lost Neighbors? God brings Strangers/Enemies/Immigrants

(Lost in shoulds, God gives us calling (To sit at the feet of Jesus is to be disciple/be called to be a rabbi)

March 9th
Lent 1
Good Samaritan/Mary and Martha
Luke 10:25-42
Psalm 15

Lost Neighbors? God brings Strangers/Enemies/Immigrants

Call to Worship (based on Psalm 15)

Come let us dwell with God
Come let us sit in God’s honesty
Let us find our deepness here
Come we want to honor imago dei in one another
May we be near each other and God
Come, let us dwell in God together

Call to Worship
Come let us find our neighbors
The big, small, near and the far
Who is our neighbor?
Come let us find our neighbor with God
Come let us build a community with God
Come let us dwell with God and neighbor today

Prayer of Confession: God we confess, sometimes we do not want to admit that those who need help are close enough to be our neighbors. However, you remind us that anyone who is helper is a neighbor. Teach us to build neighborhoods of love we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: Let us dwell in the Good News of God, God is here to forgive us so we can live in community with one another, so we know the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of Confession: God we confess that I do not always see imago dei, your image in the eyes of those human beings around us. Sometimes we find people too annoying, different or mean to find any image of God in them. And yet you remind us, there is no one who is not made in your image. Teach us, how to see humanity in your image we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: Hear the Good News, God loves us and calls us by name, so we know the truth, in Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen.

Prayer of Confession: God we confess we are always comparing ourselves, we are in tumult over surviving the world, like Martha. However let our anxiety not take away from the good in the world. Teach us to understand both our Mary and Martha parts we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: Jesus loves us exactly as we are, so let us dwell in the grace of Christ knowing the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen

Prayer of Dedication/Day: God, may we go into the world knowing that you are inspiring us to heal, bless and find neighbors through all the gifts that we are given. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen

Children’s Story: Stone Soup Recipe: https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/stone-soup/ Book https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/stone-soup-by-marcia-brown/274361/?resultid=5c371ce3-18d1-497f-b31b-a89536ac617e#edition=3803531&idiq=3865219

Prayer of Psalm 92

God
I’m gonna have to be
reminded
of your steadfast Love
once again

Because the truth is
I might be grasping
onto it,
by threads
these days

For it might be
one of the few things
That makes my heart sing
and reminds me
that there are good things to eat
and that art is worth making
in this world

For truly
sometimes
everything seems to be full
consumers–
you know them
the dullards
who for some reason
want to BURN everything
Down
And they seem to
multiply
like weeds
And at time Evil seems to flourish
And spread
Nothingness
Wherever they go

And so
I meditate on
you God
and remember
How Evil
fell once before

And I count
my blessings
And how you
reach out to me.

I remember all the enemies
—my enemies, but really
our enemies, because they
are the enemies of justice,
equity and good—
You have defeated
on my behalf before
that my eyes have seen
my ears have heard
internal
external
I have proof
And I take a deep breath
and remember

God I know that you
grow justice
blooms, fruits, flourishes
It becomes mighty
and beautiful
solid and wondrous, Like a towering
oak that I could build a treehouse in
and nestle in to sleep–
and that will continue to be safe even
in its oldest years.

And God
as I nestle, may I remember
you are always full of justice
even when all else fails
You will always stand for equity.
I can sleep knowing that.

Amen.

NL324: Healing on the Sabbath Liturgy

Scripture Reading
Psalm 92
Luke 6:1-16

Call to Worship
Still Again, let us declare God’s steadfast Love, with songs, instruments and praise
For God makes our hearts glad by your work, by the works of God’s very hand, we sing for joy!
God’s works are great, and God’s thoughts are too deep to even know; destruction and nothingness have nothing to do with you
God of the Covenant, we will rest with you
Come, let us seek sanctuary and Sabbath with God
Come, let us rest with Jesus

Prayer of Confession: (All) God we admit that we long for wholeness, and healing and peace and all of that, but confess that we feel like it is something that we need to achieve instead of seek. Help us to find Sabbath, to sit and be with the Lord of the Sabbath with Pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: Hear the good news, Jesus is walking with us, teaching us and healing us, thus we know the good news: (All) In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen

Offering/Dedication Prayer: God, may we use these and all our gifts for rest, healing and wholeness as we go into the world we pray. Amen.

Children’s Sermon: Remember that God rested on the 7th Day, so it is not surprising that Jesus wanted to honor resting/healing with the disciples even before he chose them/got to work with them

God of Empathy

Breathe in: God I am overwhelmed
Breathe out: God sit with me

God,
I confess that I have been cursed
with your Holy Spirit
I have your empathy in spades

Her whispers echo in my ear
I feel worry
for the children
for my trans* and nonbinary family
for all those who are black and brown

whose birth, citizenship and being
are being tossed about
and trying to be erased
like words on a page

Holy Spirit
How is it that the same Spirit
that comes and teaches us to witness
also encourages, inspires
and consoles?

God almighty
I confess
my breath catches when I
feel our relationships
with other nations
disintegrating
when I see signs of hate
shrugged off or joked about

Pneuma–
I confess, I need your help
to breathe in
to breathe out
because I confess that sometimes
remembering to breathe freely
is an act of rebellion

Jesus Christ
I remember all of your short actions
that were so disruptive
most of them were
listening
and calling people by their
chosen
name

Walk with me
walk with us
as we do the same
help us to
listen closely to one another
and to call one another by name

God of empathy
breath
listening
and Name

Be with us
in this time of Trial
I pray
Amen

Feel free to use/adapt/share with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta “KatyandtheWord”

Nebulous Prayers

And this morning God
All I can think about
is the passage

What forbids me from being baptized Philip?
asks the Ethiopian Eunuch
and I’m sure
Philip thinks
of all of the ramifications
that this person
is of nebulous rank
nebulous gender*
nebulous status
from another country

what authority does Philip have?
But Philip was sent by an angel
to say yes

And I feel like Philip
running alongside chariots
not knowing
what authority
we have

We are in a nebulous
time

knowing things are in flux
being asked hard questions

and I hope
we say
yes
as often
as we can

Because God knows
God is not preventing us
from loving
and including
each other

God’s yes
is strong
even when
we don’t know

And it’s ok
not to know

I don’t know God
that’s my prayer
I just don’t know
Amen

Feel Free to share/adapt/use with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta

*Though to be clear that individual, the Ethiopian Eunuch, may have known exactly who they were and what their gender status was, the LBTQIA breadth and depth is beautiful in all of it’s multiplicities

Throw Jesus Off the Cliff

Some days
God
I feel like
we are throwing
Jesus
off a cliff

I feel like
we hear the words of prophecy
that say
Make things easier
help those in need

It is amongst the cacophony
of “Masculinity” “Capitalism”
and “Christian Nationalism”

Do you hear it under the cries for
Nazareth First?

Jesus says: I am here for the immigrant widow,
the strangers,
the broken,
the disabled,
the weird,
the LGBTQIA,
and the strange

I feel like
when we hear the echo
of Jesus’s voice
Calling us
to do the hard work
of the gospel

that when Jesus walks with us
and says
you are correct
Christianity
is not
about success

We have to sit down
and say
what is life about then

and many people
throw Christianity
leadership
Jesus
or whatever out

Why do we do this worship
thing
If it isn’t about that anyway?

Sometimes I want to put out posters
Come to church
We do brokenness
really well

Come to worship
We are bad at community

Join us Sunday
We have had to practice
for 2,000 years and are
still getting power dynamics
wrong

Put your faith not in
princes
power
and principalities

But the dandelion
still bloomed
A perfect
Weed
spreading
Wishies
for children
to blow
in the yard

I treasure God
calling me
a dandelion
full of
seeds
and
Wishes

Image: A child, in a red coat, you happily cannot tell their gender, drawing butterfly and heart) out of a giant dandelion (like making a wish). Image sourced from https://img.freepik.com/premium-photo/child-blowing-dandelion-with-heart-star-sketch_587981-17165.jpg

Practice focusing on God
practice community
practice honesty
exercise everyday–not
because you will win any races
But because walking together
is the journey

And some days
I too want to throw Jesus off the cliff
Because it’s clear
I still don’t get it

And then Jesus floats back
and hugs me
Because
it never was about
perfection
in the first place

But the moments of
beauty
community
laughter
still count

Thank God
for that

Amen

Feel free to use/share Adapt with Credit to Pastor Katy Stenta aka KatyandtheWord