Sermon at Nazareth

GATHERING AROUND THE WORD

Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship (based on Psalm 146)

Praise the Lord, O my soul. 

I will praise the Lord as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God all my life long.

Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, there is no help.

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the oLd their God. 

God made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, God who keeps faith forever . 

The Lord will reign forever, for all generations, praise the Lord!

*Hymn #288                         “I Sing the Might Power of God”

I sing the mighty power of God that made the mountains rise;

that spread the flowing seas abroad and built the lofty skies

I sing the wisdom that ordained The sun to rule the day;

The moon shines full at God’s command, And all the stars obey.

I sing the goodness of the Lord That filled the earth with food;

God formed the creatures with a word, And then pronounced them good,

Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed, Where’er I turn my eyes;

If I survey the ground I tread, Or gaze upon the skies!

There’s not a plant or flower below, But makes Thy glories known;

And clouds arise and tempests blow, By order from Thy throne;

While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care,

And everywhere that we can be, Thou, God, art present there. 

Prayer of Confession: (unison): God, I confess that sometimes I do not want to see your blessings spread afar. At times, I am selfish and think that blessings are like pie and may run out. I think that I must hoard my blessings, or earn them or somehow win them by being a better person. Remind us that this is not how God works, Jesus comes to the ones most in need, first. God calls us to help those the most in need first. Teach us the true nature of blessings, we pray. Amen.  

Assurance of Pardon: Happy are those who put their trust in the God of Jacob, for he sends us the power of the resurrection and the life, hear the good news:  In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

  HEARING THE WORD

                         Children’s Time : Telling God’s Story

                               (All children are invited to the front)

Prayer for Illumination

1st Scripture Reading Psalm 146

2nd Scripture Reading                                     Luke 4:14-30

“Blessed to be a Blessing” Pastor Katy Stenta

Reflection Roger Held 

Joys & Concerns  & The Lord’s Prayer (p. 16 in the blue hymnal)

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

Offering

*Doxology (#592 in Blue Hymnal) Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God above ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost! Amen. 

SENDING THE WORD

Prayer of Dedication: God, help us to do the work of Jesus! Let go forth proclaiming the good news to the poor. Help us to release the captives and let the oppressed go free! Let us go forward working to recover the sight of the blind, and to proclaim the year of God’s favor. Anoint us to tell the good news we pray. Amen. 

Hymn # 525             “Here I am Lord” 

I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have hear My people cry, 

All who dwell in deepest sin, My hand will save.

I who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright. 

Who will bear My light to them? Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord, Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night.

I will go Lord, if you lead me. I will hold Your people in my heart. 

I, the Lord of snow and rain, I have borne my people’s pain.

I have wept for love of them, They turn away.

I will break their hearts of stone. Give them hearts for love alone.

I will speak My word to them. Whom shall I send? 

I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame.

I will set a feast for them, My hand will save.

Finest bread I will provide, Till their hearts be satisfied,

I will give My life to them. Whom shall I send? 

*Charge & Benediction

The peace of Christ be with you. 

And also with you.   (Invitation to share Peace)

Fish for People/Fisher’s of Men

GATHERING AROUND THE WORD

Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship (based on Psalm 90)

God, be a dwelling place for us, we pray. 

Lord you have been a dwelling place for all generations

Before the mountains were brought forth, or even you had formed the earth, you are present

From everlasting to everlasting you are are God

For a thousand years in your sight, are like yesterday when it is past.

So let us praise God from yesterday to tomorrow. 

*Hymn #343                          “Called as Partners in Christ’s Service”

Called as partners in Christ’s service, Called to ministries of grace

We respond with eep commitment Fresh new lines of faith to trace

May we learn the art of sharing, Side by side and friend with friend,

Equal partners in our caring To fulfill God’s chosen end.

Christ’s example, Christ’s inspiring, Christ’s clear call to work and worth,

Let us follow, never faltering, Reconciling folk on earth.

Men and women, richer, poorer, All God’s people, young and old.

Blending human skills together Gracious gifts from God unfold.

Thus new patterns for Christ’s mission, In a small or global sense,

Help us bear each other’s burdens, Breaking down each wall or fence.
Words of comfort, words of vision, Words of challenge, said with care,

Bring new power and strength for action, are us colleagues, free and fair. 

Prayer of Confession: (unison): God, I confess that sometimes I am like Simon Peter, and all I have to say is “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful person.” We have seen evil, yet you are good all the time. All the time God is good. So you teach me to count my days and my blessings. Let your work manifest in your servants, we pray. Amen. 

Assurance of Pardon: God satisfies us in the morning with God’s steadfast ove, so that we may rejoice and be glad all of our days in the good news:  In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

  HEARING THE WORD

                         Children’s Time : Telling God’s Story

                               (All children are invited to the front)

Prayer for Illumination

1st Scripture Reading Psalm 90:14-17

2nd Scripture Reading                                     Luke 5:1-11

“Feed My Sheep” Pastor Katy Stenta

Reflection Roger Held 

Joys & Concerns  & The Lord’s Prayer (p. 16 in the blue hymnal)

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

Offering

*Doxology (#592 in Blue Hymnal) Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God above ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost! Amen. 

SENDING THE WORD

Prayer of Dedication: God, let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us. Give us the gifts we need to let your work be manifest to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. Prosper for us the work of our hands we pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Hymn # 370             “Just as I am, Without One Plea” 

Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me, 

And that Thou baddest me come to Thee 

O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Just as I am though tossed about, With many a conflict, Many a doubt

Fightings and fears within, without.

Just as I am Thou wilt receive, Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse relieve

Because Thy promise I believe, 

*Charge & Benediction

The peace of Christ be with you. 

And also with you.   (Invitation to share Peace)

Elections and Infections and Insurrections Prayer

Lord, it’s been quite a week: Elections and Infections and Insurrections. To say we are tired is an understatement. We are stuck, numb.

The prayers that fall from our lips are entreating. Please God make a way for us. Clearly we are lost, squabbling in the desert.

Please. Let us not freeze in this moment. Help us to do justice, and remind us the the doing will take a while and a lot of work. Help us go love mercy—not cheap forgiveness carelessly given, but the deep mercy given to marginalized communities who need the mercy of equity.

And the mercy given to the oppressors after the truth is told.

And Lord if these lessons are what we need to learn to walk humbly, where we do the needful work of God’s without quid pro quo or expectations of reward.

Let us not freeze up—as we have done in crises time and time before, set our hands and minds and feet to do the work. Encourage and en-courage us to try. To move forward inch by inch. Help us not to be alone in the work but to find others, partners in Christ’s service, who are inching with us we pray.

Remind us that God knows we can only see a dim reflection of ourselves, and that we only see in part and know in part. His knows this, and still tells us to do the work.

Sing us to sleep at night, grant us some Sabbath and sanctuary so we can nourished and empowered for the work we pray.

In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Feel free to use/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy

With credit to Margaret Aymer Ogrt for her poignant call.

How do we feel? (a prayer)

God, my sister says she is tapped out of feelings to day. No rage, no sorrow, just empty.

I’m praying for her today.

My black colleague says she’s been here before, working when you should be able to rest and restore. Grieving with now where to put it. She has experience, and she doesn’t know how it’s going to end.

Help us to take some of the burden and to work on changing things today.

Someone I know has been having anxiety attacks, not once or twice, but multilple times a day. Between the politcis, the suffering and the pandemic, he is not sure how to treat the stress-o-phere that we live today.

Help us to find ways to change our stress-o-phere.

God I don’t know how I feel today–one minute I’m ok, the next I’m stressing, the next I’m depressed, then I’m anxious.

God help me with what I need, because I don’t know today.

All I can do to process is write, and pray, and scroll and write some more. I don’t know how I feel, but I know what I’m doing.

Help us God, we are feeling surrounded and beseiged by our enemies, like all the Psalms say. We are stuck and don’t know where to go.

All we can say is you are God.

You are God, please be our God we pray.

Amen

Not I, Lord

Jesus, how did it feel when you predicted your death, and the disciples said this can never happen?

How about at the table, when you were eating and drinking with your beloved, and warned that betrayal and denial would follow and each disciples said, “Not I Lord.” It can’t be me.

God, how are we so willfully blind? To the racism that is etched into our very DNA, to the violence that happens against school children who can’t pay for lunch.

How is it that we can’t believe that violence is coming… until it does. Storming the capital with Nazi flags of hate and signs that somehow proclaim “Jesus Saves.”

And we disarm people of color, and hide our children under their desks, but refuse to see violence as systematic and problematic.

How is such denial possible?

Did Jesus have a part of him that was in denial, that his people would turn on him…until the disciples fell asleep at the wheel, and then fell asleep again, and again.

Was he holding out hope that Judas would change his mind?

We feel betrayed, but the evil was there all along, like Herod.

Lead us not into temptation to say “this is not America”

America was always this way: violent and racist and ignorant, but pray for us God, because we keep hoping and proclaiming, like the disciples “Not I Lord.”

Open our mouths to say “this is not God, this is not foreordained” help us to take the responsibility that is needed to make the change.

It’s an Epiphany: A Realization

It’s an Apocalypse: An Unveiling that changes all of life.

Please let this be Apocryphal, please let this be an Epiphany.

Help me to shut my mouth when I’m tempted to say “Not I, Lord” or “Not All of Us” or “Everything Will Turn Out Okay.”

Chafe my hands into the work that needs to be done, enfold my mind with the empathy to Listen, Prod my feet to to do the walking.

Set me to work God, set me to do the work:

To protect the vulnerable, to tell the truth, to face the hatred, to love and serve

and to serve and to love.

Change my words to say “Here I am, Lord” I pray.

Amen

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

Some Epiphany, isn’t it?

I wonder how the Magi felt, leaving a small baby full of beauty and hope behind to journey home.

Did they let themselves hope? How terrified were they, God, when the angel appeared to them in a dream and “warned them to go home a different way.”

Is this what Epiphany feels like God? Understanding yet standing up to the real evil that exists in the world? Did the Magi feel a weird mixture of hoping for hope, but not being able to spend time on that yet?

Is Epiphany knowing what you don’t know? Is it finding small joys in babies and families and journeys successfully completed even as Petty Rulers do every single despicable thing to keep their power not caring what innocents will suffer or die along the way?

This is some epiphany, God. Where the vaccine is found, but the virus has not yet been defeated. The Good News is real, but hasn’t been disseminated yet. Where the fullness of already but not yet of salvation and health and peace and change is imminent, but completely out of reach.

What did the Magi pray when they looked upon the star? Did they pray for wisdom? for guidance? for safety? for family and friends who were far away? For the furture that had yet to impend?

Because that’s what I’m praying for this epiphany.

Lord, keep us wondering and wandering in the right direction I pray.

Amen.

Magi from Armenia manuscript of John
Malkon, Gaspar and Baghghazar

Easter: Topical Prayer

Topical Prayer: God, we are all the characters int he story. The women who find the stone rolled away, and are terrified of the angel, the disciples who do not believe the resurrection to be true, Peter who runs to see it all only to be left with the wrappings from the tomb. As we experience this story, let us embrace the amazement and perplexity of the events. They are truly beyond human ken. Though that is uncomfortable, let us sit with the wonder that Easter is we pray. Amen.  

Easter Sunday Prayers

Journey to Resurrection

April 4

Resurrection

Resurrection of Our Lord 

Luke 24:1-12: http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=476536856

Psalm 118: 17, 21-24: http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=476536876

Call to Worship: 

God, I thank you that you have become my salvation

Look! The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone

This is the day that the Lord has made!

Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Christ is risen!

Christ is risen, indeed, alleluia. 

Invitation: Let all who are astonished by the resurrection confess themselves to God. 

Confession: God we confess that we too are perplexed by the resurrection. How did it happen? Is it real? Did it truly happen to save us all? Help us in our confusion and questions. Give us the courage to ask about the things we don’t know and the wisdom to let some things be mysterious. Help us to be a resurrection people, ready to go out and proclaim the mystery and the truth of God’s love to all we meet. In the name of your risen son Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. 

Assurance of Pardon: Christ is alive! Risen to forgive all sins. Let us tell the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. 

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God we are in great need of alleluias! Let us go into Easter with full hearts and dripping with grace we pray.

Communion Prayer: Lord Jesus, it is a great honor to celebrate your death once again. This time in the midst of the very resurrection you promised. You remind us that we cannot have resurrection without death. Comfort us as we mourn your death, and enable us to celebrate your life all within this meal. Send you Holy Spirit to dance upon our tongues and give us a foretaste of the feast in heaven, with all the saints that were and are and will be we pray. Amen. 

Hymns: Christ is Alive!, Come Ye Faithful Raise the Strain, The Day of Resurrection!, Thine is the Glory, Jesus Christ is Risen Today!, 

Taize: Laudate Dominum: Sing, Praise and Bless the Lord, Peoples, Nations, Alleluia! 

For the Complete List of Narrative Lectionary Lent Resources can be found here including a way to receive a doc copy

Narrative Lectionary Lent: Luke

Finding the Way to Jerusalem; or Getting Lost

During this journey to Jerusalem, Jesus practices the grace that is found within his death and resurrection, twice. First he is rejected by Samaria, the shorter way to Jerusalem (Lent 1) and then he reclaims them as his neighbor (Lent 2), he reclaims them even as he journeys onward. Then we get los (and found), die and see ghost, and then, finally are reclaimed and found with Zaccheus. Journeying to Jerusalem is an exercise in getting lost, dying and resurrecting together.

Feel free to use/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta 

Lent Kit (most items can be found at home)

Ashes to Ashes: Lent/Ash Weds Prayer

Ash Wednesday: Bulletin Prayers & Hymn/Taize Suggestions, Topical Prayer, Video of Topical Prayer

Lent 1: Bulletin Prayers & Hymn/Taize Suggestions, Topical Prayer, Video of Topical Prayer

Lent 2: Bulletin Prayers & Hymn/Taize Suggestions, Topical Prayer, Video of Topical Prayer

Lent 3: Bulletin Prayers & Hymn/Taize Suggestions, Topical Prayer , Video of Topical Prayer

Lent 4: Bulletin Prayers & Hymn/Taize Suggestions, Topical Prayer, Video of Topical Prayer

Lent 5: Bulletin Prayers & Hymn/Taize Suggestions, Topical Prayer, Video of Topical Prayer

Lent 6: Bulletin Prayers & Hymn/Taize Suggestions, Topical Prayer, Video of Topical Prayer

Mandy Thursday: Bulletin Prayers & Hymn/Taize Suggestions, Topical Prayer, Communion Worship Bulletin juxtaposing Psalm 23, Video of Topical Prayer

Good Friday: Worship Bulletin juxtaposing The Lord’s Prayer

Easter Sunday: Bulletin Prayers & Hymn/Taize Suggestions, Topical Prayer, Video of Topical Prayer

Children Ideas

Lenten Devotional Calendar: Feel free to email for doc version and link for google calendar (Katyandtheword at gmail)

Video Collection of Topical Prayers

Life in Slow Motion: A Lenten Prayer

Additional Holy Week Prayers

Feel free to use/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta 

If you need a doc version of all of this for easier formatting, email me at katyandtheword at gmail with the topic line “Lent” and I will send you a copy

If you appreciate my work and want to support me, please contribute to my Doctorate in Divinity in Creative Writing. I have a stretch goal of $2500 by June. and am more than 80% there! Any Amount is appreciated, and I am so thankful where they have gotten me so far!

Good Friday Communion Bulletin Juxtaposing the Lord’s Prayer

Journeying Alone

April 2

Good Friday

Crucifixion

Luke 23:32-47

Psalm 31:5-13

All: Our Father, Who art in Heaven, Hallowed by Thy Name

Arrest

Then Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered, “You say so.” Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. 24So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. 26As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus Luke 23:3-4,23,26

All: Give us this day our Daily Bread

Mourning

A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. 28But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ Luke 23: 27-29

Communion (Celebrate appropriate to your context)

Confession

All: Forgive Us Our Debts as we Forgive Our Debtors

(Silence for Confession)

Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23: 32-34

Option: To Nail Sins to the Cross or Blow out candles now

Assurance of Pardon

All: Lead Us Not Into Temptation, But Deliver us from Evil

The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Luke 23:36-43

Optional Taize: Jesus Remember Me, When You Come Into Your Kingdom or Were You There When They Crucified the Lord 

Darkness

All: For Thine is the Kingdom and The Glory and The Power Forever, Amen. 

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” Luke 23:44-47

Amen

Option: To Blow Out all of the rest of the Candles 

Music is optional to add wherever, since everyone is handling it differently, suggestions below

Hymns: Take Up Your Cross the Savior Said, Precious Lord Take My Hand, Why Has God Forsaken Me, Alas And Did My Savior Bleed


Taize: Jesus Remember Me When You Come into your Kingdom, Per Crucem 

For the Complete List of Narrative Lectionary Lent Resources can be found here including a way to receive a doc copy