God, sometimes prayer is out of an abundance of caution. Nothing has hit close to home yet, but I feel shadows in the valley of death. I hear the cries of those around me. I can taste the panic in the air. How can I not pray? Out of an abundance of caution, I am lifting my eyes to the hills, from whom does my help come? My help comes from the Lord my God, they are my rock and my salvation. I pray for the miracles of this age: for people being connected to one another in this isolating time, for those who are struggling financially to experience generosity and hope while work is scarce and stability is scarcer. Lord out of an abundance, out of your abundance and our caution I pray that we all practice responsibility and community. Help us to hold onto peace, Encourage us with good courage, help us to grasp & hold onto all that which is good and remind us, especially in trying times, to render no one evil for evil. In your abundance and our caution, I pray. Amen.
NL: The Greatest Commandment and the Widow’s Mite: Mark 12:28-44 (March 22, 2020/Fourth Sunday of Lent)
Note: This passage raises questions about what Jesus means by noting the widow’s contribution. It is not clear whether he is commending her, condemning the authorities and/or both. We serve a congregation where we have many people living on fixed incomes in homes that are already paid for and who have very little, if any, “expendable” income, so caution and prayer are in order! For a discussion of the pitfalls of the passage, see
http://www.ekklesiaproject.org/blog/2012/11/the-lord-upholds-the-orphan-and-the-widow/ devouring the widows as primary to understanding “the widow’s mite”
all to Worship:
Come let us love the Lord!
Let us Love the God with all of our heart, soul and mind
Come Let us love one another and love God!
Let us praise God!
EXEGESIS
From Working Preacher from the NL perspective:http://www.workingpreacher.org/search/Default.aspx?cx=001947499050786061073:fplx-aun2rq&q=:Mark%2012:28-44%20&cof=FORID:10&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&search_domain=WWW
Includes https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2585 addressing the horizontal/neighbor dimension as the necessary corollary to the vertical/Godward directive to love God and the widow’s mite as admirable due to her motivation.
Includes https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2585 which notes this is (for a change) a friendly scribe. Only addresses vv. 28-34.
https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1272 also addresses only vv.28-34 from the perspective of a communal (rather than individual) identity.
Includes https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2662, which notes that widow’s mite is tied to what comes before and, in addition to being about giving one’s all, it exposed the religious leaders for their hypocrisy. And, it may just expose us all!
https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2585 Podcast: If you can’t remember all the commandments, can you at least do two? Simple—but not easy. vv. 28-34
https://www.workingpreacher.org/narrative_podcast.aspx?podcast_id=730 Podcast addressing the status of the poor widow and the most vulnerable and her living out the loving of neighbor of the great commandment in the context of the temple & Jesus’ interactions with the religious leaders of the day. vv. 35-44.
Other exegetical resources
https://www.epriest.com/reflections/view/1071/en Catholic resource addressing love beyond formalism, love at the heart of our perfection.
https://episcopalchurch.org/library/sermon/there-are-times-proper-26-b-1997 This sermon includes an illustration and a poem; only addresses vv. 28-34.
http://collections.carli.illinois.edu/cdm/ref/collection/uni_sermons/id/3110 Sermon addressing loving God in the different ways of the passage (only vv. 28-34).
https://blog.reformedjournal.com/2016/03/07/love-your-neighbor-as-yourself/ What keeps you from loving your neighbor? Busyness? Not wanting to see need? Uses Bob Dylan’s quote: “May you always do for others and let others do for you” and has a story illustrating letting others do for you.
https://www.thebanner.org/columns/2018/08/serving-while-living-with-disabilities “Serving while living with disabilities” Every person is called to serve as they are able. Everybody belongs. Everybody serves. Addresses vv. 35-44.
https://www.ministrymatters.com/all/entry/1871/whole-personed-spirituality Pastor’s Bible study addressing the synoptic versions of the Great Commandment. Addresses vv. 28-34.
https://www.theologyofwork.org/the-high-calling/management-self-management-deuteronomy-6-sermon-notes Sermon series on loving God and loving neighbor.
Liturgical Resources
https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2012/10/readers-theatre-mark-12-28-34.html Reader’s theater version of Mark 12:28-34
Here’s the link to my bulletin https://1drv.ms/w/s!AuB3z496aTHTgcEOBjQ3Twy3sqAMzQ
Prayer Reflection: Mark 12: 28-34
“Love the Lord, your God
with all your heart
with all your soul
and with all
your mind.”
Lord,
let this be.
Show us how.
“And love your neighbor as yourself.”
Lord
let this be
Take us where
we surely need to go.
Let
your love be
the lens that lets us see,
the power that enlivens our lives,
light that points to the path,
and the very grace
that saves
us.
Kindly fill us with your love.
— A. Osdieck. Copyright © 2011, The Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University. Visit that site for other lectionary-based prayers.
https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2012/06/call-to-worship-index-new-testament.html
https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2012/06/prayer-index-new-testament.html
https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2017/03/confession-assurance-index-new-testament.html
Benediction: The Lord is One
Here’s a closing commission and benediction based on Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Matthew 12:28-34. It was written by Nathan Nettleton.
Commission & Benediction
(inspired by Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Matthew 12:28-34)
Hear this: the Lord our God is the one and only Lord.
Therefore go out into the world
and love the Lord your God
with all your heart, soul, mind and strength,
and love others as you love yourself.
And may God give you justice and freedom;
May Christ Jesus set you free for love;
and may the Holy Spirit go where you go
……..and protect you on your way.
We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
…In the name of Christ. Amen.
~ Copyright © 2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net
Children’s message (includes hymn & prayer of confession, see below)
http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2015/10/year-b-proper-26-31st-sunday-in.html
Sing one song with which to love God and one about loving each other. Introduce each identifying its purpose. Two possibilities:
“For the Beauty of the Earth” for loving God
“Lord Help Us Accept Each Other” for loving each other
> Base the Prayer of Confession on the two great commandments. As you do, remember that children respond more to specifics than to generalities. So you may want to name the currently “in” sport rather than simply “our sports.” Read the commandments just before the congregation prays as follows
Lord God, we know that you are ONE and that you are the center of the whole universe
but we treat all sorts of things as if
they were more important than the one true God.
We say we give our hearts to you
but often our hearts are more devoted to
what we wear, to our sports, and to our friends.
We pour out our souls to you when we need you
but not when life is smooth and easy.
We mean to love you with all our minds
but our minds stray to what we want
and what others are saying.
We are more likely to use our strength to get what we need and want
than to get what you want for us and those around us.
We love the neighbors we choose to love
and only when they love us back.
Forgive us. Write your commands on our hearts and souls and in our minds. Work it into our muscles so that we may truly be your people.
We pray in the name of Jesus who poured out his heart and soul and mind and strength for us and forgives us when we turn on him. Amen.
SONGS:
HYMNS
Christ is made the sure foundation ELW 645, H82 518, NCH 400, UMH 559
Blessing and Honor ELW 854
Hymnary.org: https://hymnary.org/texts?qu=Mark+12%3A28-34&media=text&page=0
A new source I just found for contemporary Christian songs that includes the NL passages can be found at:
https://wordtoworship.com/search/node/%7BMark%2012:28-44;%20Psalm%2089:1-4%7D
For this pericope, they list:
By David Moffitt. As performed by ZOE Group.
Related to verse(s): Mark 12:28-34
Related to tags(s): Reign (via Mark 12:36);
By Lincoln Brewster.
Related to verse(s): Mark 12:30; Mark 12:33
Related to tags(s): Love (via Mark 12:30);
By Jadon Lavik, Marc Byrd, et al.
Related to verse(s): Psalm 89:1-2
By Dan Dean, Gary Sadler.
Related to verse(s): Psalm 89:1
Related to tags(s): Sacrifice (via Mark 12:33; Mark 12:42); Love (via Mark 12:30);
By Darlene Zschech.
Related to verse(s): Psalm 89:1
Related to tags(s): Love (via Mark 12:30);
By Marty Sampson.
Related to verse(s): Mark 12:32
Related to tags(s): Love (via Mark 12:30);
By Ted Wortham, Cynthia Biggs. As performed by Cindy & Roy.
Related to verse(s): Mark 12:38
Related to tags(s): Love (via Mark 12:30);
By Keith Green, Melody Green-Sievright.
Related to verse(s): Psalm 89:2
Related to tags(s): Love (via Mark 12:30);
By Jude Del Hierro.
Related to verse(s): Mark 12:30
Related to tags(s): Love (via Mark 12:30);
I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever
By Martin Smith. As performed by Delirious?, SONICFLOOd, Encounter Worship Band.
Related to verse(s): Psalm 89:1
Related to tags(s): Love (via Mark 12:30);
By Brad Avery, David Carr, et al. As performed by Third Day.
Related to tags(s): Sacrifice (via Mark 12:33; Mark 12:42); Faithfulness (via Psalm 89:1; Mark 12:30); Love (via Mark 12:30);
Come Now is the Time to Worship
By Brian Doerksen.
Related to verse(s): Mark 12:30
By Stuart Townend.
Related to verse(s): Psalm 89:1
By Audrey Assad.
Related to verse(s): Mark 12:33
As performed by Life Worship.
Related to verse(s): Psalm 89:4
By Matt Crocker. As performed by Hillsong.
Related to tags(s): Sacrifice (via Mark 12:33; Mark 12:42); Mercy (via Psalm 89:1); Love (via Mark 12:30); Name of Jesus (via Mark 12:35);
By Lloyd Oliver Willis Sr.. As performed by Dennis Brown.
Related to verse(s): Mark 12:38
By Audrey Assad, Chris Tomlin, et al.
Related to tags(s): Poverty (via Mark 12:41); Love (via Mark 12:30); Sacrifice (via Mark 12:33; Mark 12:42);
By Chuck Butler, Joel Parisien, et al. As performed by Audio Adrenaline.
Related to tags(s): Poverty (via Mark 12:41); Social Justice (via Mark 12:31; Mark 12:40); Love (via Mark 12:30);
By Mark Hall.
Related to tags(s): Social Justice (via Mark 12:31; Mark 12:40); Mercy (via Psalm 89:1); Love (via Mark 12:30);
By Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, et al.
Related to tags(s): Social Justice (via Mark 12:31; Mark 12:40); Sacrifice (via Mark 12:33; Mark 12:42);
By Tim Hughes.
Related to tags(s): Social Justice (via Mark 12:31; Mark 12:40); Poverty (via Mark 12:41); Justice (via Mark 12:31);
By Ben Fielding, Sam Knock.
Related to tags(s): Social Justice (via Mark 12:31; Mark 12:40); Mercy (via Psalm 89:1); Justice (via Mark 12:31);
One Thing Remains (Your Love Never Fails)
By Brian Johnson, Christa Black, et al. As performed by Kristian Stanfill, Jesus Culture, Bethel Live.
Related to tags(s): Love (via Mark 12:30); Faithfulness (via Psalm 89:1; Mark 12:30);
By Chris Rohman, Jason Ingram, et al.
Related to tags(s): Love (via Mark 12:30); Sacrifice (via Mark 12:33; Mark 12:42);
By Keith Getty, Stuart Townend.
Related to tags(s): Sacrifice (via Mark 12:33; Mark 12:42); Love (via Mark 12:30);
By Vicky Beeching.
Related to tags(s): Sacrifice (via Mark 12:33; Mark 12:42); Love (via Mark 12:30);
By David Crowder, Mark Waldrop, et al. As performed by David Crowder Band.
Related to tags(s): Love (via Mark 12:30); Sacrifice (via Mark 12:33; Mark 12:42);
By Edward Mote, Matt Redman, et al.
Related to tags(s): Sacrifice (via Mark 12:33; Mark 12:42); Name of Jesus (via Mark 12:35);
By Beth Redman, Matt Redman.
Related to tags(s): Sacrifice (via Mark 12:33; Mark 12:42); Love (via Mark 12:30);
By Michael Gungor, Michael Rossback. As performed by Gungor.
Related to tags(s): Faithfulness (via Psalm 89:1; Mark 12:30); Mercy (via Psalm 89:1);
By Allen Salmon, Jon Neufeld, et al. As performed by Starfield.
Related to tags(s): Social Justice (via Mark 12:31; Mark 12:40); Poverty (via Mark 12:41);
By Brenton Brown, Paul Baloche.
Related to tags(s): Love (via Mark 12:30); Faithfulness (via Psalm 89:1; Mark 12:30);
By Charlie Hall.
Related to tags(s): Justice (via Mark 12:31); Mercy (via Psalm 89:1); Witness (via Mark 12:33);
By Brenton Brown, Don Williams.
Related to tags(s): Mercy (via Psalm 89:1); Sacrifice (via Mark 12:33; Mark 12:42);
By Chris Tomlin, Daniel Carson, et al.
Related to tags(s): Messiah (via Mark 12:36); Sacrifice (via Mark 12:33; Mark 12:42);
By Twila Paris.
Related to tags(s): Sacrifice (via Mark 12:33; Mark 12:42); Love (via Mark 12:30);
By Brad Avery, David Carr, et al.
Related to tags(s): Sacrifice (via Mark 12:33; Mark 12:42); Love (via Mark 12:30);
By Paul Oakley.
Related to tags(s): Sacrifice (via Mark 12:33; Mark 12:42); Love (via Mark 12:30);
By Martin Smith.
Related to tags(s): Faithfulness (via Psalm 89:1; Mark 12:30); Love (via Mark 12:30);
By Melody Green-Sievright.
Related to tags(s): Sacrifice (via Mark 12:33; Mark 12:42); Messiah (via Mark 12:36);
How Deep The Father’s Love For Us
By Stuart Townend. As performed by Instrumental Worship.
Related to tags(s): Love (via Mark 12:30); Sacrifice (via Mark 12:33; Mark 12:42);
By Craig Musseau.
Related to tags(s): Faithfulness (via Psalm 89:1; Mark 12:30); Mercy (via Psalm 89:1);
By Beth Redman, Matt Redman.
Related to tags(s): Faithfulness (via Psalm 89:1; Mark 12:30); Love (via Mark 12:30);
By Brenton Brown, Paul Baloche.
Related to tags(s): Judgment (via Mark 12:40); Kingdom (via Psalm 89:4); Mercy (via Psalm 89:1);
By Chris Tomlin. As performed by Encounter Worship Band, Robin Mark.
Related to tags(s): Love (via Mark 12:30); Faithfulness (via Psalm 89:1; Mark 12:30);
By Graham Kendrick.
Related to tags(s): Love (via Mark 12:30); Sacrifice (via Mark 12:33; Mark 12:42);
By Israel Houghton.
Related to tags(s): Faithfulness (via Psalm 89:1; Mark 12:30); Mercy (via Psalm 89:1);
By Jeremy Riddle.
Related to tags(s): Justice (via Mark 12:31); Mercy (via Psalm 89:1); Love (via Mark 12:30);
By Rend Collective Experiment.
Related to tags(s): Sacrifice (via Mark 12:33; Mark 12:42); Love (via Mark 12:30);
Parable of the Tenants Lent Seeds of Prayer, Narrative Lectionary
Call to Worship
Lord you call to all people to serve
From the tiny babies, to the last minute workers
You welcome all into the kingdom
Let us praise God!
Prayer of Confession: Lord we confess that we do not understand your upsidedown world of grace. How can you let everyone in? How can we let everyone in? Help us to give you the power and the glory forever we pray.
Prayer of Confession: Lord please stoop down and whisper in my ear, for I confess I am needy, be gracious to me. I am crying for you all the day long, listen to my prayer. Comfort me I pray.
Prayer of Confession: Lord, my heart is divided. Reverence of you is out of reach. I have forgotten your ways. Teach me so I might walk in your truth I pray.
Assurance of Pardon: The Lord is good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call out to God. We can know the good news In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Prayer of Dedication/Prayer of the Day: Lord please gladden the soul of your servant. I lift up my soul. In the day of trouble I call on you, for you will answer. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth. Give me an undivided heart to revere your name.
Communion Prayer: Lord, you stooped kneeling into the fully human Jesus, as Christ himself, speaking our language, eating our food, teaching our children. And when the world seemed to be ending and Jesus was betrayed and again when he ascended into heaven he promised to send his Holy Spirit to be present among us, blessing us, inspiring us and encouraging us. Send that Holy Spirit here today so we can taste and see your way we pray. Amen
With Children: Play Mother May I (Let everyone win), Have a Feast/Party: Let everyone take part in waves, Do a puzzle note how it doesn’t matter what order the pieces come as long as they are all there; or create a puzzle or color different pieces of the same picture and put them together
Hymns: Jesus the Very Thought of Thee, Come Down O Love Divine, Open My Eyes that I May See, Blessed Assurance Jesus is Mine, Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart, Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing, If I Had a Thousand Tongues to Sing
Bartimaeus Healed Lent Seeds of Prayer Narrative Lectionary
A Full Bulletin by Rev. Dr. Barbara Hedges-Goettl
Call to Worship:
I will bless the Lord at all times
I will praise God’s Holy Name
Let the humble hear and be glad
O magnify the Lord with me, let us exalt God’s name together!
Call to Worship:
The Lord is near the brokenhearted
God saves those who feel crushed in spirit!
Remember God will save every last person who calls out, and the Last shall be First.
Let us Praise God, full of grace.
Prayer of Dedication/Prayer of the Day: Let us all depart from evil! Remember do good, seek peace and pursue it.
Prayer of Confession: In a world of buried Praises, we confess that we still hesitate to cry out Hosanna: save us! Why do we hesitate to call on you. Only you know oh God. Open our mouths up with prayers whether they are full of praise or full of anguish. Help us to confess our full selves to you we pray. Hosanna Lord!
Communion Prayer: God thank you so much for this meal and this communion with one another and you. You feed us with your good and your love, indeed with your very essence so we are able to carry on in this world. Feed us with the strength of your Holy Spirit, bless us in whatever order you wish, teach us to serve now and always we pray.
Prayer of Confession: Lord we confess that we argue about who gets to sit next to you, not able to hear that whenever you come to earth you will be found on your knees serving. Teach us to serve, so we might find our place beside you we pray.
Assurance of Pardon: The Lord redeems the life of all who serve God, none who take refuge will be condemned. Hear the Great News: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven
Hymns: He is King of Kings, Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God, Jesus Jesu Fill Us With Your Love, Lift High the Cross, Called to Partners in Christ’s Service, Amazing Grace
With Children: Build with Blocks (talk about the construction and what will happen is the bottom block is taken out), Create a Serving Calendar of one thing to do every week of Lent, draw invisible hearts with white crayons: Have the children watercolor to reveal God’s Love.
For more Lent Resources on Mark
Lent Seeds of Prayer for Narrative Lectionary Mark
Lent: Deconstructing Our Temples
March 1st First Last & Last First: Mark 10:17-31& Psalm 19:7-10 Deconstructing Order
March 8th Bartimaeus Healed: Mark 10:32-52 &Psalm 34:11-14 Deconstructing Power
March 15th Parable of the Tenants/Taxes and Caesar: Mark 12:1-12 [13-17] & Psalm 86:8-13 Deconstructing Time/Value/Work
March 22 Great Commandment: Mark 12:28-44 & Psalm 89:1-4 Deconstructing Rules
March 29 End of the Age: Mark 13:1-8, 24-37 & Psalm 102:12-17 Deconstructing Time
Holy Week: Rebuilding the Temple
April 5 Triumphal Entry/Anointing at Bethany/Palm Sunday: Mark 11:1-11; 14:3-9 & Psalm 118:25-29
April 9 Maundy Thursday/Lord’s Supper/Prayer in Gethsemane: Mark 14:22-42 & Psalm 116:12-19
April 10 Good Friday/Crucifixion: Mark 15:16-39 & Psalm 22:1-2, 14-21
April 12 Easter Sunday/Resurrection: Mark 16:1-8 & Psalm 118:21-27
Lent Seeds: Narrative Lectionary
Exegetical Links compiled by Rev. Dr. Barb Hedges-Goettl
Call to Worship
The heavens tell of the glory of God, the very firmament proclaims God’s handiwork
The Lord is my rock and my redeemer
The sun in all of its courses is radiant, set in the heavens, touching upon the whole earth
Come let us praise God’s Holy Name
Call to Worship
God celebrate us, always running towards us!
Tracking us like the sun moves across the heaven!
Creating heaven and earth as reflections of God’s glory.
Come let us run to praise the Lord
Prayer of Confession; As I contemplate the makings of the universe, pulling apart each piece of how things are made. I continue to be flummoxed and confused by their intricacies. I confess that when you take things apart it scares me. When you die, all of my sins weigh heavily upon me. Forgive me I pray.
Prayer of Confession: Clear me from my hidden faults Lord, do not let them have dominion over me. Who else can detect my errors? Find them and clear them so I may be blameless and innocent of great transgression I pray.
Assurance of Pardon: The Lord is our Redeemer, we do not need to fear! In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Prayer of Dedication/Day: Let the words of my mouth and meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.
Communion Prayer; Lord you are the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last word. The first word you gave to us was creation, and the last word you give us has been and will always be grace. Send your Holy Spirit here, now. Remind us of your sweet ordinances, dripping with golden grace, sweeter than honey, help us to taste them on our tongue with the blood and body of Jesus Christ, we pray.
Hymns: Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord I Want to Be a Christian in My Heart, Somebody’s Knocking at Your Door, O Love How Deep, How Broad, How High, Jesu, Jesu Fill Us With Your Love, Seek Ye First, He is King of Kings
He is First and Last
With Children: Taste Honey, discuss why the laws are sweet & freeing. Make an Almsgiving/Prayer/Fasting Commitment (emphasize the life affirming aspects of living Lent like it’s the end of your life). Play duck, duck Goose, Play Musical Chairs, Play Mother May I, after whichever game discuss the importance of Ordering. Have Last-Shall-Be-First Nominations: everyone nominates the person next to them to be first (and goes to the back of the line after) for a positive reason. Read the Goblin’s Chair: discuss the importance of leaving room for the unseen,
Ash Wednesday Narrative Lectionary based on Mark 9:30-37 Psalm 32:1-5
Jesus went with the disciples teaching them, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.”
And the Disciples Kept silent.
Prayer of Confession: Lord we confess that we do not understand, fully, why it is you had to die. We do not understand why you were betrayed by human hands, and we do not understand how it is you rose again. But we do know while we kept silent our bodies wasted away and we groaned all day long.
Taize Option: Lord here my Prayer, Hymn Option: What Wondrous Love is This v. 1
Help us to live with our lacks and to lean into why you came: to teach, to heal, to die and to forgive our sins. Help us live fully with who we are.
(Write down what Jesus has taught you, who you are, what you want to hang onto)
Taize Option: Bless the Lord My Soul Hymn Option: What Wondrous Love is This v 2.
And let us once again confess our full selves to you so they may once again be forgiven.
Writing down Confession of sin on another piece of paper
Taize Option: Jesus Remember Me Hymn Option: What Wondrous Love is This v. 3
(Collect to trash, burn, rip up)
Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
Selah
While I kept silence, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
Selah
Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’,
and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Selah
Let us know the truth, as short and imperfect as life is. Remember that you are always and forgiven. Thanks be to God.
Holy Communion
The Lord’s Prayer
Imposition of Ashes
Blessing
Narrative Lectionary Transfiguration Seeds of Prayer
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 here
Seeds of Prayer: What Defiles? Narrative Lectionary
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
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.
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