Tag: confession

Bread of Life

Food for the Hungry

Psalm 34:1-19

John 6:35-59

Call to Worship

I will bless the Lord at all times

Come bless the Lord with me

Jesus says, I am the everlasting bread of life

Come, let us praise God who gives us life

Prayer of Confession: God, I confess that I hunger to be nourished. There are times I truly need to taste and see that the Lord is good, because I am stumbling and falling, because the world is full of so many not good things. Save us, please we pray. Show us the good.

Assurance of Pardon Hear the good news, God is good all the time, an so we know the Gospel truth In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God let us go into the world knowing you want every single person to be fed. Let us all work to make that happen today and everyday we pray. Amen.

Hymns: Here I Am Lord, O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go, O Jesus I Have Promised, O Jesus I Have Promised,

Children: https://www.ted.com/talks/peter_reinhart_the_art_and_craft_of_bread?language=en

Writing https://gofund.me/70a114f9. It is a “working theologian’s” doctorate where I preach, write and share my work with the world all at the same time. If your church uses my work extensively and could use a receipt email me at katyandtheword at gmail and let me know!

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

Signs of God: Making Sanctuary

Psalm 127:1-2

John 2:13-25

Call to Worship

God you make this a sanctuary for us

Giving bread to the hungry, Rest for the weary

Surely those who look, will find God

Come, let us build a house of justice and sanctuary for God

Confession: God we confess that we often confuse peace with being subdued or quiet. We forget that true sanctuary means a place to not just feel but be safe. Help us to be safe with one another we pray. Help us to build your sanctuary, we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon. God’s peace is from everlasting to everlasting, know the good news: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God’s mercies are renewed every morning. God’s mercies never come to an end. Let us go into the world renewed by God. Amen.

Hymns: Be Thou My Vision, Room at the Table, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Because He Lives, Worthy is The Lamb,

With Children: Chalk and Eraser Board Jesus can cleanse you every single time you make a mistake. Jesus wants you to keep trying!

If you find my work useful, please consider giving to my Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing https://gofund.me/70a114f9. It is a “working theologian’s” doctorate where I preach, write and share my work with the world all at the same time. If your church uses my work extensively and could use a receipt email me at katyandtheword at gmail and let me know!

Advent 3 Full of God’s Word Narrative Lectionary Year 4

John 1:1-18

Psalm 130:5-8

Call to Worship

I wait for the Lord

My soul waits, for with God is the power to redeem!

I wait for God, more than those who are waiting for the morning

Come, let us wait for the joy that comes with God!

Confession: God, I confess that sometimes I confuse abiding joy with the fleeting feeling of happiness. Sometimes I forget the you are working for joy to the entire world. You want every single person to be able to experience security–food, shelter, companionship. I confess that I am not always working towards that goal. Help me to build a kingdom where everyone can experience deep and abiding joy. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: God loves us and forgives us. Let proclaim the joy with truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgive.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God, let us remember that our God is a God of Joy. Our God does not dictate unnecessary suffering, but instead wants love and peace. Help us to hold onto that we pray. Amen.

Hymns: See Advent Candle Suggestions

Children: Talk about the difference between Joy and Happiness. Talk about who might be good examples of people who have joy.

If you find these resources useful please consider contributing to my Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing!

Advent 2 Full of Purpose Narrative Lectionary Year 4

Full Bulletin by Rev. Dr. Barb Hedges-Goettl

Isaiah 55:1-13

John 4:13-14

Call to Worship:

God we are thirsty for you.

Come Holy Spirit, fill us up.

God we long for peace

Come Christ, we long for your Peace.

God we are ready.

Come let us spend some time with God today.

Jesus we are here longing for you

Prayer of Confession: God we are thirsty for your presence, because we know when we get it our purpose will become clear, and our need to pursue and accumulate anything and everything will disappear, and we will finally, finally be at peace. But God, we confess, we are not at peace yet, we continue to thirst for more, we continue long for all that we do not yet possess. Forgive us, and help us to see the feast you set before us and to be satisfied, we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: Christ’s mercy is from everlasting to everlasting, we are already forgiven. Let us glory in the good news; In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of Dedication/Day: God you are enough. Let us remember and dedicate ourselves to you today and everyday we pray. Amen.

Hymns: See Advent Candle Suggestions

Children

If you find these resources useful please consider contributing to my Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing!

Advent 1 Full of Prophesy/Life Narrative Lectionary Year 4

Call to Worship

Ezekiel 37:1-15

John 11:25-26

Call to Worship

God you know our questions before we even ask them, we are struggling this year, can these bones live, only you know

And you reassure us, saying that you will send us the Word we need

Give us the word of Hope, we need

Come let us gather around the Word of the Lord

Confession: God, we confess that we do not know if these bones can live. Sometimes, we cannot even ask the questions about resurrection. We are too busy struggling along. We confess that we are weary to bone. Weary of the evils of the weary, weary of injustice, weary of illness, weary of sorry. We confess that we forget to ask for hope. Forgive us, and teach us to see and know that you are already at work in the world. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: Jesus Christ is the Hope of the World, assuring us of the truth that we can tell one another: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God, the struggle is real, because you are already here, making things happen. Remind us of your presence, from our first breath. Inspire us with your Holy Spirit, and encourage us as we need it we pray. Amen.

Hymns: See Advent Candle Suggestions

Children: Read Emily Dickon’s Hope is a many feathered Thing Poem. Discuss what kids Hope for.

More resources.

If you find these resources useful please consider contributing to my Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing!

Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14

John 14:27

Call to Worship

Our God is the God of Resurrection

God will never leave us

Our God is the God of peace

Come let us worship God!

Prayer of Confession: God we confess that sometimes your instructions confuse us. You tell us both to live our lives and to look towards heaven. You know we are only human, so it is difficult for us to do both at the same time. Forgive us when we get distracted or confuse. Remind us that practicing hope, and peace here on earth is worth it. And help us when we go astray, we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: God’s love is from everlasting to everlasting, know the truth in your heart: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God it is a good thing you are the Prince of peace, and that you leave pieces of it for us to follow, because we definitely need help on that. Guide us to your peace today and everyday we pray. Amen.

Hymns: Take My Life, My Hope is Built on Nothing Less, O For a Closer Walk with God, Abide with Me, Lord Make Us Servants of Your Peace

Children: God promises peace. Ask the children to imagine what peace is like–help them to imagine peace as creativity not just silence or stillness. Discuss how we might practice peace now.

If you find these resources useful please consider contributing to my Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing!

More Narrative Lectionary Year 4

Nov 21st Isaiah: A Child is Born

Isaiah 9:1-7

John 8:12

Call to Worship

God says, those who have walked in darkness have seen a great light.

We rejoice before you!

God promises a child will come to us, his name shall be Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace

Come, we will rejoice with the joy of the harvest!

Prayer of Confession: God, we confess that sometimes we don’t feel like we have seen the great light. All too often we feel like we still stumbling in the dark. We long for the day we can proclaim wonderful counselor and peace, but right now, we are weary and bleary eyed. Open our eyes, help us to know what the next right step is, we pray. Help us to let the light in, in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: Hear the Good News: Jesus Christ already knows and forgives, so let us proclaim the truth that has already happened: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven

Prayer of Dedication/the Day: Holy Spirit, you remind us again that the fruit of our labors, the harvest, all comes from you. And though we do not have the eyes to always see what seeds are being planted, help us to have faith, to seek peace, and to trust that the work is just and good, and give us the strength we need to carry on today and everyday we pray. Amen.

Hymns: We Gather Together, Let All Things Now Living, For the Fruit of All Creation, Joyful Joyful we Adore Thee, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, We Plow the Fields and Scatter

Children: Humans are like plants but more complicated. Talk about what plants need to grow, then talk about what humans need to be healthy and grow. Talk about the importance of care and how Jesus promises to light the way and to take care of all of creation of the world, and wants us to be partners in caring–for plants and each other.

If you find these resources useful please consider contributing to my Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing!

More Narrative Lectionary Year 4

Nov 14 Amos: Justice Rolls Down

Amos 1:1-2; 5:14-15, 21-24

John 7:37-38

Call to Worship (John 7:37-38)

Jesus says, let anyone who is thirsty come

Here we are, thirsting for the Lord

Scripture says, all who believes can drink

Come, out of our hearts, let the rivers of living water flow!

Prayer of Confession: God we confess that we are thirsting for you, so thirsty that we are dry to the bone. We are uncertain that justice will flow. We do not know if there are even drips of justice in the world. We confess, that we don’t know if justice will flow like water–but we also confess that we long for that day. Help us to not give up our justice seeking we pray.

Assurance of Pardon: Jesus promises that Jesus will make all things right, so we can proclaim to one another the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God sometimes we feel like our offerings are not enough, we’d rather give you big festivals or more solemn worship services–but you ask us to simply seek justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your. Help us to do that today we pray. Amen.

Hymns: Be Thou My Vision, Crown Him with Many Crowns, We are One in the Spirit, Best Be the Tie that Binds, Come Live the Light, For Everyone Born, Live Into Hope

Children: Thirsty, discuss how we are often thirsty before we even know it and that we really need water to drink, that is how we need justice. Talk about how justice is not just equality or sameness, its the nutrients we need, and that every single body needs something different, and that Jesus knows that.

If you find these resources useful please consider contributing to my Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing!

Justice Rolls Down: A Prayer

More Narrative Lectionary Year 4

Oct 31 Solomon’s Temple

1 Kings 5:1-5; 8:1-3

John 2:19-21

Psalm 148

Call to Worship

Praise the Lord from the heavens and in the heights

Praise God, all his anger, all his host!

Praise God, sun and moon and all of the shining stars!

Let us praise the name of the Lord, for God commanded and they were created!

Let us praise God, men and women, young and old together!

Come, Let us praise the name of the Lord together!

Prayer of Confession: God we confess that we sometimes are searching for wholeness, sometimes we want to build a temple or find a special spot, when the truth is, you are with us the whole way. Show us how you have the whole world in you hands we pray . (Silent Confession) Amen. 

Assurance of Pardon: God is with us, guiding us and forgiving us. Let us proclaim the truth to one another: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication: God, that you are always holy, and that holiness does not need to be trapped or contained. Help us to share your holiness with the world we pray. Amen. 

Hymns: Holy, Holy, Holy, Immortal Invisible God Only Wise, Jesus Thy Boundless Love to Me O Christ the Great Foundation

Children: Here is the church, Here is the Steeple Open the door and see all the people but change it to Here is the church, here is the church here is the church

More Year 4 Narrative Lectionary Resources

If you find these resources useful please consider contributing to my Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing! I have already Successfully funded year 1, and am now working on Year 2!

Oct 17th: God Calls Samuel

Living Into this God Given World: Judgement

Samuel 3:1-21

John 20:21-23

Psalm 46

Call to Worship:

God we come to here your voice

Let us hear the call of the Lord

God we come to answer your call

Let us gather together in the name of God!

Prayer of Confession: God we confess that it is hard to hear your voice of calling, sometime we confuse it with other callings. Sometimes we think we are only dreaming. Help us to hear your voice clearly we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: Hear the good news, God never gives up on us, God calls us and forgives us every time. Let us tell one another the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God, you call to us. Let us sit quietly and hear your still small voice we pray in your most Holy Name. Amen.

Hymns: There’s a Sweet Sweet Spirit in This Place, Here I am Lord, Called as Partners in Christ’s Service

Children: Explain the Concept of Priesthood of All Believers–that everyone is called by God, not necessarily to be pastors but to be helpers in the world, brainstorm all the things that people might be called to help. Point out that Samuel is a child.

More Year 4 Narrative Lectionary Resources

If you find these resources useful please consider contributing to my Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing! I have already Successfully funded year 1, and am now working on Year 2!