Worship - September 4, 2011

Reader 1 stands at the lectern. 2 stands halfway back the right (organ) side aisle. 3 reads from the rear of the sanctuary. 4 stands halfway back the left (piano) side aisle. Think “surround-sound.” The final “Hallelujah” is read by all 4, one syllable at a time, as a complete word – no pauses between.

1 - Hallelujah! Thank God! Pray to him by name!

2 - Tell everyone you meet what he has done!

3 - Sing him songs, belt out hymns,

4 - translate his wonders into music!

1 - Honor his holy name with Hallelujahs,

2 - you who seek God. Live a happy life!

3 - Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works;

4 - be alert for signs of his presence.

1 - Remember the world of wonders he has made,

2 - his miracles, and the verdicts he's rendered -

3 - O seed of Abraham, his servant,

4 - O child of Jacob, his chosen.

1 - Ha-

2 - le-

3 - lu-

4 - yah!

All - Thank God!

Psalm 105:1-6 from The Message
Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson
Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Opening Prayer

Awesome and great God, whose holiness is beyond our capacity even to imagine - we worship you. God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we glorify you as our God also. Your care for your people of old is evident through the stories of your involvement and constant covenant with them. Your care for us is evident through your grace and mercy which we experience in Jesus Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit. You love us so lavishly, and empower us so mightily, that we come to see the world as a place charged with blessing - your blessing. We realize that we stand on holy ground whenever we are in your presence O God, which is always and forever when we praise you as we ought. We offer our praise and adoration and this time of worship as our response to your extravagant initiative of entering our lives in the person of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

from Liturgies Online, by Rev Moira Laidlaw, Uniting Church in Australia.

Scripture
Jeremiah 15:15-21

We have opened our worship with the call to praise of the Psalmist. But life is not filled with only mountaintop moments. We watch for God’s works, we seek to be alert for signs of his presence even - or especially - in the rougher times, when hymns are harder to belt out. Our next scripture from the prophet Jeremiah is a lament, crying out to God about the rocky and dark road we may travel. I will read the first part prior to the Children’s story, and finish it afterward. Be listening in this portion for how Jeremiah describes the words he has received from God, which lie in the middle of his complaint. This prophet remembers his calling as he pounds on heaven’s door in prayer. Listen.

⁵O Lord, you know;
        remember me and visit me,
                and bring down retribution for me
                        on my persecutors.
In your forbearance do not take me away;
        know that on your account I suffer insult.
¹⁶Your words were found, and I ate them,
        and your words became to me a joy
                and the delight of my heart;
                        for I am called by your name,
                                O Lord, God of hosts.
¹⁷I did not sit in the company of merrymakers,
                nor did I rejoice;
        under the weight of your hand I sat alone,
                for you had filled me with indignation.
¹⁸Why is my pain unceasing,
        my wound incurable,
                refusing to be healed?
        Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook,
                like waters that fail.

Ouch! The honesty of Jeremiah’s prayer is almost too much to take. The truth is, however, that there are times we feel the same way. Now, just in case you didn’t catch what I suggested you listen for, let me repeat that verse. Listen again:

¹⁶Your words were found, and I ate them,
        and your words became to me a joy
                and the delight of my heart;
                        for I am called by your name,
                                O Lord, God of hosts.

scripture text from the New Revised Standard Version,
copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

For Children
Sweet Words
(based on Jeremiah 15:16 and Romans 12:21)

I'm borrowing this from a copyrighted resource, so I can't print it here. You can find it on pages 100-101 of Saving the Ants (and 58 Other Kids Sermons from the Gospel of Matthew), by Ruth Gilmore.

Scripture
Jeremiah 15:19-21

Let’s finish our reading from the prophet Jeremiah. Earlier we heard his complaint to God. However, prayer is not just a one-way street. It’s a conversation. Now we pay attention to the other side, where heaven replies. Listen:

¹⁹Therefore thus says the Lord:
        If you turn back, I will take you back,
                and you shall stand before me.
        If you utter what is precious,
                        and not what is worthless,
                you shall serve as my mouth.
        It is they who will turn to you,
                not you who will turn to them.
²⁰And I will make you to this people
        a fortified wall of bronze;
                they will fight against you,
        but they shall not prevail over you,
                for I am with you
                        to save you and deliver you,
                                says the Lord.
²¹I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked,
        and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.

Pastoral Prayer

written closer to the time (if not at the moment)

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

The gospel story we just heard immediately follows the disciple Peter’s great confession of faith, where he declares that Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Our Lord responded by noting how Peter, whose name literally means, “rock,” would become a rock upon which the church would be built. Unfortunately, Peter thought that meant the road ahead would not itself be rocky. A few verses after his mountaintop declaration, he falls back down to earth. A rock can become a stumbling block, even if it is called to be a foundation stone.

I invite you to use the following moments for some soul searching. Yes, please place your offering in the plate as it is passed, and sign the attendance pad. Would you also think about how you may have been a stumbling block for someone this past week, causing them to trip and perhaps fall? How might you become more of a foundation stone, upon which Jesus can continue to build his church?

Ushers, it’s your turn to lead us in worship by receiving what we have to offer.

Dedication

God of Compassion, sometimes we are reluctant to follow your divine authority and to place our entire trust in you. We feel more secure trusting in our own ability and our own strength. Thank you for this moment in our worship service when we are reminded that your unwavering, steadfast love engulfs us like a mother’s gentle caress. Bless these gifts and we who give them. Trusting in your heavenly grace, we pray. Amen.

Responsive Scripture Reading
Romans 12:9-21

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.
	Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.
	Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
	Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are.
	Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.
If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
	Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Hymnal #850
scripture text from the New Revised Standard Version,
copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Benediction

Go now and follow Jesus in the way of the cross.
Rejoice in hope,
hold fast to what is good,
persevere in prayer.
Do not be overcome by evil,
but overcome evil with good.
As far as is possible, live peaceably with all.

And may God hear your cries and deliver you;
May Christ Jesus repay you with fullness of life;
And may the Holy Spirit be with you always
nourishing you in love and hope.