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Worship Order for
Sunday
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Opening
Prayer
O God, author of eternal light
lead us in our
worshiping this day:
that our lips may praise you,
our lives may bless you,
and our meditations glorify you,
through Christ our Lord. AMEN
Sarum Missal, 11th c.
Hymnal, #673
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For
Children
"Children have
power"
Object: List of good/bad word phrases
Scripture: Psalm 19:14
Theme: Children can choose between good power and bad power
Let’s start
with a question. What is the most powerful thing you know of? (The
children’s answers will often have to do with physical strength
as a form of power -- tackling, running, etc.)
Do you know that
even children have a lot of power? You have physical power to run,
throw a ball, and do other physical activities.
You use brain
power when you read, think, and do other schoolwork and
activities.
We also have word
power, which can be either good or bad.
Let’s try
something -- I m going to tell you some words and you say if these
words are using good or bad word power. Are you ready?
That’s really stupid!
(Wait for children’s response and praise
them for correct answer.)
It was really kind of you to help me.
That kid can’t throw a ball at all!
You made a really nice picture.
All of you did
a good job knowing about good and bad word power!
The words we use
have effect or power on other people. Have any of you had a time
when someone said mean things to you or they got angry with you?
Did they show their anger to you?
How did you feel?
You probably felt sad and maybe angry, too. Mean and unkind words
have power to make people sad or angry.
But just think
what power good words can have on people! When you use kind words
to tell someone they have been nice to you or that they look nice,
you make them feel happy.
Would you rather
use mean word power or good word power? I think we all prefer good
word power.
Try each day to
use good word power on someone. You will make them feel happy and
you will feel happy, too.
Let s pray --
Dear God, please
show us ways to use good word power and help us forget bad word
power. Amen.
by Donna McKee Rhodes
from Little
Stories for Little Children
©1995, Herald Press, pp. 35-36
(a great resource! buy it!)
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Unison Prayer of Confession
Lord, our God,
great, eternal,
wonderful
utterly to be
trusted:
you give life to us all,
you help those who come to you,
you give hope to those who cry to you.
Forgive our sins, secret and open,
and rid us of
every habit of thought
that stands
against the gospel.
Set our hearts at peace,
so we may live
our lives before you
confidently and without fear,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN
Hymnal #699. Based on a prayer
from
The Liturgy of St. Basil of Caesarea, 4th c.,
adapted from Contemporary Prayers for Public Worship,
ed. Caryl Micklem, copyright © 1956 1967 SCM Press, Ltd.
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Pastoral Prayer
written closer to the time (if not at the
moment)
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Returning
our Tithes and Offerings
From early on
Jesus, like other boys growing up in his synagogue, prepared for the
day he would stand before his elders and take his turn at reading
the scriptures. He, like his friends, had been trained by his elders
to make use of his gifts for the benefit of others - a mission he
extended far beyond the boundaries of Nazareth: bringing "good
news to the poor," proclaiming "release to the
captives and recovery of sight to the blind," setting the
oppressed free, and preaching God’s Jubilee. Those words he read
from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah were, indeed, fulfilled.
When God’s people
today make use of God’s gifts for the benefit of others, scripture
is fulfilled - the Spirit of the Lord is upon them. Do you believe
that?
It’s time to
respond to what God has abundantly given us with our gifts in return
- for the benefit of others. While the plates are being passed,
would you also pass the attendance pads down your pew and note your
presence today. If there are visitors on your row, remember their
names and welcome them personally after the service.
Will the ushers now
come forward to receive our offerings?
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