Worship - January 21, 2006

(Involves 2 persons, the Worship Leader and a person portraying Jesus. The latter is seated in the pew at the beginning of the service. He leaves a mic in the pew which he will use later. His first speech is from the lecturn where the Worship Leader also stands.)

Worship Leader:

Early on in his earthly ministry, after he was baptized, and after his 40 days alone in the wilderness, Jesus came home to Nazareth, where he had grown up. We begin worship this morning with that moment when, in the synagogue of his childhood, he was invited as a man to stand, (the Jesus character stands and comes forward as the WL continues) come forward, and read from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Listen.

Jesus:

"The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." (�Jesus� then returns to his seat)

Worship Leader:

Luke says that after reading these words, "he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him." And then, from where he was sitting, he began to teach these people who had watched him grow from a child to a man. These were his first words:

Jesus:

"Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing...." (�Jesus� remains standing)

Worship Leader:

If you are able, let�s stand together with Jesus and sing our song of praise. May this scripture be fulfilled in our hearing as we follow him. #150 in your hymnal.

Opening Prayer

Spirit of the living God, we praise and adore you for empowering us to claim membership of the body of Christ, a gift received through the fullness of your grace. Empower us anew, we pray, with tongues of fire and hearts of love to proclaim the reconciling word among people. Remind us that we are all members of the one body and if one member suffers, we all suffer. May we, as the body of Christ in this place, be the best evidence of your love by declaring and witnessing to this as the year of the Lord�s favor for all people. We give thanks that all of us are Christ�s body, and rejoice in each one being a part of it. Accept our adoration and praise for these great gifts, we pray, in Jesus� name. Amen

by Moira B. Laidlaw

Unison Affirmation

The Spirit of God is upon us, to be what Jesus would have us be.

The Spirit is not given so that we may entertain each other with odd behavior;
         it is not given so that we may wallow in, or idolize, our own feelings;
         it isn�t given that we might indulge in a religious ego trip;
         it is not given that our particular church might have
                  the cosiest fellowship,
                  or the prettiest liturgy,
                  or the liveliest worship.

It is given that we might love the world as Jesus loved:
         to reach out to the fringe dwellers,
         to affirm and build up the timid,
         to stand with the poor and oppressed,
         to care for awkward or unattractive characters,
         to be aware of and compassionate towards weak and addicted ones,
         to forgive those who hurt us
                  and so liberate them (and ourselves) from the bondage of
                           "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth."

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to announce good news to the poor..."

Please God, may it be so!

by Bruce Prewer (adapted)

For Children
"Wrapped in Love"

"When I was approaching a surgery, my pastor at the time shared a prayer with my wife and I in which he wanted us to imagine us wrapping up all of our problems (the ones we were facing at the time) and handing them to Jesus - one at a time, and imagine him taking them from us and coming back to wrap his arms around us. It worked for me (with the exception of one worry I did not give up). Not giving away the ending, but it turned out great. I want to share this with the children." - Ed Lewis

Pastoral Prayer

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

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

The last verse of Psalm 19 is a good sentence prayer as we try to be what Jesus would have us be. Listen to the Psalmist�s words as paraphrased in that Australian version we�ve used before. May this "Laughingbird" translation lead us into our offering time. Listen.

That�s what I want, O LORD.
........I want all the things I say,
................and all the things I mull over in my heart,
........to be things I�d be proud to offer to you,
................for you are the bedrock of my life;
........................the one who puts me back where I belong.

�2001 Nathan Nettleton www.laughingbird.net

As you return your offering, pray your own version of this verse - that your own words, actions, and thoughts throughout the week might become something you�ll be proud to offer to the One who is your rock and redeemer. Ushers, please forward to receive what we have to give.

Benediction

Go into the world
         renewed by the creative word of God,
         inspired by the Spirit-filled witness of Jesus,
         and bound together by the power of the Holy Spirit
                  today - and every day.

by Moira B. Laidlaw