|
Worship Order for
Sunday
|
Call to
Worship
The words to the hymn,
"Of the Father's love begotten"
(#104 in your hymnal), date back over 1600 years to a Christian
from Spain named Marcus Aurelius Clemens Prudentius. A lawyer by
training, he made a shift at age 57 to become a monk. He is
remembered as a poet, and these words were part of the 9th
poem of 12 that he wrote. The melody to which we have attached
these words is a Gregorian chant that is itself nearly a
thousand years old.
Let us begin worship this morning with these ancient words and
chant. We will sing the first 2 verses without accompaniment,
led by _______________. We will then speak the last 2 verses in
unison. As we do so, allow yourself to be drawn into what the
title of the tune calls the "Divine Mystery."
|
|
Opening
Prayer
Almighty and everlasting God, in whom we live and move and have our
being, who hast created us for thyself, so that our hearts are
restless until they find their rest in thee, lift us above dark
moods and the shadows of sin, that we may begin today, from the
height of prayer, to live as becomes sons and daughters of the Most
High, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
1951 Brethren Hymnal, #773
by
Joseph Fort Newton,
Altar Stairs: a little book of prayer,
©1934, Macmillan
|
|
An Invitation to Trust
One: When dangers invade our sense of safety and we wonder
if our Redeemer cares, we hear the invitation:
All: Be at peace. Be calm.
One: When we face job loss and financial downturns, and
our sense of security is shaky, we hear the invitation:
All: Be at peace. Be calm.
One: When our congregations experience distress, conflict,
and loss of significant leadership, we hear the invitation:
All: Be at peace. Be calm.
One: When controversial issues and rigidity of spirit
threaten to tear at the very fabric of the faith community, we
hear the invitation:
All: Be at peace. Be calm.
One: When our lives feel chaotic and desolate because of
illness or sorrow, we hear the invitation:
All: Be at peace. Be calm.
Unison: Help us to know, O God, that the one who
calmed the dangerous sea is present with us, cares for us, and
can calm the stormy waters of our lives. Help us to trust more
fully and more deeply in you. We pray in the name of Jesus, who
invites us to be at peace. Amen.
by Connie R.
Burkholder
Monitor Church of the Brethren McPherson, Kansas
Church of the Brethren Living Word Bulletin
Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085, "The Living Word
Series"
|
|
For
Children
"Spilling
over"
Did you know that
sometimes fathers have a hard time telling their children how
much they love them? I can say this because, well, I am a
father, as you already know. I have so much love inside for my
children that sometimes it feels like I'm going to burst. There
is not enough "inside" to my inside to hold it all in. It's like
a glass that you fill with water from the faucet, but then the
water keeps pouring in. What happens when a glass is full and
the water keeps pouring? That's right, it spills over. That's
like all the love I have inside for my children.
I don't always
know how best to share that love. I think a lot of us Dads have
that problem. When my children were little, I loved to hug and
tickle them, and read to them, and play imagination games with
them. But then they got big, and they stopped wanting hugs and
tickles. They started reading to themselves and had wonderful
imaginations all on their own. My cup is still overflowing
inside, however.
I bet your dad is
a bit like me. In fact, I have a feeling there are a lot of dads
in this room who are like me. We have more love inside than we
know what to do with. Now, I want you to make sure today that
you give your father the opportunity to share that love. Jump up
on his lap with a book. Allow him to tickle you. Play pretend
with him. Give him the opportunity to hug you. In fact, if you
need practice in hugging, why don't you start with me? (one
at a time, play it up, but leave ______ * for last).
______*, I saved
you for last because I know your dad can't be with you today. I
also know he would want to be, if he could. He loves you so very
much, I know that for a fact because he told me. His "inside"
can't hold all the love he has for you. I'd like to give you a
hug for him. Pretend that it is his arms that surround you. Now,
I know it's not the same as a hug from your own dad. But I am
here, we are here for your dad and for you. I have a feeling
there are many fathers here who may come up and give you a hug
for your dad after church this morning (right, men?). Would that
be okay? We don't want to embarrass you, but we have love inside
- God's love - and it just has to spill over.
All of you
children, help us dads to share by receiving our love. Okay?
Let's pray.
God, thank you for
sharing your love with us. There is just not enough "inside" to
our insides to hold all of your love. It keeps spilling over.
And that's a good thing. You are a wonderful "heavenly father"
to us. Help us to share. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
*note - in our congregation,
this child has a father currently in prison. In
another setting, this could be used for any child
whose father needed to be away from home (i.e. a
soldier). With a little adapting, this could be
worded to fit a child whose father is no longer
living.
|
|
|
Returning
our Tithes and Offerings
Indeed, as we just prayed, "there is just not enough 'inside' to our
insides to hold all of God's love. It keeps spilling over. And
that's a good thing." Our offering is a time for "spilling over." We
have been blessed. Abundantly blessed. You are invited to share, to
pour out upon others the blessings that God keeps pouring into your
container. I notice that the offertory the organist will play is
entitled "Reflection." Well, reflect on your many blessings just
now, and "open wide your hearts"
(2
Corinthians 5:13)...
Ushers?
|
|
Benediction
As a closing, people were invited to "pass the peace" (something
many churches do much earlier in the order of worship). Exchange a
hug or a handshake, and share a blessing like "Go in Christ's
peace."
|
(para traducir a español, presione la bandera de España)
|