Worship - February 1, 2015

Responsive Call to Worship

Let us come together into the presence of God with Psalm 111, the words to which will be projected upon the screen. Please note that the directions are from your perspective. Those of you on the parking lot side of the sanctuary will read the part designated as “left.” Those on the organ side of the center aisle will read where is says “right.” Remain seated until the end of the Psalm. And now:

One:
Shout praises to the Lord!

All:
With all my heart I will thank the Lord when his people meet.

One:
The Lord has done many wonderful things!

Left:
Everyone who is pleased with God’s marvelous deeds will keep them in mind.

Right:
Everything the Lord does is glorious and majestic, and his power to bring justice will never end.

One:
The Lord God is famous for his wonderful deeds, and he is kind and merciful.

Left:
He gives food to his worshipers and always keeps his agreement with them.

Right:
He has shown his mighty power to his people and has given them the lands of other nations.

One:
God is always honest and fair, and his laws can be trusted.

All:
They are true and right and will stand forever.

One:
God rescued his people, and he will never break his agreement with them. He is fearsome and holy.

All:
Respect and obey the Lord!

One:
This is the first step to wisdom and good sense.

All:
God will always be respected.

Psalm 111 from the Contemporary English Version
Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society

Opening Prayer

Grant, O God, that thinking, we may think your thoughts; that speaking, we may speak your word; that singing, we may sing to your praise; that hearing, we may hear your truth; and that willing, we may make your will our own, so that walking forward at the end of our worship, we may walk in your love and your peace, and departing from one another, not depart from you. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Dramatic Reading of Mark 1:21-28

Pastor - Our gospel reading this morning is from the beginning of Mark’s account of what Jesus did and who he was when he lived as a man. We pick up the story right after he invited four fishermen to leave their boats and fish for people instead. It will be projected upon the screen, and we will read it together, incorporating silence, as well as loud and soft voices. Perhaps we should practice one line, for it is implied but not written in the text and we are not used to speaking it in church. Imagine you have just been stuck with a needle and you cry out in pain, “Aaawwwgh!” It comes out of your mouth almost involuntarily. That’s the voice we need to practice. Try practicing it now: (“Aaawwwgh!”) Good, be ready to step into this scripture and listen with your whole being, voice and all. (pause)

(the above is not on the powerpoint, only the below)

Worship Leader - They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught.

Congregation - (10 seconds of absolute silence)

Worship Leader - They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (pause) Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out,

Congregation - (loudly) “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.”

Worship Leader - But Jesus rebuked him, saying,

Congregation - (loudly) “Be silent, and come out of him!”

Worship Leader - And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.

Congregation - (loudly) “Aaawwwgh!”

Worship Leader - They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another,

Congregation - (softly) “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”

Worship Leader - At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

Mark 1:21-28 (adapted) is 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.

Pastoral Prayer

This is our Sabbath, and it is our prayer that Jesus is here with us in Spirit. May we, in this synagogue, this congregating place, make room to be astounded by what we hear him say. Some among us here, as well as others near and far, are plagued with troubles which lead to a sigh or a cry. In Christ, may this become like the sound of birth, as something new comes into being. Let this thought inform your sharing today, for Jesus is here among us.

Sharing a joy, a concern, a word of testimony or praise

Our prayer just now will be with both word and song. Turn in your hymnal to #345, the words to which are on the screen above. We will be singing this several times through. The first time we will sing it with the repeat (that is, twice). Then I will pray aloud a confession while the organ continues playing softly. We’ll sing it through again, just once, and then I will pray an intercession. The third and last time we will sing it once, to be followed by our unison Lord’s prayer. Now sisters and brothers, let us join our hearts and minds together, beginning with song.

(“O Lord, hear my prayer” #348 - sing with repeat. Organ continues playing softly.)

Lord of the Sabbath, you enter where we are and sit with us. Too easily we take your presence for granted, or forget to seek our rest in you, or pretend that we are fully in charge. Any strength we have, any wisdom we possess, however, comes from you, Creator of heaven and earth and these aging bodies we call our own. Speak to our demons, Holy One of God: our obsessions, our depressions, our addictions, our afflictions; conflicts within and without, hopelessness, fear, greed, hatred or downright lack of caring. To these and so many more, O Lord, we need you to speak, “Be silent and come out, be still and know that I am God.” (pause) Our prayer is one of confession, releasing what needs to come out, with a sigh or a cry. Help us to let go of that which pulls us away from you, O source of light and life.

(“O Lord, hear my prayer” - sing thru once. Organ continues playing softly.)

Our prayer now shifts toward intercession, O God who truly sees. You have heard what we have shared - celebrating each joy, knowing each struggle even before we have the words to speak it. You empower us to become part of your response through our prayers. By remembering a name, we step into your healing river which flows where needed. Sometimes it seems too long a wait for justice and mercy to take hold, but we believe your relentless good news is coming, that your purposes will be done in your time. With this in mind, we each choose one item shared this morning, one person or concern lifted up, and bring this as our individual prayer offered as members of the body of Christ, united in song.

(“O Lord, hear my prayer” - sing thru once. Organ then stops playing.)

We pray together as Jesus taught: “Our Father, who art in heaven….”

Moment for Outreach

Our church treasurer has a few words to share about how we plan to meet our outreach obligations this year, specifically focusing upon the emphasis for February: Our Mid Atlantic District.

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

The receiving of our offerings is two-fold. First, the ushers will receive what we have planned to bring to the Lord today, our regular offering. Afterward, while we sing hymn #387, “Lord, thou dost love a cheerful giver,” you are invited to bring your pledge of what you plan to give to the ministry of this congregation this year. The pledge forms have been in the newsletter and on bulletin inserts leading up to today. If you still need one, signal an usher who will get you one. There is a basket on the stand at the bottom of the steps. Come forward as we sing, place your pledge there, then return to your seat.

But first, imagine you are a hurting teen, both grieving a loss and being bullied. What would you do to change that equation? Let’s see what a young man named Josh did. Ushers, please come and lead our offering as we watch.

“Josh - opening doors and hearts”

then:

“Lord, thou dost love”
(congregation brings forward their pledges)

Litany

(The congregation may participate by adding items to the worship center or altar according to the instructions in parentheses.)

One:   For little ones who build a world from blocks and
           crayons and friendships,
All:   We become closer to God as love builds up.

(young child places blocks on worship center)

One:   For children who build up their hearts and minds by
           learning stories of faith and making connections,
All:   We become closer to God as love builds up.

(older child places a story Bible on worship center)

One:   For those who volunteer for workcamps or disaster
           relief projects—building homes while building
           community,
All:   We become closer to God as love builds up.

(adult places a hammer on worship center)

One:   For adults who build relationships and strengthen
           families, who welcome the outcast to God's banquet
           table, and who love both God and neighbor,
All:   We become closer to God as love builds up.

(adult places a basket of food on worship center)

One:   For older adults who build up the church by sharing
           faithful wisdom and companionship,
All:   We become closer to God as love builds up.

(older adult places a photo/other remembrance on worship center)

One:   Thank you, God, for reminding us that we become
           closer to you as we build one another up in love.
All:   We are known by you, God, and are thankful. Amen.

by Kathy Fry-Miller, associate director, adapted
Children's Disaster Services Church of the Brethren
Church of the Brethren Living Word Bulletin
Anchor/Wallace, Sleepy Eye MN 56085,
"The Living Word" Series

Benediction

Go now:
        Go in safety,
                for you cannot go where God is not.
        Go in love,
                for love alone endures.
        Go with purpose,
                and God will honor your dedication.
        Go in peace,
                for it is the gift of God to those
                whose hearts and minds are in Christ Jesus.
Amen.

by Earle W. Fike, jr
Taken from For all who Minister,
©1993, Brethren Pres, Elgin, IL, p.122