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Submit Your Own! April 12, 2009 By David von Schlichten Resurrection of Our Lord/Easter Day, Year B Call to Worship [Start in darkness] Leader: When it was noon, darkness came over the whole country until three in the afternoon. At three o'clock, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, People: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Leader: He gave a loud cry and breathed his last. People: Saturday lay dark. After Good Friday we sat down and wept, waiting. Leader: Now the light has scattered the darkness, and the darkness can never overcome it. [Process in with paschal candle in silence. Once candle is in place, continue.] And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. People: As they entered the tomb, a young man in a white robe announced, “Do not be alarmed [ . . . ] Jesus has been raised; he is not here.” [Lights up.] Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen! People: The right hand has triumphed. Christ is risen. Alleluia! Prayer of Invocation Leader: The LORD be with you, People: and also with you. Leader: Let us pray: We praise you for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We have hope. We shall live forever because of his defeat of death. Alleluia! Alleluia! People: Alleluia! Prayer of Confession We are sinners, but you have cleansed us through Christ. You have broken death, have rescued us. Forgive us again. We trivialize Easter by fixating on ham and hyacinths instead of on the resurrection. We attend worship today and then not again until Christmas. We neglect those in need. Full of fear, we say nothing to anyone about the Good News. For the sake of the Living Messiah, forgive us. Amen. Words of Assurance Leader: Alleluia! Christ has risen; we have been forgiven. God has washed us free through baptism into the death and resurrection. People: Alleluia! Leader: God remembers our sins no more. People: We are clean. Alleluia!
Prayer of Inspiration Swirling Spirit, we praise you for bringing us to the proclamation of the Word. We know that you will guide us to preach to the people and to testify that Christ is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. Amen. Jesus Christ, you have snatched the Church from Satan's mouth. We exalt you for baptism, for the Good News, for holy communion, for forgiveness – for life eternal over death infernal. Lord, we worship you. (congregational response: You are alive. Alleluia!) Jesus Christ, you have filled our nation with good things. Because of your creative love humanity is full of beautiful diversity. We praise you for watching over the troops and others who cannot be with loved ones during the holy days. We look forward to the perpetual peace. Lord, we worship you . . . Jesus Christ, we thank you for good family and good friends, all those whom you have sent as blessings. We are grateful for time together. Keep us safe in travel, help us not to bicker. Open us to care for the lonely, sick, disremembered, imprisoned, and grieving. Bring healing to those in need, including those we mention now silently or out loud [Add names.] Lord, we worship you . . . Jesus Christ, help us to remember with words and actions that Easter is, not one day, but fifty. Lord, we worship you . . . Jesus Christ, we recall those who have died. We miss them, but we glorify you for the assurance that they live in heaven because of your sacrifice. Lord, we worship you . . . You may add other praises or petitions here. We raise these prayers to you, knowing that you bring new life to us every day. Amen. Offertory Prayer Leader: Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; People: God's mercy endures forever. Benediction Leader: This is the day the LORD has made; People: let us rejoice and be glad in it. Leader: Because of the triumph of God's right hand, we shall not die, but live, People: and declare the works of the LORD. Leader: In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we continue Easter for seven weeks; People: We leave the dark tomb to share the blazing Good News with everyone. Alleluia! David von Schlichten, poedifier April 5, 2009 By David von Schlichten Sixth Sunday in Lent/Liturgy of the Passion, Year B Call to Worship Leader: Just as Christ emptied himself, becoming obedient even to death on the cross, People: so are we, the baptized, to take up the cross, emptying ourselves in response to the Good News. Leader: Through Christ's Passion, God has shown us compassion, guaranteeing us life eternal, not death infernal. People: We wave our palm branches with grateful submission to the King, the Messiah, who has saved us through suffering. Leader: In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we gather People: for this, the first holy day of Holy Week, to meditate upon the cross with somber gratitude. Prayer of Invocation Eloi, Eloi, do not forsake us. Lead us, teach us, through the cross. Prayer of Confession Leader: Have mercy on us, O LORD, for we are in trouble; People: our eyes are consumed with sorrow. Leader: We have sinned against you by refusing to empty ourselves. People: We have denied and betrayed you. Leader: We have hit you with disrespect and hung you out to die. People: For the sake of the Crucified God, forgive us. Leader: Let your face shine upon your servants; People: save us in your steadfast love. Hosanna! Words of Assurance Wave palms, for Christ the King has rescued us from endless death through his death on the tree.
Prayer of Inspiration Breath of Christ, empty us of ourselves; fill us with the Word. Prayers of the People Savior, you have delivered us from the lasting grip of the Evil One. We praise you for Dietrich Bonhoeffer, whom you used as a force for good against wickedness. Through the wise strength of the cross, teach us not to cheapen grace but instead to embrace the cost of discipleship. King of the Jews, (congregational response: remember us.). Messiah, we thank you for our nation and for humanity's great diversity. Bless citizen and leader of every land. Draw all people to yourself. King of the Jews, . . . Son of God, you have blessed us with good family and good friends. Make us brave enough to make peace with our enemies. Keep us safe as we travel for the holydays. Embolden us to care for those for whom the holydays are without joy. King of the Jews, . . . Lord of Moses, you continue to care for the Chosen People. We give gratitude to you for Passover and for our Jewish siblings. Bless them during their high holydays. Keep them safe in travel, and draw them closer to you. King of the Jews, . . . Healer, you have cared for body, mind, soul, and heart. Bring healing to all in need, particularly those we mention now in our hearts or aloud [Add names]. King of the Jews, . . . You may add other praises or petitions here. Jesus, we empty ourselves as we lift our prayers to you, trusting in you to fill us and not forsake us. Amen. Offertory Prayer Crucified-King, we lay these gifts at the foot of the cross in gratitude for your sacrifice. Benediction Leader: Waving palms, bowing heads, we walk toward the three Great Days in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. People: Lead us to dark Gethsemane. David von Schlichten, poedifier March 29, 2009 By David von Schlichten Fifth Sunday in Lent, Year B Call to Worship Leader: The high priest according to the order of Melchizedek People: is also the perfect sacrifice, the Son of Man whom God has glorified. Leader: The cross grows larger as we draw closer; People: the healing shadow of God's glory swallows us. Leader: By the wisdom of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit People: we offer to God our broken and contrite hearts. Prayer of Invocation High Priest, just as you learned obedience through suffering, teach us that same obedience through our taking up the cross to serve you, including by helping others. May we follow you this morning and throughout the week. Amen. Prayer of Confession (The confession for this week is based on the paraphrase of Psalm 51 in The Message.) Leader: Generous in love – God, give grace! People: Huge in mercy – wipe out our bad record. Leader: Scrub away our guilt, People: soak out our sins in your laundry. Leader: We have committed adultery against you and others. People: We have betrayed and denied you. Leader: We try to lead you instead of follow you; People: we have broken your covenant even though you have been our husband. Leader: We have made Lent more about weight-loss than soul-growth. People: For the sake of your glorified Son, forgive us. Leader: God, make a fresh start in us, People: shape a Genesis week from the chaos of our lives. Words of Assurance Leader: Through Christ, God has created a grace-intimacy. The Lord writes the law on our hearts. People: Because of the glorified Lamb-Priest, God forgives our iniquity and remembers our sin no more. The Lord has anam-nesia.
Prayer of Inspiration Spirit, teach us God's Law through the proclamation of the Word. Humble us to hate our lives for the sake of Christ. Prayers of the People Grain-of-Wheat Messiah, you have strengthened the Church to obey you by following you and hating worldliness while loving the Father's creation. We sow before you gratitude for leaders such as church renewer Hans Nielsen Hauge and poet John Donne. Divorce us from Satan. We are never chaste unless you ravish us. Source of Eternal Salvation, (congregational response: we pray according to your glory.). Child, Parent and Sibling of David, you have blessed nations around the world and have repeatedly given us second chances. Bring wise humility to President Obama, Congress, and leaders all around the planet. Descend freedom from bloodshed on Iraq, Afghanistan, and Sudan, as well as economic shalom here at home. Keep people safe from Mount Redoubt. May every people be faithful to you. Source of Eternal Salvation, . . . Faithful, Obedient Christ, many people sink into adultery. Bring healing to victims of adultery, including those who commit it. Watch over families. Help each of us to strengthen the love-bonds of families. Source of Eternal Salvation, . . . Laughing Rabbi, you have given us humor and used it in your earthly ministry. This April Fool's Day, lead us to embrace laughter in a way that provides the best medicine to all. Source of Eternal Salvation , . . . God of the New Covenant, you touch us with healing every day. Touch those in special need of healing, including those we mention now in our hearts or aloud [Add names]. We trust in your power, knowing that you are the Source of Eternal Salvation. . . You may add other praises or petitions here. We present these prayers as offerings of thanksgiving for your saving ministry, the eyes of our hearts toward Golgotha. Amen. Offertory Prayer We come to you with contrite spirits, confident that you delight in our offerings arising from our gratitude for your Son's sacrifice. Benediction Leader: Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; People: but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Leader: Those who love their life lose it, People: and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Leader: By the power of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, People: we take up the cross, God drawing us to Christ. David von Schlichten, poedifier March 22, 2009 By David von Schlichten Fourth Sunday in Lent, Year B Call to Worship Leader: By grace we have been saved through faith. People: This is not our doing but the work of Christ on the cross. Leader: Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so has the Son of Man been lifted up, People: so that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. Leader: We praise God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, People: the eyes of our hearts on the cross at Calvary. Prayer of Invocation Jesus our Savior, you have rescued us from sin and death by allowing yourself to be lifted up. Lead us to hate the darkness and love the light, including by working to lead others to the light. In your name we pray and praise. Amen. Prayer of Confession Adonai, we wander in the wilderness, impatient with you even when you rain bread upon us. We surround ourselves with serpents, playing with them and then complaining when they bite us. We hide in the darkness, telling ourselves that we are standing in the light. We are quick to condemn people, send the world to hell, even though Christ has come to save us all. For his sake, forgive us. Lift us up. Rescue us from the fiery serpents. Lead us back to the Promised Land. Words of Assurance The pink grace of God covers us. The Lifted-Up One has redeemed the world, delivered us from the dark. Christ saves you from all your sins, provides the antidote for the venom. By grace God has saved us through faith. Our salvation is not our doing but a gift of God. Amen.
Prayer of Inspiration Promised-Land Wind, through the Word carry us away from the night and into the pink dawn of Easter morning. Prayers of the People We give thanks to you, LORD, for delivering the Church from many troubles. You have filled us with holy guides, including Jonathan Edwards and Oscar Romero. We rejoice over you, (congregational response: for your steadfast love endures forever.). We exalt you, Elohim, for putting your arms around our nation and the world during this period of economic peril. We know that you will endow us with the creativity and wisdom to help each other toward healing. We rejoice over you, . . . We praise you, Creator, for the refreshing blossoming of spring. We find relief and inspiration in the melting away of winter. We rejoice over you, . . . We glorify you, Papa Yah, for the many ways you heal us. Touch with your healing those in need now, including [Add names]. We rejoice over you, . . . Eternal rejoicing belongs to you, Agapic God, for sending the Son to save us from death and sin. We cannot save ourselves. Christ has cured us from the poison of the serpent's bite. We rejoice over you, . . . You may add other praises or petitions here. We thank you, LORD, for your steadfast love, for your wonderful works to humankind. Offertory Prayer We offer you thanksgiving sacrifices and tell of your deeds with songs of joy. Benediction Leader: God of Light, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you have fed us manna and promised to be with us through the wilderness. People: Your love is the antidote to Satan's venom. Leader: We leave here, recommitted to Lent, preparing for the Three Great Days. David von Schlichten, poedifier March 15, 2009 By David von Schlichten Third Sunday in Lent, Year B Call to Worship Leader: The heavens declare the glory of God, People: and the sky proclaims its maker's handiwork. Leader: The teaching of the LORD is perfect People: and revives the soul. Leader: We worship in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, People: zeal for God's house and commandments consuming us. Prayer of Invocation Wisdom-Source, you give us commandments to help us Live. Fill us with passion for your teachings, especially the greatest teaching, the cruciform foolish-wisdom. In the name of the Cleansing Messiah we pray. Amen. Prayer of Confession Torah-Adonai, you brought us out of slavery and into the Promised Land, but we rush into the wilderness of Sin. We build idols out of everything and everyone, from athletes to gadgets. We toss your name around like it's nothing. We make excuses to avoid attending worship. We forget our parents. We kill with our words and neglect. We cheat on each other, con each other, make up lies about one another. We want what others have, green with envy for the grass on the other side. For the sake of the Purifying Savior, forgive us. Scrub us clean of worldly foolishness. Amen. Words of Assurance Who can detect one's own offenses? God alone cleanses us from all our faults, both secret and known. Through Christ crucified, the LORD our God forgives us all our sins and leads us back home, makes us worthy of his Temple.
Prayer of Inspiration Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, our strength and our redeemer. Prayers of the People Lord of Sinai, your statutes are just and rejoice our heart. Your commandments are not a burden but are clear and give light to our eyes. We thank you for your Torah, your teaching, that leads us to live like the saved, baptized saints that we are because of Christ. Sophia-God, (congregational response: your zeal renews us.). Lord of Moses, you have blessed the Church with courageous, determined leaders, including Patrick, who brought Christianity to Ireland. Inspire us to be cleansing proclaimers and liberators. Sophia-God, . . . Lord of the Law, you have made humanity, including the United States, wondrous in its diversity. Guide us all around the world, leader and citizen alike, that we may cleanse creation , including our own hearts, of hatred and prejudice. Sophia-God, . . . Lord of the Cross, over and over you have healed us. Send healing to those in need now, particularly those we mention in our hearts or aloud at this time [Add names]. Sophia-God, . . . Lord of Liturgy, sometimes we misuse the church building. We treat it like a business, a museum, or a club, forgetting that it is a house of worship. Help us to use the church building for you. Sophia-God, . . . Lord of Life, we thank you for Christ saving us through the foolishness of the cross. Bless those who mourn. Use us in the Church to comfort the bereaved. Sophia-God, . . . You may add other praises or petitions here. Lord of Sinai, we elevate these prayers to you, full of praise for your weakness, which is far greater than human strength. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Offertory Prayer We present this offering, not for our gain, but for your glory, including through serving the neighbor and revering your house. Benediction Leader: On this sabbath have we served you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, People: and you have blessed us to share your wisdom, keeping your commandments. So be it. David von Schlichten, poedifier [First Page] [Prev] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 [Next] [Last Page] Return |
