The Rev. John always
draws us into our services with such evocative prayers that not only seek out our
deepest yearnings, but give us the words to speak which we cannot say
ourselves. Because of this I am tempted to reproduce them as they were prayed
in the service but space does not permit. So here is some of each:
Call
to Worship
(Abingdon
Worship Annual 2018)
The light God shines
forth in Jesus Christ changes everything... This is good news indeed.
Jesus says, “Now
is the time!”
Startle us, God, from
our busyness and routines. Show us how very close your Kingdom is.
Jesus says, “God’s
kingdom is at hand!”
Deliver us, God, from
faith in our own strength. Free us from the traps of violence, dishonesty, and
greed.
Jesus says, “Receive
the good news from God!” Embolden us, God, to trust you anew. For we are
as fragile as breath, and draw our strength from your mercy and compassion.
Opening prayer
Loving God, in this
season of Epiphany, your kingdom has drawn close— so close we can almost touch
it. Help us see that we already live under your rule of peace. May our worship
today draw us closer to you and to one another.
Confession
God, we know that you
alone are unshakable. You alone are our stronghold and our refuge. You deliver
and glorify us, yet we fail to love and glorify you in return. We live as if we
can save ourselves, as if we can be our own stronghold and fortress against the
storm. Yet we are fragile as breath. We are consumed by our desires to succeed
and dominate. We blindly strive to get our way, and are greedy for all sorts of
wealth.
And so, we confess
our failings to you and to one another, trusting in your forgiveness and your
grace. Amen.
Declaration
of Forgiveness
Beloved, God repays
us according to our deeds, and yet in Jesus Christ, we have nothing to fear.
Trusting God with everything, we rest in God’s faithful love. Allowing Christ
to change our hearts and our lives, we find God’s strength and hope.
Thanks, be to God!
The Peace
God alone gives us
peace, a peace that is trustworthy and sure. Greet one another with the good
news of peace in Jesus Christ.
Peace be with you!
In the service that
followed we worshipped in practical ways, the announcements giving evidence of our
Christianity lived out in our church and out in the world and the offering our
worship with our gifts for God’s work around us.
The Readings looked
at God's warning to Nineveh in Jonah and Jesus calling of the disciples in
Mark:
In both readings the
people spoken to responded immediately and wholeheartedly. Of
course in the case of the people of Nineveh the threat of dire consequences motivated their jump to action but even though there was no threat to the fishermen to whom Jesus spoke, in each case the people involved knew they had heard the voice of truth.
course in the case of the people of Nineveh the threat of dire consequences motivated their jump to action but even though there was no threat to the fishermen to whom Jesus spoke, in each case the people involved knew they had heard the voice of truth.
I have always
wondered about the response of those fishermen. They were poor enough, making a
regular income, so why were they so ready to give that up for no guarantee of
income at all? And what about their families? My only conclusion has been that
Jesus’ word carried with it such authority and truth that the men had no
alternative other than to obey.
When Jesus spoke to
those fishermen, he promised that they would fish for more followers. That is
Jesus’ word of truth to us, but have we responded as quickly and as
wholeheartedly as did the fishermen? Have we risked all for the only thing that
matters?
In Rev. John’s talk
to the children, he recalled the paperboys calling out from street corners,
promising that if we bought their papers, we would be able to “Read all about
it!”
When people see us,
when people hear us, when people interact with us…are they able to “Read all
about it?” Does anyone even know we are followers of Jesus of Nazareth?
And are we so
convincing that anyone would ever act with such quickness as the people of
Nineveh did?
Of course, God allows
for our less than stellar performances. God can speak in other ways to anyone
who is seeking the truth, but we do have our part to play.
Rev. John used a DVD
to play a prayer, part of which said:
You have come down to
the lakeshore seeking neither the wise nor the wealthy,
But only asking for me to follow. You know full well my possessions.
Neither treasure nor weapons for conquest, just these my fish nets and will for working…
But only asking for me to follow. You know full well my possessions.
Neither treasure nor weapons for conquest, just these my fish nets and will for working…
O Jesus, you have
looked into my eyes; kindly smiling, you have called out my name. On the sand I
have abandoned my small boat, now with you, I will seek other seas.
Benediction
Go forth and share
the good news from God.
God rewards us and
our deeds, not with doom, but with mercy. In circumstances both difficult and
joyful, God remains our place of safety.
Go forth and proclaim
God’s kingdom.
The world as we know
it is passing away. We belong to God’s kingdom, which is coming and now is.
Now is the time to be
the good news.
We go forth to tell
the world the good news of the strength and mercy of our God.
Hymn 779: “May
the feet of God walk with you”
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