Cycle C Lectionary 31 Proper 26

11/3/2013 Confession

Sunday Title: not a Festival Sunday

Sermon Title: “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Piety”

Scripture Cuttings:

Isaiah 1:10-18 …learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed,

defend the orphan, plead for the widow. 

Psalm 32 I resolved, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," and You forgave the guilt of my sin.

2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12 To this end we always pray for you,

asking that our God will make you worthy of his call….

Luke 19:1-10 "Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost."

Confession:

All may make the sign of the cross in remembrance of baptism

as the presiding minister begins:

P:  In the Name of the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen

P:  The Lord calls us to deliberate on our actions and our worship….

    (pause to search ourselves for honesty)

P:  We come before you Lord

C: in this time, this morning, with our prayers and offerings.

But you see what we do before we are here.

  Our praise is corrupted by our iniquity,

    Our worship revoked by our sin.

While we celebrate great festivals with feasting,

  we do not feed the hungry.

We may sing Stand up Stand up for Jesus!

  But when do we defend the orphan, or plead for the widow?

We pray earnestly, and even stretch out our hands in praise.

  Still we sequester our wealth and our abilities for ourselves,

    and despise those who we designate as sinners. (Pause for reflection)

P:  Lord…

C: We are lost.

Forgive us the sins we name.

Save us from the sins we deny.  (Pause for reflection)

P:  Today salvation comes to this house! It is for Christ’s sake our sins are forgiven. Our shouts and praise may be for our deliverance. According to the grace of God we are made worthy of his call, and we may now grow abundantly in faith and love and by his power fulfill every good resolve and work of faith, so we may glorify the Father, Son, + and Holy Spirit.

C: Amen. -wjw

P:  The peace of the Lord be with you always!

C: And also with you!

-or -

Psalm 32

Cycle C All Saints

11/03/2013 Confession

A Great Sunday to use Thanksgiving for Baptism -ELW

Sunday Title:  All Saints Sunday

Sermon Title: “Today’s Saints”

Previously:

Sunday Title:  All Saints Sunday

Sermon Title: “Saints among Us”

Sunday Title:  All Saints Sunday

Sermon Title: "Circle of Witnesses"

Scripture Cuttings:

Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18 But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever—forever and ever.

Psalm 149 Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their couches.

Ephesians 1:11-23 In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory.

Luke 6:20-31 Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.

Confession:

All may make the sign of the cross in remembrance of baptism

as the presiding minister begins:

P:  In the Name of the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen

P:  Let us put down our defenses and be honest with God. (pause)

  God of  our blessing

C: we are fooled by this world.

We seek it’s fulfillment in wealth, respect,

  constant happiness and even full bellies.

The effort of our lives is always to be “fulfilled”

  rather than filled with you.

Only you Lord can take our deepest pain and make it gain,

  only you have the power to convert our sorrow into joy.

You promise us reversal of fortune yet we try to escape.

  We are bitter when we are reviled, excluded, defamed

    and even hated because of our faith.

We are unwilling to sacrifice for your name sake.

When Lord, have we loved our enemies,

  done good to those who hate us, 

    prayed for and blessed those who abuse and curse us? 

You redeem us, but we fail to offer this blessing to others.

  And even when we are richly blessed,

    we count your blessings as our possessions.

Forgive us Lord for the sins we know in our heart.

Save us Lord from the sins we hide. (pause for reflection and self-examination)

P:  Lord help us to listen to you...

C: and trust in your ways. Amen

P:  God’s will is to bless us and forgive us our sins. God put this power to work in Jesus Christ who died upon the cross. For Christ's sake our sins are forgiven. In Christ we obtain an inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people. We are marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit and invited to live in the richness of  God’s glorious inheritance and to praise God’s glory. In the name of the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen. -wjw

P:  The peace of the Lord be with you always!

C: And also with you!

Cycle ABC Reformation

10/27/2012 Confession (s)

Sunday Title: New Sunday

Sermon Title: “From faithfulness to religion and back”

Previously:

Sunday Title: Heritage Sunday

Sermon Title: What is Your Favorite Passage in Scripture?

Sunday Title: Reformation Sunday

Sermon Title: God and God Alone

Sunday Title: Reformation Sunday

Sermon Title: dismembering

Sunday Title:  Reformation Sunday

Sermon Title: Freedom.

Sunday Title:  Affirmation Sunday

Sermon Title: What is next?

Sunday Title:  Reformation Sunday

Sermon Title: "Grace is that hard to believe"

Sermon Title: "Free to Choose Freedom"

Sermon Title: "Inner Bondage"

Sermon Title: "Slave or Free"

Sermon Title: “Why Reform”

Sermon Title: “Know the Lord!- Compliance or Confidence”

Scripture Cuttings:

Jeremiah 31:31-34 I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Psalm 46 The Lord of hosts is with us: the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Romans 3:19-28 For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus....

John 8:31-36 Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.

All may make the sign of the cross in remembrance of baptism

as the presiding minister begins:

P:  In the Name of the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen

P:  Let us put aside our good works

  and remember that we do sin and fall short of the glory of God.

    (silence is a good way to end a public boast

      confession is a good way to end a private boast)

  Lord of all,

C: the demands of your righteousness

are too hard for us to fulfill alone,

  so we rush off with this excuse

    and ignore your law.

You forgive our iniquity and remember our sin no more,

  and we abuse this freedom

    as if it were a license to selfishness,

      self-indulgence and self-righteousness.

You give us the gift of grace: atonement in the blood your Son,

  yet we make it cheap without serious repentance.

We fail to see the power of your faithfulness.

We are your people, but do we know you as our God?

Forgive us Lord, the sins we know in our heart.

Save us Lord from the sins we hide.

  (pause for reflection and self-examination)

P:  God of our refuge and strength...

C: have mercy on us, write on our hearts. Amen

P:  God does show us God’s own righteousness, and divine forbearance. Through the work of the Holy Spirit given to us, we may come to know the truth and be made free. Jesus Christ the Son of God sets us free from our slavery to sin. Our sins are forgiven. Through his death and resurrection a place is made for us in the household, and we may be know as children of God. To the glory of the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen. -wjw

P:  The peace of the Lord be with you always!

C: And also with you!

-or-

All may make the sign of the cross in remembrance of baptism

as the presiding minister begins:

P:  In the Name of the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen

P:  We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

  before we worship we should prepare our hearts...

      (pause for self-examination)

P:  Faithful Lord...

C: we are slaves to our sin,

  we choose this bondage each day.

Sometimes we plot a wicked deed,

  or use our status for personal gain.

    We follow through with an unfair advantage,

      and always remain oblivious in small offenses.

Whatever our sin is we justify it to ourselves,

  ignore our conscience,

    rationalize it to the authorities

      and boast of it to our friends.

This remains our habit, our way

  because we do not tend to our relationship with you.

Rather we consider our selves all right with you.

  We treat your forgiveness like permission.

Lord, forgive the sin we confront.

Lord, save us from the sin we evade in heart and mind. (Pause for reflection)

P:  God's righteousness is shown to us. We are now justified- that is brought into right relationship- with God by God's grace, as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. For Christ's sake our sins are forgiven. In this state of grace we may recognize God is writing on our hearts, and live as faithful people of God. To the glory of the Father, Son, + and Holy Spirit.

C: Amen. -wjw

P:  The peace of the Lord be with you always!

C: And also with you!

Cycle C Lectionary 30 Proper 25

10/27/2013 Confession 

If not observing Reformation Sunday

Sunday Title: Accomplishment Sunday

Sermon Title: “Bragging Rights”

Scripture Cuttings:

Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22 Although our iniquities testify against us, act, O Lord, for your name’s sake; our apostasies indeed are many, and we have sinned against you.

Psalm 84:1-7 Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise.

2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Luke 18:9-14 Jesus also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: “Two men went up to the temple to pray….”

Confession:

All may make the sign of the cross in remembrance of baptism

as the presiding minister begins:

P:  In the Name of the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen

P:  The Lord will search us for our honesty….

    (pause to search ourselves for honesty)

P:  Lord for your name sake...

C: do not forsake us.

Although our iniquities testify against us

  we ask for your forgiveness.

We abandon our faith for convenience,

  only to call upon you name when it is handy to do so.

We have sinned against you.

  We acknowledge our wickedness.

We have come to worship you

  yet for our sisters and brothers

    we have contempt in our hearts

      and on our lips.

Help us, O Lord, to learn to keep the faith

without contempt for those we think do not. (Pause for reflection)

P:  God is our strength. In the work which we can not do, God justifies us in Christ Jesus our Lord. It is for Christ’s sake that our sins are forgiven. It is in the power of the Holy Spirit that we may know our reconciliation and abandon our sinful ways. All of this can only be for the glory of the Father, Son, + and Holy Spirit.

C: Amen. -wjw

P:  The peace of the Lord be with you always!

C: And also with you!

Cycle C Lectionary 29 Proper 24

10/20/2013 Confession

Sunday Title: Prayer Sunday

Sermon Title: “Which side are you on, Who is on ”

Previously:

Sunday Title: Justice Sunday

Sermon Title: “Broken Rules & Flip-Flop Justice”

Welcome Pastor John Zimmann

Sunday Title: Wrestling Sunday

Sermon Title: “A prayer for justice.”

Sunday Title: Persistence Sunday

Sermon Title:"How to strive with God and Prevail...."

Sunday Title: Perseverance Sunday -

Sermon Title: Wrestling with God - Wearing out God - A Match of Wills - God: a Worthy Advisory -

Scripture Cuttings:

Genesis 32:22-31 You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.

Psalm 121 The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.

2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable....

Luke 18:1-8 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart.

Confession:

All may make the sign of the cross in remembrance of baptism

as the presiding minister begins:

P:  In the Name of the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen

P:  Let us make confession to the God who watches over our going out and coming in. (pause)

  Lord of our help,

C: by our own nature we insist on fairness,

  for ourselves,

    without persisting for justice.

We look up to you, our maker, for our help

  but we don’t seek you as Lord in our service.

We don’t wrestle with you when we face difficult decisions,

  instead we teach ourselves with lessons of this world.

Forgive us Lord for the sins we know in our heart.

Save us Lord from the sins we hide. (pause for reflection and self-examination)

P:  Watchful God...

C: have mercy on us. Amen

P:  Our Lord who watches us neither slumbers nor sleeps. So by the faith in Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead we are able to obtain salvation. It is for Christ’s sake that our sins are forgiven. And whether the time is favorable or unfavorable, by the blessing of the Holy Spirit we are able to persist in the ministry, so that when Christ comes he will find faith on earth. In the name of the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen -wjw

P:  The peace of the Lord be with you always!

C: And also with you!

-or-

All may make the sign of the cross in remembrance of baptism

as the presiding minister begins:

P:  In the Name of the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen

P:  We are people of faith, let's be honest with God...

    (pause for self-examination)

P:  Lord of all...

C: we wrestle with you, attempting to prevail.

We think if we can win an argument in our head,

  we may behave as we please,

    and our every wish will be your command.

When we pray we are not afraid to ask,

  but we do not listen,

    and we are inconsistent in our persistence.

Our petitions to you are full of desires,

  and we seek your blessing

    as an endorsement of our schemes, opinions and ethics.

Lord, forgive the sin we bring into the open,

Lord, save us from the sin we hide away. (Pause for reflection)

P:  Our God is good and just. So we who are not, would be in a lot of trouble if it were not for God's mercy and love. Through faith we may come to know our salvation. In Christ's faith it is offered to us. For Christ's sake our sins are forgiven. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit we may rekindle our persistence in faith. To the glory of the Father, Son, + and Holy Spirit.

C: Amen. -wjw

P:  The peace of the Lord be with you always!

C: And also with you!