Cycle A Advent 3

12/15/2013 Confession

Sunday Title:  Joy Sunday   Greatest & Least Sunday

Sermon Title: “Imagine: Repentance: Just the Start!”

Previously:

Sunday Title:  Joy Sunday  

Sermon Title: “Managing Joy”

Sunday Title:  Joy Sunday

Sermon Title: “Practice Hope”

Sunday Title:  Joy Sunday

Sermon Title: "Waiting for Real Hope”

Scripture Cuttings:

Isaiah 35:1-10 Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God.”

Psalm 146:5-10 …the Lord… keeps faith forever… executes justice for the oppressed… gives food to the hungry…. sets the prisoners free… opens the eyes of the blind.

Luke 1:47-55 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors....

James 5:7-10 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.

Matthew 11:2-11 Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?

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 prepare for the Lord’s coming by repenting of our sins.

     (pause)

  Lord of our joy

C: we see your amazing signs and rich blessing for us,

  yet we question your authority in our lives.

We consider ourselves people of God

  but we do not travel in your Holy Way.

We hear your messenger preparing the way

  and we know that you mean to save us,

still we seek happiness outside of salvation,

  the salvation you bring to all your people.

Save us Lord from the sins we know in our heart.

Save us Lord from the sins we hide.

    (pause for reflection and self-examination)

P:  God of salvation...

C: open our hearts to your joy. Amen

P:  The Lord is coming! Jesus Christ is coming into the world. It is for Christ’s sake that our sins are forgiven. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit we may come to know the joy in salvation by the God who reigns and keeps promises forever. 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 A Advent 2

12/8/2013 Confession

Sunday Title:  Peace Sunday  (Prepare Sunday)

Sermon Title: “In your hearing….”

Previously:

Sunday Title:  Peace Sunday

Sermon Title: “Religion’s role in Faithfulness”

Sunday Title:  Desert Sunday

Sermon Title: "Dust and Water”

Scripture Cuttings:

Isaiah 11:1-10 The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.

Romans 15:4-13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 3:1-12 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea….

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 kingdom of heaven is coming near!

Let us repent of our sins. (pause)

  Lord of all hope…

C: we allow our eyes and ears to deceive us.

We judge and decide by what brings us favor and pleasure.

  We turn our backs on the poor

    consoling ourselves that we are not rich.

We look down upon the meek for not having our strength.

  We rest upon our religion,

    instead of bearing faithful fruit worthy of our repentance.

Save us Lord from the sins we know in our heart.

Save us Lord from the sins we hide.

    (pause for reflection and self-examination)

P:  God of righteousness...

C: make your path straight in our hearts. Amen

P:  The Lord is coming! A Son is given. It is for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ that our repentance will count and our sins are forgiven. This is the Son who fulfills all righteousness and baptizes us with the Holy Spirit. Let us walk in the paths of right relationship with our God. 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 A Advent 1

12/1/2013 Confession(s)

Sunday Title:  Plow Sunday

Sermon Title: “Learning Peace”

Previously:

Sunday Title:  Hope Sunday

Sermon Title: “Preparing or Waiting”

Sunday Title:  House Cleaning Sunday

Sermon Title: "Company’s Coming"

Sunday Title:  Preparation Week 1

Sermon Title: “the unexpected hour”

Scripture Cuttings:

Isaiah 2:1-5 Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.

Psalm 122 For the sake of my relatives and friends I will say, "Peace be within you."

Romans 13:11-14 Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light;

Matthew 24:36-44 Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

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 time is ripe, let us open our hearts to God...

     (pause for self-examination)

P:  Lord you call us to your house...

C: to the place we know you are present

so we may learn you ways

  and hear of your salvation.

But we would rather listen to the others,

  the ones who lead away from your light,

    the ones who say there is plenty of time,

      we can always change later,

        we can be faithful next week.

We hide in the darkness of our jealousy,

  and revel in quarrels of self-rightness,

    while ignoring the urgency of our faithfulness.

Lord forgive the sins we see,

Lord save us from our blindness. (Pause for reflection)

P:  Messiah is coming, salvation is near to us; for God is sending the Son into the world. For Christ's sake our sins are forgiven. Let us live honorably in faithfulness- wearing the Lord Jesus Christ in all we think do and say. This for the glory of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen. -wjw

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

C: And also with you!

-or-

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 take this time and be honest with God.

     (pause for self-examination)

  O Lord

C: our sin is obvious to you,

  yet we do not see our own works of darkness.

Only you can show us the light of salvation,

  but we are not ready to prepare for your coming.

Even with Christmas on the way,

  we still make provisions for our flesh and desires,

    instead of seeing the sign

      to put on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Save us Lord from the sins we know in our heart.

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

P:  God of salvation...

C: rescue us from ours sins. Amen

P:  The Lord is coming! And what a salvation God will bring to us. Because we belong to God a Son will be sent to save us: our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is for Christ’s sake that our sins are forgiven. And through the gift of the Holy Spirit we may again walk in the light of the Lord. In the name of the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen

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

C: And also with you!

Cycle C Christ the King Lectionary 34

11/24/2013 Confession

Sunday Title:  Subject Sunday

Sermon Title: “Help me remember I belong to your kingdom”

Previously:

Sunday Title:  Monarch Sunday

Sermon Title: “What do we know of a king?”

Sunday Title:  Christ the King

Sermon Title: “Kingdom- Subject or Commentator”

Scripture Cuttings:

Jeremiah 23:1-6 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.

Psalm 46 Come, behold the works of the Lord; see what desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;

Colossians 1:11-20 He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins by his blood.

Luke 23:33-43 Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

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 prepare ourselves for the Kingdom of God.

      (pause)

P:  Almighty God,

C: you ask us to lead well

  we fail to be the shepherds of your sheep

You ask us to follow faithful shepherds

  we wander off in search of greenest pastures.

You set Christ out as our King,

  and we plan for faithfulness as our consensus

    or a democracy.

And failing to get “our” righteous way

  we preserve “integrity” with disunity.

You redeem- again,

  we hoard the good news of your everlasting mercy.

Forgive us.

And if we don’t think we need your forgiveness- save us.

Amen.

   (pause for reflection and self-examination)

P:  Christ Jesus is the first born of the dead, the head of his body the church, and God is pleased to reconcile all things in heaven and on earth by making peace through the blood of his cross. Rescued we are, from the power of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 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 C Lectionary 33 Proper 28

11/17/2013 Confession(s)

Sunday Title:  Testify Sunday  Veterans Sunday

Sermon Title: “Living Kingdom in these Days”

Previously:

Sunday Title:  Trust Sunday

Sermon Title: “Just for this Day”

Sunday Title:  Last Sunday 

Sermon Title: "What do you Have?"

Scripture Cuttings:

Malachi 4:1-2a ….for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.

Psalm 98 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises.

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.

Luke 21:5-19 Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them.

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 take a moment to be honest with God...

    (pause for self-examination)

P:  Lord you really do know us...

C: how we yearn for your righteous judgment,

  against all those evildoers in our wicked world;

    yet we never considering ourselves in the mix.

How poor we are at seeing our own sin,

  especially when we live in such an immoral society

    and there are so many others to point or fingers at;

      so we fail to see how we participate.

We the faithful; would stand with you through the end,

  we won’t stand for you here in the present.

We soil our Christian witness with indifference,

    arrogance, intemperance,

      as well as gossip, negativity, idleness,

        and self generated rightness.

Lord forgive these sins recognized and named.

Lord save us from the sins still undercover. (Pause for reflection)

P:  Jesus Christ will come again to judge the living and the dead. God’s Son, who died for our sins is the source off any and all of our righteousness. It is for Christ's sake our sins are forgiven. Forgiven now and in the time at the end. Between this moment and then we are restored to right relationship to be lived in faith, for 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:  The Judge of the world is coming! Let us be honest with God. (pause)

  God of  our salvation..

C: We take pride in the impressive things we have accomplished.

  Beautiful buildings and gifts dedicated to you.

    Yet we do not dedicate our lives daily.

We walk by, avoid, and ignore opportunities to testify,

  in actions and words.

Our faithfulness does not stand one stone upon another.

With confidence in our convictions

  we do not hunger for your redemption,

    instead we live in idleness, led astray by satisfaction,

      and become arrogant in our religion.

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 bring all to righteousness. The Son of righteousness is risen and for Christ's sake our sins are forgiven. Given the redemption bestowed upon us we may revere his name, in this time and the age to come, when he judges the living and the dead. This 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!

Cycle C Lectionary 32 Proper 27

11/10/2013 Confession(s)

Sunday Title:  Layer Sunday 

Sermon Title: "One Bride Seven Brothers"

Previously:

Sunday Title:  Stewardship   

Sermon Title: “The “currency” of our lives”

Scripture Cuttings:

Job 19:23-27a For I know that my Redeemer lives....

Psalm 17:1-9 Guard me as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. Let no one deceive you in any way....

Luke 20:27-38 Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; then the second and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her.

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 look deep inside ourselves as we come before God... (pause for self-examination)

P:  Lord you know our hearts...

C: you know how we waver in purpose for life,

  we decide to cover ourselves with the things of this world.

As soon as we complete our religious rituals,

  you watch us choose to ignore your salvation.

We try to define your heavenly kingdom

  with earthly logic

    and hush the Spirit you have put inside of us.

We know the promise of redemption.

  but we fail to live faithfully the life you give us now.

Lord forgive these sins uncovered,

Lord save us from the sins hidden. (Pause for reflection)

P:  Our Redeemer lives! We proclaim this to be true. Jesus Christ, the Son of God dies for our sins and is raised from the dead. For Christ's sake our sins are forgiven. We are chosen to be the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Holy Spirit and through belief in the truth. For this purpose we are called to be children of God and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, 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-

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

C: Amen

P:  Let us take this time and be honest with God. (pause)

  O Lord

C: we tangle ourselves up in the details of our daily lives

  and forget to remember that all we have is from you.

We rely constantly on the rules and ways of this world

  and fail to trust your guidance in our decisions.

We are afraid to change the simplest things

  that make us feel secure

    even when we know your power to redeem.

Save us Lord from the sins we know in our heart.

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

P:  God of  the living...

C: rescue us from ours sins. Amen

P:  Our Lord who rescues us from all evil shows marvelous loving kindness. God sends Jesus Christ into our world. Christ suffered, died and was buried and rose again. We do know that our Redeemer lives! It is for Christ’s sake that our sins are forgiven. We are blessed with the Holy Spirit and given the power, even in this world, to live again as children of God. 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!