Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Cycle B Lectionary 27 Proper 22

10/4/2015 Confession 

Sunday Title: Indignant Sunday
Sermon Title: “Is God; who made us for relationship, pleased with us?”

Previously:
Sunday Title: Scripture Sunday
Sermon Title: “How do you interpret scripture?”
Sunday Title: Relationship Sunday
Sermon Title: Relationship- it get’s around.
Sunday Title: Little Child Sunday,
Sermon Title: "A Second Childhood?"

Scripture Cuttings:
Genesis 2:18-24 This at last is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman for out of Man this one was taken.
Psalm 8 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son....
Mark 10:2-16 Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.

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 soften our hearts, so that we may approach our Lord.
    (pause for self-examination)
P:  Lord God...
C: how complicated we want to make your world.
We hunt for ways to satisfy our desires,
  and bypass your intention in creation.
We convolute the reasons for our actions,
  trying to justify ourselves and persuade you.
Still we ignore the call to your kingdom.
For the sins we can name, forgive us Lord.
For the sins we hide, save us Lord. (Pause for reflection)

P:  Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these days God speaks to us by a Son. Jesus Christ is the pioneer of our salvation, made perfect through suffering. It is for Christ's sake our sins are forgiven. It is Christ who calls us brothers and sisters and children of the one Heavenly Father. In the Holy Spirit we may become honest in our repentance and children in the Kingdom 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!

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Cycle B Lectionary 26 Proper 21

9/27/2015 Confession

Sunday Title: Little Child Sunday
Sermon Title: “Which weighs more a millstone or a cup of water?”

Previously:
Sunday Title: Inside Sunday
Sermon Title: “Take them in, let them out.”
Sunday Title: Serious Sunday
Sermon Title: "How short is the Lord's Hand"
Sunday Title: Little Child Sunday,
Sermon Title: "A Second Childhood?"

Scripture Cuttings:
Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29 But Moses said... "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!"
Psalm 19:7-14 Moreover by [your instructions] is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
James 5:13-20 The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.
Mark 9:38-50 Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you restore its saltiness? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

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 set aside our grumbling,
  confessing our sins to one another, and praying for one another.
 (pause to reflect: what would we be afraid to confess to one another?
pause to reflect: why would we be afraid to confess to one another?)
P:  Lord God...
C: you see all that we do.
You know all that we fail to do.
  We do not pray when we suffer
    because we do not trust your timetable.
We do not sing praises when we are cheerful
  because we want even more.
We do not confess our sin to one another
  because we do not trust each other-
    and for good reason:
we wander from the truth
  and do not hold each other accountable,
    except to make ourselves look good.
Hard is our confession: forgive us Lord.
Deep are the consequences of our sin: save us Lord.
    (Pause for reflection)
P:  Though we kindle the Lord's anger, strong is our God's faithfulness. Our sins are forgiven for the sake of our Lord and Savior: Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is poured out upon us, and we are invited to live all our days, well seasoned in the grace of God, and in peace with one another. Then more will see 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

Psalm 19:7-14
Leader:    The law of the Lord is perfect,
Women:    reviving the soul;
Men:    the decrees of the Lord are sure,
Women:    making wise the simple;
Men:    the precepts of the Lord are right,
Women:    rejoicing the heart;
Men:    the commandment of the Lord is clear,
Women:    enlightening the eyes;
Men:    the fear of the Lord is pure,
Women:    enduring forever;
Men:    the ordinances of the Lord are true
Women:    and righteous altogether.
Men:    More to be desired are they than gold,
Women:    even much fine gold;
Men:    sweeter also than honey,
Women:    and drippings of the honeycomb.
Men:    Moreover by them is your servant warned;
Women:    in keeping them there is great reward.
Men:    But who can detect their errors?
Women:    Clear me from hidden faults.
Men:    Keep back your servant also from proud thoughts;
Women:    do not let them have dominion over me.
Men:    Then I shall be blameless,
Women:    and innocent of great transgression.
Men:    Let the words of my mouth
Women:    and the meditation of my heart
Men:    be acceptable to you,
All:    O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. -New Revised Standard Version

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

C: And also with you!

Saturday, September 12, 2015

Cycle B Lectionary 25 Proper 20

9/20/2015 Confession

Sunday Title: Greatest Sunday
Sermon Title: How to succeed in Christianity without really caring.

Previously:
Sunday Title: Success Sunday
Sermon Title: How does Christianity thrive in a success driven culture?
Sunday Title: Greatest Sunday
Sermon Title: In the Centers
Sunday Title: Last Sunday
Sermon Title: "Vindication from Our Prosecution"

Scripture Cuttings:
Jeremiah 11:18-20 But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. And I did not know it was against me that they devised schemes, saying, "Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name will no longer be remembered!"
Psalm 54 But surely, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.
James 3:13-4:3,7-8a For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.
Mark 9:30-37 "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me."

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 draw near to God
  so that God may draw near to us.
      (pause to reflect: how near to God would be comfortable)
P:  Lord God...
C: we are reluctant to look to you for right and wrong
  except of course when we are right
    and can prove it by quoting scripture- or tradition,
      or we conspire to do wrong, but it is for your glory.
We consider ourselves leaders in the faith,
  yet we never lead by being last.
While we may not call ourselves great,
  we do identify and shun the least among us.
We become false witnesses:
  welcoming our children's children
    but only some of your children.
Lord if these are the sins we name for your forgiveness...
what are the sins we hide?
Forgive us Lord. Save us Lord. (Pause for reflection)
P:  Our God knows good from evil, and will judge righteously. God calls to trial our hearts and minds. But for our sakes, the Son of Man is betrayed, killed, and rises again. For Christ's sake our sins are forgiven. By the power of the Holy Spirit we may know and live in the wisdom that comes from above: pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. All 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!

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Cycle B Lectionary 24 Proper 19

9/13/2015 Confession

Sunday Title: Rally Day  Servant Sunday
Sermon Title: What does Service require?

Previously:
Sunday Title: Identity Sunday
Sermon Title: Who do you say that I am?
Sunday Title: Suffering Sunday
Sermon Title: Suffering- you gotta be kiddin me!
Sunday Title: Cross Sunday
Sermon Title: "Who will teach of the cross....... by example?"
Sunday Title: Tongue Sunday,
Sermon Title: "What will you say?"

Scripture Cuttings:
Isaiah 50:4-9a The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward.
Psalm 116:1-9 O Lord, I pray you, save my life
James 3:1-12 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire!
Mark 8:27-38 But who do you say that I am?.... If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

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 know we can not pretend to be deaf to God's call.
(pause to examine what noise keeps us from being a "listener")
P:  Lord God...
C: we set our minds on human things, not on divine things.
Usually it is our own things we set our minds upon.
  We confess to be your disciples,
but if it involves carrying a burden,
  or rejection, or suffering, or discomfort,
    we are not so quick to deny ourselves, take our cross and follow.
You put the word in our ears and in our hands,
  but we do not strive to become listeners and learners,
    how can we think to become followers and disciples?
For the sins we can name, forgive us Lord.
For the sins we hide, save us Lord. (Pause for reflection)
P:  Our God desires to teach us, to open our ears, to call us to true repentance. To this end God sends the Messiah, the Christ, to undergo great suffering, be rejected and killed, and after three days rise again. It is for Christ's sake that our sins are forgiven. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we may become followers, giving our very lives into the hands of God all for the good news in Jesus Christ. 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!