Cycle C Advent 3

12/13/2015 Confession

Sunday Title: Joy Sunday

Sermon Title: What if God really does want us to repent?

Previously:

Sunday Title: Really Repentance Sunday

Sermon Title: Now, Fear Repentance or would you rather Love Repentance?

Sunday Title: Joy Sunday

Sermon Title: "Fear or Peace or Fear or Peace"

Scripture Cuttings:

Zephaniah 3:14-20 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more.

Isaiah 12:2-6 I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.

Philippians 4:4-7 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Luke 3:7-18 And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?"

Confession:

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

C: Amen

P:  Surely God is our salvation; let us trust and be not afraid.

        (repentance is trusting God's mercy in the face of judgment)

P:  Lord...

C: we do not begin to live in right relationship.

We do not offer you prayer and supplication.

  We worry about things of this world,

    and make ourselves the focus.

Sometimes we are at "peace"

  if we have what we want,

    yet our sisters and brothers are in need.

Still we are neither ready nor concerned with judgment

  and so do not ask "what then should we do?"

    rather foolishly we rely on our "Christian" affiliation.

Our sin is before you Lord

save us.

    (Pause for reflection)

P:  Sing and shout, rejoice and exult with all your heart. The Lord takes  away the judgment against us. God gives the Son: Jesus Christ to take away the sin of the world. Our sins are forgiven, we shall no longer fear evil or disaster. Our lives may now carry the worthy fruit of our honest repentance 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!

Cycle C Advent 2

12/6/2015 Confession

Sunday Title: Peace Sunday

Sermon Title: Prelude to a New Creation.

Previously:

Sunday Title: Repentance Sunday

Sermon Title: Fear Repentance or Love Repentance?

Sunday Title: Peace Sunday

Sermon Title: "Straight Paths"

Sunday Title: Ready Sunday,

Sermon Title: "Who Could be Ready?"

Scripture Cuttings:

Malachi 3:1-4 See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me....

Luke 1:68-79 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways....

Philippians 1:3-11 ...that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best....

Luke 3:1-6 [John] went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins....

Confession:

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.

        (contemplate turning to God's ways)

P:  Lord...

C: we know you want us to be pure,

  and to commit our very best to you,

    but for now we want to keep you at arms length.

Of course we are prepared to hear the wonderful news.

  We are ready for Christmas and Jesus' birth.

    We know the coming baby is Lord and Savior.

      Still we don't act saved,

        nor serve under you our Lord.

Forgive us for the sins we recognize,

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

P:  Our God is producing a harvest of righteousness. In the gift of his Son, salvation comes to God's people through the forgiveness of sins. Our sins are forgiven. We can live in salvation today with lives of right relationship with 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!

Cycle C Advent 1

11/29/2015 Confession

Sunday Title: Alert Sunday

Sermon Title: Ready Faithfulness

Previously:

Sunday Title: Awaking Sunday

Sermon Title: Paying Attention

Sunday Title: Hope Sunday

Scripture Cuttings:

Jeremiah 33:14-16 The days are surely coming, says the Lord....

Psalm 25:1-10 I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust....

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Luke 21:25-36 Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.

Confession:

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 to reflect how to prepare for Jesus' actual coming?)

P:  Lord God...

C: how long do we wait for you to save your people?

You must hurry O Lord before we are distracted,

  before our attention is dissipated,

    before we are consumed with the worries of life.

We need you to execute justice,

  and bring righteousness to the land.

    because we are unwilling to act like saved children.

We are slow to strengthen our hearts,

  reluctant to let your love in us increase,

    until it abounds for one another and for all.

We hide our unready, unworthy sinfulness

  behind your coming Glory.

Forgive us Lord for the sins we name.

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

P:  Lift up your heads faithful people for our redemption is drawing near. God fulfills the promises made through the prophets. God sends the Son for our salvation and we are made right. For Christ's sake our sins are forgiven. Christ strengthen our hearts in holiness that we may be blameless before our God and Heavenly Father. We too may declare:

C: The Lord is our righteousness. Amen. -wjw

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

C: And also with you!

Cycle B Christ the King (Lectionary 34)

11/22/2015 Confession

Sunday Title: Subject Sunday

Sermon Title: If Christ is King who is Subject?

Previously:

Sunday Title: Royal Sunday

Sermon Title: You’re the One!

Sunday Title: Christ the King- Loyal Sunday 

Sermon Title: "Who's in Charge Here?"

Scripture Cuttings:

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 To [one like a human being] was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed.

Psalm 93 The Lord is king, he is robed in majesty

Revelation 1:4b-8 Grace to you and peace... from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

John 18:33-37 My kingdom is not from this world… For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.

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:  Together we appear before our King.

                       (pause to examine our loyalty)

P:  Lord God King of the Universe...

C: we appreciate your creation

we are impressed with the gift of life

  and moved by redemption.

    We do plan a "thank you" in the Kingdom Come.

But for now we would rather go our own way.

  We make our rules rather than study your instructions.

    We'll take convenience over discipleship.

      We'll talk of the game, or argue our point,

        without ever making your witness.

Our hearts are on local things,

  our plans: short term,

    our vision: nearsighted.

You have the glory forever and ever,

  just give us the other stuff here and now. (Pause for reflection)

P:  Forgive us

C: Forgive us the sins we can name,

  Open to us the truth we do not see.

P:  The King of the Universe is making a state visit. He brings us the truth: Jesus Christ the firstborn of the dead, frees us from our sin by his blood! We are forgiven! Christ is our King! Now Jesus is recruiting you and me to be faithful priests in his service. Everyone who belongs to the truth will listen to him.

C: Glory to the Father and to the Son

        and to the Holy Spirit! Amen. -wjw

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

C: And also with you!

Cycle B Lectionary 33 Proper 28

11/15/2015 Confession

Sunday Title: Women's Thank Offering Sunday

Sermon Title: A “little” Apocalypse.

Previously:

Sunday Title: Alarm Sunday

Sermon Title: Sound the Alarm!: Don’t be Alarmed!

Sunday Title: Women's Thank Offering Sunday

Sermon Title: "What are we struggling towards?"

Sunday Title: "Last" Call Sunday, 

Sermon Title: "Imminent and Immediate"

Scripture Cuttings:

Daniel 12:1-3 Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

Psalm 16 Your boundary lines mark out pleasant places for me.

Hebrews 10:11-25 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

Mark 13:1-8 Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?

Confession:

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

C: Amen

P:  Let us confidently enter the sanctuary of God.

            (pause- did we check our worthiness at the door?)

P:  Lord God...

C: when will be the end of things?

You know, so tell us, tell us, we want to know!

  How much longer will we suffer?

    How much longer do we have to work so hard?

How much longer must we serve others without our reward?

  When will you show us your Glory? 

    When do we get to retire?

      How long till we get there?

Forgive us the sins we can name,

Save us from the sins we don't see. (Pause for reflection)

P:  Jesus Christ has offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins. Our sins are forgiven!  Because of this we can enter the sanctuary of our Lord, we may approach God with a true heart in full assurance of faith, and spur ourselves and one another to love and to good deeds, encouraging one another for the Day approaching. 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!