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!