Cycle B Epiphany 3 Lectionary 3

1/25/2015 Confession 

Sunday Title: Kingdom Sunday

Sermon Title: When Is the Kingdom?

Previously:  

Sunday Title: Beach Sunday

Sermon Title: Lakeshore Drive

Sunday Title: Good News Sunday 

Sermon Title: “Who get to hear the Good News?”

Sunday Title: Repent Sunday  

Sermon Title: "Repent- an Instant Thing?"

Scripture Cuttings:

Jonah 3:1-5, 10 The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, "Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you."

Psalm 62:5-12 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

1 Corinthians 7:29-31 Brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short….

Mark 1:14-20 And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

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 our trust in God and open our hearts to the Lord (pause- consider the great difference between God's call and our response)

  O God,

C: how often have we heard your call to repent,

  from prophets and your Son,

    only to evade your demand for holiness?

Your call is urgent

  but we struggle to keep our will intact.

You look to change the world,

  to change the way we think and act,

    still we want to keep things the way we like it.

Forgive us Lord for the sins we know,

save us from the sins we hide. (pause for time to turn our hearts around)

P:  The time is ripe, the kingdom of God is at hand. There is good news in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Though we deserve punishment and the full weight of our sin, our sins are forgiven by the atoning sacrifice of God’s Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. In this good news we may live again in the power of the Holy Spirit in the new world of God’s royal rule. 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 B Epiphany 2 Lectionary 2

1/18/2015 Confession

Sunday Title: Listening Sunday

Sermon Title: “Hide & Seek” “Come & See”

Previously:  

Sunday Title: Call Sunday

Sermon Title: Hearing

Sunday Title: Leading and Following Sunday 

Sermon Title: “What do you follow”

Sunday Title: Call Sunday

Sermon Title: "Welcome Pastor George Gaiser"

Scripture Cuttings:

1 Samuel 3:1-20 Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.

Psalm 139:1-6,13-18 How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! I try to count them - they are more than the sand; I come to the end - I am still with you.

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.

John 1:43-51 Nathanael said to [Philip], “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!”

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 listen for the Lord (pause without distraction to listen)

                                                              or (sometimes God speaks softly)

  O God search us for our sin,

C: we clutter our lives

  with more and more choices and preferences,

    yet we can’t find time to listen for you.

We take ownership of the gift of our very bodies

  and do not use them for your glory.

We learn from you,

  and praise your work,

    but when you call, do we follow?

Forgive us Lord from the sins we know,

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

P:  We deserve it, but God does not condemn us. Instead we have been bought, at the price of God’s own Son: Jesus of Nazareth, who is given as a sacrifice for our sin. For his sake our sins are forgiven. We may now recognize our own bodies as a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. With purified hearts we can hear our Lord calling. And our response:

C: Speak, for your servant is listening.

P:  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 B Baptism of Our Lord

1/11/2015 Confession

Sunday Title: Baptism of Our Lord

Sermon Title: A “brief” history of the Spirit of God

Previously:  

Sunday Title: Baptism of Our Lord

Sermon Title: What is God doing?

Sunday Title: Baptism of Our Lord 

Sermon Title: “Repentance vs. Holy Spirit”

Sunday Title: Baptism of Our Lord 

Sermon Title: "Counting on Our Baptism"

Scripture Cuttings:

Genesis 1:1-5 In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while the Spirit of God swept over the face of the waters.

Psalm 29 The Lord will give power to his people. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

Acts 19:1-7 Paul... found some disciples. He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?"

Mark 1:4-11 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

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

as the presiding minister begins:

P:  As it was said at our baptism:

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

C: Amen

P:  Did you know that: we receive the Holy Spirit when we are baptized?

       (or does it takes a lifetime of living to remember clearly)

  O Great God,

C: your promise to us is always great

  even from the beginning of creation,

    still we do not recognize your authority or guardianship.

You make us pure in your promise of grace,

  and we defile your forgiveness by reneging on our repentance.

In our baptism you give us the potency

  and great power of your Holy Spirit,

    but our self-centeredness overshadows this gift

      and we live in our weakness.

We are your people.

Save us Lord from the sins we know,

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

P:  Our God sends God’s own Son, the Beloved, and upon him the Spirit of God descends. Jesus of Nazareth anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power, suffered death and was raised on the third day. Through the power of his faithfulness our sins are forgiven. In the power of this grace we now live, and by our words and actions we are to testify and prophesy to God’s fulfilling promises. As it was said at our baptism: 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:  Now, here, in God’s presence, let our pride be absent. (pause)

  Lord….

C: you are the God that is,

your word creates,

  your voice thunders,

    your Spirit rolls.

yet we abuse your gift of creation,

  we do not obey your instructions,

    we do not faithfully follow.

In our repentance forgive us the sins we name.

Save us from the sins we hide.

Come to us,

  show us what you are doing now.

 (pause for reflection and self-examination)

P:  The God that is, is tearing open the heavens and reveling the Beloved: the Son of God. It is for the sake of Jesus the Christ that our sins are forgiven. God the creator continues to redeem in Christ and sanctify in the Holy Spirit, so that all peoples may hear the glory revealed 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-

consider using Remembrance of Baptism

Cycle ABC Epiphany

1/6/2015 Confession

Sunday Title:  Worship Sunday  

Sermon Title: “The Partial Buy In”

Previously:

Sunday Title:  Homage Sunday  

Sermon Title: “Gifts for a King”

Sunday Title:  Heaven and Earth Sunday  

Sermon Title: “When Worlds Collide”

Sunday Title:  Light Sunday  

Sermon Title: “What are we going to do with all this light?”

Scripture Cuttings:

Isaiah 60:1-6 Arise, shine; for your light has come,

and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you…. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.

Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 May all kings fall down before him, all nations give him service. For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper.

Ephesians 3:1-12 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose

that [God] has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him.

Matthew 2:1-12 "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage."

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:  Tis’ the season of light,

let us step out of the darkness, repenting our sins. (pause)

  Turn us Lord, back to you…

C: We are your children.

  Baptized into the light of the world

    Yet we do not let our light so shine before others….

      We choose darkness over faithfulness.

We do not offer you our best: gifts fit for a king,

  but present our leftovers,

    and consider that, paying homage.

We speak of your royal rule and the kingdom of heaven

  and then do not hold our rulers to your standards,

    lest we ourselves be held to your standards.

We claim you as our king: a light for all nations.

  And then become exclusive in our claims of salvation.

    Attempting to possess truth in smaller corners,

      seeking differences instead of community.

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:  Arise and shine for our light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon us. God carries out God’s own eternal purpose in Christ Jesus our Lord. It is through Christ’s faithfulness that we may have access to God. For Christ’s sake our sins are forgiven. Let us seek again to shine brightly 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 ABC Christmas 2

1/4/2015 Confession

Sunday Title: Beginning Sunday

Sermon Title: Grace from the beginning.

Previously:  

Sunday Title: Cosmos Sunday

Sermon Title: From all that is to now.

Sunday Title: The Plan Sunday

Sunday Title: Redemption Sunday 

Sermon Title: "Twelve Days?"

Sunday Title: Again Still Christmas Sunday

Sermon Title: “live for the praise of Christ’s glory”

Scripture Cuttings:

Jeremiah 31:7-14 “He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd a flock.” For the Lord has ransomed Jacob, and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.

Psalm 147:12-20 Praise your God, O Zion!  For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you. He grants peace within your borders; he fills you with the finest of wheat.

Ephesians 1:3-14 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ,

John 1:1-18 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

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:  Knowing there are no places to hide from God, let us be honest in our confession. (pause)

  Lord you come into the world

C: and still the world does not know you.

  You are the true light and you enlighten our path,

    but we stumble.

You desire to make know to us the mystery of your will,

  yet we do our will

    and keep you a mystery.

Save, O Lord, your people.

Save us from the sins we know in our heart.

Save us from the sins we hide.

(pause for reflection and self-examination)

P:  God of salvation...

C: lead us back home. Amen.

P:  Our God freely bestows on us a glorious grace, in the Son: Jesus Christ our Lord. In Christ we have redemption through his blood. Our sins are forgiven. We also obtain an inheritance, that setting our hope on Christ we might live, live for the praise of Christ’s glory. To this purpose we are marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit. 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 B Advent 4

12/21/2014 Confession

Sunday Title: Ready Sunday

Sermon Title: Ready for the Word?

Previously:  

Sunday Title: Full Sunday

Sermon Title: Mary was the first one to carry the Gospel?

Sunday Title: Love Sunday 

Sermon Title: “Kingship”

Scripture Cuttings:

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16 Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle.

Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26 “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my servant David: ‘I will establish your descendants forever, and build your throne for all generations.’”

-or-

Luke 1:47-55 “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

Romans 16:25-27 but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—

Luke 1:26-38 “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

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 approach the Lord with respect,

pondering anew what the Almighty will do. (pause)

  Most High God,

C:  our plans are not yours,

  our ways are not yours.

Yet you would choose to use us

  and we would take your choice as our license

    and choose to use you.

You reveal your glory,

  and we hide it away.

You plant your word within us,

  we pick and choose our words,

    building our fiefdom

      instead of proclaiming your Gospel.

Forgive us Lord the sins we name,

Save us Lord from the sins we evade.

  (pause for reflection and self-examination)

P:  The Most high God is sending a son: Jesus, his reign is without end. It is for the sake of Jesus the Christ that our sins are forgiven. God’s faithfulness is revealed to bring our obedience in faith, that we to might say:

C : “Here am I, the servant of the Lord;

let it be with me according to your word.”

P: 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 B Advent 3

12/14/2014 Confession

Sunday Title: Ready Sunday

Sermon Title: Who are you?

Previously:

Sunday Title: Identity Sunday

Sermon Title: Who are you?

Sunday Title: Peace Sunday

Sermon Title: “Words of Encouragement?”

Sunday Title: Peace Sunday

Sermon Title: "Where Does True Peace Come From?"

Scripture Cuttings:

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn.

Psalm 126 Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.

John 1:6-8, 19-28 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.

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:  God who calls us is faithful to us,

Let us be faithful in our confession. (pause- what is faithful?)

  O God,

C: so little of our lives are devoted to you

We only turn to our relationship with you,

  when we need something special.

We count on your everlasting covenant

  but our prayers end quickly

    and our thanks are only for exceptionally good things;

      all for our own interests, so they do not to display your glory.

You even give to us the light of the world,

  but we turn off our relationship

    and hold fast to evil

      and abstain from what is good.

Save us Lord from the sins we know.

Save us Lord from the sins we hide.

  (pause for reflection and self-examination)

P:  Light is coming into the world , witnesses testify to the light that we may become believers through him. Our God sends to us Jesus Christ so our relationship with God may be restored. For Christ’s sake our sins are forgiven. Christ is that light, revealing the glory of the Lord. 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 B Advent 2

12/7/2014 Confession

Sunday Title: Ready Sunday

Sermon Title: Ready for God’s Victory?

Previously:

Sunday Title: Beginning Sunday

Sermon Title: When does this start?

Sunday Title: Peace Sunday

Sermon Title: “Words of Encouragement?”

Sunday Title: Peace Sunday

Sermon Title: "Where Does True Peace Come From?"

Scripture Cuttings:

Isaiah 40:1-11 Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her

Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.

2 Peter 3:8-15a But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient on your account not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.

Mark 1:1-8 I have baptized you in water; but he will baptize you with in the Holy Spirit.

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 approach the Lord in repentance,

seeking the forgiveness of our sins. (pause)

  O God,

C: we rely on our history and tradition

  to secure relationship with you.

We take lightly this act of confession,

  as if the depth of your mercy

    excludes the need for self-examination.

Our lists do not include you.

  We are too hurried

    and do not make a straight paths in our hearts,

      and we ignore your messenger.

We are not preparing ourselves to come into your presence.

Save us Lord from the sins we know.

Save us Lord from the sins we hide.

  (pause for reflection and self-examination)

P:  God is sending one who will baptize us with the Holy Spirit. It is God’s own Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Because of Christ, our sins are forgiven. But our baptism may count for even more than the forgiveness of sins. We may receive the power of the Holy Spirit and become the messengers crying out in our wilderness the hope of our coming Lord. In the name of the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen. -wjw

Cycle B Advent 1

11/30/2014 Confession

Sunday Title: Shine Sunday

Sermon Title: Ready

Previously:

Sunday Title: Waiting Sunday

Sermon Title: Stop watch waiting or in the time waiting?

Sunday Title: Peace Sunday

Sermon Title: “Happy ? New Year”

Sunday Title: Hope Sunday 

Sermon Title: “Happy ? New Year” 

Sunday Title: Hope Sunday 

Sermon Title: "Could be worse. How could it be worse? Could be raining!"

Scripture Cuttings:

Isaiah 64:1-9 Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one whom you made strong for yourself. Then we will never turn back from you; give us life, and we will call on your name.

1 Corinthians 1:3-9 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Mark 13:24-37 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; and pray for you do not know when the time will come.

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 become like one who is unclean. (pause)

  O God,

C: do we concentrate to much on future signs

  instead of being prepared for your arrival? 

Have we distanced ourselves from you

  with our sin and iniquity? 

Have we forgotten we are your people

  and you are our God? 

Do we really believe we are the clay

  and you are the potter?

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:  The Lord is our heavenly Father. We are being redeemed by the work of God’s faithful hand through Jesus Christ. For Christ's sake our sins are forgiven. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we may be blessed with every spiritual gift and be continually strengthened in the fellowship of  God’s son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 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 Christ the King

11/23/2014 Confession 

Sunday Title: Christ the King Sunday 

Sermon Title: Relevant Lordship

Previously:

Sunday Title: Christ the King Sunday 

Sermon Title: Shepherd King

Sunday Title: Christ the King 

Sermon Title: “Hearing your Blessings”

Sunday Title: Christ the King Sunday -

Sermon Title: “What Crown? What King?”

Scripture Cuttings:

Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak....

Psalm 95:1-7a Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.

Ephesians 1:15-23 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you....

Matthew 25:31-46 Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to 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:  The Lord seeks the lost.

C: O God, we have strayed, and we call out to you. (pause)

P:  Heavenly Father hear us….

C: In the blessings you have given us

  we forget you are the champion of the weak, the injured, the lost.

We call ourselves your church

  but in our fellowship we look past the stranger,

    the hungry, the naked, the sick, those in prison.

We call Christ our King

  but we do not let your Son reign over our lives.

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:  Our Lord rescues us from all the places we scatter ourselves. In the working of God’s great power, Jesus Christ, God’s own Son is given for our sake. And our sins, which separates us from God, are forgiven. We may gather together in Christ name. Through the Holy Spirit we may receive the immeasurable greatness of his power. 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!