|
Woship Resources 2008-2009 — Year B: Be a Sanctuary of Christ's Peace
Return to Year B: 2008-2009
Resource Index
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Create Sanctuary
Ordinary Time (Proper 6)
Scriptures: I Samuel 15:34—16:13; Psalm 20; II Corinthians
5:6–17;
Mark 4:26–34/4:21–27 IV; III Nephi 2:77; Doctrine and Covenants 163:9
Prelude
Welcome and Sharing of Good News
Songs of Praise
“As We Gather” NS 3
“Sing a New Song!” NS 1
“Sing to the Lord a Joyful Song” HS 55
Prayers of Praise and Thanksgiving
Ask three people of various ages to offer prayers of praise and
thanksgiving.
Responsive Reading from Psalm 20
Leader: The Lord answer you in the day of trouble! The name of the God of
Jacob protect you!
People: May he send you help from the sanctuary, and give you support
from Zion.
Leader: May he remember all your offerings, and regard with favor your
burnt sacrifices.
Females: May he grant you your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your
plans.
Males: May we shout for joy over your victory, and in the name of our God
set up our banners.
Leader: May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.
People: Now I know that the Lord will help his anointed; he will answer
him from his holy heaven with mighty victories by his right hand.
Leader: Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses, but our pride is
in the name of the Lord our God.
People: They will collapse and fall, but we shall rise and stand upright.
Leader: Give victory to the king, O Lord; answer us when we call.
Hymn of Trust: “God Is My Strong Salvation” HS 160
OR “Santo, Santo, Santo” NS 43
Disciples’ Generous Response
Each Sunday, as part of the Disciples’ Generous Response, we ask you to
integrate the message of “share equally” between Local and World Ministries
Mission Tithes. Generosity stories are provided to keep the church in touch
with how contributions to Mission Tithes spread the peace of Jesus Christ.
Please use the stories, testimonies, and up-to-date contribution information
as part of your offertory ministry. Visit
www.CofChrist.org/generositystories to print a copy, or contact your
pastor, congregational financial officer, or worship coordinator for a copy.
Reflection: Doctrine and Covenants 163:9
What Is Sanctuary?
Write each of the following words (and others you may think of) on a
small piece of paper, numbering them. Before the service give the papers to
people who will be seated in the congregation. The leader will ask, “What
words come to mind when you think of sanctuary?” The prepared answers can be
called out slowly from the congregation. After the last answer, the leader
can remark on how “sanctuary” is a noun, but it can also stimulate action.
We can provide sanctuary, as well as be sanctuary for others.
refuge asylum shelter safe harbor
protect retreat safe haven shield
take in place of safety provide well-being sacred space
Before the worship cut out paper leaves (or use real ones) and write the
following words or phrases on them: love of family, love of friends, a visit
when ill, a phone call, laughter, peace, generosity, smiles, Jesus, joy,
love, etc. As the offering is collected, a gift of thanksgiving (written on
a leaf) can also be received.
Blessing of Tithes through Song: “Give Thanks” NS 11 OR “Praise
God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” HS 43
OR “Sanctuary” (For words and chords, go to
www.higherpraise.com/Lyrics3/LordPrepareMe.htm.
Go to
www.kaneva.com/asset/assetDetails.aspx?assetId=105441&communityId=0
to hear the melody.)
Ministry of Music: “O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee” HS 462
This song can be sung by a soloist or the congregation (or a combination
of both).
OR “Behold a Broken World, We Pray” SP 21
Prayer for Peace see
page 27
Message
Based on Mark 4:26–34
*Sending Forth Hymn: “This God Is the God We Adore” HS 481
OR “For Beauty of Meadows” SP 14
*Sending Forth Blessing: III Nephi 2:77
*Sending Forth Response
Today is a special day! With God, I will live to explore, meet
challenges, laugh, cry, pray, and sing.
*Postlude
Sermon Helps
Scriptures: I Samuel 15:34—16:13; Psalm 20;
II Corinthians 5:6–17; Mark 4:26–34/4:21–27 IV
Exploring the Scriptures
The scripture from Mark focuses on seeds and is taken from a larger
collection of seed parables that deal with seeds, planting, and harvesting.
Seeds are scattered on the ground, sprout and grow into full grains, ripen, and
then are harvested. Mark makes the sower the main character and identifies the
seed with God’s word. By linking the seed image with God’s word as expressed in
Jesus Christ, Mark emphasizes that preaching and teaching the Christian message
helps us to understand the kingdom.
The early Christian author says the kingdom of God “is as if,” which reflects
the Aramaic word that Jesus would have used that means “it is the case with.”
This parable does not compare God’s kingdom with a specific point in the harvest
story. Rather it is the entire parable that points to the kingdom—the planting
and harvesting combined.
In the growing process “the earth produces of itself,” meaning God’s actions
are beyond human responsibility or control. Therefore, the coming of the kingdom
is not fully reliant on human actions; it also relies on God’s interaction in
the world. While Community of Christ faith and belief acknowledges our
partnership with God to establish the kingdom, this parable puts emphasis on God
planting the word and bringing the harvest in God’s time. The farmer or sower
goes about their business, sleeping and rising night and day, with the assurance
that God will develop the planted word to fruition if they do their part in the
process.
The parable of the mustard seed is the third of Mark’s “seed” parables and is
the only time that the first person plural (we) is used. Using “we” connects
Jesus teaching the word to his disciples with the disciples teaching and
witnessing of the word to all people. The cycle generates itself and the word is
duplicated over and over again.
In this seed parable, Mark uses a small and great contrast: the mustard seed
is the “smallest of all the seeds on earth” compared to the mustard plant as the
“greatest of shrubs” when fully mature. Mark could have chosen the tall cedar
tree but chose the modest mustard plant—revealing that God’s kingdom will be
found in the midst of the ordinary and cultivated by the ordinary with God’s
assistance.
God sows the word within us and we cultivate it in our lives. God plants the
seeds within us and they bear fruit through our actions and God’s direction. We,
too, sow seeds of witness and invitation in the lives of others as we share
God’s word and expression in our lives. The seeds take root and grow, nurtured
by the person in whom they are planted, by us (the sower), and by God’s Spirit.
It is the process of sowing, tending, and harvesting and the interaction of
disciples, seekers, and God’s Spirit that ultimately reveal the kingdom in our
midst.
Central Ideas
- Preaching and teaching God’s word helps us to understand the peaceable
kingdom.
- The coming of the kingdom is dependent on God’s actions and our
dedicated partnership with God.
- We have the assurance that if we do our part, God will magnify our gifts
and contributions to benefit the kingdom.
Questions for the Speaker
- Can you remember a time when God’s word was planted within you? What was
the experience and result?
- When have you sown the seeds of God’s word in the life of another
person, and what was the experience and result?
- How will this sermon help the congregation understand their part in
establishing the kingdom?
- Will the congregation go forth in witness and invitation?
Return to Year B: 2008-2009
Resource Index
| 
