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Woship Resources 2009-2010 — Year C: Live Generously, Love Courageously
Return to Year C: 2009-2010
Resource Index
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Go in Peace
Ordinary Time (Proper 6)
Scriptures: I Kings 21:1–21a; Psalm 5:1–8; Galatians
2:15–21; Luke 7:36—8:3; Mosiah 8:47–50; Doctrine and Covenants
161:6b
Prelude
Welcome and Call to Worship
Leader: These are they that have published peace,
People: who have brought good tidings,
Leader: who have published salvation,
People: and said unto Zion, thy God reigneth!
Leader: And how beautiful upon the mountains were their feet!
All: And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those
who shall hereafter publish peace, yea, from this time henceforth and
forever!
—Mosiah 8:47–50 adapted
*Opening Hymn: “As We Gather” NS 3
OR “With Happy Voices Ringing” HS 29
OR “Gather Your Children” SP 3
*Opening Prayer
*Response
Lighting of the Peace Candle
Scripture for Peace: Doctrine and Covenants 161:6b
Prayer for Peace
Congregational Hymn: “Breathe on Me, Breath of God” HS 179
OR “Put Peace into Each Other’s Hands” SP 15/R-15
OR Ministry of Music
Sermon
Based on Luke 7:36—8:3
Instrumental Music for Reflection
Scripture for Confessional Reflection: Galatians 2:15–21
When do we demonstrate that we are transgressors? God, it is no longer I
who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.
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.
Prayer
Lord God, you are holy, generous, and loving. You care for your people in
times of famine and plenty. You are gracious and wise. You teach us peace
and call us forth to labor in the building of your kingdom. There are many
people in need of food, clothing, and shelter. There are many who are
seeking hope in a world they see as hopeless. Much is needed for the work.
Lord, we give today so others have the necessities of life. In Christ’s name
we pray, Amen.
Blessing and Receiving of Mission Tithes
Reflection
Come in peace; be in peace; go in peace.
• Did you bring any burdens with you today that make it difficult
to worship? Do you need to ask forgiveness of another? Do you need
to forgive someone?
• If you did bring a burden, can you let it go now? Can you give
it up to God? Can you accept the peace of Christ and embrace God’s
grace?
• Can you take God’s love with you and share it with the world?
Go and be whole in the peace of the Spirit.
*Closing Hymn: “We’re Singing a Peace Song” SP 19
OR “Sent Forth by God’s Blessing” HS 493
OR “Weave” NS 51
*Closing Prayer
*Response
*Postlude
Sermon Helps
Scriptures: I Kings 21:1–21a; Psalm 5:1–8; Galatians 2:15–21; Luke
7:36—8:3
Exploring the Scriptures
The story of a woman anointing Jesus is common to all four Gospels, but it is
told differently in Luke than in the others. The story is not about the waste of
the expensive ointment or about anointing Jesus for burial; it is about the
character of the woman. In the passage before, Luke had drawn a sharp contrast
between those who had received John’s baptism and those who had not. The
Pharisees were among those who had of course not accepted the baptism or the
forgiveness of God associated with it.
In our story we find Jesus and others at a table with Simon, a Pharisee. And
based on the preceding story, we can expect that something will happen that will
have to do with forgiveness of sins. Then a woman in the city enters the story.
We are told that she is a sinner, but not why she is called one—which could be
for a large number of reasons. And then the surprising act follows where Jesus
lets the woman bathe his feet with her tears and dry them with her hair. This is
followed by her kissing his feet and anointing them with oil from an alabaster
jar. What an act of passion!
For the Pharisee, this was all shocking. How could Jesus let this woman, a
sinner, even come near him? It was proof that this man could not be a prophet.
We find out a little later in the story that the Pharisee had not even offered
to have Jesus’ feet washed or even offered water so Jesus could do it himself, a
courtesy always provided in those times. People walked in sandals on dusty
roads, and it was normal to wash their feet or provide for their feet to be
washed when they were invited into a house.
Jesus now proceeds to tell a short parable about two debtors, one owing more
than the other. Both had their debt forgiven. One question arises: Who would be
more grateful about being forgiven? Jesus than compares the act of the woman,
who we are told had many sins, with the lack of care by the Pharisee. Her
behavior reflected that of a person who has been forgiven. It was shown in her
great love.
The focus of verses 48–50 is on the question—by those at the table with
Jesus—of who Jesus was that he could forgive sins. Jesus’ response was to the
woman: “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
In the next passage in chapter 8, we discover that besides the Twelve, a
number of women have followed Jesus on the road—women who had been cured of a
variety of diseases or evil spirits. They supported the mission that Jesus was
on and traveled the road with him.
Central Ideas
1. God is the only one who knows our true condition when we come to him
just the way we are, with good intentions in our heart.
2. When we come to Christ with humbled heart, we are able to receive
forgiveness no matter what we have done or how we have lived. It is,
however, important that we have faith.
3. Jesus had healed several women. This allowed them to have the peace of
Christ, but also to help share it with others.
Questions for the Speaker
1. Have you ever experienced forgiveness? How did you feel about it?
2. What acts of love have you done for others?
3. The woman broke through cultural barriers to minister to Jesus. When
have you broken through cultural barriers to minister to someone?
4. What does it mean to go in peace, when you think of all the meanings
of the word “shalom”? What would wholeness encompass in today’s world?
5. In what way can you still join Jesus on the road? How can you support
the mission through your resources?
Return to Year C: 2009-2010
Resource Index
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