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Woship Resources 2007-2008 — Year A: Passionate for Peace
Return to Year A: 2007-2008
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Sunday, June 22, 2008
Alive to God
Ordinary Time (Proper 7)
Scriptures:
Genesis 21:8–21/21:7–19 IV;
Psalm 86:1–10, 16–17;
Romans 6:1b–11; Matthew 10:24–29/10:21–34 IV; II Nephi 6:24–31; Doctrine
and Covenants 6:11a–c
Sharing Christ’s Peace
Trasnformative encounters with the Eternal Creator and
Reconciler await those who follow…spiritual pathways of healing,
reconciliation, peace, strengthening of faith, and knowledge.—Doctrine
and Covenants 163:8a
Prelude
Introit Hymn
“Hallelujah! Hallelujah! HS 53
OR “Sing to the Lord a Joyful Song” HS 55
Welcome and Focus Moment
In advance of the service, arrange to have children create artwork
depicting what it means to be alive to God. Following the welcome, the
presider offers brief remarks regarding this morning’s theme and invites
children to bring their art to the rostrum to be displayed as part of the
worship center.
*Hymn
“Sing Praise to God, Who Has Shaped” The New Century Hymnal
22
(Pilgrim Press) ISBN 978-0-8298-1050-1
OR “Lively Wind That Woke Creation” Hope Publishing, Carl Daw Jr.
See
http://www.selahpub.com/Choral/ChoralTitles/420-321-GodHasSpoken.html
for words and music. Tune: HS
20
OR “Great and Marvelous Are Thy Works” HS 48
*Morning Prayer
*Response
Prayer for Peace
A reading and prayer for today’s nation can be found at
www.CofChrist.org/prayerpeace. Use people of various ages in
readings and lighting of the peace candle.
Hymn
“I Have Called You by Your Name” R-10
OR “Alive in Christ”
Alive in Christ
Tune: Jerusalem L.M.D.
(“O Day of Peace,”
SP 22)
1. In waters deep we die to self
And wash away all selfish schemes
That feed our souls on lesser things,
And come alive to God’s new dream.
And from the wave there bursts new life.
We’re born again and freed from strife,
Baptized in grace and love’s embrace
To live again—alive in Christ!
2. For resurrection makes its claim
Not in some distant land and place.
But here
and now
alive to God
We work and live in sacred space—
Where every face reflects God’s face
And every tribe’s a chosen race,
Where each soul’s worth is bless’d by grace
To live again—alive in Christ!
— “Alive in Christ” (based on Romans 6:16–11) by
Danny A. Belrose
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. Offertory 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/offertory
to print a copy, or contact your pastor, congregational financial
officer, or worship coordinator for a copy.
Reflection
We are alive to God when we are
alive to others—when we respond to the poor, the
homeless, the hungry, and those, near and abroad, who are victims of
malnutrition, AIDS, and other debilitating diseases. We are alive to God
when we provide sanctuary for the abused. We are alive to God when we
protect and heal the environment—when we celebrate the wonder of
creation. We are alive to God when we give without calculation as joyful
givers made joyful by God’s immeasurable gifts to us.
Prayer
O God, may our giving spill out of our receiving, for you have given
so much to us. We are made alive by your grace hour by hour, day by day.
As we give our tithes, may we do so with joy and thanksgiving with the
prayer that these gifts will extend the ministries of your church and
bring new life to others. Amen.
Receiving of Mission Tithes
Hymn: “Here We Bring Small or Great” by Shirley Erena Murray, text
and music. © 1990 by Hope Publishing Co., Carol
Stream, Illinois 60188. CCLI 1310619
OR “Give Thanks”
NS 11
Sermon
Based on Genesis 21:8–21/21:7–19 IV and/or Romans 6:1b–11
Silent Meditation
*Hymn
“The Call to Be God’s People” from
A Singing Faith, Jane Parker Huber. Use tune in HS
294, CCLI 839452
OR “Send Me Forth, O Blessed Master” HS
424
*Benediction
*Response
*Postlude
Sermon Helps
Scriptures: Genesis 21:8–21/21:7–19 IV; Psalm 86:1–10, 16–17;
Romans 6:1b–11;
Matthew 10:24–39/10:21–34 IV; II Nephi 6:24–31; Doctrine and Covenants 6:11a–c
Exploring the Scriptures
Abraham had fathered a son, Ishmael, through his slave woman, Hagar. While
this is not generally considered acceptable today, it was a common cultural
practice at the time, especially for one who did not have heirs through his
wife. After Sarah bore Isaac at a very old age, she grew jealous on behalf of
her son. Sarah insisted that Abraham turn Hagar and Ishmael out into the desert.
Abraham was very reluctant, because he knew that sending them off alone was
likely to end in their deaths.
God assured Abraham, however, that he should do as his wife requested. After
Hagar and Ishmael were sent into the wilderness, it appeared that they were
doomed. But God provided a well for their use, and they were saved from death.
By tradition, Ishmael’s descendants populated the Arabian Peninsula, and it was
through him that Abraham became the father of the religion of Islam.
The passage from Romans is more about doctrine than history. Paul says that
we die to sin through the gospel, so we may have life in God. When we are
baptized, we are baptized into Christ’s death, so we may be reborn into a
newness of life. If we are to have a new life in Christ, we are called to leave
our “old” life behind us. This means that we must strive to separate ourselves
from some of the things that we continue to want to hold on to—our pride, our
anger, our unreasonable desire for things that have no lasting value. Dying to
such things means that a new way of life is opened to us. Just as a cup of water
that is already full has no room for any more water, we must rid ourselves of
some parts of our “old” life if we are to have room for the new life that the
gospel promises.
New life is given to us freely through God’s grace. If our arms are full of
the trappings of our old life, however, we cannot receive what God freely gives
us. We must be willing to let go of the old in order to receive the new.
Hagar and Ishmael died to their old way of life, and Hagar was sure that this
meant that both she and her son would perish in the desert. Instead, God’s grace
opened up the possibility for a new chapter in human history. Jesus died on the
cross, and this apparent defeat became God’s greatest victory. We must allow
ourselves to die to sin if we are to receive the newness of life promised in the
gospel.
Central Ideas
1. We must be willing to let go of some things so that we may respond
freely to the new life that God has promised to us through the gospel.
2. God’s love is not restricted to a small, select few. New life is
possible for every person, even those whom we may tend to look down on.
Questions for the Speaker
1. What are some of the things that are holding you back from accepting
the full newness of life promised by the gospel?
2. Who are some of the people God has shown love to who others would
think may be undeserving?
3. What is the newness of life that you hope for? What are some of the
things that might be possible for you individually and as a congregation if
you are only willing to pursue them?
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