Ash Wednesday Covered Dish Dinner Worship Service

As Lent approaches and plans are being made for special services, I have been working on an idea for a special interactive Ash Wednesday service.  At my church, we are planning on having a covered dish dinner and using that format to share a common meal.  After the meal, we will prepare to enter into Lent by receiving the sign of the cross and sharing Holy Communion in groups around our common tables.  As I started looking at ways we could make this service more interactive, I came upon three resources, and so I have taken elements from each to add interest and interaction to this worship service.

The three resources are:

1.            http://www.pcusa.org/resource/ash-wednesday-service/

2.            http://www.pcusa.org/resource/isaiah-58-choral-reading-three-voices/

3.            https://stpaulsbr.wordpress.com/2011/02/13/853/

The basic outline of the meal and service are as follows:

As people enter the fellowship hall for dinner, the pastor and designated elders place the sign of the cross using ashes on the people's foreheads.  They are instructed to be seated at one of the tables prepared for the meal.  Each table has a table leader or elder assigned to it.  The table leaders or elders instruct those at their table to read through the Lenten Self-Examination that is found printed on their placemat (see resource #3) and to meditate on Lent and their observations from the self-examination.  The table leaders can lead discussion at each table or allow those at their table to quietly meditate.  Once all have arrived...

Call to Order based on Joel 2:12-18 (see resource #1).  This call to worship requires two people plus the pastor.  I envision the voices coming from different tables.  The intent of the Call to Worship is to startle people out of their contemplation.  The use of a trumpet or trumpet call also is utilized to startle the people.

Blessing of the Meal

Sharing of a Common Meal Together

Choral Reading of Isaiah 58.  After the meal is shared, a choral reading of Isaiah 58 is read (see resource #2).  This reading requires three voices and should be done from the front of the room.

Prayer of Confession and Words of Assurance are shared by the pastor (see resource #1).

Presentation of Confirmands and Prayer of Intercession.  If your church has a confirmation class in session during Lent, this is an ideal time to introduce them and to bless their journey through confirmation.  (See resource #1)

Invitation to the Table.  During this portion of the service, all are invited to participate in Holy Communion and to also remember their baptism.  Instructions are given to come forward to have the ashes that were received when they entered the room removed and traced and replaced by water to remember their baptism.  Congregants are instructed to return to their table at which time the pastor blesses the elements and the table leaders or elders serve the bread & grape juice to each person at their table. (See resource #1)

Prayer after Communion.  (See resource #1.)

Congregational Hymn:  Let Us Worship God With Justice (See resource #3.)

Benediction

Sermon In Song - July 5, 2015

Today I "filled" the pulpit while our pastor is home recovering from a very serious illness.  Our congregation loves to sing hymns, so they helped me out and we did a Sermon in Song.  Here's the outline of what we did:

Reading:  Mark 6: 1-13
Song:  The Summons (Words & Music ©1987 Wild Good Resource Group, Iona Community, Scotland, GIA Publications, Inc., exclusive North American agent)

Jesus, Our Friend
Reading:  John 15:9-14
Hymn:  What A Friend We Have In Jesus
Hymn:  Jesus Is All the World To Me

Jesus, Our Rock of Salvation
Reading:  1 Corinthians 1:4-10
Hymn:  My Hope Is Built
Hymn:  Rock of Ages

Jesus, Our Guide
Reading:  John 10:7-18
Hymn:  He Leadeth Me
Hymn:  Savior, Like A Shepherd Lead Us

If you're looking for additional resources, check out Sermons in Scripture and Song by Jeff S. Smith.

 

Friendship...John 15:13-15

This week I have been wrestling with friendship...what it means to be a friend and how it affects my friendships. One of today's lectionary readings is from John 15:9-17.  In this passage, Jesus does not call his disciples servants, he calls them friends.  He tells them that the greatest love you can give a friend is to lay down your life for them -- an obvious foreshadowing of the sacrifice that Jesus will make for all of us.  Because Jesus has shared what he has learned from God with us, we can be called his friend.  Over a month ago, I selected the anthem that our choir sang today -- "What A Friend!" by Don Besig & Nancy Price.  This has been one of my favorite anthems for over 20 years.  It incorporates the hymn "What A Friend We Have in Jesus" with an original text:  "When you feel discouraged, when you're lost and alone, ask the Lord to help you.  He will claim you as His own.  If you need to find an answer, he will hear your silent prayer.  Anywhere life leads you, you will find Him always there."  Little did I know when I picked this anthem how significant the words of this anthem and the text of this scripture would be for me this week.

According to my Facebook page, I have over 500 "friends."  Are they truly friends or are they just acquaintances that I have passing relationships with or are "friendly" with?  So what's my criteria for calling someone a friend?  To be honest, it's probably NOT whether they love others, but whether they love me and I can find it in myself to love them in return.  The dictionary defines a friend as a person who you like and enjoy being with, a person attached to you by affection or esteem, a favored companion.  I can count on one hand the number of true friends that I have -- those that understand where I've come from, believe in where I am going in my life, accept me for who I am, and can remind me of who I am and why I am their friend.  Unfortunately, most of these friends are miles away from me and I don't get to see them very often.  I don't get to look into their eyes and see the genuine friendship that we share or hear their voice and the joy they have when they are with me.  The rest of those 500+ friends?  I have to accept the fact that they are just acquaintances who I have a friendly relationship with.  But to those who I truly count as friends, I feel that I have not lived up to the true meaning of a friend.  I have not been a good listener, I have not made them a priority in my life, and I have not reciprocated their friendship to me.  I can truly say that I have been discouraged and, yes, felt alone this week.  And I have been on my knees on numerous occasions this week asking the Lord for help.  And as always, I struggle with surrendering my needs to God.  But today's promise from Jesus that he laid down his life for me, that he will always love me, and that he will always be my friend gives me the hope I need to become a better friend.  

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

 

Sunday, January 18, 2015 - "Here I Am, Lord"

The Old Testament Lectionary reading for the 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany is 1 Samuel 3:1-10 -- the story of Samuel and Eli.  We know that it took three times for the Lord to call Samuel's name before he finally responded to the Lord and told him he was listening.  And it was Eli's discernment that helped direct Samuel to listen to the Lord.

For several years, I have been wanting to do a scriptural dramatization in word and song to this passage from Samuel.  This dramatization can only be done this particular Sunday during this particular Lectionary year.  And the song that is used for this purpose is "Waiting" by Pepper Choplin.  I heard about this resource when I attended a reading session that was led by Pepper.  He had mentioned using "Waiting" for the 1 Samuel 3 passage.  It includes added interludes and some changes in words, but is easily done with a little practice and flexibility.  You can find the script on Pepper's website.  Just look for "Waiting" under his "anthems in print" section.

December 25, 2014 Devotional Blog - Celebrate

Today's reading from the LEC Family Advent Devotional is Luke 2:21-38 -- the naming of Jesus and the Song of Simeon.

There are two parts to this story.  The first part is the Jewish ritual that Mary and Joseph followed by taking Jesus to the temple when he was 8 days old to have him circumcised and to name him.  And Mary and Jesus also had to be purified.  We already know that his name will be Jesus.  This part of the story speaks to the responsibilities of Mary and Joseph as parents to Jesus.  The second part of the story is the Song of Simeon.  Simeon was a devout man and was told that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah.  Simeon had waited a long time for this day to come, and it had finally happened.  When Mary & Joseph brought Jesus into the Temple, Simeon took the child and praised God saying, “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.  For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:  a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”  Mary & Joseph marveled at what he said.  There are three applications that we can take from this part of this passage:  be faithful, be focused, and God's plans for us are good and will be revealed to us in His timing.

Song of Simeon (Nunc Dimittis) 

by Alexander Gretchaninoff with English lyrics adapted by N. Lindsay Norden

sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

December 24, 2014, Advent Devotional - Light

Today's reading from the LEC Family Advent Devotional is John 1:4 -- In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

We can all probably remember as a child ourselves or our own children being afraid of their shadow.  We're afraid when someone steps on our shadow.  Even Peter Pan had a problem with his shadow.  Today's devotional writer reminds us that the light that John refers to is not just any light.  It's God's light.  And God's light can do what no other light can do -- God's light doesn't create shadows.  Tonight I am singing "I Want to Walk As a Child of the Light" during our Christmas Eve service.  May the prayer from today's devotional be your prayer as you celebrate that wondrous event in a little town called Bethlehem so many years ago -- Dear God, thank you for the light of Jesus, which shines through my obstructions and gives me a hope that will not fade, a peace that will not be understood, a love that will not let me go, and a joy that will not create shadows. Amen.

I Want to Walk As A Child of the Light sung by the Concordia Choir

Today's Advent Photo of the Day

#light #pictureadvent

Today I am sharing a picture of my daughter's.  Every year they bake a "Happy Birthday, Jesus" cake, light the candles, blow them out, and celebrate Jesus' birthday.  Today's devotional suggests that families bake a "Happy Birthday Jesus" cake just like this one and remember who the real light of the world is -- and that's Jesus Christ.  So tonight as the Christ Candle is lit during your Christmas Eve service, say a silent "happy birthday, Jesus" and make a wish that the whole world will know the Light of the world.

December 23, 2014 Advent Devotional - Gifts

 

Today's reading from the LEC Family Advent Devotional is Matthew 2:1-12 -- the story of the Magi.

On coming to the house, 

they saw the child with his mother Mary, 

and they bowed down and worshiped him. 

Then they opened their treasures and presented him 

with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Today's devotional is about gifts.  We know the symbolism of the three gifts that the Kings brought --  gold, a symbol for kingship on earth; frankincense, a symbol for deity; and myrrh, a symbol for death.  While we tend to focus on these physical gifts that the Kings brought, the real gift that they brought was the personal worship that they gave to the baby Jesus - giving of themselves, their time, their treasure, and their honor.

Their is a story by Frederick Thury, "The Last Straw," that I have used for a Children's Choir Christmas Program.  I just love this story!  It's about an old camel named Hoshmakaka.  Because he was old and wise, he was picked to accompany the wise men to follow the star and find the baby Jesus.  All along the trip, people stopped Hoshmakaka and asked him to bring a gift for them to the baby.  They loaded their gifts on Hoshmakaka's back, and it became harder and harder for him to travel.  As they approached their final destination, a little boy stopped the camel.  He told him that he didn't have much to give him but that he did have a piece of straw.  He asked Hoshmakaka if he would give the baby the piece of straw to soften his bed.  Even though Hoshmakaka was tired and his back was aching, he agreed.  When they finally arrived at the place where the baby was born, he was so tired by the burden on his back that he fell to his knees in exhaustion.  The kings that were traveling with him saw that Hoshmakaka had fallen to his knees and said "if the wise, old Hoshmakaka kneels before the baby, then we too must kneel before him and worship him."  During the entire trip, Hoshmakaka had grumbled and felt terribly imposed upon that these people were asking him to deliver their gifts.  But when they arrived and he had fallen to his knees from the weight of his burden, he looked up and saw the smiling face of the baby Jesus.  At that moment, Hoshmakaka realized how important his journey had been.  Even though that final piece of straw that the little boy gave Hosmakaka was the straw "that broke the camel's back," Hosmakaka learned a valuable lesson about humility.

Today my daughter had the following conversation with my granddaughter:

My daughter: "St. Nicholas was the first Santa Claus."
My Granddaughter: "No, Jesus was."
My daughter: "You're right, he gives the best gifts."
My Granddaughter: "Yes, love."

During these last few days before Christmas, we often feel overwhelmed by what we have left to do.  Maybe you feel as far away from Christmas as those Magi had to travel to see the child.  As my granddaughter reminded us all, the important thing to remember is that we have already received the best gift -- and that gift is Jesus Christ and His love.  Just as the wise men fell to their knees and worshiped the child, may this be your prayer:  "I will answer God's call to fall on my knees in humility and seek His face in repentance so that He might forgive my sins."

Today's Advent Photo of the Day

#gifts #pictureadvent

This is a picture of a stained glass window at St. Nicholas' Cathedral in Galway, Ireland.  It depicts the wise men visiting the baby Jesus.