Loving Worship Series: MARKED
Fifth Sunday in Easter - May 19, 2019

Planning for this Series

In this series, we are moving into a season of suddenlies: Jesus announces his imminent departure back to heaven; the Holy Spirit makes her dramatic, fiery arrival on earth. Earth, Wind, and Fire! As Jesus prepares to take his leave, his benedictory address focuses on themes of glorification, departure, and most of all, love—the primary symbol of discipleship. Jesus emphasizes the importance of lineal relationships: disciples to Jesus, to the world, the Creator, and the vital mediating power and presence of the Holy Spirit. In the spirit and ethos of the Passover Meal, Jesus and the disciples are huddled together at table in family style. We hear Jesus address his followers as little children, and he proceeds to teach them as such.

As you plan this series, give attention to the lessons and learnings, teaching and tools from the Upper Room. Look for ways to emulate this powerful Pentecostal experience both within and beyond your faith community. Begin to intentionally identify ways to strengthen and celebrate the spirit of koinonia, Ubuntu, the Beloved Community, outside the comfort of your church building. While our denomination continues to wrestle with the question “Who’s In and Who’s Out?”, how will your local church community respond?

Each week, you will find suggestions for music, prayers, calls to worship, litanies from United Methodist resources that might help bring these biblical passages to life within your particular community. You are encouraged to sing, pray, embody, teach, love, and glorify God through the various texts and tunes provided. Our hope is that you will reenact the Acts 2 passage each week by introducing liturgical symbols and sounds unfamiliar to your congregations. If you choose to introduce a hymn or worship song from another cultural tradition, consider inviting someone from that tradition to participate, making the experience even more authentic for the worshipers. But please do not stop there! Perhaps there could be a reciprocal exchange where your congregation visits with another worshiping community.

We here at Discipleship Ministries Worship Resources would love to hear stories from your seasons of suddenlies. Contact us at [email protected].

WEEK 1 - John 13: 31-35 The New Commandment

³¹When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. ³²If God has been glorified in him,^[a] God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. ³³Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ ³⁴I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. ³⁵By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Abbreviations

UMH = United Methodist Hymnal
SOZ = Songs of Zion
BOW = Book of Worship

Music Resources

UMH 104, 206, 384, 393, 432, 560, 608, 861
SOZ 76

Prayer Resources

BOW 436, 501-506, 511, 514
UMH 493, 607