Stiff-Necked People

BOW = United Methodist Book of Worship
CCLI = Christian Copyright Licensing International, SongSelect
TFWS = The Faith We Sing (2000)
UMH = United Methodist Hymnal
URW= Upper Room Worshipbook
WSM = Worship & Song, Music Edition
W&S = Worship & Song (2011)
SOZ = Songs of Zion
SoG= Songs of Grace
TAH = The Africana Hymnal

Entrance

Suggested Congregational Songs and Hymns*:

“Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise” - UMH 103
“Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me” - UMH 361
“Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty” - UMH 64
“I Love You, Lord” - TFWS 2068
“Lord of the Dance (I Danced in the Morning)” - UMH 261
“Awesome God” - TFWS 2040
“Breathe on Me, Breath of God” - UMH 420
“Make Me a Servant” - TFWS 2176
“It’s Me, It’s Me, O Lord” - UMH 352
“El Shaddai” - UMH 123
“Lead On, O Cloud of Presence ” - TFWS 2234

*Also see the “Suggested Hymns” tab among the Laity Sunday worship resources online.

Call to Worship

We are all called to recognize and join God’s mission of love.
We gather to become more like Jesus.

We learn how grace has met other lives.
We wait for God’s empowering presence to open our eyes.

We engage our neighbors, online and in person.
And God’s love, power, and justice help repair the world.

Word and Response

Message Theme: Therefore, Go! With Hope Through Engagement (Exodus 33:12-23 or Matthew 22:15-22)

Prayers of the People (Skip if using “A New Great Thanksgiving for Laity Sunday”)

Three or four lay speakers/preachers may become the leaders of the intercessions, or other laity may be chosen to lead the prayers.

Pastor: We go with hope, O God, with an engaged faith.
By paying attention to your grace already at work in every life.
Wherever we meet those made in your image, we share stories of the grace that has reshaped our own lives.
As we come to see resonant patterns of grace, we find you repairing the world’s shattered wholeness.

Lay leader: For a new resolve to listen to the stories of people made in your image.
People: God, hear our prayer.

Lay leader: With all who are called to become all love through your son, Jesus.
People: God, hear our prayer.

Lay leader: For those whose loneliness and isolation call for listening love.
People: God, hear our prayer.

Lay leader: With friends in faith who serve and witness through deeds and words that heal and free.
People: Savior, hear our prayer.

Pastor: Hear our prayer, O God, and help us embody your glory and presence – vessels of grace bringing mercy and justice to your world. Amen.

Thanksgiving and Communion

WHEN NOT CELEBRATING HOLY COMMUNION:

Invitation to Thanksgiving

Leader:
We will go, Lord, into the world,
telling and retelling the story with other believers,
taking the gospel and making disciples
among all the peoples with whom we come in contact.
We will go, knowing you will be with us.
You, O God, to whom we would
in these moments,
pour out our lives in service
and in thanksgiving. But we know the barriers that stand in our way.
We cannot pour ourselves out to you fully as individuals
with unconfessed sin in our lives.
We cannot pour ourselves out to you fully as your body
when we are in conflict with others.
So, hear our confession,
forgive and deliver us,
and give us courage to offer your peace
to one another.

Confession of Sin

Leader:
We have sinned against you and one another, Lord.
We have not lived worshipfully.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our confession.

Silence

We have not loved you wholly.
We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We have not lived worshipfully.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our confession.

Silence

We have not denied ourselves and taken up our own cross daily.
We live not lived worshipfully.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our confession.

Silence

We have not loved kindness, pursued justice, or walked humbly with you.
We have not lived worshipfully.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our confession.

Silence

We have not shared the good news with our lips or in our lives.
We have not lived worshipfully.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our confession.

Silence

Pastor/Leader: The saying is sure: If we confess our sins, God is merciful and just and forgives us our sins, and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
In the name of Christ, you/we are forgiven.

People/Leader to Pastor and Each Other: In the name of Christ, you/we are forgiven.

All: Glory to God! Amen!

Pastor/Leader: As forgiven and reconciled people, share Christ’s peace with one another.
The peace of Christ be always with you.
And also with you.

The people share the peace of Christ with one another. After a suitable period of time, the pastor may continue:

Pastor/Leader: Forgiven and reconciled to God and one another,
let us offer our gifts and our thanks to God!

Thanksgiving Songs

During the Collection:
“Thank You, Lord” (UMH 84)

At the Presentation of Gifts:
“We Bring the Sacrifice of Praise” (TFWS 2031)

Pastor: Accept our sacrifices of thanksgiving and joy, O Lord,
as, by your Spirit, we remember and proclaim who we are!

Continue with Sending Forth

OR WHEN CELEBRATING HOLY COMMUNION:

Invitation to the Table (UMH 12)
Confession of Sin (UMH 12)
Act of Pardon (UMH 12)
Sharing of Peace (UMH 12)
Offering (UMH 13)
Great Thanksgiving: A New Great Thanksgiving for Laity Sunday

Sending Forth

Blessing and Benediction

Leader:
Go into the world, sharing yourself,
and proclaiming God’s lovingkindness,
justice, and peace,
in words and deeds
that bring life and hope.

Pastor:
The Triune God, Creator, Redeemer, and Living Spirit
is with you, today and every day, forever and always.
Amen.