Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

COLOR: Green
SCRIPTURE READINGS: 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27; Psalm 130; 2 Corinthians 8:7-15; Mark 5:21-43

CALLS TO WORSHIP

Call to Worship #1

L: Lord, come into our hearts today.

P: Heal us from all our pain.

L: Lord, come into our lives today.

P: Bring us hope and peace.

L: Come, let us worship God who brings hope and peace.

P: Praise be to God for God’s healing mercies. AMEN.

Call to Worship #2

L: Out of the depths of our lives, we call to you, O Lord.

P: Lord, hear our cries!

L: Hear our voices!

P: Lord, hear our cries!

L: Heal our wounds, restore our lives.

P: Lord, hear our cries and heal our lives. AMEN.

Call to Worship #3

[Using THE FAITH WE SING, “Cares Chorus”, p. 2215, offer the following call to

worship as directed]

L: When our lives feel burdened, what shall we do?

P: When we need healing for our bodies and souls, what shall we do?

L: When all around us, things seem to be in turmoil, to whom shall we turn?

P: When no one seems to understand our sorrow, to whom shall we turn?

Soloist: singing “Cares Chorus” one time through

L: Lord, you lift our burdens!

P: Lord, you heal our souls and bodies!

L: Lord, you calm the stormy seas of our lives!

P: Lord, you understand our fears.

L: Thanks be to God.

P: AMEN.

Soloist: singing “Cares Chorus” one time through

Call to Worship #4

L: Come into the presence of the Lord with thanksgiving!

P: Serve the Lord with great gladness!

L: Know that God is truly with you!

P: Rejoice!

L: Come, let us worship the ever-present God!

P: Let us celebrate with song and prayer God’s love for us. AMEN.

PRAYERS, READING, BENEDICTION

Opening Prayer:

Lord of healing and mercy, remind us again of your power to heal our lives from fears and mistrust. Open our hearts to believe in your restorative power and your great compassion for us. Give us healing and make us agents of peace for you in this, your World. AMEN.

Prayer of Confession:

Merciful Lord, we are so fearful these days. We encounter economic situations which threaten to destroy our lives; we encounter anger, fear and hostility, and we feel as though we are about to drown. We want to place our trust in you, but so many times before, when we have trusted others, we have been let down. Help us to truly trust your mercy and love. Heal and forgive our fears and sins. Open our hearts to receive your mercy and help us to become your disciples. For we ask this in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.

Words of Assurance:

Feel the touch of Christ on your heart! You are healed and forgiven! Rejoice! God is with you now and always! AMEN.

Pastoral Prayer:

Healing Lord, there are so many situations we have encountered which require healing and restoration. We try to do the best we can, but we cannot rely on our own strength and skills to bring about the complete healing that is so desperately needed. Help us to place our trust in you. Help us to work effectively to promote situations of healing and hope. We have come before you with so many concerns on our hearts. There seems to be no end to the desperate needs of your people, O Lord. Yet you love and hear all of us as we pray. You surround us with your love and healing mercies. You lift us gently and give us courage to work for you in ministries of peace and love. We praise and thank you for all of this as we offer this prayer in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.

Reading:

Pastor: Come, all who need healing!

Reader 1: Heal my heart from anger!

Reader 2: Heal my spirit from fear!

Reader 3: Heal my life from persecution!

Reader 4: Heal my alienation from family!

Reader 5: Heal my addictions!

Reader 6: Heal my doubt!

Reader 7: Heal my faithlessness!

Reader 8: Heal my waywardness!

Reader 9: Heal my apathy!

Pastor: Come, all who are burdened. The Lord offers healing. Come forward for blessing and healing touch. Come for prayer and gentle forgiveness. Come and receive the anointing oil of blessing. Come.

[Under the direction of the ushers, people who wish prayers come forward. Each of the readers, representing the afflictions of which they have spoken, come to be healed. Music should be softly playing in the background while people are receiving anointing.]

Pastor: (when all have come forward and received anointing): Know that the power of the Lord has been poured upon you. You have received forgiveness and strength to deal with those things which have been burdens. Place your whole trust in God and receive God’s blessing of love and peace. AMEN.

Benediction:

Beloved of God, healed and forgiven, blessed and strengthened: go forth to be a blessing to others, proclaiming the love and mercy of God in all that you do and say! AMEN. 

ARTISTIC ELEMENTS

The traditional color for this Sunday is: GREEN

[Note: today is a day in which healing and hope is being offered. The green fabric and candle represent new life offered in our healing. The burlap or rough fabric represent our need for healing. If the Pastor is planning a type of “healing service” the reading offered for this week will work nicely with this worship setting]

SURFACE: Place a 12” riser at the center of the back on the worship table. Place an 8” riser on each side of the 12” riser.

FABRIC: Cover the entire worship center with a very light celery green, a cool spring-like color. In the center of the table, on the 12” riser and trailing forward across the table, place a 14-20” strip of rough fabric such as burlap or monk’s cloth. Wrinkle it up and make sure that it is not placed smoothly.

CANDLES: Place an 8” white pillar candle on the 8” risers on either side of the 12” riser on the worship table. On the center of the table, on the rough fabric, place a green 3” pillar candle.

FLOWERS/FOLIAGE: Place ivy or other trailing plants on either side of the candles so that some of the trailing vines may spill down over the table, toward the floor. These plants are used to “soften” the edges of the worship center and to create texture and dimension.

ROCKS/WOOD: You may place some small stones near the rough fabric on the worship center to create a special texture.

OTHER: Place a brass cross on the 12” riser at the center back of the worship table.