Category: Worship Resources

John 9:1-41 Worship and Preaching Resources

For an exhaustive list of resources on this text, I recommend you visit this page at The Text this Week, created and curated by Jenee Woodard.

The Text:
NRSV at Oremus Bible Browser.
New American Bible at new.usccb.org

Bulletin CoverMan Born Blind

Some Resources to Check Out

Sermon – Blind Spot by John Vella
Excerpt:  Most of us have blind spots, presumptions, ideas and perceptions that we don’t even think about changing. These blind spots are major roadblocks in our spiritual journey. They can cause untold harm to others and to ourselves. Even a quick reading of today’s Gospel shows us in a graphic way how blind the Pharisee’s were to Jesus and to his work. These religious leaders were leading people into the darkness, not into the light. Their interior lives had become hardened, like a rock. They had become so smug and sure of themselves that they were not able to recognize Goodness itself as it was shown to them in the person of Jesus. They were as blind as a person could be. Continue reading “John 9:1-41 Worship and Preaching Resources” →

A Service of Healing

I have tried to acknowledge the various sources for the prayers and other writings as best I can remember.  If you know of any uncredited material and to whom I can credit it, please let me know.

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Prelude                                         Pastorale in F                            Kullak

Lighting of the Altar Candles

For Your Reflection……………………………….. Rabbi Rami M. Shapiro

May those whose lives are gripped in the palm of suffering
open even now to the Wonder of Life.
May they let go of the hurt
and Meet the True Self beyond pain,
the Uncarved Block
that is our joyous Unity with Holiness.
May they discover through pain and torment
the strength to live with grace and humor.
May they discover through doubt and anguish
the strength to live with dignity and holiness.
May they discover through suffering and fear
the strength to move toward healing.

Choral Introit (10:45)                 This Is The Day                               Sands

Call to Worship………………………………….. 2006 Women of the ELCA

Come; gather in Christ’s presence, Christ, our savior and healer.
We have entered here, and in our worship together,
we yearn for hope and comfort.
Are any among us weary, heartsick with heavy burdens?
We have come to a place of rest.
Here we encounter Christ’s healing and grace.
Are any among us frantic and scattered, breathless in our busyness?
We have come to a place of deep peace.
In our worship, we meet the unhurried God.
Are any among us feeling brittle and broken, thirsty for the gospel?
We have come to encounter Jesus, the living water,
soothing and ever‑present.
Are any among us feeling hollow and empty, hungry for truth?
We have come to encounter Christ, the bread of life,
sustaining and ever‑filling.
Here we are welcome, loved, and cherished.
Here we encounter our Lord, who makes us whole.
Let us reach to the heart of Jesus, who is our life.
Here we are the people of God.
Let us rejoice, giving thanks and praise to God, who delivers us!
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

Hymn (Verses 1 and )……………………………………… The Solid Rock

Hymn………………………………. My Faith Has Found a Resting Place

Opening Prayer (from Rev. Richard J. Fairchild, 2003)

We ask your presence among us, O God,
Creator of the universe, Sustainer of life, Redeemer of humankind;
bring your healing light and power into our wounded hearts and bodies and minds and souls,
clear the way for each of us to discover within ourselves the fullness of your power and all of your wondrous blessings;
help us dear God to respond to your vast love and to bless you,
so that we may be a beacon through which you may shine into the world and be everlasting citizens of your Kingdom,
both in heaven and on earth. Amen.

A Reading from Acts 14:8‑18 (Page 133, New Testament)

A Responsive Reading from Psalm 27 B No. 758

A Reading from Revelation 21:10, 22 ‑ 22:5 (Page 259, New Testament)

Giving of God’s Tithes and Our Offerings

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Offertory                                          Allegro                            C.P.E. Bach

Doxology B No. 94…………. Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow

Prayer of Blessing

Chancel Choir               The Lord Bless You and Keep You             Rutter

Hymn B No. 367 (8:15)……………………………………. He Touched Me

Hymn B No. 265 (10:45)…………………………….. O Christ, The Healer

A Reading from John 5:1‑16 (See Back Page of the Bulletin)

Message:           The Problems and Promise of Healing           Pastor Will

Call to Prayer – No. 375 (Verses 1 and 2)…….. There Is a Balm in Gilead

Confessions of Sin

We have heard God’s saving word,
and we have confessed our faith in God’s loving work.
Let us confess all that creates dis‑ease
and separates us from God and one another.

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are sorry, and now turn away from our sin before you.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us,
that we may joyfully obey your will and walk in Your ways
to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Friend of sinners, you bring hope in our despair.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Healer of the sick, you give strength in our weakness.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Destroyer of evil, you bring life in our dying.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Prayers of the People

Choral Response (10:45)               Hear Our Prayer, O Lord             Sands

Prayer of Thanksgiving over the Oil

Let us pray.
O God, you are the giver of health and salvation,
and we give you our thanks for this gift of oil.
As your holy apostles anointed many who were sick and healed them through your Spirit and power,
so pour out your Holy Spirit on us an on this gift,
that those who receive this anointing may be made whole;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Invitation to Be Anointed

Concluding Prayer

Lord, we pray for all who have been outwardly anoin
ted with holy oil this day,
that they all may have the inward anointing of the Holy Spirit.
And for all those who have prayed –
those who have shown mercy –
those who have lifted their hands to you in thanksgiving and in supplication –
for all present here, O God,
we give thanks and ask that you continue with them day by day.
Indeed, O Lord, keep us all from all evil, preserve us in all goodness.
Bless us so that we may bless others in your most Holy Name –
we ask it in the name of Christ Jesus –
who taught us to pray together as one family, saying……..

The Lord’s Prayer

Hymn – No. 262…………………………………. Heal Me, Hands of Jesus

Dismissal with Blessing

Peace to you from God our Father, who hears our cry.
Peace from his Son Jesus Christ, whose wounds bring healing.
Peace from the Holy Spirit, who gives us life and strength.
And may the Lord who heals all your iniquity bless and keep you;
the face of the Lord who heals all your afflictions
shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the light of the countenance of the Lord who redeems your life
be lifted upon and give you peace.

Response – No. 367 (8:15 – Refrain Only)………………… He Touched Me

Choral Response (10:45)              May the Lord Be With You           Sands

Postlude                             God Is Our Refuge and Strength            Davis

A Four-Year Lectionary – Rough Draft

My rough draft of a Four-Year Lectionary is now complete.  Comments and suggestions for improvement would be most appreciated.

My first goal in creating this four-year lectionary was to give John its rightful place in the readings. Rather than dividing John up between three years as the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) does (mainly during Lent and Eastertide), I believe John needs to have it’s own year, during which its theology and focus can become clear. I also believe that the passion narratives are given short shrift in the current RCL, and so in this lectionary they are found throughout each of the Lenten seasons. Further, I have tried to maintain a continuous reading throughout all four gospels insomuch as it is possible given the “interruption” of Lent and Easter. This also holds for the readings from the Old Testament and Epistles.

Because this uses a four-year cycle, many more scripture passages are used. The gospels of Mark, Luke and John are used almost in their entirety. Because it is much longer, some of the passages in Matthew are omitted, but their counterparts in other gospels are used, thus ensuring that no significant story or teaching of Jesus is omitted. Further, there are more readings from the Epistles, Acts, and the Hebrew scriptures (especially as concerns Wisdom literature, Joshua, Judges, the Psalms, and the Minor Prophets) in this lectionary. Many passages cited below have not been a part of any previous lectionary, and I have especially tried to include controversial passages that have been previously ignored and more passages that feature the women of the Bible.

Finally, this lectionary can actually be used over an eight-year cycle. This would be done by using the alternate readings every other time through this lectionary. In the future I hope to add alternate readings for the Epistles after Trinity Sunday that will focus more extensively on Wisdom literature, with extended readings from Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Sirach and the Wisdom of Solomon. In this way, even more scripture will be read and heard during Christian worship. I, for one, think this is a good thing.

I have added brief descriptions to some of the texts below. If you would like to add some to those without, I would be most appreciative. Also, this is a rough draft, and I am very open to suggestions for improvements. Click on the link below for a copy of this lectionary in PDF form.

A Four Year Lectionary