Description

Mark 12:38-44

Things are not always as they seem.  While false advertising may be illegal late-night television is full of infomercials that promise to deliver much with little investment.  If everyone could be independently wealthy working from home, then why aren’t we?  Not everything that seems great really is.  We see two such examples here.  As Jesus teaches in the temple he denounces the grandeur of the scribes and uplifts the meager offering of the widow.  When it comes to faith it’s not always as it seems from outward appearances which Jesus makes abundantly clear here.

 

… We Lift Our Hearts in Worship …

[Preservice options include videos (countdowns, worship music, welcomes), worship music CD, or live music by worship band.]

 

Time of Praise and Worship

Promises

Jared Anderson, ©2006 Vertical Worship Songs (Admin. by Integrity Music, Inc.)

Reaching For You

Lincoln Brewster & Paul Baloche, ©2010 Integrity’s Praise! Music, Integrity Worship Music (Admin. by Integrity Music, Inc.) Leadworship Songs (Admin. by Integrity Music, Inc.)

O Praise Him

David Crowder, ©2003 worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

 

[Traditional Options]

Renew Me O Eternal Light

LBW 511; LSB 704; LW 373

O God, My Faithful God          

ELW 806; LBW 504; LSB 696; LW 371; PH 277

I Surrender All

BH 75 347; BH 91 275; CH 596; HWC 366; HPW 42; HFG 408; HLC 373; HGP 362; HSP 275; RH 483; STTL 486; WC 579; UMH 354; WAR 474; WHM 404; WIS 287

  

Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme 

Pastor              We come today to experience God’s presence.

ALL                  We come humbly, leaving the pride of work behind.

Pastor             We come to worship our Living Lord Jesus.

All                     Holy Spirit humble us in the presence of our Lord to be faithful to you.

Pastor              We gather now in the name of our wonderful creator God, our Living Lord Jesus, and the Holy Spirit who fills us.

ALL                  Amen!

 

Opening Prayer 

Pastor              Loving Lord Jesus, we live a world of upward mobility.  We are constantly seeking the next thing, seeking to prove ourselves and to promote ourselves.  We want to be                               recognized and uplifted.  Yet pride can so quickly enter into our lives.  As we cone now in worship help us to lay aside our pride.  Help us to experience your grace and                               humble ourselves in your glorious presence. 

ALL                  In Jesus’ …..  Amen. 

  

Time of Greeting

 

Time of Confession and Forgiveness

[Alternate location:  following Message] 

Pastor              We come before you Jesus our sins, our pride, our selfishness… 

                                                                              (silence) 

Pastor             Lord, we confess that we live prideful lives…

All                    We live lives seeking recognition and accomplishment.

We want to be recognized for our faithfulness.

We focus on ourselves instead of others.

Forgive us for being prideful in our faith, for seeking to uplift ourselves instead of others and failing to live humbly.

Pastor          Our Lord Jesus Christ is the King of Kings and our Messiah.  Yet Jesus humbled himself, experience death on the cross to forgive our sins.  He comes to you now, taking                           the weight of pride, struggles and selfishness to the cross.  Experience now the forgiveness if your sins, open your eyes once again to the glory of our Living Lord.

All                   Amen

 

 

… We Hear God’s Word …

[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]

 

First Reading:         1 Kings 17:8-16      

Elijah show’s a widow and her son God’s faithfulness.

 

8 Then the word of the Lord came to him: 9 “Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.” 10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.” 12 “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.” 13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land.’”15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.