Description
Mark 13:1-13
We live in a world with a lot of distraction and information overload. The New York Times on Sunday contains more information in it that the average 18th Century Nobleman would have learned in a lifetime. We have texts, e-mails, calls, TVs, and countless ways to get distracted in the world. The disciples may not have had any of this, yet they were so easily distracted. The very first words uttered after walking out of the temple hearing Jesus teach were about the buildings they observed. Jesus warns them, and warns us, that there will be many things that lead us astray and we are called to focus on Christ as we live through the distractions of life.
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
Wholly Yours
David Crowder, ©2005 worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
You Never Let Go
Beth Redman & Matt Redman, ©2005 Thankyou Music (Admin by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
[Traditional Options]
Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me
ELW 767; LBW 333; LSB 722; LW 512
Fight the Good Fight
BH 75 394; EH 552,553; HFG 613; HLC 469; HSP 163; LBW 461; LSB 664; LW 299; PH 307
I Walk In Danger All The Way
LSB 716; LW 391
Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme
Pastor We come today to experience God’s presence.
ALL We come seeking to leave behind the busyness of the world.
Pastor We come to worship our Living Lord Jesus.
All Holy Spirit come, set us free from the weight of the world.
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 Heavenly Father, we live in a busy and distracted world. We come here even today with phones, able to lookup anything we need send messages, e-mails and make calls. We find it so hard to unplug from our world. As a result we live distracted lives, taking our attention from you. Empower us by your Spirit to experience you here with us. Fill us with your Spirit that we may set aside the distractions and fears of the world as we come together now worshipping you.
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 failures, our fears…
(silence)
Pastor Lord, we confess that we live distracted fear filled lives…
All We set you aside to focus on what’s in front of us.
We live for the urgent, often forgetting the important.
We fear the unknown instead of living in faith.
Forgive us, for failing so often to live out of faith. We get distracted by all the world has to offer and we step away from you.
Pastor Our Lord Jesus meets us in the midst of our distracted world. He knows our failures, fears and struggles. Do not be distracted; instead experience the fullness of the grace of God. For Jesus has died defeated death and lives in victory over our sin, our fears and our distractions. 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: Dan 12:1-3
A time of distress will come like never seen before but those who believe will have eternal life.
1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
