Wednesday, May 07, 2014

laying the table: creationary Psalm 23 and John 10

I had a few minutes today, in which to put together some worship for College chapel (20 minute chapels that take place weekly on Tuesdays and Wednesdays). I wish I could have given it more time, but a run of unexpected commitments ate into my planned preparation time.

The lectionary texts for this week include Psalm 23 and John 10. The theme that seemed to emerge was “laying the table.” It links “You prepare a table before me” with “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” and communion. It also connected with my experience during the week. Last night I brought home a bunch of sun flowers for the family. They sat on the kitchen table overnight and just seemed to light up the room. So “laying the table” began to be a theme by which to frame the service.

So I began by telling my story and then inviting folk to lay a flower on the table and name something in which they were finding beauty and life. We ended up with a table spread with flowers. It was lovely, a physical call to worship and expression of praise, our praise, unique to today.

I then noted that the Christian tradition gives us more to “lay on the table.” I laid the Bible on the table, then asked folk to pass it around, reading a verse each from Psalm 23.

I then noted that the Christian tradition gives us more to “lay on the table.” This time, baptism for cleansing. A short prayer and then I sprinkled water from the font over those gathered, over the table, over the entrance way, and used some sentences from John 10 as the Words of absolution.

I then noted that the Christian tradition gives us yet more to “lay on the table.” I placed on the table bread and wine. By now the table was very richly symbolic – praise, Scripture, confession and absolution in baptism, communion – all laid by us as a community in ways both personal yet connective with the Christian tradition. Indeed, a table prepared before us, one in which we find life, and have it abundantly.

Which led naturally into intercession, praying for places that lack abundance.

Below is the worship order with some more exact wording:

Story: Taylor family – Last night I brought home some flowers, pride of place in the middle of our table.

Call to worship and praise: I invite us to place a flower on the table – a moment of beauty and love we’ve seen in

Christian tradition gives us more to “lay on the table” – Scripture: Psalm 23

Response, we confess:
We confess the times we have failed to trust in you, Jesus our Good Shepherd – Lord, Have mercy on us

We name our fears, in the dark valleys we walk, Jesus grants us rest – Christ, have mercy on us

We lament our lack of generosity, Christ, Host of a table of abundance – Lord, Have mercy on us

Christian tradition gives us more to “lay on the table” – sprinkle waters from baptismal font saying: Hear the Words of pardon: I am the gate for the sheep. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. I came that you may have life, and have it abundantly.

Christian tradition gives us more to “lay on the table” – bread and wine

Communion

Prayers of intercession – We have a table of abundance. Many don’t. I invite us to name places and situations in which we long to see a table of abundance.

Benediction

Posted by steve at 06:08 PM

3 Comments

  1. lovely

    Comment by sarah — May 8, 2014 @ 2:13 pm

  2. Struck me that it’s from the place of abundance (not material worth) that we can reach out with grace and acts of mercy

    Love iit that the flowers were the starting point!

    Comment by Seethroughfaith — May 9, 2014 @ 6:29 pm

  3. Yes, that was certainly lurking Seethroughfaith – the table prepared before us. Which did shape the benediction, made it missional – take the abundance of this table into the world that God loves

    steve

    Comment by steve — May 9, 2014 @ 6:53 pm

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