First Week Worship

First Week Worship

UWorship Resource Option 1 (page 50-52)

Notes for Leaders •  You’re welcome to use, not use, or adapt

anything in UKirk’s UWorship Resource •  Elements of worship not included directly

in the First Week Option 1 section have been supplemented with language from the general section of Uworship.

•  If there is a response the entire gathered group will say, it has been bolded & italicized

•  This service is intended to be two Scripture readings and two short meditations followed by silence, but you may also choose to use just one passage and meditation.

•  The readings included in this resource are: Genesis 12:1-9 & John 15:5-17.

•  You’re welcome to choose other passages.

•  For some students, this will be their first week away from home. They will feel the anxiety of leaving home for the first time and the excitement of something new. For others, it will be the first week of their return to school. This service is designed to give a sense of place in the midst of change.

•  Be sure to check the notes on the Power Point slides for more suggestions or explanations.

Playlist •  *“10,000 Reasons,” Jonas Myrin, Matt Redman, CCLI #6016351 •  “Come, Now Is the Time to Worship,” Brian Doerksen, CCLI

#2430948 •  *“The House of God Forever,” Jon Foreman, CCLI #5295702 •  “How Great Is Our God,” Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, Jesse Reeves,

CCLI #4348399 •  “The Kingdom,” Bethany Dillon, So Far: The Acoustic Sessions •  “No One Like You,” David Crowder, Jack Parker, Jason Solley,

Jeremy Bush, Mike Dodson, Mike Hogan, CCLI #4276894 •  *“Not with Haste,” Mumford and Sons, Babel •  *“Where We Belong,” Josh Blakesley, Free •  “You Are Holy,” Marc Imboden, Tammi Rhoton, CCLI #2332149

•  *Lyrics included in this PowerPoint resource

General Order of Worship •  Hi! and Clearing the

Air •  Listening to The Other •  Responding &

Sharing •  Bye! And Say Hi To

Gather

Encounter

Respond

Bless

GATHER

Call to Worship

Leader: I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord.

People: With my whole being, body and

soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God.

Leader: Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young at a place near your altar, O Lord of Hosts, my ruler and my God!

People: What joy for those who can live

in your house, always singing your praises.

Opening Prayer Giver of hope and new beginnings, we give

you thanks for gathering us here today. We come to worship bringing our excitement, our worries, our fears, and our joys. Loving God, help us remember that we’ve come to sing your praises and not our own. May we find our way and our place as we settle into life at school and away from home. Remind us that we are never alone. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.

“10,000 Reasons”

Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul.

Worship his holy name. Sing like never before,

O my soul. I’ll worship your holy name.

The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning.

It’s time to sing your song again. Whatever may pass and whatever lies

before me, Let me be singing when the evening comes

You’re rich in love And you’re slow to anger.

Your name is great and your heart is kind.

For all your goodness I will keep on singing, Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find.

And on that day when my strength is failing,

The end draws near and my time has come,

Still my soul will sing your praise unending. Ten thousand years and then forevermore.

Call to Confession Even as we enter into God’s presence with

praise, we fall back, ashamed; we come up short. Who can stand in the presence of the Lord? No one—not one—is righteous before the Holy One. But God remembers our creation from just a handful of dust and looks upon us with compassion. Trusting in God’s steadfast love, let us give to the Lord all that gets in the way of following him as we confess our sins together.

Prayer of Confession Leader: We bless you, Holy God, with

everything we have. We bless your holy name.

People: You are the God who forgives us,

redeems us, heals us. You are merciful and gracious, slow to anger and full of love. As far as the east is from the west, so far do you remove sin from us.

Leader: Sins for which we can’t forgive ourselves, sins for which others cannot forgive us.

People: Forgive us, Lord, and show us how to forgive.

Leader: Free us from the things that get in the way—of our relationship with others, with ourselves, and with you. Cast out our sin and enter into our lives, that we might be your people grounded in love, grace, humility, and peace.

People: Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness

This is what good news means: There is nothing you can do to make God love you any more . . . and there is nothing you can do to make God love you any less. We are beloved. We are forgiven. Amen.

ENCOUNTER

Prayer of Illumination Gracious God,

we long to experience the world as you created it to be.

In our world, on our campus, in our lives— we see your reign having already begun but not yet fully realized. By the power of your Holy Spirit, open your

Word to us so we can experience a new world of possibility opened before us. Amen.

Genesis 12: 1-9

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy- five years old when he departed from Haran. Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother’s son Lot, and all the possessions that they had gathered, and the persons whom they had acquired in Haran; and they set forth to go to the land of Canaan.

When they had come to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. Then the Lord appeared to Abram, and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him

From there Abram moved on to the hill country on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and invoked the name of the Lord. And Abram journeyed on by stages toward the Negeb.

Reflection

Just as Abram was called from the land of his parents, we are being called forth to establish ourselves in the new space of college. This applies for those moving far away, those moving down the road, and commuters who are forming a new community as well.

Abram was called from his homeland. Calling wasn’t just something that happened thousands of years ago. College is a time that God can use to mold and shape us , using us now in spreading the good news and preparing us for where we will be led following graduation. How might we be attentive to God in the bustle of college life to be ready to heed God’s call?

Abram builds an altar in his new home place (and then in the next one too). How might we be intentional about claiming a place for God in our college homeland? What might that look like physically and spiritually?

Silent Reflection

“Where We Belong”

A city on a hill Where our strength is filled,

A beacon in the night Shines a holy light.

Let the darkness fall; There’s a new day for us all.

This is where we belong, The place that we call home.

We gather as one Body in one Lord.

This is where we belong. The place that we call home.

We come to live and love where we belong.

A chosen place revealed, People being healed,

New life will begin, The dead will rise again.

Open up the doors, And let the healing waters pour.

This is where we give our hearts, This is where we share our faith,

This is where we make a diff’rence, Right here in this place!

John 15: 5-17

Reflection

What does it mean for your daily life that Jesus is the true vine and we are the branches? What does it look like to remain in God and God’s Word as a college student—away from home and from our parents’ faith (or lack thereof)?

What does one make of Jesus saying, “If you remain in me and I in you, then you will produce much fruit. Without me, you can’t do anything” (v. 5b)? How is this conditional statement applicable for students experiencing a new beginning/new choices? Are Jesus’ words comforting or threatening? Why?

How do we as college students remain in God’s love and also love one another? What are some ways to show God’s love and to have God’s joy be made complete in you?

How can we explore things on campus and yet still remain attached to Christ, the true vine?

What do you make of Jesus’ statement “You didn’t choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you could go and produce fruit and so that your fruit could last” (v. 16)? How does one produce kingdom fruit that lasts on a college campus?

Silent Reflection

•  How might we be attentive to God’s calling this new school year?

•  How might college be a time of preparation for living into God’s dreams for us and for the world?

•  How might we carve out sacred space for encounters with God amidst the busyness of college?

“House of God Forever” God is my shepherd I won't be wanting I won't be wanting

He makes me rest in fields of green With quiet streams

Even though I walk through the valley Of death and dying

I will not fear 'cause You are with me You are with me

Your shepherd's staff comforts me You are my feast in the presence of enemies

Surely goodness will follow me Follow me

In the house of God forever

(In the house of God forever)

God is my shepherd I won't be wanting I won't be wanting

He makes me rest in fields of green By quiet streams

Even while I'm walking through the valley Of death and dying

I will not fear 'cause You are with me You're always with me

Your shepherd's staff comforts me You are my feast in the presence of enemies

Surely goodness will follow me Follow me

In the house of God forever

(In the house of God forever)

RESPOND

Affirmation of Faith In life and in death we belong to God. Through the grace of our Lord Jesus

Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy

One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve.

-from “A Brief Statement of Faith”

Prayers of the People

Lord, we come before you as your people, full of hope and gratitude, carrying doubts and fears.

We take this time now to voice the things that are on our hearts.

•  For the students, faculty, and staff at our campus . . .

•  For people who are hungry right here in our community . . .

•  For those who are sick and in need of healing . . .

•  For friends who don’t believe you love them unconditionally . . .

•  For the leaders of our state and nation . . .

•  For the needs in our world . . .

Lord, hear these prayers that we have lifted up to you, prayers for your people, for your world, for our community and campus, even for ourselves. Hear us.

Amen.

Offering

•  How will you offer yourself to God in a new way this school year?

•  This is what we have to offer. Lord, take these gifts. Lord, use these gifts. Lord, bless these gifts. This is what we have to offer. Amen.

Invitation to Communion

Friends, come to God’s table. Christ has prepared it for us. He invites anyone and everyone to trust him and to taste and see that God is good. So come.

Prayer of Great Thanksgiving

We are grateful, Lord. We take part in this sacrament not because we feel like we have to. We want to receive communion because it is a time for us to come to your table and say, “Thank you!” Thank you for loving us; thank you for creation; thank you for the ways you provide!

We are grateful for your covenants, for giving us the guiding words of the Old Testament, and for speaking through the prophets. We are grateful for your patience with us! Even though your followers continued to go their own way, you sent your Son, Jesus Christ, as a free gift of grace, not only for them, but for all of us.

How can we thank you for all of these things, Lord? One way is by receiving your body and blood with gratitude. Lord, we ask your Holy Spirit to be present here with us, and for us all to know and believe in Christ’s presence here. May we, as your grateful people, truly understand this meal as a way for us to be nourished, united, and reminded of our role in the world, as members of the body of Christ.

As we participate in this sacrament, we say, “Thank you, Lord!” Hallelujah! Amen.

Breaking The Bread

Here we are at the Lord’s Table. We see this bread and this cup, and we need to be reminded of what Jesus did on the night he was arrested.

That very night, he was with his closest friends, his disciples. He took some bread, and he asked God to bless it. Then he broke it, and said to them, “This is my body broken for you.” He instructed them to eat bread.

He then took the cup and poured wine into it. He gave thanks to God, and then he said to them, “This is my blood of the new covenant, shed for you, and poured out for many.” He instructed them to drink the wine.

Jesus taught this sacrament to the disciples that night because he knew his followers would need something physical to practice as a remembrance of his sacrifice for us.

So we are here at the Lord’s Table, and we take part in this sacrament, proclaiming his death, resurrection, and ascension, affirming we believe Jesus reigns, and that he will come again!

Communion

Prayer after Communion

Loving God, you have satisfied us with good things. Through the bread and cup, we have been filled. Now, send us out—filled to the brim— to be your people in the world, serving one another in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Closing Prayer God of all places, we gather at a new beginning. Some of us have been here before, but we come today with new challenges, new hopes, new possibilities. Some of us are creating a whole new home for ourselves, looking at a blank slate ready to be filled with new friendships, crisp clean textbooks, and bedrooms freshly decorated. We ask your blessing on the year before us. May we find home in this place. May we be attentive to the ways you call us to embrace you above all that comes with being a college student. Help us to set aside time to remember who we are in light of who we know you to be. Mold us that we may not just grow smarter but may grow in ways that prepare us to heed your claim on our lives. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

“Not With Haste”

Your eyes they tie me down so hard I’ll never learn to put up a guard

So keep my love, my candle bright Learn me hard, oh learn me right.

This ain’t no sham.

I am what I am.

Though I may speak some tongue of old Or even spit out some holy word

I have no strength from which to speak When you sit me down, and see I’m weak.

We will run and scream You will dance with me

They’ll fulfill our dreams and we’ll be free

And we will be who we are And they’ll heal our scars Sadness will be far away

So as we walked through fields of green Was the fairest sun I’d ever seen

And I was broke, I was on my knees And you said yes as I said please

This ain’t no shame I am what I am I leave no time

For a cynic’s mind

Charge As we leave this place of worship to go out and face our new beginnings this school year, may we remember that we are never alone. God is always with us. Our Prince of Peace will never forsake us. May we live in hope that we are connected to God and God to us: living our lives to bear the fullest, lushest fruit. May we never forget how many of us have experienced loneliness, fear, and new adventures. And may we share God’s love as we reach out to others, especially when it is difficult and we feel as if we have no time.

Benediction

And now may the love of God, the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the friendship and fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all forevermore—world without end. Amen.

First Week Worship

Documents

Transcript of First Week Worship