SEASON AFTER EPIPHANY 2018 RISE UP!

Transcription

1 SEASON AFTER EPIPHANY 2018 RISE UP! SERIES OVERVIEW It s the Season after Epiphany. Midway through, it s also Black History Month. The historic and ecumenical purpose of the Season after Epiphany is to help your congregation rise up and get ready for its work of accompanying people on their journey to baptism or restoration in the life of the church during the Season of Lent. There are two primary ways the readings for the Season after Epiphany seek to prepare congregations for this core task. One of them is by treating this as a season of evangelism, inviting newcomers to come and see. The gospel readings each year are the primary texts for that work. If you need a plan for this season that focuses on that, consider using our 2017 series, Come and See. This year, we re following the other major track, which focuses more on the kinds of internal work the church needs to do to get ready. We need to be reminded that it is God speaking to us and among us. We need to listen to God s voice. We need to be ready to move when and where the Spirit says move. We need to answer God s call in the varieties of contexts we and those we ll prepare during Lent will experience it. We need to stay focused on our work and God s call-- the core work of discipling, not just fellowship or friendship. And we need to hear and help those we ll accompany during Lent hear God s call to go deeper, following Jesus where he leads. Week 1: God is speaking! Week 2: Listen Week 3: Move Week 4: Answer Week 5: Focus Week 6: God is speaking! Each week this year features preaching notes from Kevin B. Smalls and spoken word elements in addition to the reading of Scripture, some from Kevin, some from our staff. We also encourage you throughout this season, as an aid to hearing the word, to think carefully about casting the readers in the readers theater approach we re taking counter to stereotype. Voice God as a child. Voice Samuel as an older-adult female. Voice familiar voices in tones and accents that may be less familiar for you. And see what you may learn about hearing God s word by building this as a practice during the six weeks of this series. And then, Rise up! The light is come. Let the light of God made known through this series prepare you to share that light with those preparing to know it for the first time during Lent, and be fully immersed into it at Easter. 1

2 January 7, 2018 RISE UP! Week 1: God Is Speaking (Epiphany/Baptism of the Lord) FULL SERVICE Abbreviations W & S= Worship & Song UMH=United Methodist Hymnal TFWS=The Faith We Sing ENTRANCE Begin in darkness and silence, or with a low and discordant ambient sound loop or choral/ensemble humming or ahhs. No percussion or rhythmic accompaniment of any kind. The feeling should be of floating and uncertainty. A singer enters from behind the congregation holding a single candle and begins to process toward the Paschal candle and font, front and center. Solo, quietly at first, the singer, alone begins: Arise, shine for your light has come. (Insert music) OR God Is Speaking (Child Solo-- see music notes), W&S 3025 Singing more boldly the second time, the singer then turns to the congregation and gestures all to rise. The third time, a whole choir joins, processing to follow the singer to the stage. After the choir sings, all join and keep repeating until the choir is all in place near the front. Then all lights on. Percussion begins to accompany Spoken Word (B. Kevin Smalls) Seemingly, the darkness has been so thick not quick to trust anything resembling light Might be a trick...and tricks don't always lead to a treat, so I retreat in the darkness hoping, slightly, ever so lightly that my deepest fears will submit to the changing of dark gears leading to light years of praise and adoration. Then, the light is not found, seemingly, in the measure of the day but the Way the voice appeared...it was the light and life to all people and there was no equal to its clear and present demand. I can, I believed. I can rise 2

3 right along with the sun. Darkness is for lying down, laying down, hanging around, pretending to be asleep. All the while the light slowly creeps between the cracks in the blinds...which are unsuccessful in stopping the invitation...to liberation... arise, shine, the light has come... arise, shine the light has come WORD The Word of God Isaiah 60:1, 2, 4;; Mark 1:4-5, 9-11 Translation by Taylor Burton-Edwards Reader 1 Rise up, shine, O shine out, Jerusalem! Your light has come! The glory of the Lord has risen upon you! Reader 2 Reader 1 Reader 2 Reader 1 Reader 2 Readers: Behold, I will send my messenger where you will all see her, and my road builder, and he will prepare the way. She will cry out in the desert, her voice resounding in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord. Make every byway a highway! Yes, darkness and gloom will form a veil over the earth and all nations, but over you, wherever you are, the Lord shall appear, and God s glory shall be seen upon you. John appeared, baptizing in the desert, and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from all of Judea and every neighborhood of Jerusalem were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan, calling their sins out loud as they were plunged beneath the river. Lift up your eyes, look all around you, and see! All your descendants are gathered together again: your sons from far away, your daughters upon their nurses arms. And in those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And as soon as he rose up from the water, he lifted up his eyes and looked around. The sky was split, and the Spirit alighted upon him like a dove. And there was a voice from the sky: 3

4 All: Reader 1 Reader 2 Readers: All: You are my beloved child. I am delighted in you! God was speaking in those days, through prophets, preachers, and voices from the sky. Glory! God is still speaking today, through Christ in us, the hope of glory. And so in these days, we will not fail to rise up, and shine, and say: I am a child of God. Song: Child of God Score: Sermon God Is Speaking RESPONSE AND THANKSGIVING Reaffirmation of the Baptismal Covenant Introduction All standing in body and/or spirit. Sisters and brothers in Christ: through the sacrament of baptism God's Spirit has been poured out upon water, water poured over and immersing us, water that flows freely for all who will receive it, water from the streams of God's saving power and justice, water that brings hope to all who thirst for righteousness, water that refreshes life, nurtures growth, and offers new birth. Today we come to the waters, to renew our commitments in each other's presence to Christ who has raised us, the Spirit who has birthed us, and the Creator who is making all things new. Renunciation of Sin and Profession of Faith And so I ask you, will you turn away from the powers of sin and death? We renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of our sin. 4

5 Will you let the Spirit use you as prophets to the powers that be? We accept the freedom and power God gives us to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves. Will you proclaim the good news and live as disciples of Jesus Christ, members of his body on earth? We confess Jesus Christ as our Savior, put our whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as our Lord, in union with the church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races. Will you be living witnesses to the gospel, individually and together, wherever you are, and in all that you do? We will remain faithful members of Christ's holy church and serve as Christ's representatives in the world. Will you receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments? We affirm and teach the faith of the whole church as we put our trust in God, the Father Almighty, in Jesus Christ, his only Son, and in the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Thanksgiving Over the Water The Spirit of the Lord is with us. Even so, come Lord Jesus! Let us pray. Almighty God, the life you birthed in us by baptism into Jesus Christ will never die. Your justice never fails. Your mercy is everlasting. Your healing river flows. Your Spirit blows where you will. We cannot stop you, God! But sometimes we try. We try to block the flow, or redirect the winds of the Spirit, We lose hope, or take hope away from others. We let the world tell us who we are, 5

6 or even let the church limit what you would make of us. We walk so far away from the life-giving Stream that we do not hear its sound, and we forget your power. We parch ourselves. We are dry and thirsty, O God. Come, refresh us! Speak to us once more your great good news of life, and pour into us afresh your love, stronger than death, until we can all rise, and each in our own voice proclaim, I am a child of God. The pastor offers gestures of calling the Holy Spirit to come upon the people and the water. The people offer the same gestures as they respond. Even so, come upon us, Holy Spirit! Come upon us, Holy Spirit! Come upon these waters. Come upon these waters. Let these waters be to us drops of your mercy. Let these waters remind us of your righteousness and justice. Let these waters renew in us the resurrection power of Jesus. Let these waters fill us with hope for your now and coming reign. Most Holy God, Abba, Father! Glory to you! Jesus Christ, Savior, Lord! Glory to you! Spirit of fire, Spirit over the waters, Spirit of holiness! Glory to you! Eternal God, One in Three and Three in One! All glory is yours, now and forever. Amen! All who are baptized and have renewed their vows are invited to come to the font to use the water as a sign of refreshing. Gifts for the offering may also be placed near the font at this time. As each uses the water, another says to her or him: 6

7 Remember that you are baptized, and rejoice! I am a child of God. Thanks be to God! Music during Reaffirmation and Offering Water Flowing Free Africana Hymnal 4043 Take Me to the Water Africana Hymnal 4045 OR W&S 3165 Come, Let Us Use the Grace Divine UMH 606 SENDING Reader 1: So you shall see, and stand in awe at the salvation of the Lord. Reader 2: And immediately, the Spirit drove Jesus out into the barren places: Pastor: On this day our God has acted. Rise up! Head out to the barren places! Look around and see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ shining in your hearts for all the world to see. Amen. Song of Sending Walking in the Light of God W&S 3163 MUSIC NOTES God Is Speaking (W&S 3025) This text by Ken Bible is a great opportunity for children to lead the congregation in singing. FRÈRE JACQUES is a well-known simple tune. Begin the singing of it with one child as a solo, and invite a children s choir, along with the congregation, to join on the second stanza. Another approach to singing would be to sing it as a round, with the congregation divided into two, three, or four sections. After the conclusion of the round at the end of the song, allow a few seconds of silence, and finish by slowly singing the opening measure again ( God is speaking ) in unison. Children can accompany the singing with Orff instruments or ukuleles;; or a piano or organ can accompany. It is very possible to sing this, however, a cappella;; and I recommend this as the best option if it is possible in your setting. Arise and Shine This short, cyclic song allows the Scripture to ring in the ears of the congregation, announcing the coming of the Light of the World. It is intended to be sung repetitively, 7

8 with intensity and dynamics ebbing and flowing throughout its singing. Keep the rhythm steady, but allow the participation and leadership of the Spirit to dictate the volume. Begin with a soloist singing the melody, and invite the congregation to sing at the best time for your worship space. The melody is simple enough to sing without need for sheet music or books, so a processing choir will be able to sing this quite easily as they enter the sanctuary. Accompaniment is simple, but it is in 6/8, which should flow with two primary beats in each measure. Child of God ( Songs of holy boldness also require a certain air of prayerful defiance in order to sing them with a sense of authenticity. This work by Mark Miller builds up both the community and each person singing it. The words draw the congregation into a relationship with a rhythm and pattern of you and I language, and the later reference to Romans 8:35,37 ( There is nothing, or no one who can separate ) declares that the people of God will not be driven apart from God or one another, regardless of how people interpret truth. The accompaniment is in a gospel style, and it requires a slight swing and a fairly slow tempo. The ideal accompaniment is piano or full rhythm section. The choir and congregation can sing the melody in unison, and the choral setting from Choristers Guild also contains vocal parts for choir. To teach the tune to the congregation, enlist a soloist or choir section to sing the first one or two stanzas before inviting the congregation to sing. Water Flowing Free (Africana Hymnal 4043) This modern hymn embodies the nature of flowing water, both in the textual and musical imagery. Offering the congregation a way to experience the characteristics of water in singing creates a deeper space within each person where the Spirit can dwell. The words have a gentle lilt to them when sung at the appropriate tempo, and the piano accompaniment can also be more manageable when not taken too fast. The ideal instrument is piano, although a flute, violin, or other treble instrument doubling the melody can also add a gentle quality to the singing of this hymn. Take Me to the Water (Africana Hymnal 4045 or W&S 3165) Two possible settings of this traditional African American song are listed here, and it is recommended to assess both to determine which would be best sung in your context. The setting in The Africana Hymnal contains an interesting gospel-styled accompaniment that can be very exciting for pianists, and it places the tune in a slow 6/8 meter. The version in Worship & Song is a four-part choral setting in 2/4. The texts are also different as well, with three stanzas shared between the two settings. No matter which version you choose, strongly consider the one that most effectively draws the congregation to the water in a procession within your context. Come, Let Us Use the Grace Divine (UMH 606) Charles Wesley penned this classic hymn to lift up the covenant made between God and God s people. In the case for worship on this day, it is a vital part of the Reaffirmation of the Baptismal Covenant and serves as a reminder to the church of vows made and the new life found by receiving God s grace and committing to the 8

9 Christian life. A number of instrumental arrangements of the KINGSFOLD tune can be used, with a particular harmonization of interest found in The United Methodist Hymnal Music Supplement II, no Do not sing this tune too slowly, as it will lose energy and make the phrases too difficult to sing. To find a good tempo, consider that the musical phrase containing the text, Come, let us use the grace divine, and all with one accord, should be comfortably singable in one breath. The ideal accompaniment can vary since E minor is a great key for a number of instruments, including organ, piano, guitar, and wind instruments. History of Hymns Walking in the Light of God (W&S 3163) This freedom song from South Africa arises out of the struggle against apartheid, and it is always important to note this when singing the text. When connected with the Scripture passage from Isaiah 60, it appropriately embraces the spirit of longing, restoration, and reconciliation. The best approach for the singing of this song is SATB choir, a cappella, with percussion (shakers, djembes, other simple drums), and congregation on the melody. If this is not possible in your setting, a simple accompaniment on piano or guitar would also work. I would not recommend, however, playing the parts on piano as written. Do not subdivide the rhythms into units any smaller than eighth notes. In other words, when there are multiple sixteenth notes (as in measure four), only play a quarter note or two eighth notes instead of the sixteenth notes. This will make the accompaniment more musical and less apt to drag the tempo. The spoken Hamba section needs to be spoken with rhythmic energy--quite percussively--to embody the dancing or marching nature of the tune. The phonetic translation of the text in Worship & Song serves as an appropriate guide for pronunciation. Hymn Study PREACHING NOTES Our guest writer for the Season after Epiphany is Rev. Dr. B. Kevin Smalls. Dr. Smalls is a native of Washington D.C., and an elder in full connection with the Baltimore- Washington Conference. He currently serves as the senior pastor of Hope United Methodist Church in Southfield, Michigan. Dr. Smalls holds a Bachelor s Degree in History from Claflin University, a Master of Divinity from Interdenominational Theological Center, and a Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary, where he focused on postmodern preaching to contemporary audiences with an emphasis on hip hop culture. During his twenty years in service to the United Methodist Church, Dr. Smalls has served in a variety of appointments. He is the founder of the Young Adult Christian Cafe and the Off the Hook Bible Study. He is an author who has published a book and a number of articles in periodicals, and he is a contributor to the Africana Worship Book. Dr. Smalls is married to Lisa Karen Smalls. They share parenting responsibilities for 9

10 their six children. We are pleased to share Dr. Smalls s unique voice, poetry, and insights into the Scriptures with the wider church during this season. Spoken Word (Note that we recommend presenting the spoken word as part of the liturgy. See Worship Order for ideas on how to present this as part of the worship service.) Seemingly, the darkness has been so thick not quick to trust anything resembling light Might be a trick...and tricks don't always lead to a treat, so I retreat in the darkness, hoping, slightly, ever so lightly that my deepest fears will submit to the changing of dark gears leading to light years of praise and adoration. Then, the light is not found, seemingly, in the measure of the day but the Way the voice appeared...it was the light and life to all people and there was no equal to its clear and present demand. I can, I believed. I can rise right along with the sun. Darkness is for lying down, laying down, hanging around, pretending to be asleep. All the while the light slowly creeps between the cracks in the blinds...which are unsuccessful in stopping the invitation...to liberation... arise, shine, the light has come... arise, shine the light has come Social Justice Imagination For congregations that are struggling with complexities around justice issues, the Isaiah text speaks vividly about a people whose light leads to building community. In the first three verses, we read how the light to the Israelite community will not be just for them, but for the Gentiles as well. This is a great time to preach toward a vision of a light that unifies God's people, even those different from us. Is our light bright enough to encompass the justice of inclusion of all God's creation? Preaching that names the real suffering in the world is a way of engaging that suffering as well as the systems that enable it. In this text, we encounter a God who alleviates this suffering with the shining of light on those who were so deeply in need of it. This light is so powerful that it is 10

11 inviting to all who reach for its warmth. Thanks be to God! The light shines, and the darkness does not overcome it. Pastoral Care Imagination Preaching to the vulnerability of congregations and communities takes an extra dose of love and care homiletically. Congregations struggle, often with depression, as members age, and congregations shrink in membership or attendance. The congregation can become swamped in change neighborhood shifts, financial worries, questions of longterm stability. And then there are those congregations grieving the loss of a child, an elderly leader, or someone violently killed. All these congregations stand in need of a sermon that cares for the mental psyche of the flock. This text conveys a God who nurtures a people that have been depressed for years, and in some cases, have given up on the notion of being delivered. It wouldn't hurt to take a peek at Isaiah 59:9-10 to get a brief sense of the struggle. Remind the people that God's light appears after disaster, along with the invitation to wake up, rise, and face the light with acceptance and renewal. Youth/Young Adult Imagination Youth and young adults may initially feel that the language of light and darkness might be a little too abstract and even sappy. An interesting angle is to create a message with a bit of believable tension that will grab their imagination. One path might be to explore the ways the light is refused. This opens the path to encountering a resistible God who has to wake up those who are in a deep enough sleep where even God's light isn't bright enough to wake them without God's voice. God's light is gentle, not always demanding, overbearing. It is strong enough to chase away the darkness, but gentle enough not to disturb a deep sleep. Once we awaken to the gift of a new day, we then must choose whether to walk into it or not. Help your younger crowds navigate through the difficult path of decision making. PLANNING NOTES EPIPHANY and BAPTISM OF THE LORD: GOD IS SPEAKING! Reading Notes NRSV texts, artwork and Revised Common Lectionary Prayers for this service (Epiphany) are available at the Vanderbilt Divinity Library (Baptism of the Lord) Leccionario en Español, Leccionario Común Revisado: Consulta Sobre Textos Comunes. 11

12 Lectionnaire en français, Le Lectionnaire Œcuménique Révisé Calendar Notes EPIPHANY and BAPTISM OF THE LORD: GOD IS SPEAKING Colors today and on February 11 (Transfiguration) are white and gold. From January 14-February 4, the color is green. Beginning Ash Wednesday (February 14), the color is purple. January 7 Epiphany Sunday AND Baptism of the Lord Season after Epiphany Series Begins: RISE UP! January 11 Human Trafficking Awareness Day January 14 Human Relations Day (Special Sunday with Offering) January 15 Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday January Week of Prayer for Christian Unity January 21 Ecumenical Sunday February All Month Black History Month February 11 Transfiguration of the Lord Scouting Sunday February 14 Ash Wednesday Lent Series Begins: REHAB February 19 Presidents Day March March 2 March 11 March 25 March 29 March 30 March 31 April April 1 April 15 April 22 April 25 World Day of Prayer UMCOR Sunday Daylight Saving Time Change Song (Spring) (USA) Passion/Palm Sunday Holy Week Series Begins Maundy/Holy Thursday Good Friday Holy Saturday (until Sundown) Easter Eve/Easter Vigil (after Sundown) Easter Day Easter Series Begins Native American Ministries Sunday Festival of God s Creation World Malaria Day May All Month Christian Home Month (2018 Theme: Families Called to Peace, forthcoming) 12

13 May 3 May 4 May 7-13 May 10 May 13 May May 20 May 24 May 27 May 28 Asian Pacific American Heritage Month National Day of Prayer May Friendship Day (UMW/CWU) Christian Family Week (2018 resources forthcoming) Ascension Day Ascension Sunday Festival of the Christian Home/Mother s Day (USA) Change the World Weekend Day of Pentecost Heritage Sunday (forthcoming) Aldersgate Day Trinity Sunday Peace with Justice Sunday Memorial Day (USA) June Pray for annual conferences convening throughout the month, for all receiving new appointments or assignments, for those leaving existing appointments or assignments, and for congregations and other ministries receiving new leadership. For Your Planning Team: EPIPHANY/BAPTISM OF THE LORD: RISE UP! GOD IS SPEAKING! Series Outline for Rise Up! (Epiphany through Transfiguration) January 7 God Is Speaking! (Epiphany and Baptism of the Lord) Isaiah 60:1-6;; Mark 1:4-11 January 14 Listen I Samuel 3:1-10 January 21 Move Jonah 3:1-5, 10 January 28 Answer Deuteronomy 18:15-20 February 4 Focus Isaiah 40:21-31 February 11: God is Speaking! (Transfiguration) 2 Kings 2:1-12;; Mark 9:2-9 Planning the Series Remember the keys to an effective series launch. 1. Treat the opening movement and the service as a whole as a series overture. 13

14 The opening movement in our full service order can be an effective overture for this service and series. It announces the series theme (Rise up!) and introduces a recurring feature of this series, the spoken word contributions of The Rev. B. Kevin Smalls. Be sure through visual, print, and/or aural announcements to point to where this series is heading in more than one way today as well. The sermon may also point the way. 2. Underscore the series promise. The purpose of the Season after Epiphany is to get the church ready for its work of accompanying seekers to learn the way of Christ and prepare for baptism during Lent. Last year s series did this by focusing on evangelism. This year s series focuses on the inner work the church needs to do and be reminded of as it gets ready. Help your congregation want to get ready by what you say and do in worship today, and be sure to help them see how this series can help them do that work. 3. Start strong. Starting strong today means especially making the opening sequence flow smoothly, powerfully, confidently. Be sure to rehearse the lighting cues, the singing, the movement, the spoken word elements and the reading so each is top quality and each flows seamlessly into the next as we move from entrance to sermon. Baptismal reaffirmation requires considerable logistical planning as well. Don t create bottlenecks or long lines! If you have more than fifty people in your congregation, plan for multiple stations (at least one per fifty congregants, if possible) set up around your worship space with ushers or others stationed to help people move to their nearest station and back to their seats smoothly. And be sure to provide ways for people who cannot get to a station to use the water as well. Since baptismal reaffirmation may be a new or relatively infrequent practice in many of our congregations, be sure to rehearse the stationing and deployment of people directing congregants to stations and station hosts. They should all be in place, ready to go, as the rite of baptismal reaffirmation begins. If you ve done the physical prep work well, you won t need to say more than The ushers will guide you to the nearest station at the time you invite people to go. Additional Resources for this Service 2014 Planning Helps for these readings (Baptism of the Lord) Ecumenical Prayer Cycle: (Click link to find countries for this week when they are posted) 14

15 RISE UP! Week 2: LISTEN Human Relations Day January 14, 2018 Listen Abbreviations CCLI=Christian Copyright Licensing International TFWS=The Faith We Sing W & S= Worship & Song UMH=United Methodist Hymnal FULL SERVICE ENTRANCE The service begins with subdued lighting and silence. Acolytes or others may light a candle (the paschal candle by the font, if you have a paschal candle). Spotlight on a solo guitarist who sings stanza 1 of Speak, O Lord (CCLI # , suggested tempo around 60 bpm) as the candle is lit and the choir or rest of the musical ensemble arrives or processes in and takes their places. Choir/ensemble sings stanza 2. Lights come up a bit and all are invited to stand to sing stanza 3. Spoken word artist then offers this as prayer of illumination: Nothing more frightening Than heightening the expectation That God will speak. Hearing these days is rare. I don t have any more risks To spare. No need in hanging around Taking the chance of being let down By the One who always lifts. Better take matters in my own hands This time. If God is quiet certainly others aren t Buy here, pay here, sale here Try it here, go there, sit, stand Sand, slipping through fingers of hope Trying to scope any voice I can but There is No voice. No choice. 15

16 When the Word is rare No one could dare Suggest I just wait. No one would care If I pick my own blessings Or if I seek my own dressings To my own arrangements. I d rather do that than Trust. Trusting leaves The possibility for disappointment. Acting on my own, Will help me to clone my own Similar to the one in my mind. Except, it never works. Listening Is always the best way. Listening. Listening to, yes. Listening to no more distress But also listening to no Listening to follow me Trust me hope in me Shhhhh, everyone, hush, I m listening this time I m taking the bold leap I ll sit in suspense listening even at the expense of my disappointment. I d rather hear a no From God Than a shallow yes from the mess Of this world. Shhhh, ya ll. I m listening. Speak God 16

17 You got me. WORD AND RESPONSE I Samuel 3:1-20 (NRSV, alt.) Spotlight to center. Samuel lies on the ground to the (congregation) left of the Lord s table. Eli stands to the right. Narrator and voice of the Lord remain unseen. Samuel moves on narrator cues. Narrator: Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days;; visions were not widespread. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room;; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, The Lord: Samuel! Samuel! Samuel: Here I am! Narrator: Samuel ran to Eli. Samuel: Here I am, for you called me. Eli: I did not call;; lie down again. Narrator: So he went and lay down. The Lord called again. The Lord: Samuel! Narrator: Samuel got up and went to Eli. Samuel Here I am, for you called me. Eli: I did not call, my son;; lie down again. 17

18 Narrator: Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli. Samuel: Here I am, for you called me. Narrator: Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Eli: Go, lie down;; and if the voice calls you again, you shall say, Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. Narrator: So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, The Lord: Samuel! Samuel! Samuel: Speak, for your servant is listening. Silence The Lord: Behold, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle. On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. For I have told him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli s house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering forever. Silence Narrator: Samuel lay there until morning;; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. But Eli called Samuel. Eli: Samuel, my son. Samuel: Here I am. 18

19 Eli: What did God say to you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you. Narrator: Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. Eli: It is the Lord;; let him do what seems good to him. Narrator: As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the Lord. Silence Acoustic accompaniment to Speak, O Lord may play in the background while the readers return to their places and the preacher takes center attention. Sermon Listen Prayers of the People Deacon or Lay Prayer Leader: Shhhh, O my soul. Shhhh. Listen. God will speak and guide our prayers. God s got us. God will show us the way. In this confidence we pray: for the people of this congregation (silence) for those who suffer and those in trouble (silence, then O Lord, Hear My Prayer, TFWS 2200) for the concerns of this local community (silence) for the world, its peoples, and its leaders (silence, then O Lord, Hear My Prayer, TFWS 2200) for the earth you have given to our care (silence) for the Church universal its leaders, its members, and its mission... in communion with the saints (silence, then O Lord, Hear My Prayer, TFWS 2200) 19

20 in the words our Lord Jesus has taught us: The Lord s Prayer THANKSGIVING Praise and Thanksgiving Medley You Inhabit the Praises (3x) Africana Hymnal 4024 Thank You, Lord (3x) UMH 84 I Thank You, Jesus W&S 3037 The offering may be collected during the singing. SENDING Deacon or Pastor The word of the Lord may be rare in these days, and visions may not be widespread But our God is never without a witness. God is still speaking. Go, and listen. Listen, and speak all that the Lord reveals. Amen. Hymn Here I Am, Lord UMH 593 Postlude MUSIC NOTES Speak, O Lord (CCLI # ) Keith Getty and Stuart Townend have crafted a beautiful song that may be used in many places in worship. Today, we recommend using it as the entrance to worship. The staggered entrances recommended in the rubrics will help the congregation sing this if it is unfamiliar. The ideal key is C, and it may be accompanied in a number of ways, whether guitar, piano, organ, band, or other ensemble. The melody is very lyrical and could also be highlighted by a string instrument such as a violin or cello. An ideal tempo would be quarter note = 64-68, as this will allow the melody to soar, but keep the pace where the congregation can easily navigate breathing through the phrases. O Lord, Hear My Prayer (TFWS 2200) As with many songs from the Taizé Community in France, this work is short and cyclic and is written to be sung repetitively. Because the written vocal parts are so simple, it is very tempting for a pianist, organist, or guitarist to play an accompaniment that is too florid and complex. Less is more with these simple songs! Do not make the accompaniment overpower the choral harmony. If possible in your context, sing in four parts, supported by a choir. The melody alone can also suffice, however, and is very accessible for congregations to sing softly and meditatively. You Inhabit the Praises of Your People (Africana Hymnal 4024) This short song of praise is a perfect way to open a medley of thanksgiving to 20

21 God. The rhythms are slightly syncopated, but the melody is very motivic and easily learned and can be led by a soloist, choir, praise team, or other vocal ensemble. The suggested tempo is quarter note = 50, and the accompaniment can vary from piano to rhythm section or full band. An organ will also work, but it will require some slight improvisation from what is found within the accompaniment score. Before transitioning to Thank You, Lord, a modulation to the key of G will also be needed. Here is a simple example that can be played as the word you is sung in the final measure (singing the final note as a half note instead of a dotted half note): Thank You, Lord (UMH 84) This gospel chorus must be sung passionately at a slow pace. If able, allow a choir to sing in four-part harmony to accompany the congregation, and be sure to put space between thank and you, as written by William Farley Smith, in measure 7. If you have a soloist who is confident with improvisation alongside the congregational singing, encourage her/him to sing a very short introduction every time before the congregation begins singing. On the last repetition of the song, repeat the penultimate measure multiple times and allow a soloist to improvise over the singing before transitioning to the last measure and the next song. Don t be afraid to use piano, organ, bass, and drums all at the same time to make the singing of this brief chorus authentic and full. This song is very accessible, however, to congregations of all sizes and abilities and will make a great middle piece of this thanksgiving medley. Lead Sheet I Thank You, Jesus (W&S 3037) This rousing hymn from Worship & Song has quickly become a favorite in many congregations and serves as an effective expression of thanksgiving. The repeated text, You brought me from a mighty long way, is a sung Ebenezer of sorts and echoes to numerous Scriptures of God s deliverance, including 1 Samuel 7:12 and 2 Samuel 7:18. Be sure not to sing this hymn too fast. Allow the music to swing, which can easily be done in this 12/8 meter. Any number of instruments may accompany this selection, including organ, piano, drums, bass, and electric guitar. Hymn Study Here I Am, Lord (UMH 593) This classic from Dan Schutte is a hymn many United Methodists know by heart. It is a favorite of many from The United Methodist Hymnal, 1989, and it is often sung in gatherings and worship services in churches of all sizes across the United Methodist connection. The hymn serves as a call to discipleship and mission, and singing it requires a willingness to answer the call of God by saying, Here I am, Lord. The hymn 21

22 can easily be accompanied by organ, piano, or band and is best supported when sung as suggested, with the stanzas in unison and the refrain in four-part harmony. History of Hymns PREACHING NOTES Our guest writer for the Season after Epiphany is Rev. Dr. B. Kevin Smalls. Dr. Smalls is a native of Washington D.C., and an elder in full connection with the Baltimore- Washington Conference. He currently serves as the senior pastor of Hope United Methodist Church in Southfield, Michigan. Dr. Smalls holds a Bachelor s Degree in History from Claflin University, a Master of Divinity from Interdenominational Theological Center, and a Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary, where he focused on postmodern preaching to contemporary audiences with an emphasis on hip hop culture. During his twenty years in service to the United Methodist Church, Dr. Smalls has served in a variety of appointments. He is the founder of the Young Adult Christian Cafe and the Off the Hook Bible Study. He is an author who has published a book and a number of articles in periodicals, and he is a contributor to the Africana Worship Book. Dr. Smalls is married to Lisa Karen Smalls. They share parenting responsibilities for their six children. We are pleased to share Dr. Smalls s unique voice, poetry and insights into the scriptures with the wider church during this season. Spoken Word (Note that we recommend presenting the spoken word as part of the liturgy. See Worship Order for ideas on how to present this as part of the worship service.) Nothing more frightening Than heightening the expectation That God will speak. Hearing these days is rare. I don t have any more risks To spare. No need in hanging around Taking the chance of being let down By the One who always lifts. Better take matters in my own hands This time. If God is quiet certainly others aren t Buy here, pay here, sale here 22

23 Try it here, go there, sit, stand Sand, slipping through fingers of hope Trying to scope any voice I can but There is No voice. No choice. When the Word is rare No one could dare Suggest I just wait. No one would care If I pick my own blessings Or if I seek my own dressings To my own arrangements. I d rather do that than Trust. Trusting leaves The possibility for disappointment. Acting on my own, Will help me to clone my own Similar to the one in my mind. Except, it never works. Listening Is always the best way. Listening. Listening to, yes. Listening to no more distress But also listening to no Listening to follow me Trust me hope in me Shhhhh, everyone, hush, I m listening this time I m taking the bold leap I ll sit in suspense listening even at the expense of my disappointment. I d rather hear a no From God Than a shallow 23

24 yes from the mess Of this world. Shhhh, ya ll. I m listening. Speak God You got me. Preaching Ideas The second week of this epiphany series leads us to the theme of listening. Listening, of course, is a critical part of the Christian path. This week, we encounter a text where the Word of the Lord is rare, but God s voice emerges as God attempts to get Samuel s attention. Samuel is initially confused by this and assumes that his mentor, Eli, is calling him. There are many angles in which to approach this theme of listening. Typically, Samuel is the lead in the story, but it is also worth paying attention to Eli. Sociological/Psychological Imagination It is very much worth exploring this unique relationship of a mentor who has taken young Samuel on to guide him spiritually. Eli raised Samuel, but Eli was also slightly accountable for some of the silence of God. You could also explore Eli s life, and how God used him in developing Samuel s spiritual formation. Emotionally, what was it like for Eli to be in the place that ushered his student to a God that was speaking to him as he once spoke to Eli? How do we address the challenge of meeting that day when God gives our job to another? Are we willing to listen and trust? Are we willing to pray our own covenant prayer, Let me be employed by thee or laid aside by thee? Listening sometimes includes being informed that our ministry is now that of making room for the next to come along. Social Justice Imagination There are times when it is hard to figure out which way is the right way. We are bombarded daily with news about safety, yet we want to be faithful disciples who offer hospitality. We are hearing that there are wars and rumors of wars, yet we want to be people of peace. We want to be bold and destroy the barriers that divide people and communities. How do we speak to this dangerous, difficult, and challenging time of unrest? The path could very well be that of seeking God s voice, as opposed to just our own. Who is calling us anyway? Is it those who are close to us, or even kin? Or is God calling us to radical action? Samuel had to figure out where the voice was coming from. Fortunately, he had assistance from his own village to point him to the way. How do we point our people to the ultimate voice? To be prophetic is to echo the voice of the one who demands justice, peace, and love. Pastoral Care Imagination How well do the young and old co-exist? There has been a lot of talk about how the young and the old don t see eye-to-eye. Yet, we learn all throughout the Bible that both the young and the old are sacred gifts. Joel prophesied that the old will dream dreams and the young will see visions. It is a sacred gift to know that the greatest miracles may 24

25 be born out of interaction between the young and the old: Ruth and Naomi, Mary and Elizabeth, and of course Samuel and Eli. The one link that is possible to bridge these generational gaps is that of listening. What narratives can be used to illustrate the power of two generations sitting together at the same table, bound by the voice of God, who finds a way to make community among them? Youth/Young-Adult Imagination Here is a good place to imagine what it s like to be frustrated as we learn to distinguish God s voice among all the other voices out there. Here you might take a life application approach and find a way to weave God s voice throughout all the unique challenges in youth and young-adult culture: Youth who struggle to get their locker open;; young adults who are trying to figure out whether to leave home or not;; youth who are battered by bullying;; and young adults who may be having the biggest break-up in their lives. God s voice enters these scenarios as well. What a joy to know that God is a God who speaks to everyday life, even theirs. PLANNING NOTES EPIPHANY and BAPTISM OF THE LORD: GOD IS SPEAKING! Reading Notes NRSV texts, artwork and Revised Common Lectionary Prayers for this service are available at the Vanderbilt Divinity Library. Leccionario en Español, Leccionario Común Revisado: Consulta Sobre Textos Comunes. Lectionnaire en français, Le Lectionnaire Œcuménique Révisé Calendar Notes EPIPHANY and BAPTISM OF THE LORD: GOD IS SPEAKING Color today through February 4 is green. February 11 (Transfiguration) is white and gold. Beginning Ash Wednesday (February 14), the color is purple. January 14 Human Relations Day (Special Sunday with Offering) January 15 Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday January Week of Prayer for Christian Unity January 21 Ecumenical Sunday February All Month Black History Month February 11 Transfiguration of the Lord Scouting Sunday February 14 Ash Wednesday Lent Series Begins: REHAB February 19 Presidents Day 25

26 March March 2 March 11 March 25 March 29 March 30 March 31 April April 1 April 15 April 22 April 25 World Day of Prayer UMCOR Sunday Daylight Saving Time Change Song (Spring) (USA) Passion/Palm Sunday Holy Week Series Begins Maundy/Holy Thursday Good Friday Holy Saturday (until Sundown) Easter Eve/Easter Vigil (after Sundown) Easter Day Easter Series Begins Native American Ministries Sunday Festival of God s Creation World Malaria Day May All Month Christian Home Month (2018 Theme: Families Called to Peace, forthcoming) Asian Pacific American Heritage Month May 3 National Day of Prayer May 4 May Friendship Day (UMW/CWU) May 7-13 Christian Family Week (2018 resources forthcoming) May 10 Ascension Day May 13 Ascension Sunday Festival of the Christian Home/Mother s Day (USA) May Change the World Weekend May 20 Day of Pentecost Heritage Sunday (forthcoming) May 24 Aldersgate Day May 27 Trinity Sunday Peace with Justice Sunday May 28 Memorial Day (USA) June Pray for annual conferences convening throughout the month, for all receiving new appointments or assignments, for those leaving existing appointments or assignments, and for congregations and other ministries receiving new leadership. For Your Planning Team: SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY: RISE UP! LISTEN Series Outline for Rise Up! (Epiphany through Transfiguration) 26

27 January 7 God Is Speaking! (Epiphany and Baptism of the Lord) Isaiah 60:1-6;; Mark 1:4-11 January 14 Listen I Samuel 3:1-10 January 21 Move Jonah 3:1-5, 10 January 28 Answer Deuteronomy 18:15-20 February 4 Focus Isaiah 40:21-31 February 11: God is Speaking! (Transfiguration) 2 Kings 2:1-12;; Mark 9:2-9 Planning This Service It s week two in this six-week series. The core task for week two in any series is to pick up the energy and the thematic thread (in that order) of the series launch and take them both to the next level. This service picks up on the energy of last week s service by again beginning in near darkness and quiet, leading into a spoken word piece before a dramatic reading of the Scripture. The way this service takes the energy of the series launch to the next level may not seem obvious. Overall, this one seems quieter, more contemplative, at least through the prayers of the people. It may seem as if the energy is taken down a notch rather than up. What we re going for here is taking the energy of the first service deeper, to a more profound level of listening. And then, once we ve prayed, starting to amp up the energy from Thanksgiving through Sending forth. This follows the advancement of the thematic thread from God Is Speaking (last week) to our response to that in this week s service, Listen, reflected dramatically in the spoken word prayer for illumination, the Scripture, the sermon, and the prayers. This service seeks to help us embody the energy we need to listen for God s direction in our lives and in the lives of those we ll be accompanying in their discipleship journey during Lent. Then the spike in kinetic energy of the music and prayers toward the end of the service provides a bit of a segue into next week s service, Move. Additional Resources for this Service 2014 Planning Helps for these readings 27

28 Ecumenical Prayer Cycle: (Click link to find countries for this week when they are posted) RISE UP! Week 3: MOVE Ecumenical Sunday January 21, 2018 Move Abbreviations UMH=United Methodist Hymnal CCLI=Christian Copyright Licensing International TFWS=The Faith We Sing W & S= Worship & Song SOZ=Songs of Zion FULL SERVICE ENTRANCE All lights on, all candles lit before the service begins. Prelude or other instrumental introduction to the service might be on Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah (UMH 127). Then the choir or ensemble gets up, moves into a ring around the congregation, and starts to clap and sing, joined by the congregation after singing stanza 1 the first time. You ve Got to Move (st 1-2) Africana Hymnal 4077 WORD AND RESPONSE Clapping continues at a more subdued level during the reading of Scripture and becomes more pronounced during the singing. Narrator and The Lord are unseen voices. Jonah appears at the front, stage right, lying down, gets up when he hears the word coming to him, and moves briskly to stage left on the narrator s cue. Scripture Jonah 3:1-3a, 10 (NRSV), 4-9 (Paraphrase Taylor Burton-Edwards) Narrator: The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time. The Lord: Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you. Narrator So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. 28

29 You ve Got to Move (st. 3) Africana Hymnal 4077 Clapping picks up during the singing, then resumes at a more subdued level. Jonah moves toward center stage and into the center aisle at narrator s cue. Narrator: Jonah spent the day going into the heart of the city, crying out as he walked, Jonah: Forty days more, and Nineveh will be overthrown! You ve Got to Move (st. 1) Africana Hymnal 4077 Clapping picks up during the singing, then stops. Narrator: The people believed God. They proclaimed a fast, and everyone great and small, from the king to the animals of the field, put on sackcloth, turned from their evil ways, and cried out to God. When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God repented from the calamity God had planned to bring upon them;; and did not do it. Sermon Move Prayers of the People Deacon or Lay Prayer Leader: With all our hearts, and all our minds, and all our strength, let us pray to our Lord. People: Lord, have mercy. With all who are forced to move by circumstances beyond their control, by weather, war, violence, employment, or need for specialized health care People: Lord, have mercy. With all whom you call to move, from places of comfort to places of greater challenge, from one form of service to another, or from employment to being laid aside for a time People: Lord, have mercy. With leaders in the church and leaders in the nations and corporations of the world who constantly call those they lead and serve to move from injustice to greater justice, from poverty toward sustainability, from isolation toward interdependence, from wastefulness toward stewardship of the earth, from conflict toward reconciliation, from fear toward hope 29