Proper 8 B (June 28): Everybody is Welcome/Waiting For the Morning

Bible Readings: 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27, Psalm 130, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, Mark 5:21-43 About the images: Upper: This is a free image from www.heartlight.com - a useful and well set up site for images related to scripture. Lower: This is my photo - please feel free to use it. Call to worship: Dialogue Have the seven questioners scattered around the congregation so that they speak from their seats and project the response so that everybody answers each question: Response: Yes! You are welcome here! 1. Do any of us dare to come into God’s presence during this service? 2. I am new here. May I come in? 3. I am not sure I’m wearing the right clothes? May I come in? 4. I’m not a churchy person? May I come in? 5. I’m not sure if I will understand everything that’s going on. May I come in? 6. My kids might play up a bit. May I come in? 7. I‘ll probably have to go out for a while during the service. May I come in? N.B. I know I wrote this but I cannot remember if I based it on an idea from somewhere else or not. Please let me know if I did. Listening Song: I Am An encouraging song by Jill Phillips on her album Jill Phillips or on WOW 2000 (pictured at right). Confession/Absolution: Psalm 130 Use parts or all of Psalm 130. Kids: The Bunyip of Berkeley's Creek by Jenny Wagner and Ron Brooks, Puffin, 1973, ISBN 0140501266 (pictured at left). A great story to use with the gospel. For Kids: The Secret of the Arrows By Alyce Bergy and Jim Roberts, Arch Books, 1972, ISBN 0570060672 (pictured at right). This story is based on the 2 Samuel reading. Drama: The Outcast Interrupt the Mark reading at the appropriate place with this monologue found in Let's Make A Scene 2 by Verena Johnson, Lutheran Publishing, 1991, ISBN 085910608, page 14. Useful Quote: Romeo and Juliet Act 2 Scene 2 Line 67: "For stony limits cannot hold love out". Story: Coming Home Found in Hot Illustrations by Wayne Rice, Youth Specialties, 1994, ISBN 0310402611, page 75. This story works well with the gospel reading. Poem: Lament Psalm 2 By Ann Weems and found in Resources For Preaching and Worship Year B compiled by Hannah Ward and Jennifer Wild, Westminster John Knox Press, 2002, ISBN 10 0664224776, pp177-7 (pictured at left) Adult Response: Mediation based on the Psalm and Mark reading Ask people to concentrate on the following words as they are spoken or projected with music: "What is God saying to you today? Listen to God speaking to you through these readings. Through the woman’s story, is God saying to you: “Reach out and touch me. I want to love you so much. I do love you far more than you will ever imagine.” Or through the words in the psalm, is God saying to you “ Come back. All is forgiven. I love you still. You are my beloved child” Or is God saying to you: “I see your faith in me,but now I want others to see it too. Share your story. Listen to their stories. Tell others what I have done for you” You could easily finish with Jill Phillip's song above using it as God speaking to each person in conclusion.