This is part of the worship series,
"Rattling Heaven's Door”
Series Introduction
Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4
Week 5 | Week 6
Week Two: The second petition
Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
The Opening of Worship
Song
"O Lord, Hear My Prayer" (st. 2) Communaute de Taizé
Call to Worship
We gather on this Sunday to draw wisdom and courage from the One whose life and death and resurrection give us hope.
In this time of worship, we draw apart from life’s busyness to wrestle God in prayer, as Jesus taught.
Song
"O Lord, Hear My Prayer" (st. 1) Communaute de Taizé
Opening Litany
For this litany, you will need a small chorus of "voices"—a group smaller than the congregation. The effect can likely be acheived with anywhere from 3–10 people.
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Leader: |
On this day, we step boldly, humbly into the presence of our God, praying with our suffering Savior the prayer he taught us to pray: |
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All: |
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. |
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Leader: |
With voices around the world we call: |
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All: |
May your kingdom come! |
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Voices: |
To those who are hungry, those who are weeping, those who are despairing, those who suffer from wars, those who have waited centuries for a truly human life. |
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Leader: |
Grant us hope that will strengthen our resolve to work for this world, despite so many conflicts, threats, and shortcomings. |
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All: |
We acknowledge that much is broken, and yet we believe in working for renewal, for justice and peace. |
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Voices: |
May the earth shine in its beauty, in its ability to heal. |
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All: |
May we see possibilities before us. |
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Leader: |
Grant us vision . . . |
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All: |
that we may boldly add our voices to a story unfolding through history: the coming of God’s kingdom. |
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Leader: |
Grant us courage to do your will—at all times, in all places, for all people. |
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All: |
May your kingdom come like a spring rain, like streams running to rivers. |
Silence
A time of reflection
Song
“The Lord’s Prayer” (st. 1–3)
Passing of God’s peace
Song
“Isaiah the Prophet” Patterson
Prayer of Confession
We confess, God of heaven and earth, that our fears and our insecurities, our pride and our stubbornness lead us away from your kingdom.
We fail to see the beauty and the complexity of your world . . . the people, cultures, languages, geographies that you have woven together.
Give us open eyes to see the world as it is and to see ourselves as we are.
Give us hope to continue believing in what you intend us all to be.
We come to you, bowed by the evidence of earth torn and heaven scorned. Yet you will make both new. Encircle us and our world with your healing won through sacrifice.
Extend to us your cord of life, assure us of your forgiveness, and give us the courage to call your kingdom near.
On earth as it is in heaven!
We are your family, your image on earth, friends, brothers, sisters of Christ. One world community with Christ as our center.
Assurance of Pardon
As a father has compassion for his children,
so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
For he knows how we were made;
he remembers that we are dust.
But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children’s children,
to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
—Psalm 103:13–14, 17–18 NRSVUE
Song
“Seek Ye First” (st. 1–2) Lafferty
Prayers of the People
The focus of this prayer is petition and intercession. People are invited to pray their petitions in silence
Song
“Nothing Can Trouble” St. Teresa
Proclamation of the Word
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture
Matthew 20:20–28
Sermon
“The Kingdom for Which We Pray”
Sermon Notes
The petition “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” is a profound prayer with implications in many directions. It asks for God to exercise God’s rule and authority in every part of the creation. That implies a rejection of other rules and authorities that are out of sync with the reign of God.
Who is king in our lives? Unless God is King, kingship brings no blessing but rather steals blessing from the very people it was meant to serve. Power and wealth, might and militia, apart from the staying, guiding hand of godly wisdom, turns to bitter ideology and wasted lives.
The gospel points us to Jesus as the true King. He redefines kingship. And his kingdom reverses the usual way of doing things.
Response to the Word
Song
“God Is Alive” (st. 1-4) Hass
Offering
Everyone comes forward to place their offerings in a basket
Song
“You, God, Are My Firmament” (st. 1) Winter
Prayer
People are invited to offer prayers of praise in silence
Song
“You, God, Are My Firmament” (st. 2-3) Winter
Service of Communion
"Concelebration" Wise
This is a sung liturgy for the Lord's Supper composed by Joe Wise. During the communion, a singer introduced verses and phrases the congregation echoed. Other sung arrangements of the Lord's supper liturgy include "The Lord Be With You" Rienstra
Dismissal
Closing Prayer
We Go Forth
Go into the world with faith, hope, and love, knowing that God hears our petitions.
Let us recommit ourselves to working diligently for God’s creation, for the people living next to us, for those who are suffering in this world.
Let us never tire of working and praying for God’s kingdom to unfold in all its glory.
Your will be done!
Parting Song
“Sent by the Lord Am I” Aguiar
Parting Blessing
Shalom, my friends, until we meet again, shalom.
Shalom.
