Matthew 26:14-27:66 Passion Sunday

Ride on Ride on in Majesty

Through the dusty streets

The crowds raise up their voices

And with hosannas greet

The horseman and his mighty legions

Law and order to keep

Solders

Leather, shields and swords

Marching in perfect step

Behind

The one who represents the son of god

His symbol leads the way

All the dignitaries were there

As he entered through the gate

Pilot rode in up the white horse

Onward solders marching

As to war

Ready to keep the peace and any cost

Life was secondary

Marching on in majesty

The flexing imperial power of Rome

On this powder keg celebration

of liberation

and the leaders came to see

on the other end of the holy city

a simple procession

down the hill and through the dusty streets

no armor, helmets or swords

only their voices, cloaks and a few palm branches

to line the way

of the

This is My Son

My Beloved

In whom I am well pleased

Riding on a small gently colt

While the shouts went up

Hosanna to the Son of David

The stones ready to roar

Quiet

Pilot will be sore if he hears

Hosannas from the heart

The stage is set

Majesties ride on

To the climax of the ages

New beginnings, fresh start

Betrayal

A meal

And coins change hands

And soon the beginning of the end

For the son of man

The dark night

Denial

Three times before the dawn

Another procession

A man dripping red

No hosannas this time

Only shame

Only dread

And soon the sound of spikes hammered

And blood being drawn

While silent

From a distance

The people looked on

Jesus remember me in paradise today

Forgive them

It is finished

Some heard him say

The darkness

The earth quake

The curtain torn in two

Hopes dashed and power roared

As the body was laid to rest

The tomb sealed

Life back to normal

And yet

Off in the distance a glimmer of light

Fresh breeze in the air

In the dark early morning

The body wasn’t there….

Psalm 31:9-16

Pastor: Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief.

Congregation: My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.

Pastor: Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors; I am a dread to my friends— those who see me on the street flee from me.

Congregation: I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side; they conspire against me and plot to take my life.

Pastor: But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.

Congregation: Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.

10w for April 5th, Passion Sunday.

The following is a 10 or more minute worship for April 5th, Passion Sunday. If you find this worship experience helpful, please share with friends and family. You can also find these audio worship services as well as Gospel poems and Opening Litanies on the Facebook page, "Lutheran Flannelboard or on Twitter @lutheranflannel or #lutheranflannelboard. The song for the day is Kyrie Eleison by Dakota Road from the album All Who are Thirsty, Come.   Used with permission, you can find this and other gifts for ministry at dakotaroadmusic.com

10w for April 5th, NL, Passion and Palms.

The following is a 10 or more minute worship for April 5th, NL, Passion and Palms. If you find this worship experience helpful, please share with friends and family. You can also find these audio worship services as well as Gospel poems and Opening Litanies on the Facebook page, "Lutheran Flannelboard or on Twitter @lutheranflannel or #lutheranflannelboard. The song for the day is Kyrie Eleison by Dakota Road from the album All Who are Thirsty, Come.   Used with permission, you can find this and other gifts for ministry at dakotaroadmusic.com

5th Sunday in Lent John 11:1-53

Life, Death

in the span of things

they are all part of the one

all part of who we are

Life limited to the here and now

Death, beyond that

and loving yet

by a God who loves on this side of the grave

and beyond

Come out Lazarus

Come out that the world me see

not so much one risen

but the one for whom

rising and living and dying

are all part of love

May the love of Christ

be with you now and forever more

Amen!

Opening Litany based on Psalm 130

 

Worship Leader: Out of the deepest parts of my life I cry to you, LORD; Let your ears be attentive and hear my cries for mercy.


Congregation: If indeed the LORD kept a record of sins, who could stand before the Lord our God?


Worship Leader: Instead of records, there is forgiveness so that all might know of the joy of serving the Lord. 


Congregation: In my life, I put my trust in the Lord and wait for the LORD.  My whole being waits for the Lord; for it is there that I put my hope. 

Worship Leader: With a longing in our souls, we are like the night watchman waiting for the morning to fill our lives with light.  

Congregation: People of God, put your hope in the Lord for there you will find unfailing love and the fullness of redemption.  For the Lord will redeem the children of God from all their sins. 

10w for March 29th, NL, Doomsday Deceivers.

The following is a 10 or more minute worship for March 29th, NL, Doomsday Deceivers. If you find this worship experience helpful, please share with friends and family. You can also find these audio worship services as well as Gospel poems and Opening Litanies on the Facebook page, "Lutheran Flannelboard or on Twitter @lutheranflannel or #lutheranflannelboard.  The song for the day is Restore to life by Dakota Road from the album Boundless Love. Used with permission you can find this and other gifts for ministry at Dakotaroadmusic.com

10w for March 29th, Unbind Him.

The following is a 10 or more minute worship for March 29th, Unbind Him. If you find this worship experience helpful, please share with friends and family. You can also find these audio worship services as well as Gospel poems and Opening Litanies on the Facebook page, "Lutheran Flannelboard or on Twitter @lutheranflannel or #lutheranflannelboard.  The song for the day is Lazarus Come Forth by the Jay Beech Band from the Album One Body Alive. Used with permission, you can find this and other gifts for ministry at baytonemusic.com

John 9:1-41

Agendas, agendas

this just does not fit.

We have the world all figured out

and not this

it does not fit.

It is not E=MC2

or blue and yellow make green

This is pigs flying

and cancer cured

and it does not fit into the world

as I have created it.

            And Jesus spat on the ground

            Made clay and put it on his eyes

            And told him to wash in the pool

            Siloam.

How then can this be?

If the world does not run by my/our

fixed rules

Where can I put my trust? 

My faith?

            and his eyes were opened

            through faith

                        in Christ

                        of Christ

Psalm 23 and healing the blind man

Pastor: There are times when we seem almost blind to the blessings that surround us. In the midst of our fear, our pain, our complacency, we either don’t see or don’t care about the Lord’s presence in our lives. But then something happens, the scales fall from our eyes and we see what has been there all along.

 Congregation: The LORD is our shepherd, we shall not be in want for the Lord makes us lie down in green pastures, and leads me beside quiet waters. The Lord restores my soul and guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

 Pastor: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for the Lord is with me; The Lord’s guidance comforts me.

 Congregation: For the Lord prepares a table before us in the presence of those who would harm us. The Lord provides us with all we need and our cup of blessing overflows.

 Pastor: Surely goodness and love will follow us all the days of my lives,

 Congregation: And we will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

10w for March 22nd, What Do You See.

The following is a 10 or more minute worship for March 22nd, What Do You See. If you find this worship experience helpful, please share with friends and family. You can also find these audio worship services as well as Gospel poems and Opening Litanies on the Facebook page, "Lutheran Flannelboard or on Twitter @lutheranflannel or #lutheranflannelboard. The song for the day is Come and See by Dakota Road from the album Break These Chains.    Used with permission, you can find this and other gifts for ministry at dakotaroadmusic.com

10w for March 22nd, NL, Shema.

The following is a 10 or more minute worship for March 22nd, NL, Shema. If you find this worship experience helpful, please share with friends and family. You can also find these audio worship services as well as Gospel poems and Opening Litanies on the Facebook page, "Lutheran Flannelboard or on Twitter @lutheranflannel or #lutheranflannelboard. The song for the day is Made for Love by Dakota Road from the Album Boundless Love. Used with permission you can find this and other gifts for ministry at Dakotaroadmusic.com

John 4:5-42

Ahhh!

let me feel the hate

If I could just get in a word

I could nail him

maybe even to a cross

To relish the verbal jab

the well timed cut

the jousting and positioning

until

ready for the kill

I use the phrase I know invokes

deep deep pain

Ahhh!

the joy of the battle

then

I perceive there is no battle

I’m dancing around here like a fool

waving my sword in the air

and no battle.

And Jesus said:

The time is coming when you will

worship neither here or there

when your petty differences matter no more

and you will worship in Spirit

the childishness of our battles is called

to an end.

We are called in for supper

fed

on bread and wine

Body and Blood

forgiveness and love

Opening Litany based on Psalm 95

Pastor: Come People of God, let us sing for joy to the Lord and bring forth a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation.

Congregation:  Let us come before the Lord with thanksgiving, music and song, for the LORD is the great God and the above all gods.

Pastor: The Lord holds the whole world in his hands, the depths of the earth, the peaks of the great mountains, the seas teaming with life and the very ground on which we walk and grow our food.  The Lord God has made them all. 

Congregation: Let us bow down in worship and kneel before the LORD our Maker; for the Lord is our God and creator of all, we are the people of God living in the beauty of this creation of God under the presence of our God's creating love and care.

Pastor: Hear the words of the Lord, let the spirit of the Lord guide your ways and your thoughts. Do not harden your hearts or close off your ears to the love and word of the Lord as did our ancestors long ago, for they tested the Lord even after being witnesses to the mighty acts of God's salvation.

Congregation: Lift your anger and judgment from us O Lord though we daily go astray from your ways.  Bring us again to the hope of your salvation so that we may indeed sing for joy to the Lord and bring forth a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation.

10w for March 15th, Thirsty Living.

The following is a 10 or more minute worship for March 15th, Thirsty Living. If you find this worship experience helpful, please share with friends and family. You can also find these audio worship services as well as Gospel poems and Opening Litanies on the Facebook page, "Lutheran Flannelboard or on Twitter @lutheranflannel or #lutheranflannelboard.  The song for the day is A Place to Watch the Rain by Ed Kilbourne from the album The Grateful Ed.    Used with permission, you can find this and other gifts for ministry at edkilbourne.com

10w for March 15th, NL, Bitter Fruit.

The following is a 10 or more minute worship for March 15th, NL, Bitter Fruit. If you find this worship experience helpful, please share with friends and family. You can also find these audio worship services as well as Gospel poems and Opening Litanies on the Facebook page, "Lutheran Flannelboard or on Twitter @lutheranflannel or #lutheranflannelboard. The song for the day is God of the Harvest by Dakota Road from the album Boundless Love.  Used with permission you can find this and other gifts for ministry at Dakotaroadmusic.com

Psalm 121

Pastor: I lift up my eyes to the mountains, I search and wonder where does my help come from?

Congregation; Our help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth who will not let our foot slip and watches over us day and night

Pastor: Indeed the LORD watches over us and will be the shade at our right hand

Congregation: The sun will not harm us by day nor the moon by night for the LORD will keep us from all harm and will watch over our lives.

Pastor: The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Congregation: Where does our help come from?  Our help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth who will not let our foot slip and watches over us day and night

John 3:1-18

Perched high in our own protection

we search

looking for that one someone out there

who will give us

          almost

what we are looking for

that one someone who will drag us along

on coattails of almost making it

We search the crowd

          busy and on its way

for one

lover

                    friend

                              teacher

who will give us that edge

          that way

of fulfilling the desires within

sitting here

perched up high and finding nothing

in a world busy preaching but not hearing

I don’t even see the scene change

          (God)

Suddenly a newness splits the air

and is sucked into our

          lungs

                    heart

                              soul

almost painfully filled with life

          (so loved the world)

drawing us onward into the crowd

          (that Christ was given)

of life and death swirled together

          (that whoever)

in search

          (believes)

of the fullness that must come

          (lives)

from out there somewhere

10w for March 8th, NL, Can You See Me Now.

The following is a 10 or more minute worship for March 8th, NL, Can You See Me Now. If you find this worship experience helpful, please share with friends and family. You can also find these audio worship services as well as Gospel poems and Opening Litanies on the Facebook page, "Lutheran Flannelboard or on Twitter @lutheranflannel or #lutheranflannelboard. The song for the day is Open My Eyes by John Michael Talbot from the album Worship and Bow Down.  Used with permission you can find this and other gifts for ministry at johnmichaeltalbot.com

10w for March 8th, Nightlight.

The following is a 10 or more minute worship for March 8th, Nightlight. If you find this worship experience helpful, please share with friends and family. You can also find these audio worship services as well as Gospel poems and Opening Litanies on the Facebook page, "Lutheran Flannelboard or on Twitter @lutheranflannel or #lutheranflannelboard. The song for the day is Light Shines in the Darkness by Dakota Road from the album Break These Chains.   Used with permission, you can find this and other gifts for ministry at Dakotaroadmusic.com