102702abcom
Call to Worship
L: We have been called together as the body of Christ.
P: We are one body, though we have many members.
L: Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, and not the other way around.
P: But not all members have the same function; we have different gifts.
L: God calls us to use these gifts generously, maturely and cheerfully to build up the body of Christ.
P: Together we present ourselves in service to God and each other.
L: Let us worship God!
Take Time to Be Holy # 171
Romans 12: 1-2
Prayer of Dedication
From your fullness, O God, we have received grace upon grace. Grant that we will be good stewards of your gifts and graces. May we resist the impulse to live for ourselves instead of for others. May we choose generosity over greed and humility over influence and power. We pray in the name of the One you sent to save us, Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Children's Sermon
Place before the children a baseball glove, a pack of crayons, a musical instrument, a hammer, a frying pan and a book. Have them gather in groups around each of these objects, depending on whether they think they have talent in sports, in art, in music, in construction, in cooking or in reading and studying. Then have them raise their hands if they believe that they have the most important talent. Quiz them on whether any one talent can be the most important. Ask if a person can be a great athlete if no one cooks her good food. Ask if a person can be a wonderful artist if no one builds him a sturdy studio. Ask if a person can be a fantastic musician if no one reads music and organizes it in a library. No! Explain that no one talent can be the most important, because all talents depend on one other. Point out that the very same is true in the church -- the apostle Paul reminds us that we are one body with many members, "and not all the members have the same function" (Romans 12:4). Encourage them to be thankful for the talents of others and to realize that their individual gifts can be enjoyed only if they work well with others.
#2 Place a globe before the children, and then begin to mold a figure out of a piece of clay as you are talking. Ask them what kind of features a clay person should have, and add a head, arms, legs, etc. Then share with them a line from today's Scripture reading: "Do not be conformed to this world" (Romans 12:2). Ask them if they know what that means. Press your clay person against the side of the globe, until the figure is flat. Then peel the person away from the globe and show them how the person has been conformed to the shape of the world. Ask them if this is a good way to be. No! Then reshape the clay person and tell the children that God wants us to "be transformed" - to be changed by God into people who know "what is good and acceptable and perfect." Let them know that they can be transformed by worship and Sunday School and having fun with other Christians. Turn the clay figure into a person who is well-rounded and healthy-looking, and encourage the children to be transformed by God, not conformed to the world.
#3 Ask the children if they think they have any gifts. They will probably be as confused as adults are when responding to this question. Children know about buying gifts. Place a gift bow on each child's head and suggest that rather than buying gifts for their parents or new teachers, they try to be gifts to their parents and their teachers. Would someone want to get them as a gift? Help the parents to remember what gifts these children were and are. With a small group, prepare a large box as a gift box and invite each child to hide in the box. Have their parents, guardians or Sunday school teachers open the box and receive the child as a gift.
Prayer Prayer of Confession
O God, if we carry the name Christian, we are signs of Christ's presence in the world. Yet we confess that we do not always live as joyous, loving and hopeful people in our homes, our workplaces, and our communities. We get so caught up in the values of this world that we do not seek to discern your will for our lives. By your grace and forgiveness, renew us in mind, body and spirit, that we will witness and work for Christ wherever you have placed us.
Source, Guide and Goal of all that is, we acknowledge that though we come from you, we have not always followed the guidance you have given us in Jesus Christ. We have certainly not reached the goal of perfection that lies ahead of us. Do not leave unfinished the work you have begun in us. Though there is more to know about you than we can ever learn, we are often distracted from our search for the truth. Even when we have known Jesus to be the way, we have been diverted by less strenuous climbs. Though there are many awesome things in our world, we have not seen beyond them to revere you. Be patient with us for the sake of Jesus Christ, our elder and wiser brother. Amen
Declaration of Pardon
L. Friends, hear the Good News! God's true love endures forever.
P. The Lord will accomplish his purposes for us.
L. Friends, believe the Good News!
P. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
O Lord, we come to you as the child asking, "What gift do you have for me?" We are unaware that that which we seek has been already instilled in the soil of our souls. Open our eyes to see that which you have planted and nurtured to maturation, as we seek to fulfill our destiny as living sacrifices within the body, according to the grace freely bestowed upon us by the transforming touch of Jesus Christ.
I Will Call Upon the Lord # 101
Romans 12:1-2
ABCOM Annual Sermon - Rev. Beth Keating
Take My Life, and Let It Be # 436
Benediction
Fix your attention on God, so you might be changed from the inside out. Share your gifts with the community, so Christ's body might grow and be strong. Submit to God's will and God will bring the best out of you. Music Links