Katy Matejka Kroondyk

This opening of worship for a leader with a sung response, was written for Christ the King Sunday but is appropriate for any time a service theme centers around the lordship and sovereignty of Christ.

It was with great excitement and a lot of gratitude that I got to go to a Taylor Swift concert with my sister. (Here is where I have to give a big shout out to my sister for managing to get affordable tickets for us!) It was one of the greatest experiences of my life, and I’m not speaking hyperbolically! Later, as I reflected on the Eras Tour, I realized it highlighted for me some beliefs I have about worship. So here is what I learned about worship from the Taylor Swift Eras Tour:

Christ’s ascension is key to understanding the life of the Christian, the role of the church, and God’s plan for the future. Jesus, reigning in bodily form from the right hand of the Father, reminds us that we are called to a tangible, embodied ministry that attends to the bodily experience in this world. This Ascension Day service draws attention to how the embodied justice work of the church is rooted in the doctrine of the Ascension. Visuals for this service could include slides or posters highlighting your congregation’s justice-related work. You could also use physical reminders of that work: a pyramid of canned goods around the table if your church has a food pantry, stacks of children’s books as a reminder of the literacy program your church participates in, or recycling bins to highlight your church’s creation-care efforts.Call to WorshipGod has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.Sing praises to God, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm.Sing praises to our King, sing praises!—adapted from Psalm 47Confession and AssuranceAlmighty God, you came down from heaven and taught us how to love you and your world. When you returned to heaven to reign in glory, you commanded us to go and do as you did. Yet we so often find ourselves staring up at the sky instead of looking at the needs of those around us. We so often find ourselves staring up at the sky instead of looking for how we can better advocate for your justice and peace. We so often find ourselves staring up at the sky instead of responding to your call to go and serve. Forgive us, Lord, for our inaction, for our wanton disregard for your commands, and for our lazy faith. Amen.Beloved people of God, the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth. God chose our inheritance for us. God loved us while we were still sinners, and even though we are a broken people, God chose us to be his holy people, forgiving us and equipping us for service. In the name of the ascended and reigning Christ, we are forgiven. Glory to God! Amen.The Reading of the Word[The reader should pause to allow for attention to each gesture.]A reading from the book of Acts, chapter 1, beginning in verse 1:In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, . . . [The bread and the cup are brought to the table.]. . . he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”[Water is poured into the baptismal font.]Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. [The Christ candle is lit.]They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”—Acts 1:1–11This is the Word of the Lord.Thanks be to God. SermonSermon NotesThe ascension confirms the bodily resurrection of Jesus and how believers will join in that resurrection. Further, the ascension reminds the church to never stop longing for Christ’s return as we continue the work he mandated for us. Jesus’ ministry continues as he intercedes for us and prays on our behalf. The fact that Jesus is still ministering anchors the church as it continues its struggle here. The doctrine of the Ascension roots the justice work of the church in Christ—the church does not pursue justice out of its own desires, but because our King is still calling us to the work of the kingdom.Song Recommendations“Only King Forever” Brown et al.“Before the Throne of God Above” Bancroft, LUYH 682, SSS 541“Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly” Tomlin et al.“Crown Him with Many Crowns” Bridges and Thring, LUYH 223, GtG 268, SSS 208“We Labor Unto Glory” Harris and Wardell 

The following two sets of liturgical resources for Joshua 23:1-3, 14-25 and Judges 4:1-17 can be led by 1 or more voices, with congregational responses in bold. The selections are based on the assigned texts for the 24th and 25th Sundays after Pentecost for Year A of the RCL. These are difficult texts to preach, for help consider these commentaries on the Joshua and Judges passages from the Center for Excellence in Preaching or do a search on the texts at ZeteoSearch.org.

This blog includes service elements to be used in conjunction with Matthew 5:1-12 where Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount challenged the culture in presenting a new vision of what it means to be blessed. The message of the Great Reversal Kingdom is as relevant today as it was when Christ first preached it. (For those following the Revised Lectionary this text is the Gospel reading for Year A: All Saints Day, sometimes observed on the first Sunday of November.)

The Liberty of the Law (Exodus 20: 1-4, 7-9, 12-20), The Fun at the Feast (Exodus 32:1-14), and The Courage of Conversation (Exodus 33:12-23) are the themes explored in this blog which includes liturgical elements and sermon notes prepared by Kate Kroondyk. They are the last three stops on our journey through Exodus and correspond with the Nineteenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-First Sundays after Pentecost of Year A of the Revised Common Lectionary.

If you haven’t recently taken the time to inspect the elements and tools that you use for communion, consider this an invitation to go back to these mundane items which take up significant meaning when we use them in communion. What meanings are you communicating in your choices?

The Book of Exodus tells the incredible story of God's work to deliver the Israelites from bondage and to shape them into his people, a people through whom he would bless the world. It testifies to the work that God does for his people and in turn, God's good plan for our work. These three liturgies can be adapted for any Sunday but also correspond with the Revised Common Lectionary, Year A, the 15th, 16th, and 17th Sundays after Pentecost.

The Book of Exodus tells the incredible story of God's work to deliver the Israelites from bondage and to shape them into his people, a people through whom he would bless the world. It testifies to the work that God does for his people and in turn, God's good plan for our work. Each post of this 5 week series looks at familiar stories with an emphasis on praising God for what he has done! This week’s liturgy is prepared for the 14th Sunday After Pentecost.

The Book of Exodus tells the incredible story of God's work to deliver the Israelites from bondage and to shape them into his people, a people through whom he would bless the world. It testifies to the work that God does for his people and in turn, God's good plan for our work. Each post of this 5 week series looks at familiar stories with an emphasis on praising God for what he has done!