When Work Is An Adventure
A service plan based on Psalm 8:5-8 and Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 calling out the need for human beings made in the image of God to have purpose and excitement in their work in a series focused on vocation and how our faith and our work are integrated.
"Your Work Matters" Worship Service Series
This series of worship services explores vocation, and how our faith and our work are integrated.
Theme of the Service
While the previous service focused on the integration of our faith and work, this service takes the issue a step further and focuses on the need for human beings made in the image of God to have purpose and excitement in their work. Our vocation, properly discovered and undertaken, provides the adventure that we need.
* * * * *
WE GATHER BEFORE GOD
Prelude: "All Creatures of Our God and King"
The Call to Worship
*Song: "All Creatures of Our God and King" PH 455:1, 2, 4, PsH 431:1, 2, 4, RL 4: 1, 2, 4, RN 47:1-2, SFL 86:1, TH 115:1-2, TWC 356:1-2, UMH 62:1, 2, 4
*Our Declaration of Trust and God's Greeting:
Brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, who do you trust?
Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.
Grace, mercy and peace to you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen!
*Response: "All Creatures of Our God and King" PsH 431:5
WE ARE RENEWED IN GOD'S GRACE
The Call to Confession
The Prayer of Confession
The Assurance of Pardon
Our Song of Thanks: "Shout to the Lord" SNC 223
God's Call to Grateful Living:
What is the great and first commandment?
Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind.
And how does God call us to love him?
You shall have no other gods before me.
You shall not make for yourself an idol,
whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above,
or that is on the earth beneath,
or that is in the water under the earth.
You shall not bow down to them or worship them.
You shall not make wrongful use
of the name of the LORD your God.
Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy.
And what is the second commandment like it?
Love your neighbor as yourself.
And how shall we do that?
Honor your father and your mother.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor's house;
you shall not covet your neighbor's wife,
or anything that belongs to your neighbor."
What does all this mean?
Love is the fulfilling of the law.
To what does this call us?
To a life of faith working through love. (Adapted from Matthew 22:37-40, Exodus 20:1-17 NRSV, TWS, 2.7.1 and 5)
The Children's Moment
Children's Anthem: "Praise the Lord with the Sound of Trumpet," Sleeth
GOD SPEAKS FROM HIS WORD
*Song of Preparation: "Earth and All Stars" PH 458, PsH 433, TWC 357, UMH 628
The Prayer for Illumination
The Readings from Scripture: Psalm 8 and Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
Sermon: When Work Is An Adventure
Your Work Matters #2
The Prayer of Application
WE RESPOND TO GOD'S WORD
*Song: "How Clear Is Our Vocation, Lord" PH 419, RL 433, TWC 395
*Our Affirmation: The Apostles' Creed (in unison)
The Prayers of the People
The Offertory Prayer
The Offering of Music: "How Clear Is Our Vocation, Lord" [see <href="#music" >music notes]
or: "Earth and All Stars"
We offer our gifts for..
WE LEAVE WITH GRATITUDE
*Words of Sending: Colossians 3:23-24
*The Benediction with Congregational Amen!
*Song: "Forth in Your Name, O Lord, I Go" PsH 324, RL79, TWC397, UMH438
Postlude: "Forth in Your Name, O Lord, I Go"
or: "Trumpet Voluntary," Stanley
* - You are invited to stand.
Sermon Notes:
This sermon should open with a reference to the integration of faith and vocation, as presented in the first sermon in this series. The theme of this sermon, work as adventure, builds on this first theme.
It is possible to point to a number of stages in our attitude toward our work. The final one is the goal towards which God wants us to aim. In listing these we progress from the lowest to the highest:
- Resentment and hatred for our work. "It's drudgery."
- Idolatry. "My work controls me; getting ahead is everything to me!"
- Tolerance. "It's not nice; it could be worse; but I will make the most of it."
- Obligation. "I do it willingly because I have bills to pay and a contribution to make to society."
- Adventure. "Sure, it's hard, and I get tired, but it's well worth it. This is my service to God and others. It gives me an opportunity to use my gifts and abilities, make a contribution to the well-being of others, and live out my newness as a child of Jesus Christ."
The idea of adventure is usually associated with boldness, purpose, risks, passion, self-confidence and anticipation of success. Our work can have all these characteristics. We see this through contemporary examples (Jonas Salk working at his experiments until he came up with a vaccine, a family immigrating to a new country, a farmer planting field, etc). We also see this in many Biblical characters (Noah builds a boat, Joshua marches around Jericho, Paul travels on missionary journeys, etc). The healthy life is the life with a sense of adventure. We image God as adventure-seeking beings.
The Bible gives many examples of work being adventurous. Genesis 3:17-19 explains that the fall will make the world a hard place to work. Solomon, in the early chapters of his diary in Ecclesiastes, walks through many of the fruitless searches in this life and finally (in chapter 5) moves in the right direction by turning to his work. David, in Psalm 8, praises God as the sovereign creator and provider. He is surprised that God created us with glory and honor and made us rule over the whole creation (v.5-8). Psalm 104 reinforces this thought. God the creator remains involved in the care of his world, and verse 23 points to human beings going to their work in the context of God's care over it. Colossians 3:23-24 teaches us that growing Christians develop a totally new lifestyle that honors Jesus Christ as Lord of all, even in our work! Such truths lead us to approach our work as an adventure; it is a bold undertaking that we come to with a sense of purpose and self-confidence, accompanied by an internal passion. Despite facing risks, we anticipate success. This adventure is only made possible through Christ. We find our new attitude toward work through dying and rising with Jesus Christ and not merely a human perspective of "good work ethic."
The authors of Your Work Matters to God suggest that each Christian should write a "Career Manifesto" (p.270-271) to express our purpose, intention, and attitude toward our work as God has led us to form it.
Music Notes:
Glossary of Hymnal Abbreviations:
PH The Presbyterian Hymnal (Presbyterian Church USA; Westminster/John Knox Press)
PsH The Psalter Hymnal (Christian Reformed Church; Faith Alive Christian Resources)
RL Rejoice in the Lord (Reformed Church in America; W.B. Eerdmans Publishing Company)
RN Renew! (Hope Publishing Company)
SFL Songs for LiFE (children's songbook; Faith Alive Christian Resources)
SNC Sing! A New Creation (Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Christian Reformed Church,
Reformed Church in America; Faith Alive Christian Resources)
TH Trinity Hymnal (Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Church in America; Great
Commission Publications)
TWC The Worshiping Church (Hope Publishing Company)
UMH The United Methodist Hymnal (United Methodist Publishing House)
WOV With One Voice (Augsburg Fortress)
Suggestions for prelude music and alternative harmonizations for the opening hymn can be found in the following resources:
LASST UNS ERFREUEN ["All Creatures of Our God and King"]
Organ:
Burkhardt, Michael. Five Psalm Improvisations. Morningstar MSM-10-511 [1997] (E-M)
Callahan, Charles. Partita on Lasst uns Erfruen. Morningstar MSM-10-700 [1989] (E-M)
Cherwien, David. Interpretations, bk. 5. AMSI SP-102 [1985] (D)
Held, Wilbur. Hymn Preludes for the Autumn Festivals. Concordia 97-5360 [1976] (E-M)
Hobby, Robert A. Three Easter Hymn Settings. Morningstar MSM-10-421 [1999] (E-M)
Kemner, Gerald. Fantasies on Nine Familiar Hymn Tunes. Augsburg 11-5919 [1990] (E-M)
Krapf, Gerhard. Sing and Rejoice, vol. 2. SMP KK235 [1982] (E; adaptable to piano)
Leavitt, John. With High Delight. Concordia 97-6845 [2000] (E-M)
Manz, Paul. Ten Chorale Improvisations. Set 6 Concordia 97-5305 [1975] (E-M)
Rowley, Alec. Choral Preludes based on Famous Hymn Tunes. vol. 2 Ashdown [1952] (E-M)
Sedio, Mark. Augsburg Organ Library - Easter. Augsburg 11-11075 [2000] (E-M)
Sedio, Mark. Organ Tapestries, vol. 2. Concordia 97-6861 [2000] (E-M)
Stearns, Peter Pindar. Twelve Hymn Preludes for General Use. Flammer HF-5145 [1987] (E-M)
Piano:
Porter, Rachel Trelstad. Day by Day. Augsburg 11-10772 [1996] (M)
Handbells:
Dobrinski, Cynthia. All Creatures of Our God & King. Agape 1737 [1995] (3-5 octaves, M)
Honoré, Jeffrey. Alleluia Passacaglia. Agape 1552 [1992] (3-5 octaves, E-M)
Hopson, Hal. H. All Creatures of Our God & King. Agape 1546 [1992] (3-4 octaves, E-M)
Alternative Harmonization for Organ:
Burkhardt, Michael. As Though the Whole Creation Cried. Morningstar MSM-10-555 [2001]
Burkhardt, Michael. 5 Psalm Hymn Improvisations. Morningstar MSM-10-511 [1997]
Eggert, John. Creative Hymn Accompaniments for Organ, vol. 2. CPH97-6851 [2000]
Ferguson, John. Hymn Harmonizations for Organ, bk. 3. Ludwig O-10 [1986]
Goode, Jack C. Thirty-four Changes on Hymn Tunes. H W Grey GB 644 [1978]
Johnson, David N. Free Harmonizations of Twelve Hymn Tunes. Augsburg 11-9190 [1964]
Alternative Harmonization for Piano:
Porter, Rachel Trelstad. Let It Rip! At the Piano. Augsburg 11-11045 [2000]
The children's anthem "Praise the Lord with the Sound of Trumpet" by Natalie Sleeth is taken from Sunday Songbook published by Hinshaw HMB-177 [1991] (E). This song is also set congregationally in the Psalter Hymnal #569.
Alternative harmonizations for the hymn of preparation can be found in:
DEXTER/EARTH AND ALL STARS ["Earth and All Stars"]
Alternative Harmonization for Organ:
Eggert, John. Creative Hymn Accompaniments for Organ, vol. 2. CPH97-6851 [2000]
Alternative Harmonization for Piano:
Organ, Anne Krentz. Let It Rip! At the Piano. Augsburg 11-11045 [2000]
Resources for offertory music are as follows:
REPTON ["How Clear Is Our Vocation, Lord"]
Organ:
Hobby, Robert A. Three Lenten Hymn Settings for Organ, set 3. Morningstar MSM-10-322
[1977] (E-M)
Powell, Robert J. Augsburg Organ Library - Autumn. Augsburg ISBN 0-8006-7579-7
[2003] (E-M)
Powell, Robert J. Augsburg Organ Library - Epiphany. Augsburg 11-11073 [2001] (E-M)
Powell, Robert J. Sing a New Song. Augsburg 11-10766 [1996] (E-M)
Stearns, Peter Pindar. Twelve Hymn Preludes for General Use. Flammer HF-5145 [1987] (E-M)
DEXTER/EARTH AND ALL STARS ["Earth and All Stars"]
Organ:
Burkhardt, Michael. Praise and Thanksgiving, set 2. Morningstar MSM-10-752 [1989] (E-M)
Cherwien, David. Interpretations, bk. 3. AMSI OR-6 [1983] (M)
Kolander, Keith. Augsburg Organ Library - Easter. Augsburg 11-11075 [2000] (E-M)
Leavitt, John. With High Delight. Concordia 97-6845 [2000] (E-M)
Powell, Robert J. Sing a New Song. Augsburg 11-10766 [1996] (E-M)
Wallace, Sue Mitchell. Hymn Prisms. Hope 270 [1985] (E-M)
Wold, Wayne L. Augsburg Organ Library - Autumn. Augsburg ISBN 0-8006-7579-7 [2003]
(E-M)
Wyton, Alec. Variants on Earth and All Stars. Augsburg 11-0849 [1973] (M)
Piano:
David, Anne Marie. Here I Am, Lord. Augsburg ISBN 0-8006-7566-5 [2002] (E-M)
Organ, Anne Krentz. On Eagle's Wings. Augsburg 11-10711 [1996] (M)
The text of "Forth in Your Name, O Lord, I Go" is paired with a variety of hymn tunes. We suggest using either DUKE STREET or TRURO. Pairing a relatively new text with a familiar hymn tune allows a congregation to pay more attention to what they are singing without matching up new text with a new tune. When the song serves as a response it is probably better that they are able to sing with understanding, rather than working at negotiating a new tune. Alternative harmonizations for both of the tunes can be found in the following resources:
DUKE STREET ["Forth in Your Name, O Lord, I Go"]
Alternative Harmonization for Organ:
Burkhardt, Michael. As Though the Whole Creation Cried. Morningstar MSM-10-555 [2001]
Ferguson, John. Hymn Harmonizations for Organ, bk. 3. Ludwig O-10 [1986]
Johnson, David N. Free Harmonizations of Twelve Hymn Tunes. Augsburg 11-9190 [1964]
Alternative Harmonization for Piano:
Organ, Anne Krentz. Let It Rip! At the Piano. Augsburg 11-11045 [2000]
TRURO ["Forth in Your Name, O Lord, I Go"]
Alternative Harmonization for Organ:
Busarow, Donald. All Praise to You, Eternal God. Augsburg 11-9076 [1980]
Johnson, David N. Free Harmonizations of Twelve Hymn Tunes. Augsburg 11-9190 [1964]
Alternative Harmonization for Piano:
Carlson, J. Bert. Let It Rip! At the Piano, vol. 2. Augsburg ISBN 0-8006-7580-0 [2003]
Suggestions for postlude can be found in the following resources:
DUKE STREET ["Forth in Your Name, O Lord, I Go"]
Organ:
Bender, Jan. Five Festive Preludes on Easter Hymns. Concordia 97-5495 [1979]
Bish, Diane. The Diane Bish Organ Book, vol. 4. Fred Bock B-G0776 [1985]
Burkhardt, Michael. Five Easter Season Hymn Improvisations. Morningstar MSM-10-403 [1990]
Burkhardt, Michael. Six General Hymn Improvisations, set 1. Morningstar MSM-10-846 [1992]
Callahan, Charles. Partita on Duke Street. Concordia 97-5998 [1988]
Callahan, Charles. Two Festive Organ Pieces. Morningstar MSM-10-761 [1999]
Cherwien, David. Interpretations, bk. 3. AMSI OR-6 [1983]
Haan, Raymond H. Festival Hymn Preludes. SMP KK329 [1985]
Held, Wilbur. (1972x) Augsburg Organ Library - Easter. Augsburg 11-11075 [2000]
Held, Wilbur. Preludes and Postludes, vol. 1. Augsburg 11-9318 [1972]
Hobby, Robert A. For All the Saints. Augsburg ISBN 0-8006-7537-1 [2002]
Johnson, David N. Free Harmonizations of Twelve Hymn Tunes. Augsburg 11-9190 [1964]
Jordan, Alice. A Joyful Noise. Broadman 4570-62 [1984]
Kemner, Gerald. Fantasies on Nine Familiar Hymn Tunes. Augsburg 11-5919 [1990]
Peeters, Flor. Thirty Short Preludes on Well-known Hymns. Peters 6195 [1960]
Toccatas! Toccatas! Lorenz [1977]
Piano:
David, Anne Marie. Here I Am, Lord. Augsburg ISBN 0-8006-7566-5 [2002] (E-M)
TRURO ["Forth in Your Name, O Lord, I Go"]
Organ:
Bingham, Seth. Twelve Hymn Preludes, set 1. H. W. Grey. [1942] (E-M)
Burkhardt, Michael. Four Hymn Improvisations for Holy Week. Morningstar MSM-10-318 [1995]
(E-M)
Cherwien, David. Seasonal Interpretations Lent-Easter. Summa SP-112 [1998] (E-M)
Kerr, J. Wayne. (1998) Augsburg Organ Library - Easter. Augsburg 11-11075 [2000] (E-M)
The alternate suggestion "Trumpet Voluntary" by John Stanley can be found in Suite for Organ, published by Oxford [1945] (E-M).
Liturgy Notes:
1. We suggest that the prayer of confession be consistent with the theme of the rest of the service by confessing unchristian attitudes toward our work.
2. The Children's Moment is a golden opportunity to tell a Bible story that illustrates the truth of this service. Retell the story of Adam and Eve working in the fertile Garden of Eden, Noah building the ark, Joshua marching around Jericho, Joseph and Jesus working in the carpenter shop, or any other similar story that point to people doing their work with a healthy attitude.
3. While the words of Paul from Colossians 3:23-24 were included as the Sending last week, we encourage their use again this week. A repetition of key Biblical instructions reinforces their impact on our hearts.