Worship Planning Retreat 2

Half-day Worship Planning Seminar

Why Worship?

9:30 a.m. - 9:40 a.m. Opening Prayer:

Scripture Reading: Psalm 66

I. Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise.

II. Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! Because of your great power, your enemies cringe before you. All the earth worships you; they sing praises to you, sing praises to your name." (Selah)

I. Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds among mortals.

II. He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There we rejoiced in him, who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations— let the rebellious not exalt themselves. (Selah )

I. Bless our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard, who has kept us among the living, and has not let our feet slip.

II. For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid burdens on our backs; you let people ride over our heads;

I. we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a spacious place.

II. I will come into your house with burnt offerings; I will pay you my vows, those that my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.

I. I will offer to you burnt offerings of fatlings, with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams; I will make an offering of bulls and goats. (Selah)

II. Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for me.

I. I cried aloud to him, and he was extolled with my tongue. If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

II. But truly God has listened; he has given heed to the words of my prayer.

All: Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me.

Prayer:

P: The Lord be with you.

C: And also with you.

P: Praise the Lord who reaches out to the hungry of spirit and heart.

C: Blessed be God, our breath and our life.

P: Praise the Lord who is source of all creation, hope and inspiration.

C: Blessed be God, our breath and our life.

P: Praise the Lord who speaks to our needs of mind and soul and body.

C: Blessed be God, our breath and our life.

P: Praise the Lord who is Creator, Savior and Counselor.

C: Amen. Praise the Lord!

P: Let us pray,

C: Dear God, your creative and loving power has brought us into being, fitting us for a life which is complete only through you. Grant us the joy of your creation, the knowledge of your will, the inspiration to understand, and the courage to lead our congregation. Inspire us to prophesy and create forms of worship so that all who come seeking you might be touched, challenged and filled by your Holy Spirit. Take and use our words and music, litanies and liturgies, rites and rituals to further your will. We ask this in the name of the one who brings us back into a right relationship with you, your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

.9:40 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Words and meanings (any surprises?):

Worship:

n 1: the activity of worshiping 2: a feeling of profound love and admiration [syn: adoration] v 1: love unquestioningly and uncritically [syn: idolize, hero-worship, revere] 2: show religious devotion to, as of a deity; "Many Hindus worship Shiva" 3: attend religious services; "They worship in the traditional manner"

The reverent love and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or a sacred object.

The ceremonies, prayers, or other religious forms by which this love is expressed.

Ardent devotion; adoration.

v. wor·shiped, or wor·shipped wor·ship·ing, or wor·ship·ping wor·ships or wor·ships

v. tr.

To honor and love as a deity.

To regard with ardent or adoring esteem or devotion. See

v. intr.

To participate in religious rites of worship.

To perform an act of worship.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

Service:

noun

1. an act of helpful activity; help; aid: to do someone a service.

2. the supplying or supplier of utilities or commodities, as water, electricity, or gas, required or demanded by the public.

3. the providing or a provider of accommodation and activities required by the public, as maintenance, repair, etc.: The manufacturer guarantees service and parts.

4. the organized system of apparatus, appliances, employees, etc., for supplying some accommodation required by the public: a television repair service.

5. the supplying or a supplier of public communication and transportation: telephone service; bus service.

6. the performance of duties or the duties performed as or by a waiter or servant; occupation or employment as a waiter or servant.

7. employment in any duties or work for a person, organization, government, etc.

8. a department of public employment, an administrative division of a government, or the body of public servants in it: the diplomatic service.

9. the duty or work of public servants.

10. the serving of a sovereign, state, or government in some official capacity.

11. Military.

a. the armed forces: in the service.

b. a branch of the armed forces, as the army or navy: Which service were you in during the war?

12. Ordnance. the actions required in loading and firing a cannon: service of the piece.

13. Often, services. the performance of any duties or work for another; helpful or professional activity: medical services.

14. something made or done by a commercial organization for the public benefit and without regard to direct profit: Certain books are published at a loss as a public service.

15. Also called divine service. public religious worship according to prescribed form and order.

16. a ritual or form prescribed for public worship or for some particular occasion: the marriage service.

17. the serving of God by obedience, piety, etc.: voluntary service.

18. a musical setting of the sung portions of a liturgy.

19. a set of dishes, utensils, etc., for general table use or for particular use: a tea service; service for eight. (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/service)

n. 1. The act of serving; the occupation of a servant; the performance of labor for the benefit of another, or at another's command; attendance of an inferior, hired helper, slave, etc., on a superior, employer, master, or the like; also, spiritual obedience and love. ``O God . . . whose service is perfect freedom.'' --Bk. of Com. Prayer.

Liturgy:

n. pl. lit·ur·gies

1. A prescribed form or set of forms for public religious worship.

2. often Liturgy Christianity. The sacrament of the Eucharist.

[Late Latin liturgia, from Greek leitourgia, public service, from leitourgos, public servant, from earlier leitourgos : leiton, town hall (from leos, dialectal variant of laos, people) + ergon, work; see werg- in Indo-European Roots.]

Prayer:

n. 1 . a. A reverent petition made to God, a god, or another object of worship. b. The act of making a reverent petition to God, a god, or another object of worship.

2. An act of communion with God, a god, or another object of worship, such as in devotion, confession, praise, or thanksgiving: One evening a week, the family would join together in prayer.

3. A specially worded form used to address God, a god, or another object of worship.

4. prayers A religious observance in which praying predominates: morning prayers.

5. a. A fervent request: Her prayer for rain was granted at last. b. The thing requested: His safe arrival was their only prayer.

6. The slightest chance or hope: In a storm the mountain climbers won't have a prayer.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

Pray, v.

1. The act of praying, or of asking a favor; earnest request or entreaty; hence, a petition or memorial addressed to a court or a legislative body. ``Their meek preyere.'' --Chaucer

2. The act of addressing supplication to a divinity, especially to the true God; the offering of adoration, confession, supplication, and thanksgiving to the Supreme Being; as, public prayer; secret prayer.

As he is famed for mildness, peace, and prayer. --Shak.

3. The form of words used in praying; a formula of supplication; an expressed petition; especially, a supplication addressed to God; as, a written or extemporaneous prayer; to repeat one's prayers.

Order:

noun

1 : a state of peace, freedom from unruly behavior, and respect for law and proper authority <maintain law and order>

2 : an established mode or state of procedure <a call to order>

3 a : a mandate from a superior authority

Questions:

Why do we worship?

Response to God - Deuteronomy 5:1-12, Mark 12:29-30

Who is worship for, us or God?

Us - a tangible way to move into relationship with God.

God - ditto?

Why worship in community?

Support.

Increased spiritual power - Matthew 18:19-20

What do we hope to accomplish?

Nurturing - food for the soul - Matthew 15:1-11, Mark 7:1-15

What is our goal?

Food for the hungry - new people - John 15:19-27

10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Discussion:

What are goals/themes are important in the worship at _______? What, if any, should be emphasized in the coming year?

11:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Exercise

Write a short responsive prayer/litany based on “feed my sheep”. (Luke 21: 15-22)

12:15 p.m. Discussion of litanies.