Embodied

Easter 2019, Part 2 Worship Planning Series

Seventh Sunday in Easter 2019, Year C

In chapter 17 in the gospel of John, we have a plea for Jesus’ followers to become one. It is a poetic prayer that is simultaneously beautiful and repetitive, as we would expect to find in the Gospel of John. We get a glimpse into Jesus’ heart and longing for the believing community, which is another opportunity to try to grasp how Jesus understands unity.

Loving Worship Series: EMBODIED
Seventh Sunday in Easter - June 2, 2019

Planning for this Series

In this series, we are moving into a season of suddenlies: Jesus announces his imminent departure back to heaven; the Holy Spirit makes her dramatic, fiery arrival on earth. Earth, Wind, and Fire! As Jesus prepares to take his leave, his benedictory address focuses on themes of glorification, departure, and most of all, love—the primary symbol of discipleship. Jesus emphasizes the importance of lineal relationships: disciples to Jesus, to the world, the Creator, and the vital mediating power and presence of the Holy Spirit. In the spirit and ethos of the Passover Meal, Jesus and the disciples are huddled together at table in family style. We hear Jesus address his followers as little children, and he proceeds to teach them as such.

As you plan this series, give attention to the lessons and learnings, teaching and tools from the Upper Room. Look for ways to emulate this powerful Pentecostal experience both within and beyond your faith community. Begin to intentionally identify ways to strengthen and celebrate the spirit of koinonia, Ubuntu, the Beloved Community, outside the comfort of your church building. While our denomination continues to wrestle with the question “Who’s In and Who’s Out?”, how will your local church community respond?

Each week, you will find suggestions for music, prayers, calls to worship, litanies from United Methodist resources that might help bring these biblical passages to life within your particular community. You are encouraged to sing, pray, embody, teach, love, and glorify God through the various texts and tunes provided. Our hope is that you will reenact the Acts 2 passage each week by introducing liturgical symbols and sounds unfamiliar to your congregations. If you choose to introduce a hymn or worship song from another cultural tradition, consider inviting someone from that tradition to participate, making the experience even more authentic for the worshipers. But please do not stop there! Perhaps there could be a reciprocal exchange where your congregation visits with another worshiping community.

We here at Discipleship Ministries Worship Resources would love to hear stories from your seasons of suddenlies. Contact us at [email protected].

WEEK 3 - John 17:20-26

20 “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us,[a] so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

25 “Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Abbreviations

UR = Upper Room WorshipBook
TWFS = The Faith We Sing
AWS = Africana Worship Series, Year C
ZSS = Zion Still Sings

Music Resources
UR 430, 431, 439
TFWS 2224
ZSS 36, 40, 78, 80, 81, 82, 89, 91, 95, 219

Prayer, Litanies
AWS 94, 123, 180, 273

In This Series...


Fifth Sunday in Easter 2019, Year C — Planning Notes Sixth Sunday in Easter 2019, Year C — Planning Notes Pentecost 2019, Year C — Planning Notes

Colors


  • Gold
  • White

In This Series...


Fifth Sunday in Easter 2019, Year C — Planning Notes Sixth Sunday in Easter 2019, Year C — Planning Notes Pentecost 2019, Year C — Planning Notes