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Service For The Lord’s Day
Small Church Sunday • July 13, 2008
Download this resource
The Transforming Spirit
Diana Stephen shares an inspiring story about the transformation and revitalization of the First Presbyterian Church of Sisseton, South Dakota. Download the bulletin insert. 
Assemble In God’s Name
One: God’s Word is a lamp to our feet
All: And a light to our path
One: We offer our praise to God
All: And incline our hearts to God’s law.
One: Let us worship our great and loving God.
See listing of suggested hymns.
Prayer of confession and assurance of pardon
One: We are not always faithful to our call to be Christ’s Body in the world, but God is always faithful toward us. With confidence and hope, together, let us confess our sins to God.
All: O God, we confess that we haven’t had our mind set on things of the Spirit lately; we haven’t opened ourselves to become good soil that will receive your word. We get bogged down in routine, and busyness fills our days. O God, dissolve our fears. Help us to let go of that which separates us from you and our neighbor. Help us to slow down so that we may set our minds on the things of the Spirit; so that we might become good soil ready to receive your word.
One: God forgives us and redeems us so that we might have new life. Take hold of God’s forgiveness and life live abundantly, knowing that:
All: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Thanks be to God!
(Follow your congregation’s tradition in the passing of the peace)
Leader: Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another.
The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
All: And also with you.
Proclaim God’s word
One: Silence in us every voice but your own, O God, so that, hearing your Word, we may obey your will, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Scripture readings from the Lectionary for Sunday, July 13, 2008
- Genesis 25:19-34
- Psalm 119: 105-112
- Romans 8:1-11
- Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Message — reflections on the readings
(Following are reflections on the lectionary readings for the day. We encourage you to adapt this message to make it relevant for your particular congregation/presbytery. Include illustrations that are specific to your locale.)
The Hebrew Scripture reading is from the 25th chapter of Genesis that tells the story of Esau and Jacob, twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah, each destined to build a nation. Esau, the first born, would assume the role of the eldest son — the leader and inheritor. Esau was a hunter while Jacob was inclined toward a quieter life. Recognizing his destiny, Jacob realized that he would need to have the rights and privileges of the first born. One day Esau returned from a hunting trip desperate for food. Jacob, recognizing his brother’s desperation, demanded that Esau give him his birthright in exchange for food. Famished, Esau gave in to Jacob’s demand. He was fed but also embittered. While Jacob was taking steps that would help him fulfill his destiny, one has to question his method!
In today’s reading, the Psalmist pleads for God’s help, especially as one who is observant of God’s law. In spite of his afflictions and his need to be especially alert to the threats of the wicked, the Psalmist is committed to God’s law and reaffirms his commitment through this prayer.
In Paul’s letter to the early church in Rome, he speaks of the freedom experienced through the power of the Spirit, unleashed by God. He exhorts this early church to live according to the Spirit, to set their mind on things of the Spirit, so that they may have life and peace. He reminds them that God, who raised Jesus, gives life through God’s Spirit that dwells in us.
In the 13th chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew, once again we hear the familiar parable of the sower. The sower sowed seed on a variety of grounds. Most of the seed fell on soil unsuitable for planting and didn’t take root, grow or flourish. However, the seed on the “good soil” germinated and flourished. Jesus compares the variety of soils to the range of human response when the Word of God is spoken. It is the person, who listens and understands and flourishes, that is closely akin to the “good soil” of the story.
What a rich variety of scripture lessons, especially for this Sunday when we celebrate the ministry of smaller membership churches! As I read and re-read these lessons, I was reminded of a conversation I had recently with someone who is a presbytery small church consultant. She was reflecting on her experience with a group of people from several small churches in her presbytery. They were being encouraged by the presbytery to seriously think about working cooperatively to enhance their ministry and mission. After all, they had worked together several times over the years. Of course, working together on a regular basis was a different possibility.
Now, a presbytery is stepping out into the unknown and taking a risk when it offers such encouragement to small churches. Often, churches will react negatively and some become hostile to the mere suggestion of working cooperatively with other congregations — even when such cooperation has great potential for enhancing their ministry and mission. I’m pleased to report that in this particular instance such hostility didn’t prevail, although I’m sure there was a level of uncertainty during these initial conversations. In fact, these churches realized that they could revitalize — perhaps even be transformed — by cooperating with one another.
As the conversations continued, the consultant encouraged the group to talk about the concerns and fears they had about participating in cooperative ministry. After all, if the concerns and fears weren’t acknowledged, they would merely fester. The greatest fear was that of losing the congregations’ individual identity.
The consultant encouraged further discussion about a congregation’s identity. Such things as the church building, other property familiar to them, and the congregation’s history were lifted up. When the identification of such things seemed to be exhausted, she gently asked them, “Are such things really the essence of your congregations’ identity?” As the people considered that question, they realized that, while such things are important, they are not the essence of who they are. They acknowledged that, as Christians, their identity is through Jesus Christ.
Like Paul, this small church consultant asked the group to begin to “set their mind on things of the Spirit.” Together they could become “good soil,” open to new possibilities that could germinate, grow, and flourish.
The story of this group of churches is pertinent to us as individuals and to all congregations, no matter what their size.
If we want to grow and flourish, we need to be transformed so that our minds — and hearts — are focused on things of the Spirit. Such transformation is possible only if we are willing to open ourselves to opportunities. Certainly, such opportunities might be challenging, but we know that through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can be transformed. The transformation process can be long and arduous. The support of others is essential. Like this group of churches, we need someone to play a role similar to their small church consultant. We need someone who is willing and able to ask honest and challenging questions. We need someone who we are willing to trust to ask us such question. Indeed, we need someone who wants us to be free so that we might live life abundantly.
What has happened to the group of churches? They agreed to form a cooperative parish. The four congregations are now led by a pastoral team, comprised of one full-time minister of the Word and Sacrament and two part-time ministers of the Word and Sacrament, who serve the four congregations. The youth from the four churches gather together for an enhanced youth group. A new, contemporary worship service is bringing longer-term members together with newcomers from the community.
Cooperative ministry is happening among smaller congregations in various places. In two different places, the participating churches have enhanced their local mission ventures by increased involvement with their immediate communities. They have also expanded into worldwide mission ventures. In one place, the churches are in partnership with churches in South Africa. In another place, the churches are in partnership with people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. They have exchanged visits with their partners. They are learning about each other’s culture. They are enriching the life of one another.
In every situation where cooperative ministry occurs, the churches recognize that this venture is part of their spiritual journey — a journey based on their identity as a Christian community of faith, supported through prayer and Bible study. Witnessing to the Good News of Jesus Christ through ministry and mission is their focal point. They are intentional about mission involvement in their community and beyond their immediate community. Both members and pastors recognize that in responding to new opportunities, they may need to take a risk, to seize the moment when a mission opportunity presents itself. Congregational leaders in these cooperative ministries are passionate about responding to ministry and mission opportunities. They delight in working with others. They want to tell others about the ministry and mission happening in their churches. They want to invite others to their churches. Their minds are set on things of the Spirit.
Becoming “good soil” and setting our minds on “things of the Spirit” are challenging endeavors. We need to be open to new possibilities. New possibilities often require us to change a bit — and that’s never easy. But — those, willing to risk such endeavors, know that God will be with them. They know that when the soil is good enough, the seeds of new possibilities and opportunities planted by God, will take root, grow, and flourish. It is amazing to see how lives of individuals and congregations have been transformed and to see them living life abundantly.
See listing of suggested hymns.
Affirmation of faith
(from the Brief Statement of Faith)
One: Please stand, if you are able, and let us, together, affirm our faith
All:
In life and in death we belong to God.
Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit,
we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel,
whom alone we worship and serve ...
In a broken and fearful world the Spirit gives us courage
to pray without ceasing,
to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior,
to unmask idolatries in Church and culture,
to hear the voices of people long silenced,
and to work with others for justice, freedom, and eace.
In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit,
we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks
and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch for God’s new heaven
and new earth, praying, “Come, Lord Jesus!”
With believers in every time and place,
we rejoice that nothing in life or in death
can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Prayers of the people
Here you will want to follow your congregation’s/presbytery’s tradition in gathering joys and concerns and offering particular prayers. We encourage you to remember the ministry of your congregation, as well as the ministry of smaller membership churches in your presbytery, throughout the denomination and the world.
One: Let us return to God a portion of the blessings that have been given to us.
Consider giving a portion of your offering to the Small Church Ministry Network.
This project supports Small Church Ministry Networks — local, regional,
church-wide — by providing resources for network participants, enabling
participants to attend events, advocating small church concerns to the church-at-large,
sponsoring small church ministry events.
Give thanks to God
Leader: The Lord be with you,
All: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them to the Lord.
Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Leader: Loving God, we thank you for your many blessings. Today, we are especially thankful for the smaller membership churches of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). May their gifts of ministry and mission be celebrated by the whole church. We are thankful for opportunities that bring us together to witness to your love and justice through our words and deeds. Through Christ, we offer our prayers to you. And all God’s people said,
All: Amen!
Go in God’s name
See listing of suggested hymns.
One: Now let us go out into the world, knowing that we are created and led by God, loved and redeemed by Jesus Christ, sustained and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Through these gifts, let us witness to God’s love and justice through our words and deeds.
All: Alleluia! Amen!
Suggested hymns
Taken from The Presbyterian Hymnal and published by Westminster/John
Knox Press, Louisville, KY, 1990.
- God Is Here! #461
- For A Thousand Tongues to Sing #466
- When Morning Gilds the Skies #487
- I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me #369
- God of Grace and God of Glory #420
- God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending #422
- Come Sing, O Church in Joy! #430
- We All Are One In Mission #435
- Called As Partners In Christ’s Service #343
Suggested activities for the congregation
- Plan a summer picnic to celebrate this Sunday. Invite other small churches to join in the fun. Talk about what’s happening in your community. Perhaps you can work cooperatively to enhance community life.
- During a session meeting, talk about what’s happening in your community. Is it possible that you, along with other congregations, might work together to address a particular issue?
- If your congregation has always wanted to go on a mission trip, look around your presbytery to see if there are other churches who might want to partner with you to have such an experience.
- Take the initiative to organize a small church network within your presbytery by talking with other small churches. Find time to get together to discover how you might be helpful to one another — and how you might encourage the presbytery’s support of its small churches.
Suggested activities for presbyteries
- Plan a gathering of your small churches and listen to their joys and concerns. Discover and rediscover ways in which the presbytery might be resourceful to them.
- Schedule a small church fair at a presbytery meeting organized by a team from small churches. Encourage each congregation to bring a display depicting its ministry and mission. Provide information to small churches about available resources — printed materials, training opportunities or grant programs — that will enhance the vitality of their ministry.
- If the way is clear, offer small grants to smaller congregations that have special mission-inspired needs such as engaging in community projects or enhancing their communication systems through computer technology.
- Schedule a time in presbytery meetings to highlight the vital ministry and mission of your small churches.
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