Sample Relational Responsive Readings
Sample Relational Responsive Readings
Relational Responsive Readings will be received in single spacing and are formatted to fit a page of a folded 14 x 8.5 sheet of paper.
Holy Days and Holidays
THE DAY OF PENTECOST
A Hymn for Pentecost: O Holy Spirit, Enter In LW, #160 (1-2)
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
ALL: Amen! It is he whom we worship; his Spirit brings light and life!
RESPONSIVE READING OF SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY OF PENTECOST
Pastor: "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit," says the Lord Almighty.
ALL: John the Baptist said, "I baptize you with water, but a greater One is coming who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire."
Pastor: The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given in Christ.
ALL: Those without the Spirit do not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to them. They cannot understand them, because such things are spiritually discerned.
Pastor: God's Word is not words taught by human wisdom, but words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual terms.
ALL: No one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
Pastor: There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because through Christ the Spirit of life has set us free from sin and death.
ALL: What the law was powerless to do in that its influence is weakened by our sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man, to be an offering for our sins.
Pastor: Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
ALL: We who are led by the Spirit of God are sons and daughters of God, for we have received the Spirit, and by him we cry, "Abba, Father."
Pastor: If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
ALL: But with Christ in us, though our bodies are dead because of sin, our spirits are alive because of righteousness.
Pastor: There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but they come from the same Spirit. There are different kinds of workings, but the same God works all of them in everyone.
ALL: To each one of us the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
Pastor: I pray that out of his glorious riches the Father may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
ALL: Rooted and established in love, may we have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know the love that surpasses knowledge that we may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
(Sung) O Mighty Rock, O Source of life, Let Your good Word in doubt and strife Be in us strongly burning,
That we be faithful unto death, And live in love and holy faith, From You true wisdom learning.
Lord, Your mercy On us shower; By Your power Christ confessing, We will cherish all Your blessing.
Scriptures used: Zechariah 4:6; Matthew 3:11; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14, 12:3; Selected verses from Romans 8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7; Ephesians 3:16-19.
FATHER'S DAY
A Hymn for the Christian Home: Our Father by Whose Name LW, #465
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
ALL: Amen! We rejoice to worship in the House of our heavenly Father.
RESPONSIVE READING OF SCRIPTURE FOR FATHER'S DAY
Pastor: Jesus, a teenager, lived in Nazareth with his father and mother, and was obedient to them.
ALL: He grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
Pastor: Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Wise children heed their fathers' instruction, but fools spurn their fathers' discipline.
ALL: Those who discipline their children show them the way to life; but those who do not correct them lead them astray.
Pastor: The Lord took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. By work a man supplies his family's needs.
ALL: Whatever work we do, let's do it diligently; we are serving the Lord, not just other people.
Pastor: The Lord warned his people: "I, the Lord, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sins of their fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me."
ALL: It would be better for us to be thrown into the sea with mill stones tied around our necks than by bad examples to mislead our children.
Pastor: We fathers, then, must be careful and watch ourselves closely, so we do not forget the things of the Lord. We are to teach the Word of God to our children and to their children.
ALL: Fathers are to talk to their children day by day about the Lord's faithfulness, and not neglect to lift them up to the Lord in prayer.
Pastor: We are not to be harsh and exasperate our children, but are to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
ALL: He promises: "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."
Pastor: The fathers of righteous persons rejoice in them; those who have wise children will surely take delight in them.
ALL: May our fathers rejoice and our mothers be delighted because they have us as their children!
Pastor: When your father reaches old age, rise in his presence; show respect for him and care for him, for this is pleasing to God.
ALL: Thus children and grandchildren put their religion into practice and repay their parents for the love and care they received from them.
Pastor: With our fathers, our homes, and our families in mind, we sing again:
(Sung) Our Father, by whose name All fatherhood is known, You who in love proclaim Each family Your own,
For fathers, mothers, now we praise! By word and deed they taught Your ways A legacy for all our days.
Come dwell within our homes, Bless parents, children, there Warmed by each others love, Protected by Your care.
On each of us Your grace bestow, So all who enter there will know Our home's a place where love will grow.
Scriptures used: Luke 2:51-52; Ephesians 6:1 and Proverbs 13:1; Proverbs 10:17; Genesis 2:15; Colossians 3:23-24; Exodus 20:5-6; Luke 17:2; Deuteronomy 4:9; Isaiah 38:19 and Lamentations 2:19; Ephesians 6:4; Proverbs 22:6; Proverbs 23:24-25; 1 Timothy 4:8.
Seasonal --
EPIPHANY Jesus' Ministry of Teaching and Healing
A Hymn for Epiphany: Jesus Has Come and Brings Pleasure LW, #78 (1-3)
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
ALL: Amen! We are here to worship and praise him this Lord's Day!
RESPONSIVE READING OF SCRIPTURE FOR EPIPHANY
Pastor: In this Epiphany Season we see Jesus as the Revealer of God.
ALL: In many ways we have seen his epiphany his revealing himself as the Son of God who came to save sinners.
Pastor: As a young child he was acknowledged by strangers to be the Savior of the nations.
ALL: The Magi, wise men from the East, were led to see his star and to follow its guidance to find and worship the newborn King of the Jews.
Pastor: As a young boy he displayed his affinity for the Word of God.
ALL: As he interacted with them in the temple courts, learned scholars and rabbis marveled at his understanding and at his questions.
Pastor: He began his public ministry by being baptized by John in the Jordan River, and was anointed with the Holy Spirit from above.
ALL: The Voice from heaven validated his person and his ministry: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."
Pastor: Through the Bible we are blessed, as were the people of his day, to hear his Word of truth, that brings us light and life in our own time and place.
ALL: We join with those who spoke well of him, and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips.
Pastor: But not all were pleased to accept him as the Promised Messiah.
ALL: Some reacted with unbelief and rejection taking him finally, in the will and purpose of God, to the cross, where he gave himself in atonement for our sins.
Pastor: Like the people of old, we come to him with hands and hearts and lives stained by sin by what we have done and by what we have left undone.
ALL: With the paralytic who was brought to him, we rejoice to hear Jesus say to us, "Take heart; your sins are forgiven!"
Pastor: As did the people of his day, when they saw his mighty power and his loving compassion, we bring the sick and needy to him.
ALL: We are encouraged by the fact that when they brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, he laid his hands on each one, and healed them.
Pastor: We bring to him our daily needs and problems, our joys and satisfactions asking him to be a part of all of them.
ALL: He still says to us: "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask what you will, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, and thus prove to be my disciples.
Pastor: Let us come into his presence, then, on this Lord's Day, knowing he receives us and will bless us. We worship him here and we welcome him into our everydays.
(Sung) Jesus has come as the King of all glory! Heaven and earth, oh, declare his great pow'r!
Capturing hearts with the heavenly story, Welcome him now in this fast-fleeting hour!
Ponder his love! Take the crown he has for you! Jesus has come, he the King of all glory!
Scriptures used: Matthew 2:2,11; Luke 2:46-47; Luke 3:21-22; Luke 4:22,28-30; Luke 5:20; Luke 4:40; John 15:78.
LENT A Lenten Call to Decision
A Hymn for Lent: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross LW, #114 (1-3)
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
ALL: Amen! He has called us out of darkness to walk in his light!
RESPONSIVE READING OF SCRIPTURE FOR LENT
Pastor: The Lord said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people, your father's household, and go to the land I will show you. I will make you a great nation and will bless you, and you will be a blessing. Through you all peoples on earth will be blessed."
ALL: Abram left, as the Lord commanded him.
Pastor: At Sinai, the Lord said to Israel, You have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles wings and brought you to myself. Now if you keep my covenant, out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.
ALL: The people responded, We will do everything the Lord has said.
Pastor: Later, when the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they said to Aaron, "Make us a god."
ALL: Aaron took their gold earrings and made them into an idol cast in the shape of a calf.
Pastor: Then the people said, "This is your god, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt."
ALL: When Moses returned and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets down, breaking them. Then he took the calf, burned it, ground it to powder, scattered it on the water, and made the Israelites drink it.
Pastor: Elijah asked the people of his day, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him."
ALL: When the people saw that fire from heaven had consumed Elijah's sacrifice, they fell prostrate and cried, "Elijah! Elijah! The Lord is God! The Lord is God!"
Pastor: When Jesus talked to the Jews about "eating" his flesh and "drinking" his blood, many who were following him said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" And they turned back and no longer followed him.
ALL: Jesus asked the Twelve, "Will you also go away?" Peter responded, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God."
Pastor: On the Day of Pentecost, when the people heard Peter's message they were cut to the heart and said, "Brothers, what shall we do!"
ALL: Peter replied, "Repent! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ! Your sins will be forgiven, and you will receive the Holy Spirit."
Pastor: The need for decision finally comes down to us: we are to believe the Good News of Jesus, put off the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires, and be made new in the attitudes of our minds.
ALL: Jesus says to us: "If you would come after me, you must deny yourself and take up your cross daily and follow me. Look. I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you will eat with me."
Pastor: In receiving him and following him and enjoying fellowship with him, let us commit ourselves to giving ourselves fully to him, withholding nothing.
(Sung) When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride.
Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a tribute far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all!
Scriptures used: Genesis 12:1-4; Exodus 32:1-4,19-20; 1 Kings 18:21,38-39; John 6:53,61,66-69; Acts 2:37-38; Ephesians 3:22-24; Revelation 3:20; John 15:15-16.