October 20th, 2007
The Great Wrestling Match
Proper 24 C
Theme: The Great Wrestling Match
This service invites people to think about what it means to wrestle with God and to be honest about their own wrestlings. Through the somewhat comical theme of a wrestling match, we will explore both how we wrestle with God and how we hope for something more than wrestling - how anything with a "winner" or a "loser" misses the hope of being with God.
Set-up:
All Angels prayer station and general prayer station behind the alter. In the front middle, a station set up with index cards and pens for letter writing. On whatever side the musicians are not on, a station with difficult puzzles will be set up - Becky will bring these.
Props:
Large pieces of tag board that say "Round 1," "Round 2," and "Round 3."
Index cards
Pens
Difficult puzzles
Small table with two chairs - if the table was more like bar table height, that would be AWESOME - but if not, that's fine too.
Another table for "Bob and Jerry" to sit at
Songs:
Wanderer (Restoration Project)
Help My Unbelief (COTA)
Blessed (Tara Ward)
God where are you now?
Opening Words:(God Mic) (Lucas)
Saturday, Saturday, Saturday, Fremont, Fremont, Fremont
Welcome to Church of the Apostles for at front row seat in the match of the millenium
Humanity vs. God, down and dirty in the incarnation.
The greatest wrestling match in the history of the World, World, World.
Bring your doubt, bring your angst, and bring a flashy outfit,
cuz it's you against God in a fight to the Blessing
all stand for first song
Opening Song: O God Where are You Now
God Mic: Round One: In the right corner, weighing in at 150 pounds, we have Jacob, son of Isaac, Patriarch of Israel. (Enters through choir door). And in the left corner we have The Angel of the Lord. (Stands up behind the Musicians).
(Reader reads the OT reading while the players pantomime. Jacob (Matthwe Lyon) walks to the middle of the dais, faces the congregation and waves. The angel creeps up behind and tackles him, they end up arm wrestling at the top of the steps--or thumb wrestling in front of the altar if need be. Angel runs away, up the aisle Jacob limps off to the right.)
Genesis 32:22-31 - Read via God Mic from the purple lectionary
Jerry (Brian): Well Bob, I'd say that humanity got the best of that round. Jacob got a blessing and walked away.
Bob (Kristian): Nosirree, Jerry, he walked away with a limp and he didn't even get the angel's name.
God Mic: Round Two: A song of Ascents
Psalm 121 from the middle of the Aisle (Becky - memorized)
Meditative silence.
Bob: looks as though God's a no show.
Jerry: What do you mean, "My help comes from the Lord," Bob.
Bob: Yeah, but there's only one person standing there, Jerry and she sure looks human to me.
Jerry: Looks like the image of God, Bob. Looks like the image of God.
Bob: Still not buying it.
(Becky sits down.)
God Mic: Please stand as you are able for round three. Round Three: Jesus told this parable to his disciples about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. In the right corner we have a persistent widow (Carol steps to the right, with a clipboard in hand) and in the left hand corner we have an unjust judge (Andy moves to the top of the stairs with a book and says "Harumph!").
Judge: I have no fear of God or Man. My trust is in the law and in my own power. People are untrustworthy, and rarely worth the effort. (Sits on the top right steps and reads.)
Widow: (walks up to him and says) Grant me justice.
Judge: Go away.
Widow: Grant me justice.
Judge: Harumph! (walks to left side of steps and faces away.)
Widow: (walks over beside him). Grant me justice. Please?
Judge: Harumph! (Moves to FB Lecturn, starts reading again).
Widow: (In a stage whisper) Grant me justice. Grant me justice. Grant me justice.
Judge: Leave me alone woman! I have no care for your concerns (Walks to the choir door and exits.)
(Dramatic Pause)
Woman: (Passes to door and hammers) Grant me justice.
Judge: (Comes out) I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone--least of all, you--But I respect my peace and quiet. I'll do what you want if you'll only leave me alone. (Signs script on clipboard). Now go away.
Jerry: Yup, I bet God is something like that.
Bob: Grumpy, irritable, and poorly dressed.
(Andy: I heard that)
Jerry: Even a grumpy old atheist with no respect for anyone granted her request. How much more likely would God be to answer our prayers, if we pray enough.
Bob: So God's a grumpy old atheist?
Jerry: Even God listens if you talk enough.
God Mic: And now for round Four, God Almighty reigning heavyweight champion of the Cosmos is in the building. Ready to face all challengers. In Open Space, you too have an opportunity to enter the ring.
Open Space: (Lucas)
Stations:
- All angels
- Prayers
- A place to write wrestling letters to God and leave them on the alter - will remain during Eucharist
- Some difficult puzzles to "wrestle with"
Song for open space:"Hold" (burnt on a cd)
Reverb: (Lucas)
Song 2: Wanderer
Family Business: (Josh Samuelson)
- COTA Sat 5 pm service for Nov 3 and 10at Gift of Grace Lutheran in Wallingford.
- Taize Nov 4th, 6:30 is still at Fremont Baptist
Prayers of the people: Jacob Ibarra
Opening: Canticle Q
Refrain: Leader: We will not let you go
All: until you bless us
Closing: Collect
Peace: Jacob Ibarra
Offering:
Offering Song: Help My Unbelief
The Lord's Prayer:
Eucharist: (Karen) - addressing the things on the altar - focusing on the fact that, though wrestling, we still come to the table.
Music During Eucharist: Light Within my Darkness (Abbess) - (burnt on a cd)
Blessing: (Karen) Pilgrim - focus on Jacob's pilgrimage "empty spaces wrestling with God."
Invitation to Community (Karen)
Closing Song: Blessed
Go, wrestle well, and love and serve the Lord!
Thanks be to God!
* Extended family business after service
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