Come All Laborers
Prayers for the 16th Sunday after Pentecost
September 24, 2017

No matter how you approach this Gospel story, it's going to upset someone. Jesus intended this!  As you explore this parable in worship, remember that this parable offers a vision of God's realm. Invite your faith family into careful reflection about how each of our discipleship manifests this vision.

Call to Worship (inspired by Matthew 20:1-16)
One:	Our eyes are heavy.
           	Our hope is soaring.
           	We wait in the marketplace.
All:	Our God is gracious.
One:	Our feet are tired.
           	Our expectations rise.
           	We are hired first.
All:	Our God is merciful.
One:   	Our backs are sore.
           	Our spirits are low.
           	We are paid last.
All:	Our God is slow to anger.
One:	Our temples flare.
           	Our anger rages.
           	We take what belongs to us.
All:	Our God abounds in steadfast love.

Invocation (inspired by Matthew 20:1-16)
          Call all the laborers, O God,
          Call your laborers who woke early,
          Call your laborers who came late,
          Call your laborers who feel wronged,
          Call your laborers who feel overlooked,
          Call your laborers who can't feed their children with this wage,
          Call your laborers who know they are working in your fields,             
          Call your laborers who use their wage to increase your love,
          Call all your laborers, O God,
          Tell us to roll up our sleeves
          For we know that we have work to do.
          Let us find you in the work we share here and now, 
          in Christ's presence we pray.                                       Amen.
          
Make a Sacred Space
As the first hymn is sung, you may want to invite members of your church family to bring objects that are symbolic of our vineyards to adorn the altar. Recall that this vineyard is not merely where we work but where we labor with God. This space will be most sacred with the objects that reflect the occupations and ministries of your members. These sacred objects may include:
•	vacuum cleaners, brooms, dusters and laundry baskets for home cleaners and janitors, 
•	posters, puppets and felt boards from Sunday School classrooms,
•	pots, pans and wooden spoons from soup kitchens or home kitchens,
•	baskets of harvested crops, shovel and hoes for farmers and landscapers, or
•	blueprints, building models and t-squares for architects and designers,
•	lobster traps, fishing nets and waders for fishermen.

Focus this list to reflect the work done in your community making sure the objects are large enough to be seen from the back row of the sanctuary. Invite individuals to bring these objects forward at different times during the hymn. Before worship, instruct them to place these objects on and around the altar. 

Prayer of Confession 
As workers might sing through their toils, center your hearts upon confessing your faith in song. To gather the hearts of the people, you may prompt the song by something like, "An African proverb reminds us that in singing, we pray twice. Let us work through our sins as we sing our faith together..."
             Trisagion (TNCH 748)
            	Kyrie (TNCH 749)             
             second and fourth verses of Sui Fui Motivo de Dolor, Oh Dios (TNCH 544)
             first verse of From the Crush of Wealth and Power(TNCH 552)
             first verse of There is a Balm in Gilead (TNCH 553).

Words of Assurance (inspired by Psalm 145:1-8)
          	  Sing aloud!  These are God's might acts!
In grace and mercy, God abounds in steadfast love.
Bless God's name forever!

Tell the Story
This Gospel Lesson requires incarnation. To understand more fully the reaction of the first laborers, try embodying the Gospel in a brief drama. Instead of merely reading this text, ask someone to take the role of the landowner. Invite this person to hire three groups of workers from the pews. Have these individuals stand in three different groups in front of the sanctuary as they wait to be paid. Then, have the landowner pay the workers reciting the words from the Gospel Lesson. (This actually works best if you only prepare the landowner in this dramatic telling. The first hired usually get upset right away.  Ask some questions of the laborers hired early and late about their reaction to the landowner’s action—anger, confusion? surprise, gratitude?) Allow the Gospel to be told as the landowner sends the laborers away with the same pay. Be sure that the landowner offers the wisdom offered in the Gospel including the last verse.

Call for the Offering 
	When our eyes are heavy, we dream of another world.
	When our spirits are low, we turn to each other.
	When our anger flares, we need each other's gifts most.
	We give our gifts of tithes and offerings to create your kingdom of heaven.

Dedication of the Offering
   O God, you have called your laborers to give their gifts.
Bless these offerings so that they reflect the work of the kingdom of heaven.
With Christ, our servant, we pray. Amen.

Benediction(inspired by Philippians 1:21-30)
One:	Let us continue in our work.
All:	Let us live in manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
One:	Let us be in one spirit, striving side by side,
All:	Let us find Christ in our struggles,
One:   	Let us be surprised by the joy in our faith,
All:	Let us find you, O God, in all our work. Amen.

Written by the Rev. Elsa A. Cook, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, a budding spiritual director and wandering interim minister. She writes liturgies and shares her thoughts on cookingwithelsa.org.

Copyright 2017 Local Church Ministries, Faith Formation Ministry Team, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH  44115-1100.  Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education.  All publishing rights reserved.