Worship Services come to you on A CD OR AS EMAIL ATTACHMENTS, so you can put them into your Word Processor for your editing.  Replace any local and personal references with those from your own experience and setting and they will belong to you and your people.

     Services are formatted to fit on the four, eight, or twelve pages of folded sheets of 8.5 x 14 paper.  All services were prepared by Rev. Ken Behnken except as indicated.  Suggestions for Their Use and Detailed Guidance in Preparing Files for Printing Originals for Copying are included.  When ordering, let us know your Word Processor and its version so the material can be appropriately formatted for you.

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Traditional Services with a Difference

Midweek Advent Devotions

Midweek Lenten Devotions

Holy Days and Holidays

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Traditional Services with a Difference

               Traditional Services with a Difference are Services for the Sundays of the Church Year based on the Three-Year Lectionary.  The services are to be PRINTED for convenient use by the worshipers. 

                For use with your congregation, you may choose between services that relate to the Lectionary as detailed in the new Lutheran Service Book or services that relate to the Lectionary as detailed in Lutheran Worship. 

                Services relating to Lutheran Service Book are built around Themes suggested by the Lessons for the Day as in its Lectionary.   They generally use the Songs of the Liturgy from Lutheran Service Book, Setting One.  Similarly, hymns, with some exceptions, are chosen from Lutheran Service Book.  And so they are Traditional Services.

                Similarly, the services relating to Lutheran Worship generally draw from its Lectionary, its Songs of the Liturgy in Divine Service II/1, and its hymns.

                But these are Traditional Services -- with a Difference.

               "With a Difference" enters the services immediately with the Confessions and Absolutions, which are spoken responsively and emphasize the Themes of the Day and incorporate phrases from the Lessons -- so that our confession focuses on sins that they expose, but we do so in a mode that celebrates the assurance of God's acceptance and forgiveness that are ours as we live in a state of grace.

               "With a Difference" is seen also in We Respond to the Word with the Word, responsive readings based on a section of Scripture that complements the thrust of the Lessons and becomes an outspoken response by the worshipers of agreement with what the Lessons say to their faith and their commitment to discipleship.

                "With a Difference" is seen also in the form of the Nicene Creed that is used on Festivals and Other Occasions of the Church Year -- playing on and emphasizing what we mean when we say, "I believe."  Similarly, the occasional addition of Martin Luther's explanations of the petitions of the Lord's Prayer provides impact to the praying of that familiar prayer.

                "With a Difference" is evident and enjoyed also in The Prayer of the Church -- responsive prayer conversations between pastor and people that also utilize phrases from the Lessons, and offer prayers that relate to their emphases.  Local concerns may readily be added.

                Traditional Services -- with a Difference are specific to the Sundays of the Church Year. They may be purchased as individual Series (A, B, C), or as all three Series of The Three-Year Lectionary.  Detailed instructions regarding preparing files for printing and copying the services are included.

Sample of Traditional Service I LSB

Sample of Traditional Service II LSB

Sample of Traditional Service III LSB

Sample of Traditional Service IV LSB

Sample of Traditional Service I LW

Sample of Traditional Service II LW

Sample of Traditional Service III LW

Sample of Traditional Services IV LW

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 Midweek Advent Devotions

Bitterness and Beauty at Bethlehem

            Services and Sermons explore some Old Testament roots of bitterness and beauty that presaged the birth and ministry of Jesus.  The Name that Didn't Stick, The Bitterness that Bloomed, The Town that Held Infinity.  Sermons are by Barry Stueve. 

Sample of Bitterness and Beauty in Bethlehem

Christmas – In a World that Sings Its Own Carols

              Services and Sermons play on "fractured Carols" that highlight the world's pursuit of things and pleasures, all at a hectic pace:  Hark the Herald Ad Men Sing / Eat, Drink, Be Merry, Gentlemen / O Little Town of Worn Out Men.  Sermons by Ken Behnken.  

Sample of Christmas . . . in a world that sings its own carols

The Making of a Disciple

              Based on an ancient maxim about the making of a theologian:  Oratio (prayer), meditatio (study), tentatio (testing) theologum faciunt.  Sermons are by Chip Winter and Ken Behnken.  

Sample of Making of a Disciple

Carols for the Newborn King

                A look at three great Christmas hymns and the circumstances of their origins.  From Heaven Above to Earth I Come (Martin Luther); Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Charles Wesley); Come, Your Hearts and Voices Raising (Paul Gerhardt).  Sermons by Silas Krueger.  

Sample of Carols for the Newborn King

Popular Notions about Christmas

                Half-truths explored to focus on the truths they obscure.  Christmas Is for Kids; Christmas Is for Giving; Christmas is for Getting.  Sermons by Ken Behnken.   

Sample of Popular Notions about Christmas

Psalms for Advent Prayer and Praise

                Psalms 8, 32, 51 identify our Lord Jesus as Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier.  The Creator's Representative / The Basis of Spiritual Health / Clean Hearts and Hands.  Sermons by Ken Behnken.  

Sample of Psalms for Advent Prayer and Praise

A Seed .. A Site .. A Scepter

              Genesis 12:1-3 – the Covenant of Grace and blessing, seen in the promise to Abraham, the life and death of Jesus, and life of the Church today.  Sermons by Ken Behnken.  

Sample of A Seed ... A Site ... A Scepter

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Midweek Lenten Devotions

            You will receive eight or nine complete Services, including bulletin covers that may be printed and copied in color, but are attractive also in black and white.  Midweek Lenten Devotions offer Hymns, Responsive Liturgy, Lessons, Prayers -- and Sermons.

Deadly Sin / Life-Giving Grace  (Six Midweek Devotions, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday)

                Services and Sermons that are based on the historic Seven Deadly Sins -- Plus One.  Romans 6:23 supplies the basic text for every sermon, which is then expanded on through the use of many related texts.  Each sermon describes the deadly nature of the sin, our Lord's life-giving confronting and atoning for the sin, and the resultant antidote to the deadly sin along the Way of Christian discipleship.  The Seven Deadly Sins -- Plus One:  Pride; Envy; Gluttony; Slothfulness; Avarice; Impurity; Anger (Maundy Thursday); and Indifference (Good Friday).   Sermons by Ken Behnken.   

Sample of Deadly Sin / Life-Giving Grace

Following Jesus . . .  (Six Midweek Devotions, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunrise) 

                Services and Sermons that place Jesus Christ and following him in Christian discipleship at the center of every aspect of the Christian life: Following Jesus On the Way of Sacrifice, ... On the Way of Assurance, ... On the Way of Empowerment, ... On the Way of Perseverance, ... On the Way of Freedom, ... On the Way of Joy, ... On the Way of Remembrance (Maundy Thursday), ... On the Way of Fulfillment (Good Friday), ... On the Way of Victory (Easter Sunrise).  Sermons by Ken Behnken.  

Sample of Following Jesus

Thoughts at the Cross  (Six Midweek Devotions, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday)              

                Services and Sermons develop random Thoughts at the Cross:  A Lenten Whip, Mightier than the Sword, A Rooster's Call, I N R I, A Little Gambling, An Unexpected Testimony, Spear Thrusts, The Lamb of Cross and Crown. Sermons by Chip Winter and Ken Behnken.  

Sample of Thoughts at the Cross

Wounds That Heal Us  (Six Midweek Devotions, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday)

               Services and Sermons that point to Jesus as Healer of Our Deepest Needs by:  Filling Our Need for Life with God; Leading Us to Accept What We Cannot Change; Strengthening Us to Act Responsibly; Freeing Us from Self Pity; Soothing Our Emotional Wounds; Giving Us a Positive Self Image; Providing Us a Christian Fellowship; Empowering Us to Turn Tragedy into Triumph.  Sermons by Roy Schoppa.  

Sample of Wounds that Heal Us

Watchwords for Lent  (Six Midweek Devotions, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunrise)

Sermons and Services explore Weep, Worship, Walk, Work, Witness, Watch, Wash (Maundy Thursday), Wonder (Good Friday), Win  (Easter Sunrise Service) as WATCHWORDS for Our Christian Faith and Life.  Sermons by Ken Behnken.  

Sample of Watchwords for Lent

God's Prescription for Life  (Six Midweek Devotions, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunrise)

                Sermons and Services analyze the components of God's Prescription for Life in Christ:  Confession, Repentance, Faith, Hope, Love, Suffering, Fellowship (Maundy Thursday), Confidence (Good Friday), Mission (Easter Sunrise Service).  Sermons by Ken Behnken.  

Sample of God's Prescription for Life

Dressed for the Feast -- Thanksgiving Day Service

                A service of Christian Thanksgiving built around great Hymns of Thanksgiving, responsive readings of Scripture, and three readings for Lay Lectors that rehearse the origins and the development of our national Thanksgiving Day and its tradition of remembering the poor.  The Sermon by Ken Behnken develops the theme Appropriate Dress for the Feast, emphasizing the true lasting values:  faith, hope, love.

Sample Reading - Dressed

How Far Is It to Bethlehem? – Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

                A Candlelight Service by Carl Berner, Jr. and Ken Behnken in seven parts that ask How Far Is It (or Was It):  for Pilgrims today?  for Mary and Joseph?  for the Angels?  for the Shepherds?  for the Wise Men?  for God?  for You and Me?  Responsive readings of Scripture and Christmas songs provide responses to the meditations by Ken Behnken, which offer "Thoughts About the Journey."

Sample Devotion - How Far

A Star ... A Song ... A Child – Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

               The Christmas Carol, Said the Night Wind to the Little Lamb, suggests the three parts of this Candlelight Service:  Do You See What I See?  Do You Hear What I Hear?  Do You Know What I Know?  Responsive Readings of Scripture and Christmas songs verbalize the congregation’s response to meditations by Ken Behnken on the three questions.

Sample Star, Song, Child

Christmas From A to Z – Christmas Day

                This service by Carl Berner, Jr. celebrates the Christmas Story by means of a Holy Day Alphabet Exercise.  Different -- but dignified -- and enjoyed by all participants.  Couplets spoken by Leaders evoke the response of a related Scripture spoken by ALL.  Christmas hymns and carols continue the expression of praise and joy.  Special music by the choir or soloists may be added.  Christmas Day Celebration of Holy Communion concludes the service.

Sample Couplets and Responses - A-Z

Christmas From A to Z – Sunday School Christmas Service

                The same service as the above Christmas Day Service adapted for a Sunday School or a School Christmas Service.  May use many Leaders or only a few.  Plenty of appropriate places to pause for other presentations by the children.

Sample Couplets and Responses - A-Z

Holy Communion in the Upper Room – Maundy Thursday

              Worshipers are seated at tables in the Fellowship Hall – reminiscent of the Holy Communion at the Passover Supper in the Upper Room.  This is not a Seder, however.  It is Holy Communion in the Upper Room. 

               Fellowship is the key – our oneness with Christ as we receive his Body and Blood, and our oneness with each other as we remember his “maund” to love one another.  Simple forms help the worshipers interact in personal, verbal expressions of fellowship.  Another organizes participatory prayer.  Familiar hymns are sung.  The Sermon by Ken Behnken:  "Our Oneness in Christ."

              This service is, perhaps, not for everyone.  It is not a traditional solemn Maundy Thursday Holy Communion.  But it is a Holy Communion that is enjoyable and meaningful to those who are open to an interactive expression of faith and love.

Sample Maund, Message, Meal

Letters to the Faithful from the Faithful – Good Friday

                A Tenebrae Drama in which fifteen Readers join the Pastor in presenting Scripture readings and "letters" from key figures in the Drama of Salvation.  The Letters from Isaiah, Mary, Peter, Thomas, Dismas, and Joseph of Arimathea were written by Ken Behnken in the style of the day.  They are addressed to the local congregation, and speak to the hearts of the worshipers.  Familiar hymns and responsive readings of Scripture focus their worship response.  Six symbolic candles are successively extinguished.  The seventh is removed as Jesus’ own “love letter” from Scripture is spoken.  The service may be adapted to include Holy Communion.

Sample Service and Readings - Letters

Dying Words that Offer Life – Good Friday

                Seven meditations by Ken Behnken on Our Lord’s Seven Last Words from the Cross lead to familiar hymns and responsive readings of Scripture.  Seven symbolic candles are extinguished.  Lay readers participate and may be organized to use only a few or to invite many to contribute to the drama.  The service may be adapted to include Holy Communion.

Sample Devotion - Dying Words

Let Freedom Ring -- Celebration of Independence Day.

             A worship service that expresses Christian patriotism as we observe the Fourth of July weekend.  An opening Liturgy of Responsive Readings of Scripture incorporates Confession and Absolution.  Patriotic hymns and songs include Before You, Lord, We Bow; God of Our Fathers; America the Beautiful; The Star-Spangled Banner; Drawn to the Cross; and God Bless America.

               Four Readings are presented by Lay Lectors:  Selections from The Declaration of Independence; Abraham Lincoln, the Interpreter of the Declaration of Independence; Words of Introduction to the Pledge of Allegiance to Our American Flag; Words of Introduction to the Pledge of Allegiance to Our Savior's Cross.                 

             The Sermon by Rev. Ken Behnken is Let Freedom Ring! -- Romans 13:4-5 and Galatians 5:13.  Its emphasis is responsible Christian Freedom under governing authorities who are "God's left hand", and in individual interaction with others in daily Christian living.