----------------------- Joshua: The Musical Worship Service ----------------------- Peter Cardinal November, 2007 ----------------------- 1) Joshua's Charge -- chorus FESTAL SONG [MBW628/UM129] Be strong and resolute, not frightened or dismayed. The Lord your God will go with you in everything you do. Be strong and resolute, and take up Moses' place, for where your feet step in this Land God gives to Israel's band. Be strong and resolute. God's words be in your mouth. Turn neither to the left or right and God will give you might. Be strong and resolute. This is God's weighty charge. God's promise of a homeland true will be fulfilled in you. 2) Joshua 1:1-3 -- narrator After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' attendant: "My servant Moses is dead. Prepare to cross the Jordan, together with all this people, into the Land which I am giving to the Israelites. Every spot on which your foot treads I give to you, as I promised Moses." 3) Crossing the Jordan -- company JORDAN RIVER [Traditional] Jordan River is deep and wide. Alleluia. Milk and honey on the other side. Alleluia. You can cross it if you try. Alleluia. God will make the river dry. Alleluia. Seven lift the Covenant. Alleluia. Set their feet in the wet torrent. Alleluia. Each tribe take a stone away. Alleluia. Set twelve boulders to mark our way. Alleluia. Up at Adam the waters stay. Alleluia. Down below they drain away. Alleluia. In the dry we'll lift our load. Alleluia. Once a boundary, and now a road. Alleluia. Forty years we crossed the sand. Alleluia. Now we cross to our promised Land. Alleluia. Some day soon, your child will ask. Alleluia. Tell this story; fulfill your task. Alleluia. 4) Joshua 2:1 -- narrator Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, "Go, reconnoiter the region of Jericho." So they set out, and the came to the house of a harlot named Rahab and lodged there. 5) The Spies -- spies CONFESSION (Herrnhut) [MBW675] To Jericho city we went out as spies. The army of Hebrews had need of our eyes. To see their defenses is why we were sent; to gauge their proud spirit, the reason we went. We came upon Rahab, a town prostitute. A room there we rented with breakfast to boot. She let us inside and she bolted the door. To conquer a king you must talk to the poor. The guards of that city were brave men and true. Before we had lodgings already they knew. The king of the city sent officers there. Of Rahab they asked that her knowledge she share. "It's true that they came here," she said with a smile. "But now they have gone and walked many a mile. Set after them quickly; you may overtake. Already it's evening so haste you must make." But Rahab had hidden us up on the roof. Her loyalty to us by this we have proof. She asked in return that her family we spare, a bargain which we deemed to only be fair. "I know that to you your God gives victory. We've already heard how God parted the sea. Our citizens quake in their houses with fear. They tasted defeat when you first appeared here." The city was shut up, for it was nightfall. The prostitute lowered us over the wall. We took to the hills and we slept in the dew and now we return to report all to you. 6) Joshua 5:13 -- narrator Once, when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing before him, drawn sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and asked him, "Are you one of us or of our enemies?" 7) Joshua Walks In the Hills -- Joshua STURGEON BAY [MBW430] Why are you here, why would you be walking upon this hill? It is the eve of battle and the night is deathly still. Are you with us and fight with us? Are you our enemy? You stand with drawn sword in your hand; give me your loyalty. I am the leader Joshua; my father's name was Nun. We wandered up from Egypt's land in forty years of sun. Great Moses was our general and I his captain true. But he is gone and I am left to see these people through. Our God has led us all these years. We are a mighty band. And honoring God's promises we'll occupy this Land! Are you with us and fight with us? Are you our enemy? The time has come for me to know and you must speak to me! 8) Joshua 5:14 -- narrator [The man] replied, "No, I am captain of the Lord's host. Now I have come!" Joshua threw himself face down to the ground and, prostrating himself, said to him, "What does my lord command his servant?" 9) The Lord's Captain -- man and chorus KINGS OF ORIENT [UM254] I am captain of the Lord's host, bear the power that you honor most. God of Jacob, God of Abraham; in God alone you boast. (Refrain) Oh, take your sandals from your feet. I have come with you to meet. Where I stand the land is holy. Mighty God you see and greet. At the Jordan I stopped its flow. By my acts God's power you know. Death and dying, birth, surviving, I wield God's pow'r below. (Refrain) On the ground before me you bow. You can strengthen your people now, if you follow where I take you and will obey my vow. (Refrain) 10) Joshua 6:2 -- narrator The Lord said to Joshua, "See, I will deliver Jericho and her king and her warriors into your hands." 11) Jericho -- Joshua and the fighting men TO GOD BE THE GLORY [MBW550/UM98] The people of Jericho tremble with fear. The power of God very soon will be clear. The gates of the city are bolted up tight so no one can enter and none can come fight. (Refrain) We will fight for the Lord! With the Lord we will fight! We will fight for the Lord! We will trust in God's might! Let all of God's people depend on God's will for God was our leader and God leads us still. Let seven from Levi their priestly horns sound. Behind them the cov'nant box carry around. We'll circle the city and then we'll go back. In Jericho everyone's mood will turn black! (Refrain) Six days we'll repeat marching once 'round the wall. Six times we'll appear without making a call. Six days they will listen as rams' horns blare forth. Six times they will tremble for all they are worth. (Refrain) The seventh day we will continue to walk for seven full circuits and no one will talk. But after the last time we'll raise such a din that all of our army will simply walk in. (Refrain) Our God wins the battle; our God wins the war. We are only instruments and nothing more. The wall will collapse but it's not from our skill. The city is taken because of God's will. (Refrain) 12) Joshua 8:1 -- narrator The Lord said to Joshua, "Do not be frightened or dismayed. Take all the fighting troops with you, go march against Ai. See, I will deliver the kind of Ai, his people, his city, and his land into your hands." 13) Occupying the Land -- company BATTLE HYMN [MBW140 plus refrain/UM717] At the Ruin, Joshua's tactics brought the victory we lacked. As we drew them toward the desert they were suddenly attacked. Their ruined city was in flames. Then we turned and headed back into the promised Land. (Refrain) We are following God's promise. We are following God's promise. We are following God's promise into the promised Land! All the cities joined against us from the Jordan to the Sea. But in Gibeon the elders sought to live by treachery. With deceit against our chieftains they agreed our slaves to be within the promised Land. (Refrain) Those kings from near Jerusalem were taken by surprise. The hailstones fell from thunderclouds, the sun stopped in the skies. With Joshua our general, none snarl as we march by into the promised Land. (Refrain) All the hill country was taken and was put into the pot. The forests and the farmland were divided up by lot. To Judah, Joseph, Ephraim, Manasseh went prime spots within the promised Land. (Refrain) Both Benjamin and Simeon were next among the bands. Then Zebulun and Issachar and Asher took their land. The Naphtalim received their lot; Dan took a second stand within the promised Land. (Refrain) 14) Joshua 21:41-45 -- narrator The Lord gave to Israel the whole country which He had sworn to their fathers that He would give them; they took possession of it and settled in it. The Lord gave them rest on all sides, just as He had promised to their fathers on oath. Not one man of all their enemies withstood them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hands. Not one of the good things which the Lord had promised to the House of Israel was lacking. Everything was fulfilled. 15) Offering -- gathered people Song: "Now Thank We All Our God" [MBW533/UM102] 16) Joshua 23:1-3 -- narrator Much later, after the Lord had given Israel rest from all the enemies around them, and when Joshua was old and well advanced in years, Joshua summoned all Israel, their elders and commanders, their magistrates and officials, and said to them: "I have grown old and am advanced in years. You have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all those nations on your account, for it was the Lord your God who fought for you." 17) Common Prayer -- chorus and gathered people LASST UNS ERFREUEN [MBW216/UM62] God, for your people here we pray. Help us and keep us in this day. Strength and wisdom you will give us. Forgive us each for all our sin. Help us the lost to reach and win. You are with us. Keep us with you. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. All those with bodies in decline, or who are sick in heart or mind: Strength and comfort you can give them. Where there is war or homelessness, where hunger lives or neediness: Let us serve there. Let us serve you. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. For all your people who have died: Welcome them, make them sanctified. Let them see you, live beside you. And for the ones they leave on earth: Remind us of your second birth. You are with us. You are with them. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Lord, guide our nation's President and all our other Government. Strength and wisdom you can give them. For those who lead your church, we pray. Inspire their leadership today. Let them hear you. Give them wisdom. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. And keep us ever with you, Lord. Your confidence to us afford. Strength and courage you will give us. In every hour and every day, in business, school, or on our way, You are with us. We are with you. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. 18) Joshua 24:2-3 -- narrator Thus said the Lord, the God of Israel: In olden times, your forefathers -- Terah, father of Abraham and father of Nahor -- lived beyond the Euphrates and worshipped other gods. But I took your father Abraham from beyond the Euphrates and led him through the whole land of Canaan and multiplied his offspring. 19) Covenant Commitment -- Joshua and company LINSTEAD [WOV754] In the olden days long ago God told Abraham, "Up and go!" He was led to this very Land. Here he fathered a faithful band. (Refrain) God of Abraham, in the promised Land we will follow you all our days! Hunger drove us into Egypt. There the Pharaoh our freedom clipped. Moses came and he led us out, all rejoicing with dance and shout. (Refrain) Through the desert we wandered lost, fed by God 'til the Jordan crossed. Mighty nations all fled away; God was fighting to clear the way. (Refrain) Jordan River is cold and wide but we walked across when we tried. At God's order we took our load, once a boundary was now a road. (Refrain) Make a choice about whom you'll serve. When you've chosen don't lose your nerve. God your loyalty will demand if you claim to be in God's band. (Refrain) Those around you will be a snare. Everything they do is unfair. Every good thing will come to you if what God wants is what you do. (Refrain) 20) Joshua 24:27-28 -- narrator And Joshua said to all the people, "See, this very stone will be a witness against us, for it heard all the words that the Lord spoke to us; it shall be a witness against you, lest you break faith with your God." Joshua then dismissed the people to their allotted portions. ----- Scripture quotations from The Prophets: A New Translation of The Holy Scriptures according to the traditional Hebrew text (The Jewish Publication Society of America, 1978) Hymn references: MBW: Moravian Book of Worship (1995) UM: United Methodist Hymnal (1989) WOV: With One Voice (Augsburg/Fortress, 1995)