Proper 21B – 18th Sunday After Pentecost
Sep. 27
Scripture (from the Revised Common Lectionary, with links provided by TextWeek.com – a source for thoughtful worship and preaching throughout the year):
Click on Scripture Lessons below for study links and resources:
Esther 7:1-6, 9-10, 9:20-22 or Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29 Roman Catholic reading: Numbers 11:25-29 United Methodist reading: Esther 7:1-6, 9-10, 9:20-22
Psalm 124 or Psalm 19:7-14 Roman Catholic reading: Psalm 19:8-14 United Methodist reading: Psalm 124
James 5:13-20 Roman Catholic reading: James 5:1-6
Mark 9:38-50 Roman Catholic reading: Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
Suggested Hymns from Chalice Hymnal
The Oremus Hymnal offers many good choices for the lectionary (although this 2010 version will have incorrect calendar dates). Not all are available in Chalice Hymnal, but some may be helpful in congregations where there is not a Chalice Hymnal available. Visit the Oremus Hymnal.
86- Great is thy faithfulness
261-Sweet, sweet Spirit
621-Are ye able
406-Beneath the forms of outward rite
More hymn suggestions, as well as helpful references for use of the arts in worship, are available from the United Church of Christ website.
Dealing with the Psalm of the Day:
Since Chalice Hymnal does not provide a complete Psalter, there will be occasions when suggestions may be made for alternate Psalm use (or hymn equivalent). A metrical version of the Psalter, for those Psalms not provided in Chalice Hymnal, is being prepared by Rev. David Chafin. Where practical, these may be offered here as well. You may also want to visit http://lectionarypsalms.org/
This week: Psalm 124 is not in the Chalice Hymnal. See greeting below.
Hymn of the Day from Rev. William Flewelling (© 2014-2015, William Flewelling; All rights reserved)
On James 5:13-20
Carefully wrought unto the Lord,
become the common life in love;
the opening in prayer and praise
allures us into fertile joy.
Deeply allured to commerce won
in Spirit and the Lord, we raise
the tumult of the heart’s increase
into the ferment of delight.
In this increase, in this allure,
in all the teeming instants found,
we come, O Lord, to your desire
and earnestly induce your love.
Carefully caught, completely sought,
we come, O Savior, to abide
in your increase, in your embrace
that in thy fullness we complete.
LM Suggested tune: Truro
Note: Except where otherwise noted, items are created or adapted by the editor. If you are aware of source notations which are missing, please bring them to his attention. No copyright infringement is intended, but is sure to happen.
Words of Greeting/Call to Prayer from Psalm 124
L: If it had not been the LORD who was on our side–let Israel now say–
P: If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when our enemies attacked us, then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; then over us would have gone the raging waters.
L: Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth. We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped.
P: Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
Prayer of Approach
L: The Lord be with you.
P: And also with you.
L: Let us pray. You who have created us and sustain us: we come with thanksgiving for these moments when we can ease the pace of our lives and listen for your voice. Create a spirit within us that truly draws us toward you and toward our brother and sisters; a spirit deep, perceptive, gentle and bold. Clear our minds, open our hearts and touch us with your presence and your power. We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord (who taught us to pray, “Our Father…”)
Intercessions
Center us now, O God, on your presence in this place among your people, as we lift up our hearts desires, our soul’s deep needs, our hungers, fears and failures.
As we have often failed to be obedient to your will in our lives as individual disciples and as church, we pray that you will forgive us and enliven us to be and to do the gospel of Christ. Open us to your Spirit’s urgings, and awaken us to live faithfully as your people in a changing, often hurting world.
We pray for those around us who need your care, and ask that you would make of us your instruments of healing, peace and redemption. We pray especially for those we have named to you this day, and others we lift to you in the silence of our hearts.
Reveal your presence with them and with us, God of life, that as people of renewed faith and vitality, we may be empowered to serve your world, and so give glory to you; for we offer our prayers and our lives in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
Prayers from Common Worship*
Collect
Almighty God,
you have made us for yourself,
and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you:
pour your love into our hearts and draw us to yourself,
and so bring us at last to your heavenly city
where we shall see you face to face;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Post Communion
Lord, we pray that your grace
may always precede and follow us,
and make us continually to be given to all good works;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Additional Collect
Gracious God,
you call us to fullness of life:
deliver us from unbelief
and banish our anxieties
with the liberating love of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Collect of the Day (from Book of Common Prayer, 1979**)
O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing
mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we,
running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of
your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who
lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for
ever and ever. Amen.
Collect of the Day from Rev. William Flewelling (© 2014-2015, William Flewelling; All rights reserved)
Mark 9:38-50
Our God,
in the tumult of emotion
we stumble after life-control.
Begin in us the generosity of heart
that manages the welcome
and recognizes abundant graces
provided in the name of Christ Jesus,
our welcome and delight.
Service of Table
Preparation (Invitation)
The wonderful works of God surround us. How will we show our gratitude? The generosity of God exceeds all our limits. How will our manner of life reflect the abundance of God’s mercy? Surely our offerings are one measure of our response. Let us present them with joy and thanksgiving.
Offertory Prayer
We thank you, God for this opportunity to express our love to you through the gifts we bring to support and encourage your work in near and distant places. Make our hearts glad that we can share in extending the gospel and helping to heal humanity’s pain, for we bring them to you with grateful hearts.
Prayer of Thanksgiving adapted from a Lenten Eucharistic prayer from William Flewelling.
(The following may be offered as one prayer, or broken between two Elders, if that is the tradition to be followed)
We thank you, Lord, for your saving hand
which reaches now throughout our lives.
We thank you that you feed our souls
so simply and
so thoroughly, in bread that Jesus gave us,
and in wine that Jesus offered.
Fill this communion, Lord God
and anoint the whole of us in Holy Spirit.
Feed us richly here, Lord God,
on the manna for our wilderness.
Give us drink, Lord God,
to satisfy us with your salvation;
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Conclusion: Through him, with him, and in him, in the power of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor be to you, O God, now and forever. Amen.
[if not previously offered: “And now with the confidence of your children, we offer the prayer our Savior taught us, ‘Our Father…’”]
MORE…
Resources from the Jubilee Fund: This stewardship ministry serving the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) offers weekly emails for each Sunday’s service. Visit http://www.thejubileefund.com/ to learn more.
Rev. Tim Graves offers Liturgy Bits with valuable, culturally sensitive and creatively contemplative works, well worth your time.
You may also want to visit Worship Connection at MinistryMatters.com, which offers numerous helps, including electronic versions of print resources for worship and preaching planning.
Intercessions and other helpful planning materials geared to the Lectionary (using Roman Catholic version, but normally quite useful for all traditions) for preaching and worship are supplied for several weeks in advance at The Sunday Website of St. Louis University.
Liturgies created by Moira Laidlaw (Uniting Church in Australia) as a part of her doctoral dissertation are often helpful. Read more here.
Common Worship Almanac and Lectionary for the year beginning Advent Sunday 2014. Compiled by Simon Kershaw October 2014 from the Common Worship Calendar and Lectionaries using Almanac Maker; compilation © Simon Kershaw 2014; Almanac Maker © Simon Kershaw 2010. The Revised Common Lectionary is copyright © the Consultation on Common Texts 1992. The Daily Eucharistic Lectionary is adapted from the Ordo Lectionum Missae of the Roman Catholic Church reproduced by permission of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy. Adaptations and additions to the RCL and the DEL, together with Second and Third Service lectionaries and the Weekday Lectionary for Morning and Evening Prayer are copyright © the Archbishops’ Council 1997-2010. http://almanac.oremus.org/lectionary
Book of Common Prayer (1979), Public domain.
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