Pentecost +6, Proper 10A
July 16
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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
Genesis 25:19-34 or Isaiah 55:10-13 Psalm 119:105-112 or Psalm 65:(1-8), 9-13 Romans 8:1-11 Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Suggested Hymns from Chalice Hymnal
249-Spirit 66-Immortal, invisible 614-I’m gonna live so God can use me 491-As grain on scattered hillsides
66-Immortal, invisible God only wise
More hymn suggestions, as well as helpful references for use of the arts in worship, are available from the United Church of Christ website.
Hymn of the Day from Rev. William Flewelling (© 2017, William Flewelling; All rights reserved)
On Romans 8:1-11
O Holy Spirit, come to dwell,
become in us the welcome host,
the resonance of life and peace.
Intently now, O God, we rise,
we lift our spirits to the skies,
uniting joy to your desire.
Intend in this clear moment, Lord,
sheer invitation to increase,
to find in your delight our peace
and satisfy reality.
In this rejoicing moment: now,
begin the raising unto life.
For as we linger at delight
and taste sublime approaching bliss,
we turn unto our lifting zeal
that, as your Spirit buoyed the Lord,
in us we find abundant life
by percolating Spirit’s zest.
8.8.8.8.8.8.8. Suggested tune: David’s Harp
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: Sorry – not in hymnal
Concerning the Following Items: 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.
Call to Worship
L: God sows abundant seeds in confidence that there will be a harvest. P: Some seeds find no roots, others are snatched away by troubles. L: We do not have control of how God’s seeds will grow. P: But with eager hearts we wait to see the growth of planted love.
Invocation or Prayer of Approach
God of grace, you have given us minds to know you, hearts to love you, and voices to sing your praise. Fill us with your spirit that we may celebrate your glory and truly worship you; through Jesus Christ our Lord (who taught us to pray, “Our Father…”)
Pastoral Prayer – Prayers of the People – 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
O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that with you as our ruler and guide we may so pass through things temporal that we lose not our hold on things eternal; grant this, heavenly Father, for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Post Communion
Eternal God, comfort of the afflicted and healer of the broken, you have fed us at the table of life and hope: teach us the ways of gentleness and peace, that all the world may acknowledge the kingdom of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Alternative Collect
Gracious Father, by the obedience of Jesus you brought salvation to our wayward world: draw us into harmony with your will, that we may find all things restored in him, our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Collect of the Day (from Book of Common Prayer, 1979**)
O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Collect of the Day from Rev. William Flewelling (© 2017, William Flewelling; All rights reserved)
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Sow plentifully, Lord God,
around our roots, our readiness,
our lean attention
that in your plentiful intention
all your word may prosper,
converging in amazement
to the show of wonder in our eyes.
Service of Table
Offertory / Invitation to Give
Many gifts have been sewn into our lives, the seeds of God’s generosity and love for the world. We are stewards of them, and are called by the gospel of Christ to spread them abroad, trusting in God’s care to nurture and bring forth the harvest of righteousness. Let us bring forth the fruits of God’s creative, loving care from the gardens of our lives.
Offertory Prayer
You, O God, are the giver of all life. In the offerings we bring today are fruits of the lives you have entrusted to us and the gifts you have given. Help us to bring them with joy and offer them freely, as you have offered yourself to us and to the world so freely in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Invitation to the Table
God has sown the seed of righteousness and peace in our world. And In Christ, the broken bread and the cup outpoured, we receive the sign and sacrament of God’s great love shed abroad. May we open our hearts to receive the strength and love God’s great gift as we come to the table.
Prayer of Thanksgiving (Prayers for Bread and Cup)
(The following may be offered as one prayer, or broken between two Elders, if that is the tradition to be followed)
- As you have sown the seed of righteousness and peace in our world, O God, we receive the broken bread of Christ, a sign and sacrament of your love which is scattered lavishly for the world you love. Help us who are recipients of your gift of life to be generous in our sharing of it, that all may know your gracious, redeeming love. 2. Your boundless grace is poured out for us in this cup which we bless. Pour out your Spirit upon it and upon us who receive it, that we may be refreshed and renewed to live and serve in the spirit of 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.
Common Worship Almanac and Lectionary for the year beginning Advent Sunday 2016. Compiled by Simon Kershaw August 2016 from the Common Worship Calendar and Lectionaries using Almanac Maker; compilation © Simon Kershaw 2016; 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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