Pentecost +14, Proper 18A
Sep. 10
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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 Lessons below for study links and resources for each individual pericope:
Exodus 12:1-14 or Ezekiel 33:7-11 Psalm 149 or Psalm 119:33-40 Romans 13:8-14 Matthew 18:15-20
Suggested Hymns from Chalice Hymnal
2-Joyful, joyful
517-Love divine, all loves excelling
17-O Worship the King
494-We are one in the Spirit
392-Draw us in the Spirit’s tether
411-For the bread, which you have broken
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 Ezekiel 33:7-11
Turn back, O people, says the Lord.
By prophet’s tongue ‘tis told.
For in the warning is preserved
the dignity of saving grace
in all we know as sown.
We find the honor of our God
esteemed in majesty.
We learn of yearning to achieve
the answering of mercy’s theme.
Become we now alert!
These righteous ways are true of heart,
the burden of the Lord.
And in the earnest of our God
we undertake to resonate
with heart on fire with love.
Ours is a dawning to new life,
a new day born for us.
And in the settlement of peace
we undergo life’s coming forth
into sublime delight.
8.6.8.8.6. Suggested tune: Chalfont Park
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: See Call to Worship
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 (Adapted from Psalm 149)
L: Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song; sing God’s praise in the assembly of the faithful.
P: Let Israel be glad in its Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.
L: Let them praise God’s name with dancing, making melody with tambourine and lyre.
P: For the LORD takes pleasure in his people, and adorns the humble with victory.
L: Let the faithful exult in glory.
P: Let us sing together for joy!
Invocation or Prayer of Approach
Creator of all worlds, we lift up our souls to you. All the earth is yours, all who dwell here are your children. We seek once more to experience your truth, to receive your blessing, to ascend above the limitations we have known. You are strong and mighty beyond our imagining. We aspire to become more than we have believed ourselves to be, individually and together. This we pray through Christ our Lord (who taught us to pray, “Our Father…”)
OR
Most gracious and loving God, you fill our hearts with praise for renewed life in Christ Jesus. Fill our minds with meditations which are noble and true, that we may be strengthened in our union with Him, for we offer our prayers and our worship in his name (who taught us to pray, “Our Father…”)
Pastoral Prayer – Prayers of the People – Intercessions
How vast and deep is your love O God, for us and for all the world. As we give you thanks for the beauty of creation and for the gift of life, we turn to you for strength and guidance to help those of our world in need of care and healing.
We pray for our community, our nation and world that peace and justice might be made known. We pray for our families and friends, especially those who are hurting, sick, grieving or alone. We pray for our own burdens and needs, both spoken and unspoken…
We yield our lives to you as we offer our prayers in the strong and saving name of Jesus. Amen.
OR
(adapted from Common Prayer)
(R may be observed as a time of silence, or a response such as “Hear our prayer.”)
Let us by prayer and intercession with thanksgiving make our requests to God.
Gracious God, we pray for peace, justice and reconciliation throughout the world. We pray for the honouring of human rights, and for the relief of the oppressed. We give thanks for all that is gracious in the lives of men, women and children. R
We pray for the renewal of the Church in faith, love and service. We pray for all ministers and for the life of this community. We give thanks for the gift of your word, the grace of the sacraments and the fellowship of your people. R
We pray for this local community and for all people in their daily life and work. We pray for the young and the elderly, for families, and all who are alone. We give thanks for human skill and creativity and all that reveals your loveliness. R
We pray for those who are in need; for the sick, sorrowful and bereaved. We pray for all who bring comfort, care and healing. We give thanks for human love and friendship and for all that enriches our daily lives. R
Let us commend ourselves, and all for whom we pray, to the mercy and protection of God.
Open prayer may be offered and silence is kept. The Collect and Lord’s Prayer follow.
Prayers from Common Worship*
Collect
Almighty and everlasting God,
you are always more ready to hear than we to pray
and to give more than either we desire or deserve:
pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy,
forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid
and giving us those good things
which we are not worthy to ask
but through the merits and mediation
of 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
God of all mercy,
in this eucharist you have set aside our sins
and given us your healing:
grant that we who are made whole in Christ
may bring that healing to this broken world,
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Alternative Collect
God of constant mercy,
who sent your Son to save us:
remind us of your goodness,
increase your grace within us,
that our thankfulness may grow,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Collect of the Day (from Book of Common Prayer, 1979**)
Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as
you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength,
so you never forsake those who make their boast of your
mercy; 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 18:15-20
Abruptly, where we find the least, O God,
where brokenness is borne,
resentment grows and all seems alien
to our most dear desires,
create in us a reconciling will
that sin be overwhelmed in grace
and anger in the throes of love,
and we discover Jesus in our midst.
Service of Table
Offertory / Invitation to Give
God, who has given us food in due season, calls us to share our bread with the hungry. In the name of the one who lived God’s truth among us, we commit ourselves anew to bearing witness. The Holy Spirit, whose winds restore our breath, sends us forth as life-givers. Celebrate this opportunity to give.
Offertory Prayer
In these gifts, O God, we acclaim you as our Lord. May they be useful to you in bringing your kingdom into full flower through the ministries of your church, we pray in Christ’s name.
OR
All the world is your vineyard, O God, and we are laborers in it. The fruits of our labors are yours, but you allow us to manage them for you. Most we use for our own benefit, but today we bring a portion to help others, as you have called us to do. We do so joyfully, asking you to bless the work of your church here and everywhere, and to help us to be more faithful stewards of your gifts.
Invitation to the Table
Christ’s table is spread for all of us—a place of gathering, of fellowship and of praise. Let us rejoice as we respond to God’s gracious invitation to receive these gifts of Christ’s body and blood that we may be strengthened to live as faithful disciples.
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)
At your gracious invitation, O God, we offer up ourselves to you as we receive the Bread of Christ, in which we are made one with you and with each other. Strengthen, we pray, the unity of your Church through this communion, that together we may always live as your thankful children. Pour out your spirit upon this bread and cup, and upon us gathered here out of love for you, that as we take the cup of Christ, the offering in his blood, we may be enlivened to do and to be your good news in this world.
OR
Loving God, who has nurtured and fed your pilgrim people through the generations to this day, receive our praise and thanksgiving as we gather at the table you have spread through your servant Jesus. As we break this bread and drink this cup, may the power of your Holy Spirit descend upon these gifts and upon us, that we may be transformed into his likeness, living faithfully, serving generously, giving selflessly for the sake of your glory. We offer ourselves anew to you, O God, in trust and faith through Christ Jesus our Lord. 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.
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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