11A - Epiphany 3A — 13A - Epiphany 5A
See also my posts from 2014, 2017, 2020, 2023
PSALM 15 (A translation for today)
O LORD, who can lodge in your tent?
Who can settle on your holy hill?
The one who walks honestly, doing the right thing,
who speaks the truth in their heart;
the one who has not tripped over their tongue,
who does no evil to their friends
nor heap scorn upon their neighbour;
who deplores the ungodly,
but honours those who hold the LORD in holy awe.
This person has vowed not to do wrong, and will not waver,
neither lending money with interest,
nor taking a bribe from the innocent.
The one doing these things will never be shaken.
CONFESSION (using Psalm 15 – a translation for today)
O LORD, who can lodge in your tent?
Who can settle on your holy hill?
The one who walks honestly, doing the right thing,
who speaks the truth from their heart;
For the times we have not walked in your way,
done the right thing, or spoken the truth;
we lament what has gone wrong.
Who has not tripped over their tongue,
who does no evil to their friends
nor heap scorn upon their neighbour;
For the times we have let our tongues get the better of us,
abused a relationship, or turned from one in need;
we lament what has gone wrong.
Who deplores the ungodly,
but honours those who hold the LORD in holy awe;
who stands by their word not to do the wrong thing,
and will not waver,
neither lending money with interest,
nor taking a bribe from the innocent.
Those who do these things will never be shaken.
For the times we have oppressed, or wavered,
or been shaken from your way;
we lament what has gone wrong.
Reveal in us what is good and to be honoured.
Nourish us
with your word … your love … your Spirit …
for our life journey
in following the way of Jesus. Amen
OFFERING
Holy source of all that is,
this is the offering
of our time, talent, treasure,
the offering of ourselves
that, in following Jesus,
we walk justly, kindly and humbly.
Amen.
A CREATIVE MOMENT – Matthew 5:1-12
Suggested symbols for the worship centre:
a bowl of salty water: a loaf of bread; a small jug of oil; a small olive branch. Any other symbols appropriate to your context.
Place these symbols on a hessian cloth draped from the worship centre table onto the floor.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
(A prayer, usually with connection to one or more of the lections for the day, to gather the spoken and silent concerns/joys/thanks expressed by the congregation and lead into a more structured Intercession. Sometimes this prayer also borrows lightly from other sources e.g. Uniting in Worship 2 or publications of the Iona Community.)
Holy source of life,
whose foolishness is wiser
than all human wisdom,
sustain, encourage, comfort
those for whom we pray in word and silence …
(A time of silence is kept)
And by the urging of your holy and mysterious Spirit
enable us to walk justly, kindly and humbly
in following Jesus …
(The Prayers of the People continue)
Looking for contemporary music and song resources?
Try David MacGregor’s Together to Celebrate
Or metrical psalms? Try Dale A. Schoening’s Sing the Psalms
| HYMN SUGGESTIONS FOR EPIPHANY 4 – YEAR A | |
| All hail the power of Jesus’ name | TIS 224 |
| Jesus, where’er thy people meet | TIS 445 |
| O Master, let me walk with thee | TIS 601 |
| Son of God, eternal Saviour | TIS 606 |
| Micah 6:1-8 | |
| All who love and serve your city | TIS 634 |
| Father all-loving and ruling in majesty | TIS 160 |
| Here, gracious Lord, we see you face to face | TIS 516 |
| Lord, we are blind, the world of sight | TIS 633 |
| What does the Lord require of you? | TIS 751 |
| What does the Lord require | TIS 618 |
| What shall we offer our good Lord | TIS 439 |
| Psalm 15 | |
| All the sleepy should have a place to sleep | TIS 697 |
| O Lord, who shall abide in your tabernacle? | TIS 5 |
| The law of Christ alone can make us free | TIS 630 |
| Where cross the crowded ways of life | TIS 608 |
| 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 | |
| Be thou my vision | TIS 547 |
| Christ is the world’s redeemer | TIS 192 |
| Come, Holy Spirit come! | TIS 422 |
| Give thanks with a grateful heart | TIS 717 |
| God has spoken by his people | TIS 636 |
| Here hangs a man discarded | TIS 356 |
| In the cross of Christ I glory | TIS 349 |
| My heart and voice I raise | TIS 225 |
| Nature with open volume stands | TIS 343 |
| O sacred head sore wounded | TIS 339 |
| Praise with joy the world’s creator | TIS 179 |
| When I survey the wondrous cross | TIS 342 |
| When pain and terror strike by chance | TIS 262 |
| You are my hiding place | TIS 754 |
| Matthew 5:1-12 | |
| All the sleepy should have a place to sleep | TIS 697 |
| Blest are the pure in heart | TIS 448 |
| Comfort, comfort, all my people | TIS 647 |
| Forgive our sins as we forgive | TIS 635 |
| Give thanks with a grateful heart | TIS 717 |
| God! as with silent hearts we bring to mind | TIS 680 |
| Help us, O Lord, to learn | TIS 428 |
| Here in this place new light is streaming | TIS 474 |
| I will hear what the Lord has to say | TIS 713 |
| If we have died to ourselves in Jesus | TIS 475 |
| Lord Jesus, think on me | TIS 546 |
| Lord of creation, to you be all praise | TIS 626 |
| Lord of the living, in your name assembled | TIS 637 |
| Lord, your word abiding | TIS 427 |
| Not the powerful, not the privileged | TIS 288 |
| O bride of Christ, rejoice | TIS 336 |
| O day of God, draw near | TIS 616 |
| O for a heart to praise my God | TIS 568 |
| Seek ye first the kingdom of God | TIS 745 |
| Sing of the Lord’s goodness | TIS 183 |
| Sometimes a healing word is comfort | TIS 692 |