PRAYER OF ADORATION AND CONFESSION (from Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23)
Praise the LORD!
Give thanks to the LORD, who is good,
whose steadfast love is everlasting.
Who can tell of the might of the LORD;
who can declare all God's praise?
How rewarding is the life of those alert to justice,
who do what is right all the time.
Remember me, O LORD, when you show your people favour;
help me when you save them;
that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones,
rejoice in the gladness of your nation,
glory in your heritage.
We have sinned in the sinning of our forebears;
we have done wrong, committed crimes.
They made a bull-calf at Horeb; indeed, they worshipped a cast image;
we allow ourselves to be led by a material world.
They exchanged their adoration for something like a grass-eating bull;
we forget in whose image we are made.
They forgot God, their Saviour, who had done great deeds in Egypt,
marvellous works in the land of Ham,
awesome deeds by the Sea of Reeds;
we forget your saving acts in our own lives,
and that in the waters of baptism we have been given new life.
God thought to destroy them--
but Moses, God's chosen one, stood in the breach before the LORD,
to turn away God's wrath from destroying them.
We remember our shadow side;
our dark inner part, the part that would destroy us.
We cry out to you, O God,
and you are faithful:
in Jesus Christ you have healed our ruptured relationship with
you.
Thanks be to God.
For use in worship, with acknowledgement. © Jeff Shrowder 2000.
(No, I'm not about to suggest making a golden calf . . . What follows has been outlined for confession but could be appropriated for intercession.)
Materials/Preparation:
(a) Pieces of paper, plain or coloured, about 15cm x 10cm (Suggestion: tear sheets of A4 in to quarters - this may look untidy, but life is not always tidy, and our confession or intercession is about brokenness/untidiness in our lives and in the world);
(b) pencils or fine-line felt-tipped pens;
(c) a kettle type barbecue or some other receptacle suitable to contain a small fire;
(d) as a precaution, it may be appropriate to have a fire-blanket on hand.
Have each member of the congregation receive a piece of paper as they arrive for worship.
During a period of silent confession, the congregation is given the opportunity to write a word or phrase on their piece of paper concerning an aspect of brokenness in personal or community life, fold their fragment of paper, and place it in the "fire-place".
In silence, the papers are set alight, and burnt to ash.
Conclude simply, perhaps with words such as - "Let our cry rise up to you, O Lord", to which the people might respond, "Lord hear our cry." An alternative could be for the congregation to sing the Taize chant "O Lord hear my prayer".
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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
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HYMN SUGGESTIONS FOR SUNDAY 28 - YEAR A |
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| Father in heaven, grant to your children | TIS 465 |
AHB 399 |
| Glory be to God the Father | TIS 142 |
AHB 84 |
| Here, Lord, we take the broken bread | TIS 523 |
AHB 446 |
| Jesus, lover of my soul | TIS 211 |
AHB 139 |
| My God, your table now is spread | TIS 510 |
AHB 432 |
| My heart is full of Christ, and longs | TIS 214 |
AHB 143 |
| The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want. | TIS 10 |
AHB 16 |
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Exodus 32:1-14 |
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| O for a closer walk with God | TIS 576 |
AHB 488 |
| There's a wideness in God's mercy | TIS 136 |
AHB 72 |
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Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23 |
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| Blessed are those whose way is blameless | TIS 75 |
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| Jesus, remember me | TIS 730 |
SA 55 |
| Let us with a gladsome mind | TIS 83 |
AHB 11 |
| Lord Jesus, think on me | TIS 546 |
AHB 122 |
| The King of glory comes, the nation rejoices | TIS 279 |
AHB 212 |
| The king of love my shepherd is | TIS 145 |
AHB 81 |
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Philippians 4:1-9 |
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| Dona nobis pacem, Domine. I will hear | TIS 713 |
SA 27 |
| Fill my whole life, O Lord my God | TIS 596 |
AHB 515 |
| I greet you, my Redeemer sure, who lives | TIS 198 |
AHB 128 |
| May the mind of Christ my Saviour | TIS 609 |
AHB 537 |
| Now thank we all our God | TIS 106 |
AHB 14 |
| Rejoice, the Lord is king | TIS 216 |
AHB 147 |
| Safe in the shadow of the Lord | TIS 644 |
SA 74 |
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Matthew 22:1-14 |
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| Among us and before us, Lord, you stand | TIS 259 |
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| Bread of heaven, on you we feed | TIS 513 |
AHB 434 |
| Come risen Lord, and deign to be our guest | TIS 524 |
AHB 442 |
| Here in this place new light is streaming | TIS 474 |
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| I come with joy to meet my Lord | TIS 533 |
AHB 452 |
| My God, your table now is spread | TIS 510 |
AHB 432 |
| Robe yourself, my soul, in gladness | TIS 503 |
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| Shout for joy! the Lord has let us feast | TIS 545 |
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| Since the world was young | TIS 544 |
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| Wake, awake! for night is flying | TIS 266 |
AHB 195 |