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Epiphany 5 - Year B

  PSALM 147:1-11
Praise the LORD. 
How good it is to make music to our God; 
how pleasant and right it is.
The LORD is rebuilding Jerusalem, 
and gathering up the outcasts of Israel; 
healing the broken-hearted, 
and binding up their wounds;
counting the number of the stars,
and calling each by their names. 
Our Lord is great, ever so powerful; 
whose wisdom is beyond measure. 
The LORD comes to the aid of the oppressed;
and brings down the wicked. 
Respond to the LORD with thanksgiving; 
make music to our God with the lyre.
our God, who covers the heavens with clouds, 
and prepares rain to fall on the earth,
who makes grass grow on the mountains;
gives grain to the cattle,
and to the young crows when they call.
The LORD God does not take pleasure in the strength of the horse,
nor the fitness of a man,
the LORD's delight is in those who hold the LORD in holy awe;
who wait upon the steadfast love of the LORD.
Praise the LORD
 

Psalm 147:1-11, 20c - A Choral Reading for Four Voices
CHORAL READINGS can add to the drama of worship (and indeed, worship is drama).
Experiment with different voice combinations, and their sequence, to discover fresh ways of hearing the Bible in worship.
Choral reading works better with some readings such as poetry (e.g. psalms, and the prophets) than with others. Experiment!

1  Praise the LORD. 
2,3,4  How good it is to make music to our God; 
1,4  how pleasant and right it is.
1  The LORD is rebuilding Jerusalem, 
3  and gathering up the outcasts of Israel;
1,2  healing the broken-hearted,
1,2,3,4  and binding up their wounds;
2  counting the number of the stars,
3,4  and calling each by their names.
1  Our Lord is great, ever so powerful;
3,4  whose wisdom is beyond measure. 
1,2,3  The LORD comes to the aid of the oppressed;
1,2,3,4  and brings down the wicked. 
4  Respond to the LORD with thanksgiving; 
2,3  make music to our God with the lyre;
1,3  our God, who covers the heavens with clouds,
1,2,3  and prepares rain to fall on the earth,
1,3  who makes grass grow on the mountains;
2,4  who gives grain to the cattle,
1,2,3,4  and to the young crows when they call.
1,4  The LORD God does not take pleasure in the strength of the horse,
2,3  nor the fitness of a man,
1,2,3,4  the LORD's delight is in those who hold the LORD in holy awe;
2,3  who wait upon the steadfast love of the LORD.
1  Praise the LORD.

Here is another way of using the psalm this coming Sunday.
Use portions of Psalm 147:1-11 at various points in worship as the "glue" that holds the liturgy together.

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD   (Ps.147:1-4)
Praise the LORD. 
How good it is to make music to our God; 
how good - even delicious - it is.
The LORD is rebuilding community, 
and gathering up the outcasts of society; 
healing the broken-hearted, 
and binding up their wounds;
counting the number of the stars,
and calling each by their names.        

PRAYER OF ADORATION AND THANKSGIVING     (From Isaiah 40:21-22)
Gracious, creating and sovereign God,
you stretch the heavens like a curtain
and yet break in our history;
you create the ends of the earth
and yet choose to be a part of our lives    Lord Jesus Christ, 
still you "cast out demons" 
and so enable us to live fully, love deeply and serve joyously. 
You meet us at our points of need, 
bringing healing and wholeness to our brokenness and struggle.
Life-giving Holy Spirit, 
in your faithfulness to us you engender deeper faith within us 
and enable us to respond to your grace,
proclaiming the gospel in our living with generosity, grace and love.
Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE     (Ps. 147: 5-6)
(Responsive petition)
You are great, O Lord; ever so powerful; 
your wisdom is beyond measure. 
Come to the aid of the oppressed, O LORD;
and brings the wicked down low.

OFFERTORY   (Ps.147:7-9)
Respond to the LORD with thanksgiving; 
make music to our God with the lyre.
our God, who covers the heavens with clouds, 
and prepares rain to fall on the earth,
who makes grass grow on the mountains;
gives grain to the cattle, 
and to the young crows when they call.

BENEDICTION AND DISMISSAL  (Ps.147:10-11) (Isa. 40:31)
The LORD God does not take pleasure in the strength of the horse,
nor the physical fitness of a human,
the LORD's delight is in those who hold the LORD in holy awe;
who wait upon the steadfast love of the LORD.        
Those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, 
they shall mount up with wings like eagles, 
they shall run and not be weary, 
they shall walk and not faint. 

The grace of Christ rest upon you;
the steadfast love of God, creator and giver of life, embrace you;
and the presence of the Holy Spirit surprise and encourage you, 
this day and all your days. Amen

Take the light of Christ with you... 
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen!

For use in worship, with acknowledgement. © Jeff Shrowder 2000.
A CREATIVE MOMENT - Isaiah 40:21-31 and Psalm 147:1-11
Materials/Preparation:
A number of options are available, but the following ideas may get you started.
(A) Provide every member of the congregation with a sheet of A4/letter sized paper with the psalm reading in the centre of one side (landscape format) of the paper and the Isaiah reading in the centre of the other side. On each page head the space to the left of the reading "What we do", and the space on the right "What God does." Have the lections read in the normal course of worship, but after each reading invite a time of silent reflection in which congregants can read the lection again, underlining the words/phrases indicating what we are to do, and circling the words/phrases telling what God does. (The blank areas of the page offer the opportunity for congregants to jot down insights which arise from their reading and reflection.)
Insights comments could be shared in twos or with the congregation.
(B) In addition to the above, invite members to illustrate aspects of the readings on a newsprint "mural" in imaginative ways.

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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

HYMN SEARCH FOR EPIPHANY 5 - YEAR B
 		   
Be still, my soul, the Lord is on your side TIS 123 AHB 48
Bring many names, beautiful and good TIS 182
Come, O God of all the earth TIS 181
I sing the almighty power of God TIS 119 AHB 40
My song is love unknown TIS 341 AHB 257
O Master, let me walk with thee TIS 601 AHB 522
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord TIS 161 AHB 109
The law of Christ alone can make us free TIS 630 AHB 554

   
Isaiah 40:21-31
    
By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered TIS 617 SA 15
Give me the wings of faith to rise TIS 438 AHB 360
God is love: let heaven adore him TIS 153 AHB 93
God of mercy, God of grace TIS 452 AHB 379
Jesus, lover of my soul TIS 211 AHB 139
Let earth and heaven combine TIS 305 AHB 229
Lord, I come to you TIS 685 AHB
Praise to the living God TIS 102 AHB 7
The God of Abraham praise TIS 125 AHB 53
The voice of God goes out to all the world TIS 282 SA 86
This is my Father's world TIS 149 SA 87
You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord TIS 48  

   
Psalm 147:1-11,20c
    
Hark the glad sound! the Saviour comes TIS 269 AHB 197
How sweet the name of Jesus sounds TIS 223 AHB 158
Praise now the Lord, it's good to raise TIS 91 AHB 41
Sing praise to God who reigns above TIS 110 AHB 27
Sing to God with joy and gladness TIS 92
Sometimes a light surprises TIS 128 AHB 55

   
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
    
I will sing the wondrous story TIS 233 AHB 173
O Spirit of the living God TIS 405 AHB 318
We have a gospel to proclaim TIS 245 AHB 189

   
Mark 1:29-39
    
Dear Father, Lord of humankind TIS 598
I set the Lord before my eyes TIS 673 SA 48
Jesus' hands were kind hands TIS 236 AHB 178
O Christ the healer, we have come TIS 638
Where cross the crowded ways of life TIS 608 AHB 532

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