GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE (From Psalm 84)
How beautiful is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!
My inmost being longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my body sing
for joy to the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young, at your altars,
O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.
How blest are those who live in your house,
who can praise you continually.
PSALM 84
How beautiful is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!
My inmost being longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my body sing
for joy to the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young, at your altars,
O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.
How blest are those who live in your house,
who can praise you continually.
How blest are those whose strength is in you,
with pilgrim ways in their hearts.
Passing through the valley of Bacca, they make it an oasis;
the early rains will also clothe it with blessings.
They will go from strength to strength,
appearing before God in Zion.
LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer;
listen, O God of Jacob. (Selah)
Look favourably on our shield, O God;
and look upon the face of your anointed.
Far better is a day in your courtyard
than a thousand anywhere else.
I choose lying at the threshold of the house of God
rather than dwelling in the tents of the wicked.
For Sun and Shield is the LORD God
who gives grace and glory;
who does not withhold good from those who walk in integrity.
O LORD God of hosts,
how blest are those who trust in you
A CREATIVE MOMENT - (a) Ephesians 6:10-20 or (b) John 6:56-69
(a) For those who might want to focus on this reading, bear in mind that in world of the writer of the Letter to the Ephesians "hand-to-hand" combat was just that. Images of foot-soldiers up to medieval times might be useful in reinforcing the vulnerability and personal/individual nature of such comba which is at the heart of that writer's comments about the vulnerability of the Christian life. Maybe having on hand some cardboard "replicas" of the armour mentioned might be helpful.
(b) Arrange some rocks/boulders/stones in the worship space to symbolise both the hard things Jesus is saying, and the hard way of the journey of those who follow him. Alternatively, remembering that Hebrew and Greek each use a common word for breath/wind/spirit, engage in some activities which reflect this, e.g. have some-one play a wind instrument - perhaps you have a pipe-organ in your place of worship - or use a recording; set up a wind-chime; see also Gen 2:7 and Ezekiel 37:10.
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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 SUNDAY 21 - YEAR B |
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| God of mercy, God of grace | TIS 452 | AHB 379 |
| I'm not ashamed to own my Lord | TIS 562 | AHB 470 |
| Our God, be gracious unto us | TIS 37 | AHB 117 |
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| 1 Kings 8: 22-30,41-43 |
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| Christ is our corner-stone | TIS 433 | AHB 344 |
| Christ is made the sure foundation | TIS 432 | AHB 343 |
| Glorious things of you are spoken | TIS 446 | AHB 374 |
| God of many names | TIS 180 | |
| Immortal, invisible, God only wise | TIS 143 | AHB 80 |
| In Christ there is no east or west | TIS 459 | AHB 391 |
| Let all the world in every corner sing | TIS 185 | AHB 13 |
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| Psalm 84 |
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| How lovely is your dwelling | TIS 44 | AHB 347 |
| Lord you have been our dwelling place | TIS 144 | AHB 76 |
| Love Divine all loves excelling | TIS 217 | AHB 148 |
| O God of Bethel, by whose hand | TIS 564 | AHB 49 |
| O love of God, how strong and true | TIS 139 | AHB 75 |
| Who would true valour see | TIS 561 | AHB 467 |
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| Ephesians 6:10-20 |
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| Be thou my vision | TIS 547 | AHB 455 |
| Christ is the world's redeemer | TIS 192 | AHB 123 |
| Come, Spirit of God, holy Lord | TIS 399 | |
| Give thanks with a grateful heart | TIS 717 | |
| God of all power and truth and grace | TIS 567 | AHB 477 |
| God of grace and God of glory | TIS 611 | AHB 543 |
| I bind unto myself today | TIS 478 | AHB 454 |
| Make me a channel of your peace | TIS 607 | SA 66 |
| My heart is full of Christ, and longs | TIS 214 | AHB 143 |
| This day God gives me | TIS 642 | AHB 570 |
| What a friend we have in Jesus | TIS 590 | AHB 165 |
| When he comes back, when he comes back | TIS 280 | SA 92 |
| Who would true valour see | TIS 561 | AHB 467 |
| With joy, we meditate the grace | TIS 206 | AHB 134 |
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| John 6:56-69 |
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| Be known to us in breaking bread | TIS 514 | AHB 435 |
| Be thou my vision | TIS 547 | AHB 455 |
| Blessed Jesus, at your word | TIS 437 | AHB 352 |
| Break now the bread of life | TIS 429 | AHB 334 |
| Christ is the heavenly food that gives | TIS 522 | AHB 445 |
| Eternal light, shine in my heart | TIS 548 | |
| Feed us now, Bread of Life | TIS 538 | |
| I need you, Lord, for I have seen | TIS 625 | |
| Jesus calls us here to meet him | TIS 477 | |
| Jesus invites his saints | TIS 505 | AHB 426 |
| Lord, your almighty word | TIS 447 | AHB 61 |
| Lord, your word abiding | TIS 427 | AHB 333 |
| O let the Son of God enfold you | TIS 655 | |
| Thanks to God, whose Word was spoken | TIS 431 | AHB 339 |
| Your words to me are life and health | TIS 430 | AHB 337 |