Sunday 23 - Year B
PSALM 125 (A version for today)
Trust
in the LORD, and be like a mountain;
firm, unshakable,
and standing for ever.
Jerusalem is surrounded by
mountains;
just so, the LORD surrounds us, now and for
ever.
Surely injustice will not continue to rule
over
the hopes of those working to put things right;
otherwise
they too will become unjust.
Do good, O LORD, to the
good,
and to those trying to walk a straight path in
their living.
But may the LORD carry off those who
lives take winding, devious ways;
together with those
doing evil.
Peace be on God's people.
THE GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE (from Psalm 125)
Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
they
are like Mount Zion which is immovable, abiding for ever.
Jerusalem has mountains surrounding it,
and the LORD
God surrounds God's people even now, and for all time.
God of the unexpected moment,
you have gathered us by your
Spirit
to serve us and renew us, and surround us.
Break
in on our world like hearing to the deaf,
sight
to the blind, speech to the dumb;
come in your
unexpected hour.
Bring form to our chaos, light to our
darkness,
and life to our hearts.
Fill us with
your expectant Spirit:
and so transform our
gathering to your glory,
and perfect our worship
for your praise. Amen
PRAYERS OF ADORATION (from Proverbs 22)
AND CONFESSION (from Psalm 125)
Gracious
God,
creator and giver of life to all, both rich and poor;
we
worship you, LORD God.
Your name is beyond great
riches,
By your generosity we are blessed;
we
worship you, LORD God.
With manna you sustained your
people in the wilderness
and with the bread of life you
feed us
in the midst of the adversity and
injustice of this world
Your spirit of
compassion is beyond silver and gold;
we worship you,
LORD God.
You plead the cause of the poor and
oppressed,
give sight to the blind, hearing to the
deaf,
and a song of joy to the speechless.
You create us and accept us as we are, O God.
For those
times when we have failed
in our relationship with you
and with each other,
LORD have mercy.
For
those times when we have passively accepted
injustice done to
others,
LORD have mercy.
For those times
when we have enjoyed your creativity around us,
but have been
afraid to ask for our own healing,
grant us your peace.
Amen.
For use in worship, with acknowledgement. © Jeff Shrowder 2000.
A CREATIVE MOMENT - James 2:1-10, 14-17
Celebrate the diversity of the outreach, welfare and justice ministries of your denomination or congregation. Around the walls of your worship space arrange pictures/posters depicting some of these. At a focal point in the worship space place a range symbols, e.g. a cup of water, a lighted candle, a loaf of bread. If you can, include a length of barbed wire to symbolise all who are oppressed.
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 23 - YEAR B
Come,thou long expected Jesus
TIS 272
AHB 200
God is love, let heaven adore him
TIS 153
AHB 93
God is my strong salvation
TIS 15
AHB 493
God of all power and truth and grace
TIS 567
AHB 477
I'll praise my maker while I've breath,
TIS 90
AHB 44
Jesus, lover of my soul
TIS 211
AHB 139
Lord we are blind
TIS 633
AHB 563
O for a thousand tongues to sing.
TIS 210
AHB 141
Sent forth by God's blessing,
TIS 531
AHB S76
Your words to me are life and health
TIS 430
AHB 337
Proverbs 22:1-2,8-9
God who stretched the spangled heavens
TIS 163
AHB 112
Happy are they who walk in God's wise ways
TIS 1
SA 43
Kneels at the feet of his friends
TIS 640
AHB 561
Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendour
TIS 520
AHB 441
Made in God's likeness, moved by the Spirit
TIS 671
SA 65
Where cross the crowded ways of life
TIS 608
AHB 532
Psalm 125
Glorious things of you are spoken
TIS 446
AHB 374
God is love; let heaven adore him
TIS 153
AHB 53
Morning has broken
TIS 156
AHB 91
Our God, our help in ages past
TIS 47
AHB 46
Safe in the shadow of the Lord
TIS 644
SA 74
James 2:1-10,14-18
All the sleepy should have a place to sleep
TIS 697
Father, all-loving, and ruling in majesty
TIS 160
AHB 104
Fold to your heart your sister and your brother
TIS 587
AHB 503
Forth in thy name, O Lord, I go
TIS 571
AHB 480
I the Lord of sea and sky
TIS 658
In Christ there is no east or west
TIS 459
AHB 391
Kneels at the feet of his friends
TIS 640
AHB 561
O thou who camest from above
TIS 572
AHB 486
Praise and thanksgiving Father we offer
TIS 627
AHB 569
Son of God, eternal Saviour
TIS 606
AHB 529
Where cross the crowded ways of life
TIS 608
AHB 532
Mark 7:24-37
Father of mercy, God of consolation
TIS 472
SA 33
God of mercy, God of grace
TIS 452
AHB 379
If we will trust in God to guide us
TIS 554
AHB 459
O bless the Lord, my soul
TIS 64
AHB 63
O Christ the healer, we have come
TIS 638
O for a thousand tongues to sing
TIS 2l0
AHB 141
What God ordains is always good
TIS 109
Where there is charity and love
TIS 434
AHB 591
You satisfy the hungry heart
TIS 539