45A - Sunday 13A — 47A - Sunday 15A
See also my posts from 2014, 2017, 2020, 2023
We Gather to Worship God (from Psalm 45:10,-11, 17)
Hear, O princess, and look and listen;
and forget your people and your father’s house
For the king desires your beauty;
indeed he is your lord, so pay homage to him.
I will make your name to be celebrated through every generation;
and the peoples will praise you from age to age.
Psalm45:10-17
Hear, O princess, and look and listen;
and forget your people and your father’s house
For the king desires your beauty;
indeed he is your lord, so pay homage to him.
A princess of Tyre will bring you a gift;
the wealthiest people will court your favour.
The princess is made ready in her chamber
her garment is made from finely worked gold
In many-coloured robes she is brought to the king
the young women, her companions , are with her.
They are led with joy and gladness,
and enter the palace of the king.
Your sons shall replace your fathers;
you will make them princes over the whole land
I will make your name to be celebrated through every generation;
and the peoples will praise you from age to age.
OFFERING
Tender and generous God,
as the rain falls on thirsty soil
so your grace comes to us in generous abundance.
As the fruits of the earth nourish our bodies
so your love nourishes our lives.
Bless the offering of these gifts
and our daily living
to serve you in serving others. Amen.
A CREATIVE MOMENT – Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 and Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
A wife is sought for Isaac. Symbols for the worship space might include a cup of water; a bucket and rope; two lengths of rope joined in a knot.
The first part of the Gospel lection could be summed up in the words, “Damned if you do, and damned if you don’t”. Is this the burden of The Way, the cost of discipleship? Illustrate the theme with posters or projected images on a wall of the worship space, of people carrying large loads. (The congregation could be encouraged, by advance notice, to contribute any appropriate illustrations they may have.)
The illustrations might provide a “road-map” for the Prayers of the People as well as a focus point for the worship theme.
A length of grey cloth could be draped from the worship table onto the floor, symbolising the way in which so much of life is not clear-cut (“black and white”).
A bundle wrapped up in a large square of cloth and knotted, with a stick through the knot, could be placed on the floor with the cloth could also symbolise the burdens we carry through life.
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.)
By your Holy Spirit, O God,
warm the lives of those we name
on our lips and in our silence …
celebrate with those open to your abundance;
bring relief
to those burdened by oppression or grief
those whose troubles are known only to you;
and encouragement to those
for whom the light of life grows dim …
(The Prayers of the People continue)
Looking for contemporary music and song resources?
Try David MacGregor’s Together to Celebrate
| HYMN SUGGESTIONS FOR SUNDAY 14A | |
| Genesis 24:34-38,42-49,58-69 | |
| As man and woman we were made | TIS 645 |
| Begin, my tongue, some heavenly theme | TIS 116 |
| When the light of first creation | TIS 698 |
| Song of Songs 2:8-13 OR Psalm 45:10-17 | |
| Fairest Lord Jesus | TIS 203 |
| Jesus lover of my soul | TIS 211 |
| Lord Jesus our bright Morning Star | TIS 199 |
| Romans 7:15-25a | |
| Father of heaven, whose love profound | TIS 131 |
| The strfe is past, the battle done | TIS 367 |
| Matthew 11: 16-19,25-30 | |
| Come, thou long-expected Jesus | TIS 272 |
| Comfort, comfort all my people | TIS 647 |
| Dear Lord, for all in pain we pray | TIS 612 |
| Father in heaven, grant to your children | TIS 465 |
| Father of mercy, God of consolation | TIS 472 |
| Forth in your name, O Lord, I go | TIS 571 |
| God has spoken to his people, hallelujah | TIS 636 |
| Have faith in God, my heart | TIS 619 |
| I danced in the morning | TIS 242 |
| I heard the voice of Jesus say | TIS 585 |
| Jesus Christ is waiting | TIS 665 |
| Let him to whom we now belong | TIS 563 |
| O God of love, whose heart is ever yearning | TIS 614 |
| O let the Son of God enfold you | TIS 655 |
| O my Saviour, lifted | TIS 600 |
| Praise the God who changes places | TIS 178 |
| Sing of the Lord’s goodness, | TIS 183 |