12A – Epiphany 4A

11A - Epiphany 3A13A - Epiphany 5A
 
See also my posts from 2014, 2017, 2020, 2023

 
PSALM 15 (A translation for today)
O LORD, who can lodge in your tent?
Who can settle on your holy hill?
The one who walks honestly, doing the right thing,
who speaks the truth in their heart;
the one who has not tripped over their tongue,
who does no evil to their friends
nor heap scorn upon their neighbour;
who deplores the ungodly,
but honours those who hold the LORD in holy awe.
This person has vowed not to do wrong, and will not waver,
neither lending money with interest,
nor taking a bribe from the innocent.
The one doing these things will never be shaken.

For use in worship, with acknowledgement. © Jeff Shrowder 2002.

CONFESSION (using Psalm 15 – a translation for today)
O LORD, who can lodge in your tent?
Who can settle on your holy hill?
The one who walks honestly, doing the right thing,
who speaks the truth from their heart;
For the times we have not walked in your way,
done the right thing, or spoken the truth;
we lament what has gone wrong.

Who has not tripped over their tongue,
who does no evil to their friends
nor heap scorn upon their neighbour;
For the times we have let our tongues get the better of us,
abused a relationship, or turned from one in need;
we lament what has gone wrong.

Who deplores the ungodly,
but honours those who hold the LORD in holy awe;
who stands by their word not to do the wrong thing,
and will not waver,
neither lending money with interest,
nor taking a bribe from the innocent.
Those who do these things will never be shaken.

For the times we have oppressed, or wavered,
or been shaken from your way;
we lament what has gone wrong.

Reveal in us what is good and to be honoured.
Nourish us
with your word … your love … your Spirit …
for our life journey
in following the way of Jesus. Amen

OFFERING
Holy source of all that is,
this is the offering
of our time, talent, treasure,
the offering of ourselves
that, in following Jesus,
we walk justly, kindly and humbly.
Amen.

For use in worship, with acknowledgement. © Jeff Shrowder 2000, 2014.



A CREATIVE MOMENT – Matthew 5:1-12
Suggested symbols for the worship centre:
a bowl of salty water: a loaf of bread; a small jug of oil; a small olive branch. Any other symbols appropriate to your context.
Place these symbols on a hessian cloth draped from the worship centre table onto the floor.


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.)

Holy source of life,
whose foolishness is wiser
than all human wisdom,
sustain, encourage, comfort
those for whom we pray in word and silence …
         (A time of silence is kept)
And by the urging of your holy and mysterious Spirit
enable us to walk justly, kindly and humbly
in following Jesus …
         (The Prayers of the People continue)


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 SUGGESTIONS FOR EPIPHANY 4 – YEAR A
All hail the power of Jesus’ name TIS 224
Jesus, where’er thy people meet TIS 445
O Master, let me walk with thee TIS 601
Son of God, eternal Saviour TIS 606
Micah 6:1-8
All who love and serve your city TIS 634
Father all-loving and ruling in majesty TIS 160
Here, gracious Lord, we see you face to face TIS 516
Lord, we are blind, the world of sight TIS 633
What does the Lord require of you? TIS 751
What does the Lord require TIS 618
What shall we offer our good Lord TIS 439
Psalm 15
All the sleepy should have a place to sleep TIS 697
O Lord, who shall abide in your tabernacle? TIS 5
The law of Christ alone can make us free TIS 630
Where cross the crowded ways of life TIS 608
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Be thou my vision TIS 547
Christ is the world’s redeemer TIS 192
Come, Holy Spirit come! TIS 422
Give thanks with a grateful heart TIS 717
God has spoken by his people TIS 636
Here hangs a man discarded TIS 356
In the cross of Christ I glory TIS 349
My heart and voice I raise TIS 225
Nature with open volume stands TIS 343
O sacred head sore wounded TIS 339
Praise with joy the world’s creator TIS 179
When I survey the wondrous cross TIS 342
When pain and terror strike by chance TIS 262
You are my hiding place TIS 754
Matthew 5:1-12
All the sleepy should have a place to sleep TIS 697
Blest are the pure in heart TIS 448
Comfort, comfort, all my people TIS 647
Forgive our sins as we forgive TIS 635
Give thanks with a grateful heart TIS 717
God! as with silent hearts we bring to mind TIS 680
Help us, O Lord, to learn TIS 428
Here in this place new light is streaming TIS 474
I will hear what the Lord has to say TIS 713
If we have died to ourselves in Jesus TIS 475
Lord Jesus, think on me TIS 546
Lord of creation, to you be all praise TIS 626
Lord of the living, in your name assembled TIS 637
Lord, your word abiding TIS 427
Not the powerful, not the privileged TIS 288
O bride of Christ, rejoice TIS 336
O day of God, draw near TIS 616
O for a heart to praise my God TIS 568
Seek ye first the kingdom of God TIS 745
Sing of the Lord’s goodness TIS 183
Sometimes a healing word is comfort TIS 692

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