13A - Epiphany 5A — 15A - Epiphany 7A
See also my posts from 2014, 2017, 2020, 2023
PSALM 119:1-8
How fortunate are those whose way is blameless,
those walking in the law of the LORD;
who keep God’s covenant terms;
who search for the LORD with their whole heart;
who do no wrong
but walk in the ways of the LORD.
You commanded your standards be carefully followed.
O that my ways were always your ways,
then I would not be shamed
if I keep my eye on your commands.
I will thank you with an honest heart
as I learn your just statutes.
I will keep your laws:
do not utterly abandon me.
OFFERING
Holy and mysterious God,
as each member contributes
to life of the whole body,
so we offer our lives and our gifts
in the unity and diversity of that body;
in Jesus’ name. Amen
A CREATIVE MOMENT Matthew 5:21-37
Suggested symbols for the worship centre:
Copies of several Federal or State pieces of legislation, a bible open at, say, Exodus 20. 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
whom we name God,
by your gentle Spirit of love
lift up the broken-hearted,
comfort the grieving,
encourage those overwhelmed by circumstance,
And by that same Spirit
enable us
to live beyond the letter of the law,
to live not just Spirit of the law,
but to live the risky way of Jesus
whom we follow …
(The Prayers of the People continue)
Looking for contemporary music and song resources?
Try David MacGregor’s Together to Celebrate
There is a dearth of hymns specifically written relating to this week’s gosepel lection.
That’s just the way it is …
| HYMN SUGGESTIONS FOR EPIPHANY 6 | |
| Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart | TIS 547 |
| Dear Father, Lord of humnakind | TIS 598 |
| In the cross of Christ I glory | TIS 349 |
| Lord Jesus, think on me | TIS 546 |
| O Master, let me walk with thee | TIS 601 |
| Praise to the Lord, the Almighty… | TIS 28 |
| Thanks to God whose word was spoken | TIS 431 |
| The of Christ law alone can make us free | TIS 630 |
| DEUTERONOMY 30:15-20 | |
| Praise to the living God | TIS 102 |
| PSALM 119:1-8 | |
| Blessed are those whose way is blameless | TIS 75 |
| King of glory, king of peace | TIS 201 |
| 1 CORINTHIANS 3:1-9 | |
| God, who stretched the spangled heavens | TIS 163 |
| MATTHEW 5:21-37 | |
| Fold to your heart your sister and your brother | TIS 587 |
| May the mind of Christ my Saviour | TIS 609 |
| O bless the Lord, my soul | TIS 64 |
| O love, how deep, how broad, how high | TIS 194 |