44A - Sunday 12A — 46A - Sunday 14A
See also my posts from 2014, 2017, 2020, 2023
Psalm 13 (A fresh translation)
How long, O LORD? Will you forget me for ever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I bear the pain in my inner being
and have trouble in my heart daily?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
Look on me and answer me, O LORD, my God;
bring light to my eyes lest I sleep the sleep of death,
lest my enemy should say “I have prevailed over him.”
and rejoice because I have been shaken
But I have trusted in your faithful and inexhaustible love;
my heart will rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD ,
because the Lord God has dealt bountifully with me.
OFFERING
Creating and life-giving God,
you have given your creation into our care.
Bless the labours of our living
and move us to bear the fruits of your Holy Spirit;
in Jesus’ name. Amen
A CREATIVE MOMENT – Genesis 22:1-14 and Matthew 10:40-42
The theme of this portion of Genesis could be symbolised by a small pile of kindling/firewood and a length of rope. Are their stories in your congregation of God “testing and providing” which could be shared? Are there other such stories in the public domain which come to mind and which could be illustrated or headlined on the walls of the worship space?
Perhaps the simplest way to symbolise the Gospel lection this week is to place a jug of water and a cup on the worship table. Righteousness, God acting to put things right, could be expressed in draping a swathe of white cloth from the table onto the floor. (Perhaps anchor it on the table with the jug and cup.)
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.)
Steadfast lover of all,
we name, in word and silence,
our joys, concerns and thanks …
Spirit of holiness
comfort the grieving and lonely,
in their day of sorrow,
encourage the weak
and sustain the helpless
that they too may know a new beginning …
(The Prayers of the People continue)
Looking for contemporary music and song resources?
Try David MacGregor’s Together to Celebrate
| HYMN SUGGESTIONS FOR SUNDAY 13A | |
| Genesis 22:1-14 | |
| God moves in a mysterious way | TIS 126 |
| The God of Abraham praise | TIS 125 |
| Psalm 13 | |
| Be still, my soul, the Lord is on your side | TIS 123 |
| By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered | TIS 617 |
| Put all your trust in God | TIS 555 |
| Romans 6:12-23 | |
| Come, thou long-expected Jesus | TIS 272 |
| Holy Spirit, ever dwelling | TIS 410 |
| Let earth and heaven combine | TIS 305 |
| Let him to whom we now belong | TIS 563 |
| Make me a captive, Lord | TIS 604 |
| O for a heart to praise my God | TIS 568 |
| Take my life, and let it be | TIS 599 |
| You servants of God, your Master proclaim | TIS 215 |
| Matthew 10:40-42 | |
| All go to God when they are sorely place | TIS 240 |
| All the sleepy should have a place to sleep | TIS 697 |
| Brother, sister, let me serve you | TIS 650 |
| Jesus, my Lord, let me be near you | TIS 656 |
| Lord Jesus, we belong to you | TIS 686 |
| There’s a spirit in the air | TIS 414 |
| Where cross the crowded ways of life | TIS 608 |