48A - Sunday 16A — 50A - Sunday 18A
See also my posts from 2014, 2017, 2020, 2023
CALL TO WORSHIP (From Psalm 105:1-5)
Give thanks to the LORD;
call on the name of the LORD.
tell the world what God has done.
Sing to the LORD, and sing praises;
and tell of God’s wonderful works
Glory in God’s holy name
let those who seek the LORD rejoice to the core of their being.
Seek the LORD, and the strength of the LORD;
seek God’s presence continually.
Remember the wonderful works,
the miracles and the judgements of the LORD
Holy is your name, O LORD.
OFFERING
Source of life,
in unity with the Word of life
we bring our diverse gifts.
Breath of life inspire our serving
in the use of these gifts. Amen.
A CREATIVE MOMENT – Genesis 29:15-28 and Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
Probably the simplest and most direct way of symbolising the Genesis reading today is with a large sign which simply carries the message “7 + 7”.
Images or examples of those things with which Jesus likened the Kingdom of Heaven, in today’s Gospel lection, might provide an appropriate focal point for the worship theme.
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.)
Compassionate God,
By your Holy Spirit
draw near to those we have named on our lips
and in the silence of our hearts
and those whose trouble is known only to you;
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord,
who intercedes for us also
and in whose name we pray …
(The Prayers of the People continue)
Looking for contemporary music and song resources?
Try David MacGregor’s Together to Celebrate
| HYMN SUGGESTIONS FOR SUNDAY 17A | |
| Genesis 29:15-28 | |
| Be thou my vision | TIS 547 |
| If we will trust in God to guide us | TIS 554 |
| When love is found and hope comes home | TIS 654 |
| When the light of first creation | TIS 698 |
| Psalm 128 OR Psalm 105:1-11,45b | |
| As man and woman we were made | TIS 645 |
| O give thanks to God | TIS 66 |
| Sing praise to God who reigns above | TIS 110 |
| The God of Abraham praise | TIS 125 |
| Blessed are those whose way is blameless | TIS 75 |
| Romans 8: 26-39 | |
| Blessed Jesus, at your word | TIS 437 |
| Come now, everlasting Spirit | TIS 509 |
| Dear Christians, one and all rejoice | TIS 196 |
| Have faith in God, my heart | TIS 619 |
| Holy Spirit, come confirm us | TIS 413 |
| In suffering love the thread of life | TIS 177 |
| In you is gladness | TIS 200 |
| Jesus, my Redeemer, lives | TIS 366 |
| Like the murmur of the dove’s song | TIS 419 |
| Lord, you have been our dwelling-place | TIS 144 |
| Now is eternal life | TIS 385 |
| O breath of God, breathe on us now | TIS 408 |
| Spirit divine, attend our prayers | TIS 406 |
| Where high the heavenly temple stands | TIS 377 |
| Matthew 13: 31-33, 44-52 | |
| Comfort, confort all my people | TIS 647 |
| God beyond glory | TIS 678 |
| God has spoken to his people, hallelujah | TIS 636 |
| God, your glory we have seen in your Son | TIS 461 |
| Master, speak, thy servant heareth | TIS 597 |
| Seek ye first the Kingdom of God | TIS 745 |
| The great love of God | TIS 164 |