59A - Sunday 27A — 61A - Sunday 29A
See also my post from 2017, 2020, 2023
PRAYER OF ADORATION AND CONFESSION (from Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23)
Praise the LORD!
Give thanks to the LORD, who is good,
whose steadfast love is everlasting.
Who can tell of the might of the LORD;
who can declare all God’s praise?
How rewarding is the life of those alert to justice,
who do what is right all the time.
Remember me, O LORD, when you show your people favour;
help me when you save them;
that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones,
rejoice in the gladness of your nation,
glory in your heritage.
We have sinned in the sinning of our forebears;
we have done wrong, committed crimes.
They made a bull-calf at Horeb; indeed, they worshipped a cast image;
we allow ourselves to be led by a material world.
They exchanged their adoration for something like a grass-eating bull;
we forget in whose image we are made.
They forgot God, their Saviour, who had done great deeds in Egypt,
marvellous works in the land of Ham,
awesome deeds by the Sea of Reeds;
we forget your saving acts in our own lives,
and that in the waters of baptism we have been given new life.
God thought to destroy them–
but Moses, God’s chosen one, stood in the breach before the LORD,
to turn away God’s wrath from destroying them.
We remember our shadow side;
our dark inner part, the part that would destroy us.
We cry out to you, O God,
and you are faithful:
in the life Jesus offers
you have healed our ruptured relationship with you.
Thanks be to God.
A CREATIVE MOMENT – Exodus 32:1-14
(No, I’m not about to suggest making a golden calf . . . What follows has been outlined forconfession but could be appropriated for intercession.)
Materials/Preparation:
(a) Pieces of paper, plain or coloured, about 15cm x 10cm (Suggestion: tear sheets of A4 in to quarters – this may look untidy, but life is not always tidy, and our confession or intercession is about brokenness/untidiness in our lives and in the world);
(b) pencils or fine-line felt-tipped pens;
(c) a kettle type barbecue or some other receptacle suitable to contain a small fire;
(d) as a precaution, it may be appropriate to have a fire-blanket on hand.
Have each member of the congregation receive a piece of paper as they arrive for worship.
During a period of silent confession, the congregation is given the opportunity to write a word or phrase on their piece of paper concerning an aspect of brokenness in personal or community life, fold their fragment of paper, and place it in the “fire-place”.
In silence, the papers are set alight, and burnt to ash.
Conclude simply, perhaps with words such as – “Let our cry rise up to you, O Lord”, to which the people might respond, “Lord hear our cry.” An alternative could be for the congregation to sing the Taize chant “O Lord hear my prayer”.
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.)
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Holy source of all that is,
comforter of the oppressed and grieving,
strengthen those who fear the terror of the night,
or daily life;
rescue the distressed;
be present to those who call on your name,
to those we named on our lips,
and in the silence of our hearts,
those whose concerns are known only to you;
and by your presence
answer them in their day of trouble.
In Jesus’ name….
(The Prayers of the People continue)
Looking for contemporary music and song resources?
Try David MacGregor’s Together to Celebrate
| HYMN SUGGESTIONS FOR SUNDAY 28A | |
| Father in heaven, grant to your children | TIS 465 |
| Glory be to God the Father | TIS 142 |
| Here, Lord, we take the broken bread | TIS 523 |
| Jesus, lover of my soul | TIS 211 |
| My God, your table now is spread | TIS 510 |
| My heart is full of Christ, and longs | TIS 214 |
| The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want. | TIS 10 |
| Exodus 32:1-14 | |
| O for a closer walk with God | TIS 576 |
| There’s a wideness in God’s mercy | TIS 136 |
| Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23 | |
| Blessed are those whose way is blameless | TIS 75 |
| Jesus, remember me | TIS 730 |
| Let us with a gladsome mind | TIS 83 |
| Lord Jesus, think on me | TIS 546 |
| The King of glory comes, the nation rejoices | TIS 279 |
| The king of love my shepherd is | TIS 145 |
| Philippians 4:1-9 | |
| Dona nobis pacem, Domine. I will hear | TIS 713 |
| Fill my whole life, O Lord my God | TIS 596 |
| I greet you, my Redeemer sure, who lives | TIS 198 |
| May the mind of Christ my Saviour | TIS 609 |
| Now thank we all our God | TIS 106 |
| Rejoice, the Lord is king | TIS 216 |
| Safe in the shadow of the Lord | TIS 644 |
| Matthew 22:1-14 | |
| Among us and before us, Lord, you stand | TIS 259 |
| Bread of heaven, on you we feed | TIS 513 |
| Come risen Lord, and deign to be our guest | TIS 524 |
| Here in this place new light is streaming | TIS 474 |
| I come with joy to meet my Lord | TIS 533 |
| My God, your table now is spread | TIS 510 |
| Robe yourself, my soul, in gladness | TIS 503 |
| Shout for joy! the Lord has let us feast | TIS 545 |
| Since the world was young | TIS 544 |
| Wake, awake! for night is flying | TIS 266 |