64A - Sunday 31A — 66A - Sunday 33A
See also my post from 2017, 2020, 2023
PRAYER OF INVOCATION (from Psalm 78:1-7)
Lord God,
you call us to listen to your teaching,
to prick up our ears to your word;
for your story is of old,
yours are parables of things past;
the stuff of our tradition;
what we have heard and known about,
what we have learnt from our ancestors.
These are stories of your activity in our history,
stories not to be hidden from our children or our grandchildren
that they too might put their hope in you,
remember your deeds,
and keep your commandments.
We gather in your presence,
to hear your story,
and praise you for your wonderful works. Amen
PSALM 78:1-7
From of old you have called your people to listen to your teaching
to turn our ear to the words of your mouth;
to hear your story in parable and riddle,
to ponder the mystery of your word.
What we have heard and known about,
we have learnt from our ancestors;
stories of your activity in our history
– deeds of miracle and victory.
You set out the undertakings you required of your people,
and established a body of teaching in Israel.
You required our ancestors to make all this known to their children,
so that the next generation might know,
the children yet to be born,
that they might tell their children
who would also put their hope in you,
remember your glorious deeds and miracles
and keep your commandments.
A CREATIVE MOMENT – Matthew 25:1-13
Materials/Preparation:
(a)Ten oil lamps would be very nice, but as an alternative –
(b) Five new candles (small votive candles would be appropriate);
(c) another five of the same sort of candle – but well used;
(d) shallow trays or dishes of sand set out on or near the communion table;Have several members of the congregation (include children) light all of the candles at the beginning of worship. With good judgement, five used candles will burn themselves out before the conclusion of worship.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
(A prayer to gather the spoken and silent concerns/joys/thanks expressed by the congregation and lead into a more structured Intercession with connection to the lections for the day. Sometimes this prayer will borrow lightly from other sources e.g. Uniting in Worship 2 or publications of the Iona Community. )
Tender and loving God,
comfort of the sorrowing,
strength of the suffering,
hear the groaning of the distressed;
reassure them by your hand
and strengthen them by your arm.
By your faithfulness
sustain the weeping, the weak and the lonely;
and those who lift up their voice in joy and thanks.
In your steadfast love
gather up those whom we name on our lips
and in the silence of our hearts,
and those whose troubles are known only to you;
in Jesus’ 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 32 – YEAR A | |
| Christ is the world’s light | TIS 246 |
| Jesus the Lord said ‘I am the bread’ | TIS 239 |
| Now is eternal life | TIS 385 |
| Rejoice, the Lord is King | TIS 216 |
| Joshua 24:1-3a,14-25 | |
| Stand up and bless the Lord | TIS 449 |
| Happy the home that welcomes you, Lord Jesus | TIS 581 |
| God gives us a future | TIS 687 |
| Psalm 78:1-7 | |
| Give ear, O my people, to my teaching | TIS 41 |
| Bring many names, beautiful and good | TIS 182 |
| The advent of our God | TIS 271 |
| 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 | |
| He is risen, he is risen | |
| Lo! he comes with clouds descending | TIS 273 |
| Love divine all loves excelling | TIS 217 |
| Now is eternal life | TIS 385 |
| Rejoice, the Lord is king | TIS 216 |
| Your coming, Lord, to earth in Bethlehem | TIS 285 |
| Matthew 25:1-13 | |
| Christ’s is the world in which we move | TIS 677 |
| Comfort, comfort all my people | TIS 647 |
| For all the saints | TIS 455 |
| Robe yourself, my soul, in gladness | TIS 503 |
| Wake, awake, for night is flying | TIS 266 |
| When he comes back | TIS 280 |