65A - Sunday 32A — 67A - Reign of Christ
See also my post from 2017, 2020, 2023
Psalm 123
I look to you enthroned in heaven.
Just as servants look to the hand of their master,
as a servant girl looks to the hand of her mistress,
so we look to the LORD our God,
until the LORD will be gracious to us.
Be gracious to us, O God, be gracious,
because we have had more than enough contempt:
we are choked
with the ridicule of the flippant,
with the contempt of the arrogant.
A Prayer of Petition (based on Psalm 123)
I look to you, LORD God, enthroned in heaven;
and yet everpresent in our lives.
Just as servants look to the hand of their master,
as a servant girl looks to the hand of her mistress,
so we look to the LORD our God
until the LORD will be gracious to us.
We look to you, O God,
dependent upon you for all the we have
and all that we can be.
Be gracious to us, O God, be gracious,
because we have had more than enough contempt;
Remember your covenant, LORD God;
we cannot change the ways of the world,
but strengthen us to put our trust in you
when it is hard to stomach that disregard.
We are choked
with the ridicule of the flippant,
with the contempt of the arrogant;
Fill us, Lord God, with your love;
breathe your Spirit into into our living,
so that others may know that you are God
A CREATIVE MOMENT – Matthew 25:14-30
Materials/Preparation:
Create a “banner” using coloured paper or cloth, in style illustrated. This could be done before-hand or created during the reading of the text in worship.
The divisions across the bottom represent the talents distributed by the master to his stewards. One was buried in the ground (brown), the other seven were put to work in the light (yellow). After the master’s return, there is darkness for one steward, but for the others there are added responsibility, risk and opportunity – as well as sharing in the master’s joy (“rainbow” time).
Members of the congregation could be invited to reflect on the talents they use in expressing their faith in daily life. These could be expressed in a word or phrase on “sticky notes” which they then add to the “rainbow” portion of the banner.
Some might also feel moved to reflect on talents they have not shared. As an act of confession they might want to express those on “sticky notes” which they then place on the black part of the banner. (This would depend on the congregational setting, and how “safe” folk feel about that kind of public confession.
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.)
God of all grace,
in you is hope and life.
In that hope we remember
those we have named on our lips
and in the silence of our hearts…..
Help us sit quietly with the weary and grieving …
return to our memory those whom we have forgotten …
and In your steadfast love
be present to those who have no-one …
(The Prayers of the People continue)
Looking for contemporary music and song resources?
Try David MacGregor’s Together to Celebrate
| HYMN SUGGESTIONS FOR SUNDAY 33 – YEAR A | |
| Come,thou long expected Jesus | TIS 272 |
| God is love, let heaven adore him | TIS 153 |
| Lo! he comes with clouds descending | TIS 273 |
| O Jesus Christ, may grateful hymns be rising | TIS 620 |
| O day of God, draw nigh | TIS 616 |
| Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King.. | TIS 111 |
| Rejoice, the Lord is King | TIS 216 |
| Son of God, eternal Saviour | TIS 606 |
| Thanks to God whose word was spoken | TIS 431 |
| Judges 4:1-7 | |
| Beauty for brokenness | TIS 690 |
| God gives us a future | TIS 687 |
| God has spoken by his prophets | TIS l58 |
| God moves in a mysterious way | TIS 126 |
| Inspired by love and anger | TIS 674 |
| Woman in the night | TIS 661 |
| Psalm 123 | |
| God, you are clothed with light | TIS 193 |
| Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon us | TIS 729 |
| We praise, we worship you, O God | TIS 98 |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 | |
| All praise to our redeeming Lord | TIS 442 |
| Be thou my vision | TIS 547 |
| God sends us his Spirit to befriend and | TIS 412 |
| I know that my Redeemer lives | TIS 376 |
| Let us talents and tongues employ | TIS 537 |
| No weight of gold or silver | TIS 249 |
| This day God gives me strength of high heaven | TIS 642 |
| Matthew 25: 14-30 | |
| Christ’s is the world in which we move | TIS 677 |
| Come to us, creative Spirit | TIS 652 |
| God of grace and God of glory | TIS 611 |
| God who stretched the spangled heavens | TIS 163 |
| O day of God, draw near | TIS 616 |
| Praise and thanksgiving, Father, we offer | TIS 627 |