15B - Epiphany 7B — 17B - Transfiguration
Psalm 103:1-13, 22
Bless the LORD, my soul,
and all my inmost parts bless God’s holy name
Bless the LORD my soul,
and do not forget all the benefits of God’s doing:
forgiving all your wrongdoing;
healing all your diseases;
redeeming your life from the Pit;
crowning you with lovingkindness and mercy;
filling your eternity with goodness
– so that your youth is restored, as an eagle’s.
The LORD, who works to put things right,
with justice for all the oppressed,
whose way was made known to Moses,
and God’s deeds to the children of Israel.
The LORD, compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, and always faithful,
whose displeasure is not long-lasting,
whose anger is not for ever;
does not do to us according to our sins
nor deal with us according to what we have done wrong.
Indeed, as high as the heavenly canopy is above the earth,
so is God’s lovingkindness for those who hold the LORD in holy awe.
As distant as the sunrise is from the sunset
the LORD removes our rebellion from us.
As a father is compassionate to his children
so the LORD is compassionate to those who revere the LORD God.
Bless the LORD, all God’s works, in every part of God’s realm.
Bless the LORD, my soul.
CALL TO WORSHIP AND PRAYER OF INVOCATION (from Psalm 103:1-5)
Bless the LORD, my soul,
and all my inmost parts bless God’s holy name
Bless the LORD my soul,
do not forget all the benefits of God’s doing:
We bless you, O LORD,
forgiving our wrongdoing;
healing us of all that causes unease in our lives;
rescuing our lives from death;
crowning us with your lovingkindness and mercy;
filling our eternity with goodness
so that we have a sense of being young again; strong as an eagle.
LORD God, you who work to put things right,
with justice for all the oppressed;
you who made your way known to Moses,
and your deeds to the children of Israel;
gather us by your Spirit,
enliven us by your Word,
that our worship may be to your glory. Amen
CONFESSION (from Psalm 103:8-10)
God of mercy and grace,
slow to anger, always faithful:
our lives are not as you would have them be.
Our ways have not been your ways;
our words have not been your words;
our thoughts have not been your thoughts.
Deal with us,
not according to what we have done wrong,
but according to your lovingkindness.
By your Spirit, direct our lives
so that we might walk more closely
in the way of Jesus Christ our Lord,
in whose name we pray. Amen.
A WORD OF ASSURANCE (Psalm 103:11-12)
Indeed, as high as the heavenly canopy is above the earth,
so is God’s lovingkindness for those who hold the LORD in holy awe.
As distant as the sunrise is from the sunset
the LORD removes our rebellion from us.
Bless the LORD, O my soul.
OFFERING
Giver of all good gifts,
we offer these symbols of our daily living
to the glory of your name:
grant us vision and courage,
that in the light of your light,
we may devote ourselves to your way,
being a light to others,
for the sake of the Light of the world.
Amen.
A CREATIVE MOMENT
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.)
Source of life,
draw near to the marginalised and unwanted,
in the compassion of others.
Word of life,
draw near to the neglected and abandoned,
in the hospitality of others
Breath of life,
draw near to the unloved and unlovable,
by the inclusive love of others.
Source of life,
Word of life,
Breath of life
draw near to us and strengthen us
that in compassion, hospitality and love
we show ourselves to be a letter of Christ,
to be known and read by all;
written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God…
(The prayers continue…)
Looking for contemporary music and song resources?
Try David MacGregor’s Together to Celebrate
| HYMN SUGGESTIONS FOR EPIPHANY 8 | |
| Fairest Lord Jesus, Lord of all creation | TIS 203 |
| Praise to the living God | TIS 102 |
| Rejoice, the Lord is King | TIS 216 |
| Sometimes a light surprises | TIS 128 |
| What shall I do my God to love | TIS 122 |
| Psalm 103:1-13, 22 | |
| Bless the Lord, my soul | TIS 706 |
| Father, whose everlasting love | TIS 213 |
| O bless the Lord, my soul | TIS 64 |
| O worship the King all-glorious above | TIS 133 |
| Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, | TIS 111 |
| Praise, my soul, the King of heaven | TIS 134 |
| The Lord Jehovah reigns | TIS 117 |
| There’s a wideness in God’s mercy | TIS 136 |
| Mark 2:13-22 | |
| Come as you are, that’s how I want you | TIS 693 |
| O Jesus Christ, may grateful hymns be rising | TIS 620 |
| Refresh my heart, Lord | TIS 744 |
| Take my life, and let it be | TIS 599 |