48B - Sunday 16B — 50B - Sunday 18B
See also my post from 2012, 2018, 2021, 2024
Psalm 14
In their hearts fools say, “There is no God”;
they act dishonestly, doing unspeakable deeds.
There is no one doing good.
The LORD looks to all humanity to see if any shows insight,
to see if any seek God.
But there is disregard for the holy;
and corruption is their way of life.
There is no one doing good, no one.
“Have they no understanding?
They act unjustly and are devouring my people:
they satisfy only themselves, but do not call on the LORD.”
A time will come when they shall tremble in great fear,
for God is with the generation of the righteous.
The fool seeks to confound the hopes of the poor,
but their refuge is the LORD.
Who is there in Zion to bring deliverance to Israel?
When the LORD has restored the fortunes of Israel
Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will be glad.
PSALM 14(A Version for Today)
Fools say, “There is no God”,
act dishonestly, and do unspeakable deeds.
No one is doing good.
The LORD of heaven looks upon all humanity
to see if any exercise wisdom,
to see if any seek God.
Everyone has gone astray, all of the community is corrupt;
no one is doing good – absolutely no one!
Don’t they understand?
By their unjust acts they satisfy themselves;
they devour people as bread,
and they do not call on the LORD.
But they will be in terror,
because God is among those who live godly lives.
The fool will confound the hopes of the poor,
but the LORD is their refuge.
Who is there in Zion to bring deliverance to Israel?
When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people
Jacob will rejoice and Israel will be glad!
PRAYER OF CONFESSION(From Psalm 14)
God of mercy and truth,
we have strayed from you in thought, word and deed…
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have disregarded what is holy
trying to satisfy ourselves
by our own means…
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves:
and feel helpless against those
who seek to frustrate the hopes of the poor…
O God, who is a God like you,
a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger,
and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness?
Be our refuge and our deliverance;
by the presence and power of your Spirit,
change us so that we may delight in your desire to do justice;
in Jesus name. Amen
OFFERING
Creating and generous God
in gratitude for your faithfulness and generosity
we bring our praise and our thanks;
our lives and symbols of our daily living.
By your Holy Spirit enable us
to be responsible stewards and witnesses
in this place;
in Jesus’ name. Amen.
A CREATIVE MOMENT – John 6:1-21
(a) Have a variety of breads and grains displayed in the worship space. (Perhaps a large picture of various breads if there is limited availability of such breads). The displayed breads might be shared (toasted?) as part of morning tea after worship.
(b) If worship today includes Holy Communion, this would be an occasion to break and share a multigrain loaf.
(c) Have communion served “in the pews”, i.e. with the congregation seated (This will be common practice for some Reformed congregations).
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 borrows lightly from other sources e.g. Uniting in Worship 2 or publications of the Iona Community.)
Gracious and eternal God,
in whom we find rest and shelter,
hear the cries of our world …
those for whom today is the beginning of life;
who face new ventures and new challenges;
who are engulfed by loneliness, despair or grief;
who feel cast off from your presence;
who are walled in by circumstance;
whose will to live is exhausted;
who this day will encounter death:
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
Or metrical psalms? Try Dale A. Schoening’s Sing the Psalms
| HYMN SUGGESTIONS FOR SUNDAY 17B |
|
| Blessed Jesus, at you word | TIS 437 |
| Christ is our cornerstone | TIS 433 |
| Christ, from whom all blessings flow | TIS 44 |
| Comfort, comfort, all my people | TIS 647 |
| I come with joy to meet my Lord | TIS 533 |
| In faithful hope and love | TIS 628 |
| Made in God’s likeness | TIS 671 |
| O changeless Christ, for ever new | TIS 254 |
| O Jesus Christ, may grateful hymns be rising | TIS 620 |
| O laughing Light, O first-born of creation | TIS 255 |
| 2 Samuel 11:1-15 |
|
| Come, let us to the Lord our God | TIS 577 |
| God of freedom, God of justice | TIS 657 |
| Make me a captive, Lord | TIS 604 |
| What does the Lord require? | TIS 618 |
| Psalm 14 | |
| Rejoice,the Lord is king! | TIS 216 |
| Ephesians 3:14-21 |
|
| All depends on our possessing | TIS 556 |
| All my hope on God is founded | TIS 560 |
| Come dearest Lord, descend and dwell | TIS 443 |
| Father of mercy, God of consolation | TIS 472 |
| Father welcomes all his children | TIS 491 |
| For all the saints who from their labours rest | TIS 455 |
| God be in my head and in my understanding | TIS 549 |
| God of grace and God of glory | TIS 611 |
| Holy Spirit, come confirm us | TIS 413 |
| How firm a foundation | TIS 578 |
| Lord, keep us steadfast in your word | TIS 436 |
| Love is his word, love is his way | TIS 534 |
| O let the Son of God enfold you | TIS 655 |
| O Spirit of the living God | TIS 405 |
| O the deep, deep love of Jesus | TIS 232 |
| Shalom to you now | TIS 778 |
| We limit not the truth of God… | TIS 453 |
| John 6:1-21 |
|
| Bread of heaven, on you we feed | TIS 513 |
| Break now thr bread of life | TIS 429 |
| Eat this bread, drink this cup | TIS 714 |
| For the fruits of all creation | TIS 168 |
| Jesus the Lord said, ‘I am the Bread’ | TIS 239 |
| Let us talents and tongues employ | TIS 537 |
| Since the world was young | TIS 544 |