53B – Sunday 21B

52B - Sunday 20B54B - Sunday 22B
 
See also my post from 2012, 2018, 2021, 2024

 
 
GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE (From Psalm 84)
How beautiful is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!
My inmost being longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my body sing for joy to the living God. 

Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young, at your altars,
O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.
How blest are those who live in your house,
who can praise you continually.

PSALM 84
How beautiful is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!
My inmost being longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my body sing for joy to the living God. 

Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young, at your altars,
O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.
How blest are those who live in your house,
who can praise you continually.

How blest are those whose strength is in you,
with pilgrim ways in their hearts.
Passing through the valley of Bacca, they make it an oasis;
the early rains will also clothe it with blessings.
They will go from strength to strength,
appearing before God in Zion.
LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer;
listen, O God of Jacob.        (Selah)
Look favourably on our shield, O God;
and look upon the face of your anointed.
Far better is a day in your courtyard
than a thousand anywhere else.
I choose lying at the threshold of the house of God
rather than dwelling in the tents of the wicked.
For Sun and Shield is the LORD God
who gives grace and glory;
who does not withhold good from those who walk in integrity.
O LORD God of hosts,
how blest are those who trust in you

For use in worship, with acknowledgement. © Jeff Shrowder 2000, 2012.


A CREATIVE MOMENT 
(a) Ephesians 6:10-20
For those who might want to focus on this reading, bear in mind that in the world of the writer of the Letter to the Ephesians “hand-to-hand” combat was just that. Images of foot-soldiers up to medieval times might be useful in reinforcing the vulnerability and personal/individual nature of such combat which is at the heart of that writer’s comments about the vulnerability of the Christian life. Maybe having on hand some cardboard “replicas” of the armour mentioned might be helpful.

(b) John 6:56-69
Arrange some rocks/boulders/stones in the worship space to symbolise both the hard things Jesus is saying, and the hard way of the journey of those who follow him. Alternatively, remembering that Hebrew and Greek each use a common word for breath/wind/spirit, engage in some activities which reflect this, e.g. have some-one play a wind instrument – perhaps you have a pipe-organ in your place of worship – or use a recording; set up a wind-chime; see also Gen 2:7 and Ezekiel 37:10


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.)
 
Loving God,
present amid the confusion and strife of the world,
speak your healing Word of love
to those whose troubles are known only to you;
and by your encouraging Spirit
sustain those whom we name on our lips
and in the silence of our hearts
Hear our prayer, in Jesus’ name…
      (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 21B
God of mercy, God of grace TIS 452
I’m not ashamed to own my Lord TIS 562
Our God, be gracious unto us TIS 37
1 Kings 8: 22-30, 41-43
Christ is our corner-stone TIS 433
Christ is made the sure foundation TIS 432
Glorious things of you are spoken TIS 446
God of many names TIS 180
Immortal, invisible, God only wise TIS 143
In Christ there is no east or west TIS 459
Let all the world in every corner sing TIS 185
Psalm 84
How lovely is your dwelling TIS 44
Lord you have been our dwelling place TIS 144
Love Divine all loves excelling TIS 217
O God of Bethel, by whose hand TIS 564
O love of God, how strong and true TIS 139
Ephesians 6:10-20
Be thou my vision TIS 547
Christ is the world’s redeemer TIS 192
Come, Spirit of God, holy Lord TIS 399
Give thanks with a grateful heart TIS 717
God of all power and truth and grace TIS 567
God of grace and God of glory TIS 611
I bind unto myself today TIS 478
My heart is full of Christ, and longs TIS 214
This day God gives me TIS 642
Who would true valour see TIS 561
With joy, we meditate the grace TIS 206
John 6:56-69
Be known to us in breaking bread TIS 514
Blessed Jesus, at your word TIS 437
Break now the bread of life TIS 429
Eternal light, shine in my heart TIS 548
Feed us now, Bread of Life TIS 538
I need you, Lord, for I have seen TIS 625
Jesus calls us here to meet him TIS 477
Jesus invites his saints TIS 505
Lord, your almighty word TIS 447
Lord, your word abiding TIS 427
O let the Son of God enfold you TIS 655
Your words to me are life and health TIS 430

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