56B - Sunday 24B — 58B - Sunday 26B
See also my post from 2012, 2018, 2021, 2024
PSALM 1
Happy is the person who does not follow the advice of the wicked
nor take the way of sinners,
nor sit amongst the scornful.
His or her delight is in the teaching of the LORD,
meditating on it day and night
Such a person is like a single tree,
planted in the midst of a vast irrigation system;
it bears fruit in its right time,
and its leaves never wither.
And their every endeavour is successful.
This is not how it is for the wicked;
rather, they are like chaff which the wind scatters.
And so, the wicked shall not stand in the judgement (place),
nor the sinners in the assembly of the godly;
for the LORD watches over the way of the godly person,
but the way of the wicked shall pass away.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (From Psalm 1)
Merciful God,
creator of all that is, seen and unseen,
our delight is in your word
and we have a deep sense of your presence
when we allow it to fill our lives night and day.
For the times when we listen to the advice
of those who rebel against you,
LORD have mercy.
For those times when we can be found with those who scorn,
LORD have mercy.
We experience your blessings
like a tree that is planted beside a never-failing stream
For those times when we do not bear the fruits of your abundance,
LORD, grant us peace.
Merciful God,
renew us by your nurture and blessing,
so that we may prosper in your ways.
Watch over us,
so that the ways of the wicked pass from us. Amen.
Psalm 1
The person who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of the scoffers
is blessed:
such a person experiences delight in the teaching of the LORD,
musing on it, day and night.
He or she is like a single tree, planted in the midst of a vast irrigation system;
it bears fruit in its right time,
and its leaves never wither.
And his or her every endeavour is successful.
This is not how it is for the wicked;
rather, they are like chaff which the wind scatters.
And so, the wicked shall not stand in the judgement (place),
nor the sinners in the assembly of the godly;
for the LORD cares about the way of the godly person,
but the way of the wicked shall pass away.
REFLECTING ON PSALM 1
Meditating day and night on your instruction, O Lord
I find delight and a sense of completeness,
of satisfaction, after a meal with friends.
There is no joy in the shallow and momentary pleasures
of those who sneer at the misfortune of others,
or scoff and babble in idle chatter,
and disregard the lovingkindness of your ways, O LORD.
To sit under your word, O LORD,
is like being lifted out of the parched soil of my old life,
and replanted in rich soil beside everflowing streams of plentiful, cool water.
It seems that I continue to bear the abundant fruit of your presence
in my life,
and there is fresh growth within me —
like a tree which is always sprouting new leaves —
which rouses delight, even amazement, in others.
There were times when it was not so;
I felt disconnected, chaff-like, blown about by fickle winds.
But the persistent blowing of your Spirit, gracious LORD,
has brought me to new life
under your watching and caring,
within the great congregation of your faithful people.
OFFERING
Gracious and eternal God,
to whom we turn in every need;
receive the gifts we offer.
Let our lives bear fruit,
and our compassion never wither;
in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
A CREATIVE MOMENT – Mark 9:30-37
Once again, a bowl of water and a towel could provide a point of focus in the worship space, symbolising the servanthood of authentic discipleship.
If your congregation does not already do it as a matter of course, have children actively involved in worship today e.g. greeting, lighting the candles, taking up the offering, reading the Bible, leading a prayer or the dedication of the offering – just to suggest a few.
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.)
God of Life and Hope,
who hears the joy and pain in our hearts
before we speak,
and answers us, in often unexpected ways,
before we know our needs;
By the gentle breath of your Spirit
strength to those whom we have named
on our lips and in our silence,
rejoice with the hopeful,
be company to the lonely,
a comfort to all weighed down with grief
and those whose troubles are known only to you,
that all may know your peace:
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 24B | |
| Bring many names, beautiful and good | TIS 182 |
| Christ is the heavenly food that gives | TIS 522 |
| Christ is the world’s true light | TIS 238 |
| God is my strong salvation | TIS 15 |
| Immortal, invisible, God only wise | TIS 143 |
| Join all the glorious names of wisdom,love | TIS 205 |
| Let all the world in every corner sing | TIS 105 |
| O Jesus Christ, may grateful hymns be rising | TIS 620 |
| O Master, let me walk with thee | TIS 601 |
| Sing praise and thanksgiving, | TIS 107 |
| We limit not the truth of God… | TIS 453 |
| What does the Lord require | TIS 618 |
| Proverbs 31:10-31 | |
| For the beauty of the earth | TIS 137 |
| For the fruits of his creation | TIS 168 |
| How deep the riches of our God | TIS 167 |
| Our God, we know your providence | TIS 169 |
| Psalm 1 | |
| Blessed are they whose way is blameless | TIS 75 |
| Happy are they who walk in God’s wise ways | TIS 1 |
| James 3:13-4:3,7-8a | |
| All my hope in God is founded | TIS 560 |
| Blest are the pure in heart | TIS 448 |
| Fold to your heart your sister and your brother | TIS 587 |
| God of grace and God of glory | TIS 611 |
| God! As with silent hearts we bring to mind | TIS 680 |
| Jesus, lover of my soul | TIS 211 |
| Kneels at the feet of his friends | TIS 640 |
| Lord of creation to you be all praise | TIS 626 |
| Lord of earth and all creation | TIS 672 |
| Praise to the holiest in the height | TIS 141 |
| Put all your trust in God | TIS 555 |
| Where there is charity and love | TIS 434 |
| Your words to me are life and health | TIS 430 |
| Mark 9:30-37 | |
| A man there lived in Galilee | TIS 235 |
| And now, O Father, mindful of the love | TIS 519 |
| Brother, sister, let me serve you | TIS 650 |
| Morning glory, starlit sky | TIS 174 |
| My song is love unknown | TIS 341 |
| O Master, let me walk with thee | TIS 601 |
| Take my life, and let it be | TIS 599 |
| We sing the praise of him who died | TIS 347 |
| You servants of God | TIS 215 |