45C – Sunday 13C

44C - Sunday 12C46C - Sunday 14C
 
See also my posts from 2013, 2016, 2019, 2022

 
 
WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD (Psalm 77:1-2)
I cry aloud to the LORD,
I cry aloud. Oh that God would hear me.
In my deepest distress I have sought out the LORD,
Night after night my inmost being refused to be comforted.

PRAYER OF ADORATION AND CONFESSION (from Ps. 77:11-20)
Holy and divine other, whom we name God,
whose works are worth remembering
and have been remembered from long ago,
we consider all your works, and marvel at what you have done.
Yours is a holy way, who is a great God like you?
You are the God who works wonders;
making your strength known throughout the world.
With your strong arm you saved your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
When the waters saw you, O Holy One, they were afraid;
even the deepest oceans currents trembled,
The clouds burst, the heavens rumbled;
lightning flashed all about,
the earth trembled and shook;
And yet your unseen way was through the sea,
through the mighty waters
you led your people like sheep, by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
O God, whose way is holy, who is a great God like you?
You are the God who works wonders.
In the Risen One you have freed us to live full and abundant lives,
but in our living we find ways to devalue our freedom.
(Silence)
 
Free to respond to your call to follow, we find excuses to delay
for our half-hearted discipleship, selfish priorities or reluctance to follow.
(Silence)
 
Free to love, we respond with anger
toward those who do not meet our needs or expectations.
(Silence)
 
Sustain us, O God,
nurture within us the fruit of the Spirit of grace,
so that we may live freely and responsibly
as followers of Jesus. Amen.

OFFERING
Creating and life-giving God,
you have given your creation into our care.
Bless the labours of our living
and move us to bear the fruits of your Holy Spirit;
in Jesus’ name. Amen

For use in worship, with acknowledgement. © Jeff Shrowder 2000, 2013, 2016.


A CREATIVE MOMENT – Luke 9:51-62
The theme of discipleship continues.
Appropriate to your worship situation, create a ‘path’ with brown paper (or newsprint painted brown). If this is impractical or not possible, consider a swathe of brown cloth (or several cloths of different shades of brown) draped from the worship table to the floor in front, to symbolise that ‘path’. Add some foot prints and the words, “Follow me”. A signpost pointing to Jersualem could be errected at some point along the ‘path’. A bird’s nest – real ( first, make sure it’s not being used!) or hand-made – could be placed on the worship table, together with a small pile of dust.


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.)

Compassionate God,
In the one Spirit we were all baptised into one body,
a body which is one
but which has many members;
some who today grieve,
others who are thankful,
and yet others who experience joy.
By your living Word be a sustaining presence to each
and by the one Spirit in which we were baptised into one body
comfort those whom we name on our lips
and in our silence…
those whose trouble is known only to you…
and 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 13C
A charge to keep I have TIS 73
Come dearest Lord, descend and dwell TIS 443
God of all power and truth and grace TIS 567
I heard the voice of Jesus say TIS 585
O Jesus I have promised TIS 595
Through all the changing scenes of life, TIS 112
Who would true valour see TIS 561
2 KINGS 2:1-2, 6-14
Christians lift up your hearts TIS 423
Come, Spirit blest, Creator, come TIS 397
The call of God resounding TIS 460
We limit not the truth of God TIS 453
You holy angels bright TIS 108
PSALM 77:1-2, 11-20
Come, gracious Spirit, heavenly dove TIS 402
I sing the almighty power of God TIS 119
Through all the changing scenes of life TIS 112
GALATIANS 5:1, 13-25
Almighty God lift up our eyes TIS 615
Brother, sister, let me serve you TIS 650
Filled with the Spirit’s power, with one acco TIS 411
Give me the wings of faith to rise TIS 438
Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us TIS 580
Let him to whom we know belong TIS 563
Let him to whom we now belong TIS 563
Lord of earth and all creation TIS 672
On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry TIS 270
Where the Spirit is, there’s freedom TIS 421
LUKE 9:51-62
A charge to keep I have TIS 73
And can it be that I should gain TIS 209
Community of Christ, who makes the cross TIS 473
Jesus calls us! O’er the tumult TIS 589
Lift high the cross TIS 351
Lord Jesus, we belong to you TIS 686
O Jesus I have promised TIS 595
Who would true valour see TIS 561

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