48C - Sunday 16C — 50C - Sunday 18C
See also my posts from 2013, 2016, 2019, 2022
PRAYER OF CONFESSION – PSALM 85
O LORD, act favourably for our land;
turn the tide of our fortunes;
lift off the guilt of our people;
help us to say “sorry” and be reconciled to one another
and to you.
Turn to us, O God our helper!
It seems for some that you are angry with us.
Will it go on for generation upon generation?
Turn and give us life;
show us your faithfulness,
and help us!, O LORD.
Listen for what God, the LORD, has to say:
The LORD indeed has promised well-being
for all who are faithful to God –
don’t let them turn back to foolish ways!
Love God and those around you with every part of your being
and the glory of God will live in our land.
Faithfulness and truth will work together;
Righteousness and well-being will embrace.
Truth will sprout from the earth like a carpet of lush new growth,
and justice will look down like a wedge-tail eagle flying high.
The LORD will indeed give what is good,
and our land will yield its harvest.
Justice will go ahead of the LORD,
and prepare a way for God’s footsteps.
OFFERING
Gracious God,
by our gifts and our lives,
may the light that came into the world
in Jesus shine through us,
dispelling darkness and bringing life;
in Jesus’ name. Amen.
A CREATIVE MOMENT – Luke 11:1-13
The theme of discipleship continues; faithfulness in relationship to God in prayer; faithfulness to others in our living. Again, use the ‘path’ from previous weeks.
As with last week’s lection, this one could be dramatised in any one of a number of ways. Have three flat-breads, an egg, and a fish (I’ll leave you to your creativity on that one!) on the table at the centre of worship. Some red/orange/blue ‘fire-coloured’ material(s) could be draped from the worship table to symbolise the gift of the Holy Spirit.
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 hearts …
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
| HYMN SUGGESTIONS FOR SUNDAY 17C |
|
| All who love and serve your city | TIS 634 |
| Father of peace and God of love | TIS 482 |
| How firm a foundation, you people of God | TIS 578 |
| Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us | TIS 580 |
| Stand up and bless the Lord | TIS 449 |
| When morning gilds the skies | TIS 227 |
| HOSEA 1:2-10 |
|
| Father of heaven, whose love profound | TIS 131 |
| God is love, let heav’n adore him | TIS 153 |
| Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy | TIS 613 |
| Loving Spirit, loving Spirit | TIS 417 |
| PSALM 85 |
|
| I will hear what the Lord has to say | TIS 713 |
| I will listen to what the Lord God is saying | TIS 45 |
| Let us with a gladsome mind | TIS 83 |
| O breath of life, come sweeping through us | TIS 409 |
| COLOSSIANS 2:6-15 |
|
| Bread of heaven,on thee we feed | TIS 513 |
| Come let us with our Lord arise | TIS 375 |
| God is love, let heaven adore him | TIS 153 |
| Lift high the cross | TIS 351 |
| Love Divine all loves excelling | TIS 217 |
| My heart is full of Christ, and longs | TIS 214 |
| Nature with open volume stands | TIS 343 |
| O for a thousand tongues to sing. | TIS 210 |
| O Jesus crucified, for us | TIS 354 |
| Our God, we know your providence | TIS 169 |
| The church’s one foundation | TIS 457 |
| The royal banners forward go | TIS 332 |
| There’s a light upon the mountains | TIS 276 |
| This is the day the Lord has made | TIS 368 |
| We know that Christ is raised | TIS 489 |
| When we to cleansing waters came | TIS 484 |
| LUKE 11:1-13 |
|
| Forgive our sins as we forgive | TIS 635 |
| How sweet the name of Jesus sounds | TIS 233 |
| O changeless Christ, for ever new | TIS 254 |
| O Lord, hear my prayer | TIS 741 |
| Our Father God in heaven above | TIS 550 |
| We plough the fields, and scatter | TIS 130 |