55C - Sunday 23C — 57C - Sunday 25C
See also my posts from 2013, 2016, 2019, 2022
Psalm 14 (A fresh translation)
In their heart a fool says, “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)
A fool says, “There is no God”;
acts dishonestly, and does 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!
OFFERING
Gracious God,
refuge of the poor and the broken,
we bring our gifts
and our very selves,
an offering of thanksgiving
for your sustaining and surprising Spirit.
Bless our giving
to extending the way of Jesus. Amen.
A CREATIVE MOMENT – Luke 15:1-10
Rather than dealing with a lost sheep(!), younger members of the congregation could be invited to search the worship area for a ‘lost’ coin to add to a prominently pplaced stack of nine coins. After the lost is found, have a conversation about what it feels like to lose something cherished/significant, the effort in searching and the joy in recovering the lost item. Maybe even celebrate after worship!
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 God,
refuge of the poor and the broken,
by the light of your Word
and the warmth of your Spirit
help us bring consolation to those know to us,
those we remember on our lips and in our silence …
Return to our memory those whom we have forgotten
and be present to those who have no-one;
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 24C |
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| Abide with me | TIS 586 | AHB 502 |
| All who love and serve your city | TIS 634 | AHB 562 |
| Come you people, come adore him | TIS 101 | AHB 5 |
| Father of peace and God of love | TIS 482 | AHB 407 |
| Father, Lord of all Creation | TIS 631 | AHB 567 |
| Fold to your heart your sister and your brother | TIS 587 | AHB 503 |
| Glorious things of you are spoken | TIS 446 | AHB 374 |
| God has spoken by his prophets | TIS 158 | AHB 92 |
| God moves in a mysterious way | TIS 126 | AHB 54 |
| Great God, your Spirit, like the wind | TIS 416 | SA 41 |
| Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy | TIS 613 | AHB 546 |
| Now to him who loved us | TIS 771 | AHB 576 |
| Robe yourself, my soul, with gladness | TIS 503 | AHB 424 |
| Serve you the Lord, heart filled with gladnes | TIS 60 | AHB 100 |
| There’s a wideness in God’s mercy | TIS 136 | AHB 72 |
| When Christ was lifted from the earth | TIS 248 | SA 93 |
| Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness | TIS 454 | AHB 382 |
| JEREMIAH 4:11-12, 22-28 |
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| Come to be our hope, Lord Jesus | TIS 688 | |
| God of Jeremiah grieving | TIS 679 | |
| PSALM 14 |
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| Come down, O love divine | TIS 398 | AHB 310 |
| Praise my soul, the King of heaven | TIS 134 | AHB 68 |
| 1 TIMOTHY 1:12-17 |
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| Father, whose everlasting love | TIS 213 | AHB 142 |
| Give to our God immortal praise | TIS 84 | AHB 43 |
| Immortal, invisible, God only wise | TIS 143 | AHB 80 |
| Join all the glorious names of wisdom,love | TIS 205 | AHB 135 |
| King of glory, King of peace | TIS 201 | AHB 129 |
| LUKE 15:1-10 |
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| All people that on earth do dwell | TIS 59 | AHB 10 |
| Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice | TIS 196 | |
| I need you Lord, for I have seen | TIS 625 | |
| I will sing a wondrous story | TIS 233 | AHB 173 |
| In great thanksgiving | TIS 632 | |
| Praise with joy the world’s creator | TIS 179 | |
| The king of love my shepherd is | TIS 145 | AHB 81 |