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LECTIONARY GENERATED LITURGY
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost Year B
1 Kings 2:10-12;3:3-14; Psalm 111; Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58 Rec. text - NRSV.
             Hymns are from the Australian Hymn Book (AHB) or Together in Song (TIS)
unless otherwise indicated.
               Worship Leader - normal type. Congregational responses - bold type
          Permission is granted to churches to use this material in services of worship.
    This liturgy remains the property of Moira B Laidlaw

Additional resources for Pentecost 11B: ALL TOGETHER EVERYBODY, Lutheran Publishing House,Adelaide, South Australia, 1991; Scripture in Song , CMC Australasia, Unit 9/147 Marshalltown Road, Grovedale, Victoria 3216;   A Singing Faith, Jane Parker Huber, The Westminster Press, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1987; AUSTRALIAN PRAYERS, Bruce Prewer, Lutheran Publishing House, Adelaide, South Australia, 1983.

CALL TO WORSHIP: Based on Ephesians 5:18-20 NRSV
Filled with the Spirit, sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs....making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

TIS 107/AHB 25: “Sing praise and thanksgiving”
TIS 105/AHB 13: “Let all the world in every corner sing”
TIS 96: “Sing praise to the Lord!”
TIS 227/AHB 151: “When morning gilds the skies..”

PRAYER OF ADORATION
We sing our praises and thanksgiving to you, most holy God, as we joyfully worship you in gladness and song - our response to your gracious activity in our lives. You gather us together through the power and wisdom of your Holy Spirit and transform us into a community graced and held together by Jesus, our Lord. Help us to make the most of our time here today as we seek to glorify you. May you continue to be glorified in and through all we do in Jesus’ name today, and in all the days to come. This we pray in his name. Amen

OLD TESTAMENT: 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3: 3-14.

SUGGESTION FOR CHILDREN’S TALK -
Solomon describes himself as a “a servant king” and is pictured as a faithful worshipper of God. God appeared to Solomon in a dream and said to him “Ask what I should give you”. Ask the children/young people what they might reply if asked this question by God. Might be some interesting answers! Then point out how Solomon only asked for wisdom - for an understanding mind. You could perhaps point out how kings and queens around the time of Solomon (and since!) could become extremely wealthy and powerful and could become more interested in making more money and getting more and more power than being concerned to understand what ordinary people needed to make their lives more worthwhile. (If the young people are old enough to understand, it would not be too difficult to identify some contemporary ‘rulers’ who are/were only interested in increasing their power without apparent concern for the welfare of their people.) Ask the children/young people how they think they might act if they suddenly became very rich and powerful. Go on to tell how God grants Solomon’s request plus the promise of riches and honour because Solomon asked for understanding and not for long life or riches. God’s gifts go far beyond what Solomon asked - but with a provision - that Solomon is obedient to God’s will. You could perhaps compare this to John 15,verse 7 where Jesus says “ If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” When we have Jesus’ life in us, what we want has therefore to be consistent with what he wants, so that our desires could never be selfish ones, but purely for the building up etc of others.

TIS 650/SA 14: “Brother, sister, let me serve you”
TIS 256/All Together Everybody 261: “From heaven you came, helpless babe” ( “The Servant King” )
AHB 545: “God, my Father, loving me”

MEDITATION/PRAYER OF CONFESSION - read by two people
1.    If, as to Solomon, God said to us “Ask what I should give to you”
2.    How would we reply?
1.    Would we ask for gifts to serve ourselves or others?

2.    Commercials bombard us with things that we ‘need’
1.    for comfort and health;
2.    better looks; easy wealth.
1.    It’s so easy to give way to feelings of greed.

Both voices: Lord, forgive us when we’re tempted to put your ways aside.

   2. If, as to Solomon, God said to us “Ask what I should give to you”
   1. How would we respond?
   2. Would we even think to ask for minds that understood the difference between evil and good?

   1. We think we can do that now.

   2. Would we want to discern what is just,
   1. not of course, just for us,
   2. But for those who’re unloved, oppressed and unknown.

   1. The temptation is strong, we have to confess to leave it to others to serve those in distress.

    2. What we really need are minds like Jesus, minds filled with true wisdom and love;
    1. to do what is righteous, to do what is just.

    2. If, as to Solomon, God said to us “Ask what I should give to you”
    1. Would we respond... Forgive us our greed.....
Both voices: You gave us your Son, what more do we need?
             (A brief time of silence to reflect on these words)

TIS 655: “O Let the Son of God enfold you”
Scripture in Song 226: “Jesus, name above all names”

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS:
The works of God’s hands are faithful and just, and all God’s laws are trustworthy. They are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.   Through God’s righteousness, the people received redemption. (Based on Psalm 111:7-9 NRSV). We experience that redemption through Jesus Christ who came into the world to save sinners.
Thanks be to God!

EPISTLE: Ephesians 5:15-20 GOSPEL: John 6: 51-58

SERMON

TIS 430/AHB 337: “Your words to me are life and health”
A Singing Faith 1: “ O God whom we praise from morning to night” Tune Hanover TIS 133/AHB 67
TIS 390/ SA 2: “Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord”
TIS 154: “Great is your faithfulness...”

PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION
“For Faith” Page 110f and “For those who hunger” Page 126f. in Australian Prayers

THE LORD’S PRAYER

OFFERING

OFFERTORY PRAYER
Eternal God, we have praised you in melody and song, giving thanks for all that you have given to us - far more than the riches and honour and understanding that Solomon received. For you gave us the gift of Jesus, your Son, our Lord. Accept and bless these gifts and our lives as we offer them as our grateful response. May our whole lives be devoted to giving thanks to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

TIS 626/AHB 557: “Lord of creation, to you be all praise!”
TIS 606/AHB 529: “Son of God, eternal Saviour” Tune 577 Austria
TIS 166/AHB 102: “Sing a new song, sing a new song”

BENEDICTION
Go, blessed and filled with the wisdom of God,
blessed and nourished by the life of our Lord Jesus Christ
and blessed and directed by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

THREEFOLD AMEN