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Pentecost 2B
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Pentecost 12B LECTIONARY GENERATED LITURGY Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost Year B 1Kings 8: 22-30,41-43; Psalm 84; Ephesians 6:10-20; John 6:56-69. 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 12B: Scripture in Song , CMCAustralasia, Unit 9/147 Marshalltown Road, Grovedale, Victoria 3216; Be our Freedom Lord. Terry C Falla, Openbook Publishers, Adelaide, South Australia, 1994. CALL TO WORSHIP: Based on Psalm 84 NRSV How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, before you O Lord of hosts. Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise. For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. TIS 44/AHB 347: “How lovely is your dwelling place” TIS 144/AHB 76: “Lord you have been our dwelling place” TIS 111/AHB 28: “ Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation” TIS 139/AHB 75: “O love of God, how strong, how true” PRAYER OF ADORATION (If the chorus -Scripture in Song 44 - is sung - invite people to look it up now) We come, O God, agreeing with the psalmist that it is good to be in the company of one another worshipping you. Whilst our joy equals that expressed in the psalm, we also acknowledge that there are those who come weighed down with burdens of one kind or another. Yet we can still praise you in the knowledge that those who seek you are found by you. (The chorus “And you shall seek me” -Scripture in Song 44 - could be sung softly as part of the prayer) We praise you for enabling us to go not only from strength to strength, but from weakness to strength - the strength experienced through being fed and nourished with Jesus’ life and Spirit. We rejoice that this time of worship is better than a thousand other activities as we worship you, O God, aware of Jesus’ life-giving presence around us and within us. Amen EPISTLE: Ephesians 6:10-20 SUGGESTION FOR CHILDREN’S TALK - Note the emphases in the Ephesians reading on “standing” v.11: “to stand against...”; v.13: “able to withstand” and “to stand firm...”; v.14: “stand therefore...”. If there are any babies just learning to stand - invite parent/s to bring baby up front to share how they assist the baby to learn to stand - eg holding , supporting, encouraging etc. Point out how we all went through that stage- how we all needed help and encouragement to stand before we could walk. If there are people who are physically challenged and are unable to walk without help perhaps they may feel free to share how they are dependent on some kind of support/aid to enable them to move. When we are learning to stand and to move about we come into conflict with a number of things - usually pieces of furniture, hot things, other people etc. and we have to be taught how to navigate our way without too much harm. The writer of Ephesians is teachingus how to stand firm and how to move through life without being harmed by powers we cannot see but which can create damage not only in our own lives but in the lives of others. Powers such as cruelty, selfishness, abuse, jealousy, greed, etc. The image of armour is used in Ephesians because in what was understood as a battle between good and evil, this is possibly what would have come to mind first. Ask what people-young and old- imagine present day equivalents of the armour would be - answers might include: telling the truth, doing what is right, being people of peace, trusting in God’s ways, counting on and sharing Jesus’ love and forgiveness. Standing firm also involves the strength and empowerment of the Holy Spirit which we receive through faith and prayer, and the strength and encouragement of one another. The hymn tells how God helps us to stand firm, by supporting, holding and guiding us... TIS 153/AHB 93: “God is love” TIS 610: “God, you touch the earth with beauty” TIS 592/AHB 509: “Stand up, stand up for Jesus” TIS 449/AHB 383: “Stand up and bless the Lord” PRAYER OF CONFESSION We confess, O God, our involvement with evil influences of our present age. Those influences which lower the standard of people’s lives and which damage their ability to experience lives shaped and filled with love, justice and mercy. Forgive us for failing to stand firm against the evils of lawlessness and greed . A time of silence to reflect on these words People suffer today when their lives are dominated and restricted by people who exercise power in inappropriate ways - in families; in society; in political, and even church structures. Forgive us for failing to stand firm against the evils of unjust and oppressive actions. A time of silence to reflect on these words People suffer today when they believe that love has to be earned or when they have come to believe that their value rests solely in terms of what they can produce or what they do. Forgive us for failing to stand firm against the evil of believing that people are worthless because they are unproductive or unemployed. A time of silence to reflect on these words People suffer today when they are denied work or acceptance because of their race or appearance. Forgive us for failing to stand firm against the evils of racism and prejudice. A time of silence to reflect on these words Merciful God, strengthen us with the Holy Spirit that we may withstand both the spiritual and physical forces of evil which can influence us personally, and as members of both this community of faith and the larger communities in which we live. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS: Jesus said that he spoke words of spirit and life...(John 6:63), so we pray: Spirit of life, grant us this day your forgiveness and love that we may stand firm in faith. Rejoice in the assurance that Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, hears us and forgives us. Thanks be to God! TIS 717/ Scripture in Song 509 “Give thanks” OLD TESTAMENT : 1 Kings 8: 22-30,41-43 GOSPEL: John 6: 56-69 SERMON TIS 376/AHB 299: “I know that my Redeemer lives” AHB 513: “Eternal Ruler of the ceaseless round” Invite people to replace in v. 2 “the brothers” with “followers” TIS 595/AHB 514: “O Jesus, I have promised” SUGGESTIONS FOR PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION “A future where forgiveness is waiting” Page 136 and “Steps marking our way” Page 157 in Be our Freedom, Lord. THE LORD’S PRAYER OFFERING OFFERTORY PRAYER Gracious God - you hold us firm through the power of your Spirit, and in Jesus you make clear that you withhold nothing from us. You offer us strength to withstand all that threatens to weaken our faith and our witness. Bless these gifts and our lives which we offer in response to your great gifts to us. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen TIS 416/SA 41 “Great God, your Spirit, like the wind” TIS 456/AHB 389: “Your hand, O God, has guided” In AHB 389 invite people to replace “man” in verse 3 with ‘each’ and “men” in verse 4 with “all” TIS 628/AHB 555: “ In faith and hope and love” BENEDICTION Go, with the strength of God upholding you, the words of Jesus steadying you and the power of the Holy Spirit encircling you THREEFOLD AMEN |