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Pentecost 15B LECTIONARY GENERATED LITURGY Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost Year B Proverbs 1:20-33; Psalm 19; James 3:1-12; Mark 8:27-38. 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 15B: AUSTRALIAN PSALMS . Bruce D. Prewer, Lutheran Publishing House, Adelaide, South Australia, 1991 ; ALL TOGETHER OK, Openbook Publishers, Adelaide, South Australia, 1996; Scripture in Song , CMCAustralasia, Unit 9/147 Marshalltown Road, Grovedale, Victoria 3216; BE OUR FREEDOM, LORD. Ed. Terry C.Falla, Openbook Publishers, Adelaide, South Australia, 1994. CALL TO WORSHIP: Read Psalm 19 responsively or read Bruce Prewer’s interpretation of this psalm “The Ways of God” p.20 Australian Psalms or use the following based on Psalm 19 NRSV The heavens tell of the glory of God - the Southern Cross flags our identity and proclaims the wonder of God’s handiwork. The skies communicate beauty day after day and knowledge pales in comparison with the brilliance of the star-studded night sky. The magnificence of God’s creation needs no words, for it speaks for itself. We harmonise our lives to the regularity of the sun’s journey, from East to West, morning to night. So, also, we set our lives in harmony with the laws of God, which revive the soul, give wisdom and joy, and enlighten our whole being with truth and righteousness; calling us forever to treat all that God holds dear with awe and respect. These laws are more desirable than the most precious gold or the sweetest honey. Let the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable to you, O Lord, our rock, and our redeemer. SA 85: “The stars declare his glory” (based on Psalm 19) AHB 330 “The heavens declare your glory, Lord” (based on Psalm 19) Alt. Tune AHB 469 Morning Hymn. TIS 188: “Where wide sky rolls down and touches red sand” TIS 155: “O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder...” (How great thou art) OPENING PRAYER Creator God, we worship and adore you - source of all wisdom, praying that today our understanding of your holy wisdom may be deepened. May such wisdom flow into our lives so that we begin to see the world and everything in it through your eyes; so that we know what it is to be shaped by Jesus’ wisdom: when the last will be first; where the meek rather than the mighty will inherit the earth; where those who lose their lives for the sake of Jesus will find them and taking up our cross to follow him will be the wisest thing we ever do. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen As a continuation of the prayer, invite people to sing softly, while seated, TIS 342/AHB 258 “When I survey the wondrous cross” - standing to sing -with full voices - the final verse. SUGGESTION FOR CHILDREN’S TALK : Ask the children/young folk if they know what ‘wisdom’ means or what ‘being wise’ means. The Macquarie Dictionary definitions include: “... knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; ...common sense.” Explain that the scripture readings today are concerned with “wisdom” - perhaps you could compare our human ‘common sense’ to God’s ‘uncommon sense’ . We sang the previous hymn as an example of ‘uncommon sense’ . Jesus was prepared to die on the cross to show us how much he loves us and he calls us to follow him - to love one another with that kind of love. Many people would think that that is certainly ‘uncommon sense’ , but that is what we sang about in the last verse of the hymn - “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all” We get another picture of what it means to be wise from the Letter of James - he is saying that we have to use our words wisely. He compares how quickly and easily we can use our tongues to say unwise and hurtful things to the speed in which a bush fire can start if someone is careless with even a little spark. Now, in spring, many fire officers are taking precautions for the summer, by burning off undergrowth in areas which could be dangerous when the hot weather comes. They are being very wise. Jesus wants us to be wise also - wise in his ways - being loving and gentle, caring for others - when we live like that we are exercising not only our own ‘common sense’, but God’s ‘uncommon sense’. ALL TOGETHER OK 325: “Sing to God with joy” TIS 465/AHB 399: “Father in heaven, grant to your children” TIS 162/AHB 114: “Thank you for giving me the morning” In AHB 114 verse 2 make the hymn more inclusive by inviting half the congregation to sing ‘sisters’ instead of ‘brothers’ GOSPEL: Mark 8:27-38 PRAYER OF CONFESSION - Lord Jesus Christ, you exercised ‘uncommon sense’ when you turned conventional wisdom on its head with your call for your followers to deny themselves; to lose their lives for your sake and to embark on a narrow path leading towards life centred in you and your love. Forgive us when, like Peter, we identify your power with prestige rather than servanthood, and falter in our understanding of what following you really means. Pause for reflection on these words Forgive us for failing to trust your holy wisdom Lord, because we fear making mistakes, and our decisions become influenced by our human weakness rather than your spiritual strength. Forgive us when our common sense calls us to prefer the comfort of the familiar here and now, rather than responding to your call to follow you into the unknown and risky journey of discipleship. Pause for reflection on these words Lord Jesus Christ , give us the grace to listen and to trust in the midst of the unknowing nature of your call to each of us and the unknown direction which you call us to travel. You have travelled the road already so what have we to fear? We do want to be your followers so that we can reveal through our lives, as you did, the shape of God’s holy wisdom and unconditional love. Renew us with the power of your Spirit so that we can commit ourselves anew to the challenge of serving others in your name and for your sake. Amen Scripture in Song 17 “Its a new and living way, walk ye in it” ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS: All of us do make mistakes (James 3:2) but we are fortunate that God sent Jesus into the world to save sinners - people like us. And so I declare to you, in Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Thanks be to God! OLD TESTAMENT: Proverbs 1:20-33 EPISTLE: James 3: 1-12 SERMON TIS 225/AHB 160: “My heart and voice I raise” ; TIS 226/AHB 161: “Thou art the way, by thee alone...” TIS 167/AHB 116: “How deep the riches of our God”; TIS 430/AHB 337: Your words to me are life and health” SUGGESTIONS FOR PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION Give thanks for the gift of wisdom - invite people to think about the wisdom that is present within their faith community and to give thanks either silently or aloud for those people who have shared wisdom in their lives. The prayer “You know what we’re like” Page 173 Be our Freedom, Lord. THE LORD’S PRAYER OFFERING OFFERTORY PRAYER We prayed that the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts would be acceptable to you, O God. We add the offering of these gifts and our lives in the hope that they are also acceptable to you. May they be evidence of our desire to follow Jesus and our turning away from all that hinders our discipleship. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen TIS 563/AHB 146: “Let him to whom we now belong”; TIS 409/AHB 322: “ O breath of life come sweeping through us” ; TIS 572/AHB 486: “O thou who camest from above” BENEDICTION: May the holy wisdom of God, the selfless wisdom of Jesus Christ and the discerning wisdom of the Holy Spirit fill and bless our lives, now and always. THREEFOLD AMEN |