Liturgies Online

LECTIONARY GENERATED LITURGY
       Eighth Sunday after Pentecost Year B
    2 Samuel 11:1-15; Psalm 14; Ephesians 3:14-21; John 6:1-21. 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 8B: A ‘royal’ looking crown and a crown of thorns or pictures of both ; Scripture in Song , CMC Australasia, Unit 9/147 Marshalltown Road, Grovedale, Victoria 3216; ALL TOGETHER EVERYBODY . Lutheran Publishing House, Adelaide, South Australia, 1991; OUR FREEDOM, LORD. Ed. Terry C.Falla, Openbook Publishers, Adelaide, South Australia, 1994

CALL TO WORSHIP: Based on Psalm 14:v.1,2 and Ephesians 3:v.14,19,21 NRSV
Fools say in their hearts, “There is no God”. But we bow our knees before God, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name .
God looks to see if there are any who are wise, who seek after God.
We rejoice in the love of Christ which dwells in our hearts through faith, and which surpasses all knowledge.
We worship God who has graciously gifted us with that love.
To God be glory in the church and in Jesus Christ to all generations.

TIS 139/AHB 75: “O love of God, how strong and true”
TIS 147/AHB 85: “To God be the glory, great things he has done!”
TIS 133/AHB 67: “O worship the King all glorious above

PRAYER PRAISE AND ADORATION
Living God, we give thanks for the many blessings you bestow on our lives. The greatest of these is that the risen Christ dwells in our hearts - in the innermost recesses of our lives through the power of your Spirit. His love binds us to you and names us as members of your family. His love enriches and enhances our lives in ways that knowledge never could, and enables us to accomplish far more than we could ever dream or imagine. We worship and praise you, O God, for so blessing our lives and we pray that all we do and say will bring glory to you and Christ whom we serve and in whose name we pray. Amen

SUGGESTION FOR CHILDREN’S TALK - Make a crown and decorate it with bright colours/material and paint precious stones around it. Make also a crown of thorns - or have pictures of the two kinds of crowns. Show the crown with the ‘precious stones’ and describe the duties of a king such as David - how he was supposed to uphold God’s rules, and in doing so, be a good example to his subjects so that they too would do as he did - follow God’s rules. Then point out how David used his power as king to take another man’s wife and then plot to have her husband killed. What kind of example was that? David’s rules or God’s rules? Contrast the behaviour of Jesus in the gospel reading today. Show how he lived totally by God’s rules by having concern for others - in this case- the large crowd. Throughout the gospel, Jesus uses his power, not for himself, but for others. Show the crown of thorns, and describe how Jesus also wore a crown - one that has come to symbolise his love and his self-sacrifice. One king - David - used his power to serve himself ; the other - Jesus - used his power to serve others. As followers of Jesus so we are to do as he did..

TIS 256/ ALL TOGETHER EVERYBODY 261: “The Servant King”
TIS 650/SA 14: “Brother, sister, let me serve you”
TIS 640/AHB 561: “Kneels at the feet of his friends” In AHB 561 invite people to omit “men” and hold “rich” and “black” for two notes in v.2. In v.3 replace “men” with “people”

OLD TESTAMENT: 2 Samuel 11:1-15

PRAYER OF CONFESSION -
Merciful God, we hear the story of David and wonder how he could so abuse his power - serving his own interests in such a selfish way. How different from the way Jesus used his power - serving, healing and nurturing others.
Forgive us when our actions reflect those of David more than those of Jesus.
The account of David shows someone yielding to temptation by feeding his own particular hunger with disastrous results, whilst Jesus took time to feed the crowds with miraculous results.
Forgive us the times when we have yielded to the temptation of feeding our own interests to the detriment of others around us.
David demonstrated how things can get out of control when God’s rules are not followed, while Jesus demonstrates how God’s power can bring peace even into the stormiest situations.

We confess that the way of the world does reflect more the way of David than the way of Jesus, and we pray that we may be powerfully strengthened by the Holy Spirit to witness to Jesus’ love and compassion in and through all we do and say. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS:
Through the power of the Holy Spirit within us, God is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine.(Ephesians 3:20) So, hear and believe the good news that in Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
RESPONSE: Scripture in Song 72 “Now unto him who is able”

EPISTLE: Ephesians 3:14-21
GOSPEL: John 6:1-21

SERMON

TIS 230/AHB 172: “It passeth knowledge”
TIS 606/AHB 529 : “Son of God, eternal Saviour” Alternate tune Austria TIS 93,AHB 374 (1)

SUGGESTIONS FOR PRAYERS FOR THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION
“Recognising the bonds” - page 88- “Vision and mirage” - page 306-“BE OUR FREEDOM, LORD”

THE LORD’S PRAYER

OFFERING and OFFERTORY PRAYER
Gracious God, we thank you for blessing us with the riches of your glory -to know the breadth and length, the height and depth of your love for us so clearly revealed in Jesus. We respond with these gifts and pray that you will bless them and all our efforts to enrich the lives of others through our witness, our love and our generosity. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

TIS 555/AHB 464: “Put all your trust in God” AHB 530: “Almighty Father of all things that be...”
TIS 468/SA 90: “We are your people; Spirit of grace” AHB 565: “Feed us now, O Son of God”

BENEDICTION:
Go from this place,
enriched by the abundant love of God,
nourished by the selfless care of Jesus Christ
strengthened by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit .

THREEFOLD AMEN