pilgrimwr.unitingchurch.org.au

Readings (A4 in folded landscape format) RCL Readings Proper 26A

Call to Worship (based on Joshua 3 reading)
When we stand at the edge of fear and worry,
God invites us to step into the waters of faith and trust.
When we stand at the edge of the world’s pain and need,
Jesus invites us to step into the land of humble service.
When we stand at the edge of our hunger and thirst:
the Spirit invites us to sit at the Table of grace. Thom Shuman

Prayer of praise (links to Joshua 3)
God – companion and  guide, we would be lost without your direction – wanderers in wildernesses of our own making.  We praise you for dealing so graciously with your people in the past, when you guided them to freedom and a promised new life.  We are heirs of that promise fulfilled in Jesus. Through him you have established for us a permanent direction for our lives and as we dwell in him, our lives are blessed with fruitfulness. Holy God, may this time of worship be a joyful response of praise and thanksgiving for all that you have done, for all that you are doing, and for all that you will continue to do for us and all people through the power of the Holy Spirit and in the name of Jesus.  Amen.
Moira Laidlaw

Links to worship resources: www.textweek.com

Readings
Exodus: 32:1-14: While Moses is on the mountain with God, the people, struggling with how long he has been gone, ask Aaron to make them gods. He agrees, takes their gold jewellery and makes a golden calf which the people then worship, even though he tries to remind them that their celebration is “to the Lord”.
Psalm 106: 1-6, 19-23: A psalm of confession, remembering how God’s people turned away, and traded God for an image of a calf, forgetting God’s saving acts for them. Also, a recognition that God seemed intent on destroying the people, but for Moses pleading on their behalf.
Philippians 4:1-9: Paul encourages the Church to stand firm, to agree with one another, to live as those who await Christ’s appearance, and to meditate on those things that are good, true and beautiful.
Matthew 22:1-14: Jesus tells a story about a king who prepares a wedding feast for his son, but the none of the originally invited guests want to go. So, he sends his soldiers to destroy those guests, and then he invites others from the streets to come in, but when someone is found without wedding clothes, that person is thrown out. Jesus finishes with the well-known saying that many are invited but few are chosen.
(Summaries by John van de Laar, Sacredise)

RCL Bible readings

Call to worship
Whatever is true and honourble
is before us in the life of Christ this day.
In every moment lies a new possibility,
and an invitation to be present
in the gathering of love and justice.
Here, God meets us,
in the celebration of love for all people
and the passion for true community.
The invitation to the church is open before us
so that we may clothes ourselves in hope.
Let us think on these things,
as we lift our hearts in praise to God.
(Source: W4W, 2011)

More suggestions for Call to Worship and gathering prayers.

Prayer of Confession
O Christ, you graciously invite us
to the feast of your divine life,
but sometimes we are tempted
to delay our response to you.
We detour into trivial activities, or busy ourselves with commitments
which are to our own advantage. 
We convince ourselves that we are choosing what is important
and that other things can wait
until we are ready (a time for silence)
Forgive us, Jesus Christ.
Call to us again and give us the wisdom
to accept your invitation, we pray.
If we come into your presence
clothed in self-righteousness,
or with assumptions and certainties
which are not arising from your life with us:
Forgive us, Jesus Christ. 
When we fail to see what your people must wear
in kindness and respect for others
and openness to relationship:
Forgive us, Jesus Christ. 
Call to us again and give us the wisdom
which flows from your grace, we pray. Amen.
(Source: W4W 2011)

Words of assurance
Over and over again, when we stand in humility,
the voice of Christ comes to us in welcome and compassion.
We are forgiven. Thanks be to God. 

More prayers of confession/prayers of who we are here.

Readings
Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20: God speaks God’s commandments to the people of Israel who are terrified by the thunder, lightning, smoke and trumpet sounds. They ask Moses to speak to God on their behalf, because of their fear, but Moses reassures them that God is simply keeping the people in awe so they don’t sin.
Psalm 19: A psalm celebrating creation which proclaims God’s glory, and God’s law which enlightens brings reward to those who keep it.
Philippians 3:4b-14: Paul, who has good reason for confidence under the law because of his upbringing and observance, values only the righteousness which he has received through Christ, and through which he knows the power of Christ’s resurrection and participates in Christ’s sufferings.
Matthew 21:33-46: Jesus tells a story about a farmer who cultivates a vineyard and then rents it to tenant farmers, who, instead of giving the farmer his share of the fruit when it’s due, kills his servants and then the farmer’s son. In this way, he explains, God’s reign is being given to those who will produce fruit.
(Source: John van de Laar, Sacredise)

Opening Prayer (inspired by Psalm 19)
Eternal God,
whose signature we see, if we dare to look,
in the creation of the universe,
help us this hour to look and to listen
for Your handwriting and Your voice in this place,
among these people.
Connect our temporary praise to Your timeless rhythms,
Your ageless melodies,
Your everlasting joyful noise.
Guide us now to focus upon You,
knowing that in You,
our distractions become new possibilities for action.
Breathe life into our singing, our praying,
our speaking, our listening, our touching,
that all these activities might become more than they are.
In our worship we reach out to You, O God,
knowing that You have already enfolded us in Your arms.
In Jesus, we pray. Amen.
(Source, My Redeemer Lives website)

Prayer of Approach and Confession
Loving God, present and near.
You are beyond our words and our understanding.
Help us to remember that You are at once
infinite, boundless, timeless and eternal
but, at the same time intimately entwined with our lives.
You are with us no matter where we find ourselves.
When we have forgotten You
Lord, have mercy.
When we have failed to speak words of love
Lord, have mercy.
When we have neglected the need of another
Lord, have mercy.
Loving God, present and near
help us to recognise Your presence and nearness with us
as we worship together.
Through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
(Source: Thomas Sutcliffe, Church of Scotland’s Weekly Worship website)

“Sabbath, in the first instance, is not about worship. It is about work stoppage. It is about withdrawal from the anxiety system of Pharaoh, the refusal to let one’s life be defined by production and consumption and the endless pursuit of private well-being.”
(Source: Walter Brueggemann)

“Zion is in ruins, Jerusalem lies in the dust. All week there is only hope of redemption. But when the Sabbath is entering the world, man is touched by a moment of actual redemption; as if for a moment the spirit of the Messiah moved over the face of the earth.”
(Source: Abraham Heschel, The Sabbath)

****
An order of service for Tuesday morning. Proper 22A Ordinary 27A 8am Tuesday

Readings for this week (formatted on double sided A4, folded into A5) Readings

Readings
Exodus 17:1-7: The Israelites complain that they have no water, and Moses takes their complaint to God. God instructs Moses to strike the rock at Horeb with his staff and water flows out for the people to drink.
Psalm 78: 1-4, 12-16 A teaching psalm reminding God’s people of all that God has done, bringing God’s people out of Egypt, leading with a pillar of fire by night and cloud by day, and splitting open the rock to give them water to drink.
Philippians 2: 1-13  The apostle encourages the Philippian Christians to be united and to be like Christ in their humility, service and self-sacrifice, quoting the ancient hymn of the Church. He reminds them that they are to live out their salvation, trusting God who gives them the will and the power to do it.
Matthew 21: 23-32  The religious leaders question Jesus’ authority, but Jesus refuses to answer them because they can’t answer his question about John’s authority. Then he tells them a parable about two sons whose father asks them to work in the vineyard. One says no, but then does, and the other says yes, but doesn’t. Jesus explains that like this, religious people are missing out on the kingdom, while outcasts are finding their way in.
(Summary of Bible readings by John van de Laar, Sacredise)

Opening prayer/praise
We praise You, Lord God,
that Your Way is found
not by travelling an exclusive highway,
or in secrets preserved only for some,
but in the open field of love and grace,
where all who choose may come and play.

We praise You, Lord God,
that Your Truth is heard
not only in the words of scholars and authors,
or in brittle, inflexible ideas,
but in honest questions
and difficult conversations,
in the courageous attempts of simple people
to live lives of integrity.

We praise You, Lord God,
that Your Life is discovered
not just in the predictable places of beauty and wealth
or within the confines of clearly demarcated norms,
but in the unexpected generosity and pride
of those who have nothing,
in the creativity and risk
of trying new things,
and defending the vulnerable.

We open ourselves again to Your call,
determined to do what we promise,
to follow Your Way,
to embody Your Truth
to share Your Life.
And to do it all with thanksgiving and praise. Amen.
(Source, John van de Laar, Sacredise)

Call to worship
Here, in this place, we set apart time for worship,
and to encourage each other in Christ.
It is God who is at work in us,
enabling us both to will and to work for God’s good pleasure.
God, source of life,
 Jesus, firstborn of creation,
 Spirit, living breath in all that is:
we come to be thankful for life in all its fullness.
Let us worship God.

Gathering words
What patience to endure
the squabbles of your people;
what humility, to take
our doubts and disbelief.
What faithfulness you show,
through desert thirst and fear;
what miracles inspired by you,
the very, precious, gift of life.
What wisdom we hear from you,
if we will listen – we are here to listen.
(Source: Sarah Agnew, Pray the Story)
Continue reading →

Texts:  Exodus 16:2-15; Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45; Philippians 1:21-30; Matthew 20:1-16

Weekly Seeds resource: UCC weekly seeds; Kate Huey: Kate Huey

Thom Shuman: Thom Shuman

CBN The deadly consequences of unforgiveness (with video)

“In the morning there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that God has given you to eat”. Exodus 16.13-15
What gets you through the desert?
What gets you through?
What gets you through the chemo,
the healing from abuse, the bad marriage,
what gets you through
the job that tries to kill you,
the dark alley of the shadow of death,
the rotten places, the placeless places,
the evil you fear, the evil you’ve done,
your daily inadequacy,
what gets you through?
Some will call it courage or stamina,
luck or faith or reaching down deep.
But you know it’s not you, not yours.
It’s given. To you. For you.
From the Holy One.
The thread you follow,
the source you drink from,
the encouraging voice,
the Divine desire that you thrive,
the gift amid the desolation,
you fund it anywhere—
the usual, the impossible,
the unwelcome.
You learn to recognize it.
You learn to receive it.
For that grace that gets you through
you learn to say thank you.
You learn to count on it,
and be surprised,
every morning.
Every morning.
(Source: Steve Garnaas-Holmes, Unfolding Light)

Ideas for Prayers of Confession/Prayers of who we are

Ideas for Prayers for others – various

Continue reading →

Land Sunday in Season of Creation – Rex AE Hunt liturgy

Readings
Exodus 14:19-31
Exodus 15:1b-11, 20-21
Romans 14:1-12
Matthew 18:21-35

First Thoughts on the Old Testament – Exodus
First Thoughts on the New Testament – Romans
First Thoughts on the New Testament – Matthew

Nathan Nettleton (Laughing Bird) has paraphrases of the readings – definitely worth checking out.

Source: https://jarrettbanks.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/forgiveness.jpg

Call to worship
(based on Exodus 15:1-11, 20-21; Romans 14:1-12)
No one is an island.
We are all joined in Christ Jesus.
Who else is like you, loving God?
Who is like you: beautiful in holiness,
awesome in all the things you do for us.
No one lives by themselves,
no one dies by themselves.
Whether we live or die
we are the Lord’s.
The Lord is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.
(Source: Bruce Prewer)

Opening prayer
God we gather for worship,
here we sing and pray and listen, we might even dream.
God we gather seeking your comforting presence,
to remind us that we are not alone, to share a blessing.
God we gather to be changed,
to be moved from lives of fear to lives of love.
God we gather to be sent back out,
to share the blessings of life, and give witness to God’s presence, and to declare: “surely the Lord is in this place”.
(Source: Rev Gord, Worship Offerings)

Call to worship (based on Exodus 14)
The sea of apathy surrounds
enticing us with self promotion
luring us with greed.
The sea of apathy surrounds
bloated with decay
the remains of injustice and idolatry.
The sea of apathy surrounds.
Our task this day
is to cross the sea.
Our task today
is to say “no” to the stench.
Our task if we chose it
is to say “yes” to life and faith.
“Yes”. Yes.
Let us cross the sea together.
(Source: Katherine Hawker, Evangelical United Church of Christ, September 1999) 

Call to worship
In sacred times of word, wonder, and awe,
in ordinary days of work and play:
in every moment, God is with us.
Whether we are stuck in doubt’s mud,
or standing on faith’s shoreline:
in every place, God is with us.
In those who teach us 
and those who trouble us;
in those who surprise us, 
and those who forgive us:
in every person, God is with us.
(Source: Thom Shuman)

Collects
O God of justice and love, You pardon us if we pardon our brothers and sisters:  Create in us a new heart in the image of Your Son, a heart ever greater than any offence it suffers.  May the world remember how much you love us?  We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son. Amen.
(Source: ‘Uniting in Worship’, Leader’s Book, p. 212)

Generous God, our creator and guide, may we serve you with all our heart and know your forgiveness in our lives. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
(adapted, ‘CanticaNova’, http://www.canticanova.com/planning/year-a/pln24a_l.htm)

Creating God, you made us in your image and gifted us with the joy of creation. Teach us to discern your hand in all your works and to serve you with reverence and thanksgiving; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (adapted ‘Common Order’, Church of Scotland, p. 683)

Prayer of Thanksgiving
(based on Exodus 14:19-31; Romans 14:1-12; Matthew 18:21-35)
We give you all thanks and praise, O God, for in you is extravagant mercy and salvation from all that would destroy us.

In the first of your mighty wonders, you created the earth,
dividing the watery chaos and bringing forth dry land.
In the days of Moses you divided the sea again
and delivered your people from their oppressors,
leading them by fire and cloud to the land of freedom.

In Jesus the Christ, your reign of love and mercy has embraced all who live and even in our weaknesses you uphold us. He was killed but his risen life is amongst us even now. Now whether we live or die we belong to you and in gratitude we share your love and mercy with all.

Therefore, with our hearts lifted high, we offer you thanks and praise at all times through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(Source: (adapted) Nathan Nettleton, Laughing Bird)

Prayer of Confession
Reconciling God, we would rather gossip about those who sin against us, than speak to them privately;
 we would rather parade our wounds for all to see, than quietly work toward forgiveness and reconciliation.
 Help us choose the harder road, the road that opens possibilities for real healing, real forgiveness, and real growth in your Spirit. Help us place the best interests of our community of faith above our own need for public vindication. Amen.
(Source: B.J. Beu, Ministry Matters) Continue reading →