COCU60B

RCL Readings
Job 23:1-9, 16-17
Job longs to put his case before God, but he does not know how to find God. If he could get to God’s dwelling place, he believes, he could lay out his case, but God is absent to him.
Psalm 22:1-15
A cry for God’s presence and rescue in a time of great persecution and trial in which God seems to have forsaken the Psalmist. God is holy and the Psalmist’s ancestors trusted God and were saved, but now the Psalmist is being attacked, and is suffering greatly, and no rescue seems to be forthcoming.
Hebrews 4:12-16
God’s word is sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing into the deepest parts of our beings and judging our thoughts and intentions. Therefore we need to keep our trust in Jesus who was tempted in every way, as we are but did not sin. In him we can draw near to God’s throne and find grace.

Mark 10:17-31
A wealthy man asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, and Jesus answers that he must follow the commandments – which the man claims he has done. Then Jesus tells him to sell all his possessions, give the money to the poor, and follow him, at which point the man goes away sad. Then Jesus teaches that it is very hard for the wealthy to enter God’s Reign. When Peter points out that the disciples have left everything to follow him, Jesus responds that those who have left behind loved ones and possessions for the Reign of God will receive much more in return, both in this life and in the one to come.
(Bible reading summaries by John van de Laar, Sacredise)

Readings to print in landscape A4 folded format COCU60B.Readings

Resources
Textweek
Starters for Sunday (Church of Scotland)
Singing from the lectionary
Carolyn Winfrey Gillette:Hymns (Year B Pentecost, scroll down to the date)

Components of worship
(including links to resources on this website)
Acknowledgement of Land
Gathering
Prayer of thanksgiving
Prayer of confession/prayers of who we are
Words of Assurance
Prayer for Illumination
Readings (see above)
Prayers for others (see also below)
See also the Pastoral Prayer on Sexual Assault
Lord’s Prayer
Prayer of Dedication
Benediction and sending out
(Communion)
(Communion Hymns)

“When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no
food, they call me a communist.” (Dom Hélder Câmara)
“I don’t know which Bible people are reading when they say that religion and politics
don’t mix.” (Desmond Tutu)

Prayers for Others
The following prayer is based on the song “Jesus Christ is waiting” (TiS 665) and can be used with one verse of the hymn being sung after each stanza of the prayer.
Lord Jesus Christ
Born in a shed, child refugee, friend of the outcast, political prisoner
We ask you to give strength and companionship to people who have no-one else to turn to Be with those in our own community who struggle with loneliness
And in the midst of our busy lives, help us find time to connect with them
One: Jesus Christ is waiting
All: Jesus Christ is waiting… (sung)
There is so much wrong in the world: poverty, violence, greed, hunger and much more
We ask you to be a light in the darkness, bringing hope where none exists
Walk alongside those who fight injustice, and carry those who can’t go on
Help us keep the fires of justice burning in our own hearts, never accepting the status quo
One: Jesus Christ is raging
All: Jesus Christ is raging… (sung)
We all suffer from ill health at some point, be it physical, mental or spiritual
We ask you to bring healing and comfort to those who are struggling right now
Help us do our part in caring for those around us
As we give thanks for those who devote their life to a ministry of healing
One: Jesus Christ is healing
All: Jesus Christ is healing… (sung)
In a world where power is abused and suspicion breeds fear
We ask for the courage to be bold in the face of hatred
Help us to stand with those who are oppressed
And to show that goodness and love are stronger than evil
One: Jesus Christ is dancing
All: Jesus Christ is dancing… (sung)
As we reflect on the many challenges that we and our community face
Help us to recognise the gifts that we have to offer in tackling poverty
We ask for guidance in understanding how we are called to service
And help us to be bold if it means stepping out of our comfort-zone
One: Jesus Christ is calling
All: Jesus Christ is calling… (sung)
(Source: Starters for Sunday, Church of Scotland)

Reflections on the Gospel
The world’s 100 richest people earned a stunning total of $240 billion (2012 – check out more recent statistics). It is enough money to end extreme poverty worldwide four times over, Oxfam has revealed, adding that the global economic crisis is further enriching the super-rich. Read the article here.

We continually have to resist the belief that there’s something we have to do to “be saved.” We think there are “good” people (the man thought Jesus was one) and others who are less so. We believe our salvation is up to us. Clearly the disciples think so. Were that true, of course it would be impossible. But it’s up to God. And God has already “saved” us.
Take note that Jesus looks at the man and loves him. The man does not need to do anything for Jesus to love him; he already does. He responds to the man not with requirements but with love. Because that’s his point. There is no requirement. God already loves us. We are already saved. There is no salvation beyond God’s love; God’s love is not insufficient for our eternal joy. All we need to be “saved” from is our own distrust. The man seems to have great possessions but “lacks one thing.” Jesus looks on him in his poverty and sets him free: let go of what you can measure and what you can lose—either riches or goodness—and grasp only what is infinite, what is already yours.
Meditate on this infinite love of God. It is yours, now. It surrounds you, fills you, gives you every breath. You can’t deserve it more or less. It is imply here. Even as you ask and wonder, maybe even doubt, God looks at you with love. God’s delight is not up to you. Let this light break in, and become you.
(Source: Steve Garnaas-Holmes, Unfolding Light)

Benediction: To do what we can
a commissioning and blessing after Mark 10:17-31
Go now, community of Jesus the Christ,
And love who you can,
Share what you can,
And be fully present as you can.
May the Creator give us enough,
May Wisdom show us what is enough,
And may the Spirit enable us to be enough.
For the sake of the Holy and all that has life. Amen.
(Source: Sarah Agnew, Pray the Story)

Music

O God, why are you silent?
(beautiful plaintive words – relates especially to the Job reading)

O God, why are you silent? I cannot hear your voice;
the proud and strong and violent all claim you and rejoice;
you promised you would hold me with tenderness and care.
Draw near, O Love, enfold me, and ease this pain I bear.

My hope lies bruised and battered, my wounded heart is torn;
my spirit spent and shattered by life’s relentless storm;
will you not bend to hear me, my cries from deep within?
Have you no word to cheer me when night is closing in?

Through endless nights of weeping, through weary days of grief,
my heart is in your keeping, my comfort, my relief.
Come, share my tears and sadness, come, suffer in my pain,
oh, bring me home to gladness, restore my hope again.

May pain draw forth compassion, let wisdom rise from loss;
oh, take my heart and fashion the image of your cross;
then may I know your healing, through healing that I share,
your grace and love revealing, your tenderness and care.
(Words: Marty Haugen, Evangelical Lutheran Worship; tune PASSION CHORALE, Hassler. PDF of words and music here). Youtube clip here with the music/words.

Sorrowing Song (Robin Mann)

  1. Lord, hear my praying, listen to me;
    you know there’s evil in what I see.
    I know I’m part of all that is wrong;
    still, won’t you hear my sorrowing song?
  2. Children are crying, hungry for food,
    sick from diseases — God, are you good?
    People are homeless, lost and alone —
    God, are you hiding? Where have you gone?
  3. Why do the rich ones steal from the poor?
    Why do they build their weapons of war?
    How can you stand the torture and pain,
    hope disappearing, freedom in chains?
  4. Jesus, remind us that you are found
    with those who cry, with those who are bound.
    Where there is suffering, you will be there —
    help us to follow, Lord, hear my prayer.

TiS 690 Beauty for Brokenness, Hope for Despair

Will you come and follow me / The Summons (John Bell) – response to the Gospel

Hymn: “When out of poverty is born” (Kingsfold)
1 When out of poverty is born
a dream that will not die,
and landless, weary folk find strength
to stand with heads held high,
it’s then we learn from those who wait
to greet the promised day,
‘The Lord is coming; don’t lose heart.
Be blest: prepare the way!’
2 When people wander far from God,
forget to share their bread,
they find their wealth an empty thing,
their spirits are not fed.
For only just and tender love
the hungry soul will stay.
And so God’s prophets echo still
‘Be blest: prepare the way!’
3 When God took flesh and came to earth,
the world turned upside down,
and in the strength of woman’s faith
the Word of Life was born.
She knew that God would raise the low,
it pleased her to obey.
Rejoice with Mary in the call,
‘Be blest: prepare the way!
(Words ©Kathryn Galloway)

Communion – Thom Shuman’s liturgy here.

Midweek worship, Pilgrim Uniting Church COCU60B.midweek.2018

8am Sunday 2015, Pilgrim Uniting Church COCU60B.8AM.2015

9.30am Sunday 2015, Pilgrim Uniting Church COCU60B.9.30.2015

11am Sunday 2015, Pilgrim Uniting Church COCU60B.11AM.2015

 

About admin

Rev Sandy Boyce is a Uniting Church in Australia Minister (Deacon). This blog may be a help to people planning worship services.
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