re:Worship: Proper 16 B

Showing posts with label Proper 16 B. Show all posts

Prayer of Illumination

Here is a prayer of illumination, traditionally offered before the reading and preaching of the Word. It comes from Leonard Sweet’s Preach the Story website.

Prayer before the Word

Gracious God,

may your messages and preaching come to us

through your Holy Spirit’s power,

so that our faith might not rest

on the articulation of words by our pastor

or the acumen of the human mind,

but upon Your power and presence.

Help us never to depend upon our own might or power,

but always upon Your Spirit.

May You, the God of all hope,

fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in you,

and in your holy Son,

the Lord Jesus,

Messiah of all people. Amen.

~ Posted on Leonard Sweet’s Preach the Story. https://preachthestory.com/resources/

Opening Prayer: Psalm 84: 1-7

How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!

We long to be where You are;

to stand in Your very presence,

and to behold You, face to face!

And so we have come to this place today;

we have gathered together to worship You—

to offer the praise which belongs to You alone.

Bless us as we worship You together,

and as we open our hearts and minds

to Your presence among us.

For You alone are God,

the One in whom we trust. Amen.

Call to Worship, Opening Prayer: Psalm 84

Here’s a combination opening prayer and call to worship inspired by Psalm 84. It comes from the Oratio Contemplativa website.

Opening Prayer / Call to Worship

(inspired by Psalm 84)

King of all the earth,

Creator of the universe,

Holy Triune God,

From everlasting to everlasting, you are Lord.

Our souls long for your courts, O Lord of hosts;

Happy are we who dwell in your house and are ever praising you!

Our hearts and our flesh rejoice in the living God;

Happy are we who dwell in your house and are ever praising you!

We have found a home in your presence, Our King and Our God;

Happy are we who dwell in your house and are ever praising you!

Who is like our God, the One who strengthens his people,

the One who reveals himself to all who seek after him?

This is our God, the Holy One.

Come before him with thanksgiving and offer him the sacrifice of praise.

~ excerpted from a longer prayer posted on the Oratio Contemplativa website. http://oratiocontemplativa.wordpress.com/2013/06/15/prayers-for-proper-25-year-c-rcl-closest-to-october-26/

If you’re looking for contemporary Praise & Worship song suggestions to use with Psalm 84 (the suggested psalm for Proper 16B, Proper 25C), you can find a list at my Contemporary Psalms blog. http://contemporarypsalms.blogspot.ca/ The blog is not finished (and likely never will be, since I keep coming across new songs!), but it’s a start.

Follow this link to Psalm 84: http://contemporarypsalms.blogspot.ca/2013/05/psalm-84.html

Gospel Reflection: John 6: 60-69

Here’s a thoughtful reflection on John 6:60-69 from Anne Osdieck on The Center for Liturgy web site.

Gospel Reflection

(inspired by John 6:60-69)

“Do you want to
leave me too?” Jesus asks.

He does not water down his words or change them.
“Whoever eats my flesh will live forever.”

Where would we go, Jesus?
Who has life and words
like yours?

If you can create a universe from nothing;
if you can invent a wheat field,
then we believe that you
can come to us
as bread.

Holy One of God,
come nourish us, be with us and sustain us,
or we will not have the strength.
Our journey will be
too hard.

~ written by Anne Osdieck, and posted on Saint Louis University’s The Center for Liturgy web site.

http://liturgy.slu.edu/

Opening Prayer: Proper 16 B

Here’s an opening prayer based on 1 Kings 8 and Ephesians 6:10-20, two of the suggested scripture readings for Proper 16 B (Ordinary 21 B), the thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost. It comes from The Abingdon Worship Annual 2009.

Opening Prayer

(based on 1 Kings 8, Ephesians 6:10-20)

Holy One of mystery and power,
there is no God like you
in heaven above or on earth below,
keeping covenant and steadfast love
with all who walk before you
with pure and upright hearts.
Fill our lives with your glory,
as you filled the temple with cloud
when Solomon first brought the ark
into your holy dwelling place.
Give us the strength and the power
to withstand the forces of evil
at work in our lives and in our world. Amen.

Call to Worship: Proper 16 B

Here’s a call to worship based on Psalm 84 and I Kings 8:27, two of the suggested scripture passages for Proper 16 B (Ordinary 21 B) – the thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost. It was written by Amy Loving.

Call to Worship

(inspired by Psalm 84, 1 Kings 8:27)

How beautiful are the places where you dwell, O Lord!

This house cannot contain your glory;

even the heavens are bursting with the goodness of your presence!

Happy are those who find their strength in you.

Hear our prayers this day, Holy God,

as we proclaim your praises to all the earth!

~ written by Amy Loving. Posted on The Worship Closet website. http://worshipcloset.com/

Opening Prayer: Psalm 84

Here’s an opening prayer inspired by Psalm 84. It was written by Joan Stott.

Prayer of Thankfulness and Trust

(inspired by Psalm 84)

Everlasting God, in the beauty of your holiness we gather to worship you, to praise you for your goodness and mercy; and for the way that here especially, we can be aware and know your holy presence. We come together into this our beloved place of prayer and praise, where we are not only surrounded by the signs and symbols of your presence, but also of the memories of people, who in the past, have inspired us with their faith and their nurture of us; but who have also pointed to us towards the only way forward for our life’s faith journey.

Welcoming God, we come as your vulnerable children to worship you, to offer ourselves to you with all our frailties and faults; and all our struggles with life’s complexities, because you open your arms with love and compassion to all in need of your generous love and support. As the wise Psalmist wrote: “Even the sparrow finds a home there, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young near your altar.” We come together today, to gain strength, hope and encouragement for life’s journey from the Source of all power and strength – our God.

God of grace and God of glory, you are our Light and our Protector—and our God in whom we trust, regardless of our worldly status or influence over others. We come in humility, before such a Forgiving God as is our God, and acknowledge that it is only in your presence that we can find life’s balance and perspective; and that only in your holy presence, we can know true acceptance and our true home. Amen.

~ written by Joan Stott, and posted on Geelong City Parish UCA website. If used in shared worship, please provide an acknowledgement as follows: © 2012 Joan Stott – "The Timeless Psalms" RCL Psalm Year B, used with permission.

Words of Assurance: Proper 16 B

Here’s a declaration of grace after confession based on the suggested scripture readings for Proper 16 B (the thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost). It was written by Nathan Nettleton.

Declaration of Grace / Absolution

(inspired by Psalm 34, John 6)

The Lord is steadfast in love
and hears the prayers of all who come seeking mercy.
God reaches out to us in Jesus Christ
forgiving our sins
and nourishing us for life without limit.

Sisters and Brothers,
your sins are forgiven;
................be at peace.

~ Copyright © 2000 Nathan Nettleton www.laughingbird.net

Confession: Proper 16 B

Here’s a prayer of confession based on 1 Kings 8 and Ephesians 6:10-20, two of the suggested scripture readings for Proper 16 B (Ordinary 21 B), the thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost.

Prayer of Confession

(based on 1 Kings 8, Ephesians 6:10-20)

Mighty One of Israel,
we walk in paths well trodden
by generations of fellow believers.
We love to claim you as our God
and to be known as your people.
We love to hear the great deeds of the saints
who went before us.
We love to count ourselves
in their mighty company.
Forgive our hesitancy
to build our own monuments
to your importance in our lives.
Forgive our reluctance
to put on our own armor of faith
as we face the powers of sin and death
in our own lives. Amen.

Confession: Ephesians 6: 10-20

Here’s a prayer of confession based on Ephesians 6:10-20, the suggested Epistle reading for Proper 16 B (Ordinary 21 B), the thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost. It was written by Amy Loving.

Prayer of Confession

(inspired by Ephesians 6:10-20)

Spirit of God, we confess that we put on airs more often than we put on the armor of God. We are guilty of girding ourselves with lies instead of the truth. We try to protect ourselves with arrogance, superstition, and self-reliance instead of righteousness, faith, and your gift of salvation. Our footsteps do not follow your path of peace. And we are quick to use your Word to attack one another, instead of striking out against the sins we personally commit. Forgive us, Holy God. Gift us with the wisdom and strength to change our ways, so that we may live as your faithful ambassadors of the Good News.

~ written by Amy Loving. Posted on The Worship Closet website. http://worshipcloset.com/

Call to Worship: 1 Kings 8: 22-30

Here’s a call to worship litany based on Solomon’s prayer of dedication for the Temple in 1 Kings 8. It was written by Bruce Prewer.

Litany

(based on 1 Kings 8: 22-30)

Will you, God, live on this small planet earth?

Look! Heaven and earth cannot contain You,

much less this house of prayer

which we have built and cherished.

Raise the stone and you shall find me,

cleave the wood and I am there.

There is no god like you, God of Jesus,

neither on earth nor elsewhere in the whole universe!

A God who keeps every promise

and shows unswerving love to your servants

who with all their hearts walk in your ways.

Blessed are you, our Creator and Redeemer,

in whom we live and move and have our being

~ Written by Bruce Prewer, and posted on Bruce Prewer’s Home Page. http://www.bruceprewer.com/

Litany: Preparing the Table

Here’s a litany of preparation for use at the Lord’s Table. It was written by Brian Wren.

Litany: What do you bring?

What do you bring to Christ’s table?
We bring bread,
made by many people’s work
from an unjust world
where some have plenty
and most go hungry.

At this table, all are fed
and no one turned away.
Thanks be to God

What do you bring to Christ’s table?
We bring wine,
made by many people’s work
from an unjust world
where some have leisure
and most struggle to survive

At this table, all share the cup
of pain and celebration
And no one is denied.
Thanks be to God

These gifts shall be for us
the body and blood of Christ,
Our witness against hunger,
our cry against injustice,
And our hope for a world
where God is fully known
And every child is fed.
Thanks be to God

~ written by Brian Wren, from ‘Bread of Tomorrow’, ed. Janet Morley, Christian Aid/SPCK 1992. Posted on the Monthly Prayers page of the Christian Aid website. http://www.christianaid.org.uk/

Opening Litany: Psalm 84

Here’s an opening litany based on Psalm 84. It was written by Pastor Dan Bollerud.

Opening Litany

(Psalm 84)

Wherever you are, O Lord Almighty, beauty surrounds you.

My soul yearns, even feels faint when I sense the presence of the Lord.

Our hearts, our very being cry out for the presence of the Living Lord.

Even the birds of the air have found their home in you O Lord,

a source of comfort and safety where the young may be raised in confidence.

Blessed are those who dwell in your presence, O Lord,

for they are ever praising you.

Blessed are those whose strength is in the Lord

and whose hearts journey with the Lord,

for even when they pass through the dark times in life,

the presence of the Lord will make it a place and source of life.

Hear our prayers, O Lord God Almighty,

and be our comfort and safety.

Let your Holy Spirit watch over us

and guide us to always walk in your presence.

Better is one day in your presence than a thousand elsewhere;

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God

than live in comfort in the tents of the wicked.

For the Lord our God is the light of the world and our protection.

The Lord bestows favor and honor

for those who walk in the presence of the Lord.

Blessed, O Lord, are those who trust in you.

~ written by Dan Bollerud, and posted on Pastor Dan’s Grace Notes. http://coslcgrace.blogspot.ca/

Confession: Proper 16 B

Here’s a prayer of confession for Proper 16 B (the 13^th Sunday after Pentecost). It was written by Thom Shuman.

Prayer of Confession / Words of Assurance

(inspired by Psalm 84, John 6:56-69, Ephesians 6:10-20)

If it was easy to follow Jesus,

we would not need to ask for forgiveness.

But it is tough—

tough to say 'yes,'

tough to be graceful,

tough to be loving.

Yet whatever we do,

God loves us enough to forgive us

and to feed us with the Bread of Life.

Let us pray together, saying,

God, our sun and shield:

we may long to be in your house,

but our deeds show how tough it is for us to live there.

Called to follow,

we search for paths to take us back to our old ways;

given the words of eternal life,

we weakly proclaim the gospel to others;

offered the path of salvation to walk upon,

we stumble down the rocky roads of our world.

Forgive us, Guardian of our lives.

Strengthen us with your Spirit,

so we may follow Jesus Christ,
the One we have come to believe and know

is our Lord and Savior.

Silent prayers may be offered

Today, receive the Bread of Life;
today, hear the words of eternal hope;
today, trust in the One who hears your prayers,
and showers grace and forgiveness upon you.
Today, we are set free to serve God's people,
and to sing God's praises.

Thanks be to God.
Amen.

~ written by Thom Shuman, and posted on Lectionary Liturgies. http://lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.ca/

Prayer of Thanksgiving: Proper 16 B

Here’s a prayer of thanksgiving from Nathan Nettleton. It’s based on the suggested scripture readings for the 13^th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 16 B).

General Prayer of Thanksgiving

We give you all thanks and praise, O God,
for you are the giver of honour and grace
and we are eager for your presence with us.

The heavens and the earth cannot contain you
for you have created them and hold them in your hand.
And yet you dwell among your people
and allow even the birds of the air
to nest in your courts and honour you with their song.

You have sent your Holy One, Jesus Christ,
to speak to us your word of Spirit and life.
Though the forces of evil and death consumed him,
he rose from the grave
proclaiming your gospel of peace.
Now he nourishes us for eternal life
and arms us with truth, righteousness and salvation
that we might stand firm against the corrupt spiritual powers
that would tear down all who seek you with integrity.

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.

~ Copyright © 2003 Nathan Nettleton www.laughingbird.net

Readers' Theatre: Ephesians 6: 10-20

Here’s a two-voice setting of Ephesians 6:10-20, the suggested epistle reading for Proper 16 B (the thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost).

Readers’ Theatre

Ephesians 6:10-20

One: A final word:

Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Put on all of God’s armor

so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

Two: For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies,

but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world,

One: against mighty powers in this dark world,

and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Two: Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor

so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil.

Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

One: Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth

and the body armor of God’s righteousness.

Two: For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News

so that you will be fully prepared.

One: In addition to all of these,

hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.

Two: Put on salvation as your helmet,

and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

One: Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.

Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Two: And pray for me, too.

Ask God to give me the right words

so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan

that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.

I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador.

So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.

Reflection: 1 Kings 8: 41-43

Here’s a reflection on 1 Kings 8:41-43. It was written by Katherine Hawker.

Reflection

When a stranger, who is not of your people,
comes from a distant land because they have heard of you--
and they will hear of you, your power and your open door--
when a stranger comes and prayers with you,
then hear my voice calling and do as the stranger asks,
so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name
and know that your name reflects my indwelling.

1 Kings 8:41-43 (paraphrase)

give to them that seek
not because of their need
not because of their worthiness

give to them that ask
not for our own glory
not to testify to our personal goodness

give to them that seek
to bear witness
to the spirit dancing in our lives

~ written by Katherine Hawker, and posted on Liturgies Outside. http://liturgyoutside.net/

Opening Prayer: Psalm 84

Here’s an opening prayer of invocation from the SermonHelp.com website.

A Unison Prayer of Invocation

(based on Psalm 84)

It is good to be here in your presence Lord.

Here we are at home with each other and with you.

Here we discover the joy of life and the strength to live each day

with praise in our hearts to you.

You alone are God!

You alone can show us the way to the life that lasts forever.

We love you, Lord,
and we lift this prayer in adoration of your holy name. Amen.

~ posted on SermonHelp.com. http://www.lectionarysermons.com/

Prayer of Intercession: Proper 16 B

Here’s a prayer of intercession based on the suggested scripture readings for Proper 16 B (Ordinary 21 B), the thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost. It was written by Paul Sauer.

Prayers of the People: Proper 16 B

Lord God Almighty, may we revere and serve you, forsaking all other would-be gods.