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Proper 18

Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series III
* CALL TO WORSHIP
Praise the Lord as long as you live. Sing psalms to God all your
life long.

* PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Just God, you are even-handed in your justice and in the day of
judgment will not play favorites. We confess that we are not so
fair in our dealings. We are often unduly impressed by the
powerful and the clever and excuse in them what we would condemn
in the powerless and ignorant. Forgive superficiality and
neglect of people needing advocacy and friendship, through the
friend of sinners, Jesus Christ. Amen.

* DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! God has chosen those who are poor in the
eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom
he has promised to those who love him. Friends, believe the Good
News. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.

* EXHORTATION
Never show snobbery, believing as you do in our Lord Jesus Christ
who reigns in glory.

* PRAYER OF THE DAY
Divine Physician, heal our hardness of hearing and soften our
feelings so that we have your sensitivity to and awareness of the
needs of others, often hidden behind a curtain of words. Free
our tongues to share our innermost feeling with a trusted friend
or counselor. Make us well, Jesus. Amen.

* PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
We praise you, God of Israel, God of the church universal. You
made the heavens and the earth, the sparrow and the gull, the
whale and the minnow. You care for people, the hungry and the
oppressed. You restore sight and help the stooped to stand tall.
You give new heart to the bereaved and hopeless. Our hopes are
in you and you will not disappoint us at the last. We praise
you, Creator, Christ, Comforter. Amen.

* PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Divine Person, beyond all human personhood, transform these
tangible but impersonal things into acts and gifts of persons-
serving-persons in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

* PSALM 125
Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the LORD surrounds his people,
from this time on and forevermore.
For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land
allotted to the righteous,
so that the righteous might not stretch out their hands to do
wrong.
Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,
and to those who are upright in their hearts.
But those who turn aside to their own crooked ways
the LORD will lead away with evildoers.
Peace be upon Israel!

UPCOMING WEEKS
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Proper 21 | OT 26 | Pent. 18
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Proper 23 | OT 28 | Pent. 20
23 – Sermons
150+ – Illustrations / Stories
36 – Children's Sermons / Resources
22 – Worship Resources
28 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
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For October 1, 2023:

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Object: This message will include a simple role-play activity.

Note: For the role-play, pick three children you believe can have some fun with their roles. You can read their parts for them, or for more fun, feed them their lines and have them repeat them. A little over-acting by the two sons makes it more memorable.

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Exodus 17:1-7

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As we read the writings of the Apostle Paul, we begin to get a sense through the Spirit that we are given the privilege to overhear his heart and soul. Not only is he a dedicated disciple, but also a very confessional preacher. For Paul to stop and ask something from prison is not out of character for him. When Paul makes those personal requests, it is a red flag, signaling a time to pay close attention, for here is the heart of the matter. This is the key to understanding. Paul's statements of instruction are more than instructions. He will draw a line in the sand.
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Litany
Divide the congregation into four voices.

I: Traveling to see friends,
traveling to see relatives,
II: show me your way, O Lord,
and teach me your paths.
III: To white-capped mountains,
and clear rushing streams,
IV: show me your way, O Lord,
and teach me your paths.
I: Sometimes in new neighborhoods,
sometimes in familiar homes,
II: show me your way, O Lord,
and teach me your paths.
III: Wherever we go, our path is the path of love;
our destination, your heart.

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