The awesome presence of God
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series II
Exegetical note: Every aspect of this narrative points to the awesomeness of the presence of God. The people's distant encounter with the Almighty is startling enough, affecting almost every sense; yet, they were kept at the foot of the mountain, protected from the direct experience of God that ostensibly they would not have been able to bear. Only Moses and Aaron are given the privilege of hearing God directly and (subsequently) mediating God's word and will.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 115)
Leader:
Brothers and sisters, our God is in the heavens!
People:
OUR GOD MADE THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH!
Leader:
Let all who fear God also trust in God!
People:
FOR GOD IS OUR HELP AND OUR SHIELD!
Collect
God of infinite grandeur, you have given a few the privilege of a direct encounter with you. Let us see as much of you as we can bear: that, filled with the experience of you, we may better serve you in our age of doubt and disbelief. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of boundless grace, we confess that we often allow our lack of direct and dramatic experiences of you to lead us to doubt your very existence and to succumb to the skepticism of our modern age, and that we let the outlandish claims of self-proclaimed prophets compound our uncertainties. Forgive us, O God; convince us again that, precisely because you are Ultimate, your being and nature are unfathomable; and help us to trust in the testimony of those who have witnessed you directly, and in our own experiences in which you have touched us subtly. In the Christ's name we pray. Amen
Proper 18
Sunday between September 4 and September 10 inclusive
Second Lesson: Romans 13:1-10
Theme:
The challenge of Christian citizenship
Exegetical note: The exhortation in the first seven verses of this selection would seem to mitigate against any sort of civil disobedience in the name of Christian conscience. But it must be read in the light of the fact that Christianity itself was an illegal sect (or "cult"!) in Paul's time (or soon after). It also must be balanced (as it has been throughout the history of Christian political ethics) by Acts 5:28 as a kind of "bottom line": "We must obey God rather than humans."
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 115)
Leader:
God has been mindful of us!
People:
GOD WILL BLESS US!
Leader:
God blessed the houses of Israel and Aaron!
People:
GOD WILL BLESS ALL WHO FEAR GOD, BOTH THE GREAT AND THE SMALL!
Collect
Most just God, you have placed upon us the expectation of responsible citizenship in our earthly societies. Give us the wisdom to carry out this task: that, when demands of the state and claims of our faith seem to conflict, we may be guided to proper action by your Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of all righteousness, we confess that we sometimes let our patriotism get out of hand, as well as our devotion to "law and order" and the status quo, and thus give the political powers that be an almost divine status. Forgive us, we pray, and help us to maintain the proper respect for those in secular authority, but to discern when in Christian conscience we must oppose them and their policies in the name of the sacred and the cause of the Christ. In his name we pray. Amen
Proper 18
Sunday between September 4 and September 10 inclusive
Gospel:
Matthew 18:15-20
Theme:
Handling conflict in a holy community
Exegetical note: The first few verses of this passage should serve as a reminder that, at least within the Christian fellowship, the inevitable conflicts that arise should be dealt with circumspectly. Rather than creating a cause celebre from the outset, a "wronged" party should attempt to resolve a grievance one-on-one with the perpetrator, and only then if not satistifed, and only gradually, attempt to seek resolution in a wider circle of consultation.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 114)
Leader:
Brothers and sisters, the Church is a holy community!
People:
THE CHURCH IS A GODLY FELLOWSHIP, NOT LIKE THE WORLD!
Leader:
Let us therefore be to one another as a family!
People:
LET US TREAT EACH OTHER AS CHILDREN OF THE MOST HIGH!
Collect
God of infinite power, you have cautioned your servants to be slow to anger. Teach us to resolve conflict in wholesome ways: that, touched by your love and understanding, we may deal with the inevitable disagreements that arise with fairness and grace. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of exceeding patience, we confess that we do not always deal with differences of opinion in positive and productive ways, even within the Church, and that we sometimes vent our own personal frustrations in life by escalating petty issues to the level of grand causes, and make slight divergences of view into major disagreements that provoke hard feelings and arguments. Forgive us, O God, and help us to take to heart Saint Paul's advice to settle all matters in a Spirit of fellowship, harmony, and selfless love. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 115)
Leader:
Brothers and sisters, our God is in the heavens!
People:
OUR GOD MADE THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH!
Leader:
Let all who fear God also trust in God!
People:
FOR GOD IS OUR HELP AND OUR SHIELD!
Collect
God of infinite grandeur, you have given a few the privilege of a direct encounter with you. Let us see as much of you as we can bear: that, filled with the experience of you, we may better serve you in our age of doubt and disbelief. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of boundless grace, we confess that we often allow our lack of direct and dramatic experiences of you to lead us to doubt your very existence and to succumb to the skepticism of our modern age, and that we let the outlandish claims of self-proclaimed prophets compound our uncertainties. Forgive us, O God; convince us again that, precisely because you are Ultimate, your being and nature are unfathomable; and help us to trust in the testimony of those who have witnessed you directly, and in our own experiences in which you have touched us subtly. In the Christ's name we pray. Amen
Proper 18
Sunday between September 4 and September 10 inclusive
Second Lesson: Romans 13:1-10
Theme:
The challenge of Christian citizenship
Exegetical note: The exhortation in the first seven verses of this selection would seem to mitigate against any sort of civil disobedience in the name of Christian conscience. But it must be read in the light of the fact that Christianity itself was an illegal sect (or "cult"!) in Paul's time (or soon after). It also must be balanced (as it has been throughout the history of Christian political ethics) by Acts 5:28 as a kind of "bottom line": "We must obey God rather than humans."
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 115)
Leader:
God has been mindful of us!
People:
GOD WILL BLESS US!
Leader:
God blessed the houses of Israel and Aaron!
People:
GOD WILL BLESS ALL WHO FEAR GOD, BOTH THE GREAT AND THE SMALL!
Collect
Most just God, you have placed upon us the expectation of responsible citizenship in our earthly societies. Give us the wisdom to carry out this task: that, when demands of the state and claims of our faith seem to conflict, we may be guided to proper action by your Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of all righteousness, we confess that we sometimes let our patriotism get out of hand, as well as our devotion to "law and order" and the status quo, and thus give the political powers that be an almost divine status. Forgive us, we pray, and help us to maintain the proper respect for those in secular authority, but to discern when in Christian conscience we must oppose them and their policies in the name of the sacred and the cause of the Christ. In his name we pray. Amen
Proper 18
Sunday between September 4 and September 10 inclusive
Gospel:
Matthew 18:15-20
Theme:
Handling conflict in a holy community
Exegetical note: The first few verses of this passage should serve as a reminder that, at least within the Christian fellowship, the inevitable conflicts that arise should be dealt with circumspectly. Rather than creating a cause celebre from the outset, a "wronged" party should attempt to resolve a grievance one-on-one with the perpetrator, and only then if not satistifed, and only gradually, attempt to seek resolution in a wider circle of consultation.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 114)
Leader:
Brothers and sisters, the Church is a holy community!
People:
THE CHURCH IS A GODLY FELLOWSHIP, NOT LIKE THE WORLD!
Leader:
Let us therefore be to one another as a family!
People:
LET US TREAT EACH OTHER AS CHILDREN OF THE MOST HIGH!
Collect
God of infinite power, you have cautioned your servants to be slow to anger. Teach us to resolve conflict in wholesome ways: that, touched by your love and understanding, we may deal with the inevitable disagreements that arise with fairness and grace. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of exceeding patience, we confess that we do not always deal with differences of opinion in positive and productive ways, even within the Church, and that we sometimes vent our own personal frustrations in life by escalating petty issues to the level of grand causes, and make slight divergences of view into major disagreements that provoke hard feelings and arguments. Forgive us, O God, and help us to take to heart Saint Paul's advice to settle all matters in a Spirit of fellowship, harmony, and selfless love. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
