Godly civil disobedience
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series II
Exegetical note: The story of the Pharaoh’s ineffective plot to decimate the burgeoning Hebrew population by killing its newborn males is a tale of the godliness, courage, and cleverness of a series of "powerless" women in the face of abused political authority. The omitted verses here (15-21) tell of first the Jewish midwives who refuse to cooperate. Then Moses' mother and sister conspire successfully to save him. Even Pharaoh’s daughter, out of sheer human compassion, knowingly defies her father's cruel orders.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 124)
Leader:
If God had not been on Israel's side,
People:
THEIR ENEMIES WOULD HAVE SWALLOWED THEM UP ALIVE!
Leader:
If God likewise were not our strength,
People: THEN THE FLOODS OF LIFE WOULD WASH US AWAY!
Collect
Most righteous God, you have given us many examples of saints who have disobeyed earthly rulers and rules for godly reasons. Give us also such courage: that, not weighing the personal risk, we may be ready to fight injustice and inhumanity wherever they exist. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Loving God, we confess that we have time and again turned our attention from injustice in the world, and have either pretended that it didn't exist, or told ourselves that it wasn't our fault or our place to fight it. Forgive us, O God, and remind us with the example of Jesus that an important part of the Christian life is the kind of compassion that cannot stand to see people suffering unfairly, and that fights even powers and principalities to oppose oppression and end inequity. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen
Proper 9
Sunday between July 3 and July 9 inclusive
Second Lesson: Romans 7:14-25a
Theme:
The overwhelming power of sin
Exegetical note: Paul's personal confession of his own powerlessness in the face of sin contains a deep psychological insight about the overwhelming power of sin and every human's inevitable struggle with it. For sin is a problem not just for the malicious evildoers "out there somewhere." On the contrary, even the godly with the best of intentions find themselves acting against their own wills and minds (v. 25b).
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 124)
Leader:
Blessed be God, for not giving us over to sin!
People:
WITH GOD'S HELP, WE HAVE ESCAPED LIKE BIRDS FROM A SNARE!
Leader:
In Christ, the snare is broken, and we are set free!
People:
OUR HELP IS IN GOD, WHO MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH!
Collect
Eternal God, you have recognized the overwhelming power of sin in our lives and have overcome it in the person of Jesus. Bring your mercy to bear on us: that, touched by your exceeding grace, we may gain control over every evil that would separate us from you. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, we confess that, like Paul before us, we stand powerless in the face of sin, and wind up doing the evil that we want to resist, and not doing the good that we know we should. We have tried to resist the Satan in our hearts, and have failed miserably. Forgive us, we pray; touch us with the redeeming power of your love; and fill us with your sustaining Spirit. For only by your grace can we be free to become the children of light that you would have us be. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen
Proper 9
Sunday between July 3 and July 9 inclusive
Gospel:
Matthew 11:25-30
Theme:
The bearable lightness of grace
Exegetical note: The specific meaning of verse 28, which is often used out of context as a word of comfort at funerals, is revealed by the following verses, which refer to a "yoke." In Jesus' day, the Law was referred to as a yoke, because it was demanding and burdensome. (The Hindu tradition also called its basic spiritual discipline yoga, Sanskrit for "yoke"!) By contrast, says Jesus, his message is "easy" and his "burden is light." For it rests, not upon human obedience, but upon God's grace.
Call to Worship
Leader:
Let us open our eyes to God's glory!
People:
LET US OPEN OUR EARS TO GOD'S WORD!
Leader:
Let us open our minds to God's gospel of grace!
People:
LET US OPEN OUR HEARTS TO GOD'S LOVE!
Collect
Heavenly God, you removed from us the burden of the Law and touched us lightly with your grace. Lift sin completely from us: that, freed from its unbearable weight, we may stand tall and walk with ease in the your paths of righteousness. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of tender mercy, we sadly confess that the reality of your grace and mercy often escapes us, and that we frequently find ourselves still trying to win your love by our merits and to secure salvation by our own feeble efforts, instead of trusting in you and your love in Christ Jesus. Forgive us, we pray, and convince us once and for all that our loads have been lifted and our burdens made light by the atoning work of the one we call the Lamb. In his redeeming name we pray. Amen
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 124)
Leader:
If God had not been on Israel's side,
People:
THEIR ENEMIES WOULD HAVE SWALLOWED THEM UP ALIVE!
Leader:
If God likewise were not our strength,
People: THEN THE FLOODS OF LIFE WOULD WASH US AWAY!
Collect
Most righteous God, you have given us many examples of saints who have disobeyed earthly rulers and rules for godly reasons. Give us also such courage: that, not weighing the personal risk, we may be ready to fight injustice and inhumanity wherever they exist. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Loving God, we confess that we have time and again turned our attention from injustice in the world, and have either pretended that it didn't exist, or told ourselves that it wasn't our fault or our place to fight it. Forgive us, O God, and remind us with the example of Jesus that an important part of the Christian life is the kind of compassion that cannot stand to see people suffering unfairly, and that fights even powers and principalities to oppose oppression and end inequity. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen
Proper 9
Sunday between July 3 and July 9 inclusive
Second Lesson: Romans 7:14-25a
Theme:
The overwhelming power of sin
Exegetical note: Paul's personal confession of his own powerlessness in the face of sin contains a deep psychological insight about the overwhelming power of sin and every human's inevitable struggle with it. For sin is a problem not just for the malicious evildoers "out there somewhere." On the contrary, even the godly with the best of intentions find themselves acting against their own wills and minds (v. 25b).
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 124)
Leader:
Blessed be God, for not giving us over to sin!
People:
WITH GOD'S HELP, WE HAVE ESCAPED LIKE BIRDS FROM A SNARE!
Leader:
In Christ, the snare is broken, and we are set free!
People:
OUR HELP IS IN GOD, WHO MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH!
Collect
Eternal God, you have recognized the overwhelming power of sin in our lives and have overcome it in the person of Jesus. Bring your mercy to bear on us: that, touched by your exceeding grace, we may gain control over every evil that would separate us from you. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, we confess that, like Paul before us, we stand powerless in the face of sin, and wind up doing the evil that we want to resist, and not doing the good that we know we should. We have tried to resist the Satan in our hearts, and have failed miserably. Forgive us, we pray; touch us with the redeeming power of your love; and fill us with your sustaining Spirit. For only by your grace can we be free to become the children of light that you would have us be. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen
Proper 9
Sunday between July 3 and July 9 inclusive
Gospel:
Matthew 11:25-30
Theme:
The bearable lightness of grace
Exegetical note: The specific meaning of verse 28, which is often used out of context as a word of comfort at funerals, is revealed by the following verses, which refer to a "yoke." In Jesus' day, the Law was referred to as a yoke, because it was demanding and burdensome. (The Hindu tradition also called its basic spiritual discipline yoga, Sanskrit for "yoke"!) By contrast, says Jesus, his message is "easy" and his "burden is light." For it rests, not upon human obedience, but upon God's grace.
Call to Worship
Leader:
Let us open our eyes to God's glory!
People:
LET US OPEN OUR EARS TO GOD'S WORD!
Leader:
Let us open our minds to God's gospel of grace!
People:
LET US OPEN OUR HEARTS TO GOD'S LOVE!
Collect
Heavenly God, you removed from us the burden of the Law and touched us lightly with your grace. Lift sin completely from us: that, freed from its unbearable weight, we may stand tall and walk with ease in the your paths of righteousness. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of tender mercy, we sadly confess that the reality of your grace and mercy often escapes us, and that we frequently find ourselves still trying to win your love by our merits and to secure salvation by our own feeble efforts, instead of trusting in you and your love in Christ Jesus. Forgive us, we pray, and convince us once and for all that our loads have been lifted and our burdens made light by the atoning work of the one we call the Lamb. In his redeeming name we pray. Amen
