PROPER 11
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series III
* CALL TO WORSHIP
Relax. You have heard the invitation of the Christ to come to
this quiet place for rest and renewal.
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Divine Shepherd, you seek to gather your scattered flock and
bring them back to the way of righteousness. We are sorry for
whatever we have done or failed to do that has estranged others
from you rather than entreating them to come back to your fold.
Forgive our own wandering and ungodly actions through Jesus
Christ, who laid down his life as our Good Shepherd. Amen.
* DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! Christ proclaims peace to you who were far
off and now are made near by the blood of his cross. Friends,
believe the Good News! In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
* EXHORTATION
Share the concern of Christ for his flock, that none may be
without a shepherd.
* PRAYER OF THE DAY
Prince and Preacher of Peace, guide us in your ways and so
inspire our words and actions by your Spirit that we may make
gates where there are still walls between nations and
nationalities, between churches and religions, all brought nearer
to our eternal Parent. Amen.
* PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
From what diversity of humanity you build your church, Divine
Builder! With what grace you inhabit this temple making it holy
by your presence within this human dwelling! We celebrate our
foundation on apostles and prophets and especially the keystone,
Jesus Christ! His cross mounted on the highest steeple can not do
justice to the miracle of reconciliation accomplished by your
covenant mercies. We exalt your name, One God, Architect,
Builder, Inhabiting Spirit. Amen.
* PRAYER OF DEDICATION
You fulfill all our needs, O God, except our need to give to
others and to you. Receive our offerings for the sake of your
self-giving Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
* PSALM 89:20-37
I have found my servant David;
with my holy oil I have anointed him;
my hand shall always remain with him;
my arm also shall strengthen him.
The enemy shall not outwit him,
the wicked shall not humble him.
I will crush his foes before him
and strike down those who hate him.
My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him;
and in my name his horn shall be exalted.
I will set his hand on the sea
and his right hand on the rivers.
He shall cry to me, "You are my Father,
my God, and the Rock of my salvation!"
I will make him the firstborn,
the highest of the kings of the earth.
Forever I will keep my steadfast love for him,
and my covenant with him will stand firm.
I will establish his line forever,
and his throne as long as the heavens endure.
If his children forsake my law and do not walk
according to my ordinances,
if they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments,
then I will punish their transgression with the rod
and their iniquity with scourges;
but I will not remove from him my steadfast love, or be false
to my faithfulness
I will not violate my covenant, or alter the word that
went forth from my lips.
Once and for all I have sworn by my holiness;
I will not lie to David.
His line shall continue forever,
and his throne endure before me like the sun.
It shall be established forever like the moon,
an enduring witness in the skies.
Relax. You have heard the invitation of the Christ to come to
this quiet place for rest and renewal.
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Divine Shepherd, you seek to gather your scattered flock and
bring them back to the way of righteousness. We are sorry for
whatever we have done or failed to do that has estranged others
from you rather than entreating them to come back to your fold.
Forgive our own wandering and ungodly actions through Jesus
Christ, who laid down his life as our Good Shepherd. Amen.
* DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! Christ proclaims peace to you who were far
off and now are made near by the blood of his cross. Friends,
believe the Good News! In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
* EXHORTATION
Share the concern of Christ for his flock, that none may be
without a shepherd.
* PRAYER OF THE DAY
Prince and Preacher of Peace, guide us in your ways and so
inspire our words and actions by your Spirit that we may make
gates where there are still walls between nations and
nationalities, between churches and religions, all brought nearer
to our eternal Parent. Amen.
* PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
From what diversity of humanity you build your church, Divine
Builder! With what grace you inhabit this temple making it holy
by your presence within this human dwelling! We celebrate our
foundation on apostles and prophets and especially the keystone,
Jesus Christ! His cross mounted on the highest steeple can not do
justice to the miracle of reconciliation accomplished by your
covenant mercies. We exalt your name, One God, Architect,
Builder, Inhabiting Spirit. Amen.
* PRAYER OF DEDICATION
You fulfill all our needs, O God, except our need to give to
others and to you. Receive our offerings for the sake of your
self-giving Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
* PSALM 89:20-37
I have found my servant David;
with my holy oil I have anointed him;
my hand shall always remain with him;
my arm also shall strengthen him.
The enemy shall not outwit him,
the wicked shall not humble him.
I will crush his foes before him
and strike down those who hate him.
My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him;
and in my name his horn shall be exalted.
I will set his hand on the sea
and his right hand on the rivers.
He shall cry to me, "You are my Father,
my God, and the Rock of my salvation!"
I will make him the firstborn,
the highest of the kings of the earth.
Forever I will keep my steadfast love for him,
and my covenant with him will stand firm.
I will establish his line forever,
and his throne as long as the heavens endure.
If his children forsake my law and do not walk
according to my ordinances,
if they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments,
then I will punish their transgression with the rod
and their iniquity with scourges;
but I will not remove from him my steadfast love, or be false
to my faithfulness
I will not violate my covenant, or alter the word that
went forth from my lips.
Once and for all I have sworn by my holiness;
I will not lie to David.
His line shall continue forever,
and his throne endure before me like the sun.
It shall be established forever like the moon,
an enduring witness in the skies.
