PROPER 16
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series III, Cycle A
CALL TO WORSHIP
The judgements of God are unsearchable, but search them out. Continue to plumb the depths of God's wisdom to trace the ways of divine providence.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Source, Guide and goal of all that is, we acknowledge that though we come from you, we have not always followed the guidance you have given us in Jesus Christ. We have certainly not reached the goal of perfection that lies ahead of us. Do not leave unfinished the work you have begun in us. Though there is more to know about you than we can ever learn, we are often distracted from our search for the truth. Even when we have known Jesus to be the way, we have been diverted by less strenuous climbs. Though there are many awesome things is our world, we have not seen beyond them to revere you. Be patient with us for the sake of Jesus Christ, our elder and wiser brother. Amen.
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! God's true love endures forever and the Lord will accomplish his purposes for us. Friends, believe the Good News. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
EXHORTATION
Let us confess in our own times that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. This is no longer a secret to be locked up, but a door to be opened.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Son of the living God, you have entrusted the keys of the kingdom not merely to Peter, but to all who confess your name, for your promises are as wide as the heavens. Prevent us from closing what you want open and opening what you want closed according to your wisdom and unfailing love. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
God of all generations, God of prophets and apostles, God of royalty and commoners, you are worshipped in tent and temple, in chapel and cathedral. Your great glory is sung by the simple and the wise, by poets and hymnists, by the untrained voice and the cultured singer. Your wisdom is sought by the illiterate and the widely-read, under the open heavens and in libraries and places of learning. We rejoice that though you are beyond our grasp, you have come within our reach in Jesus of Nazareth. Though your ways are untraceable, we may come to you by the way of Jesus, your Son and the Son of Mary, to you he glory forever. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Wise God, we can tell you only what you have taught us. Generous God, we can return to you only what you have already given us. Receive us and our gifts, for we have found our way to you through Jesus Christ. Amen.
PSALM 124:1-8
If it had not been the LORD who was on our side - let Israel now say -
if it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when our enemies attacked us,
then they would have swallowed us up alive,
when their anger was kindled against us;
then the flood would have swept us away,
the torrent would have gone over us;
then over us would have gone the raging waters.
Blessed be the LORD,
who has not given us as prey to their teeth.
We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken, and we have escaped.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
The judgements of God are unsearchable, but search them out. Continue to plumb the depths of God's wisdom to trace the ways of divine providence.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Source, Guide and goal of all that is, we acknowledge that though we come from you, we have not always followed the guidance you have given us in Jesus Christ. We have certainly not reached the goal of perfection that lies ahead of us. Do not leave unfinished the work you have begun in us. Though there is more to know about you than we can ever learn, we are often distracted from our search for the truth. Even when we have known Jesus to be the way, we have been diverted by less strenuous climbs. Though there are many awesome things is our world, we have not seen beyond them to revere you. Be patient with us for the sake of Jesus Christ, our elder and wiser brother. Amen.
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! God's true love endures forever and the Lord will accomplish his purposes for us. Friends, believe the Good News. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
EXHORTATION
Let us confess in our own times that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. This is no longer a secret to be locked up, but a door to be opened.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Son of the living God, you have entrusted the keys of the kingdom not merely to Peter, but to all who confess your name, for your promises are as wide as the heavens. Prevent us from closing what you want open and opening what you want closed according to your wisdom and unfailing love. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
God of all generations, God of prophets and apostles, God of royalty and commoners, you are worshipped in tent and temple, in chapel and cathedral. Your great glory is sung by the simple and the wise, by poets and hymnists, by the untrained voice and the cultured singer. Your wisdom is sought by the illiterate and the widely-read, under the open heavens and in libraries and places of learning. We rejoice that though you are beyond our grasp, you have come within our reach in Jesus of Nazareth. Though your ways are untraceable, we may come to you by the way of Jesus, your Son and the Son of Mary, to you he glory forever. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Wise God, we can tell you only what you have taught us. Generous God, we can return to you only what you have already given us. Receive us and our gifts, for we have found our way to you through Jesus Christ. Amen.
PSALM 124:1-8
If it had not been the LORD who was on our side - let Israel now say -
if it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when our enemies attacked us,
then they would have swallowed us up alive,
when their anger was kindled against us;
then the flood would have swept us away,
the torrent would have gone over us;
then over us would have gone the raging waters.
Blessed be the LORD,
who has not given us as prey to their teeth.
We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken, and we have escaped.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
