PROPER 18
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series III, Cycle A
CALL TO WORSHIP
Be assured that the Lord is here. For Jesus said, "where two or three have met together in my name, I am there among them."
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Demanding God, loving God, holy God, we find it difficult to live up to your expectations. You make loving our neighbor an inescapable duty. We would rather be selective about our relationships and limit our responsibilities to those with whom we have a natural affinity. We do not like being corrected by others and do not like to appear judgmental when we correct others. Is it only prophets and rulers whom you call to be sentinels of the moral security of the nation? You hold us all accountable if we do not speak out against evil? Forgive our silence if you have prodded us to speak in your name, through Jesus Christ, Son of Mary, Son of God. Amen.
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News. The Lord will be good to his servants, as he has promised. Friends, believe the Good News. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
EXHORTATION
Be under obligation to no one - the only obligation you have is to love one another.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Heavenly Parent, Brother of sinners, Spirit in the church, help us to agree in our prayers and in our common life that your purposes may be accomplished, your will obeyed, and your children reconciled to each other and gathered to Christ in the church. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
God of order, God of grace, God of the people, we are grateful for the commandments you have given to order our common life. We appreciate the teaching of Jesus as to how we are to interpret and implement them. In seeking to be reconciled with those who have sinned against us and with those against whom we have sinned, we are thankful for the aid of the Spirit. Grant that our happiness may always be in obedience to your commandants, in loving our neighbors as ourselves and loving you above all. We would be your obedient servants and loving children, a happy people gathering around the living Lord. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Lord of the church, receive our offerings as an expression of our love for you and for one another, that we may continue to gather here in your presence, to hear your word and to pray together. Amen.
PSALM 149:1-9
Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song,
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in its Maker;
let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.
Let them praise his name with dancing,
making melody to him with tambourine and lyre.
For the LORD takes pleasure in his people;
he adorns the humble with victory.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy on their couches.
Let the high praises of God be in their throats
and two-edged swords in their hands,
to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples,
to bind their kings with fetters and their nobles with chains of iron,
to execute on them the judgment decreed.
This is glory for all his faithful ones.
Praise the LORD!
Be assured that the Lord is here. For Jesus said, "where two or three have met together in my name, I am there among them."
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Demanding God, loving God, holy God, we find it difficult to live up to your expectations. You make loving our neighbor an inescapable duty. We would rather be selective about our relationships and limit our responsibilities to those with whom we have a natural affinity. We do not like being corrected by others and do not like to appear judgmental when we correct others. Is it only prophets and rulers whom you call to be sentinels of the moral security of the nation? You hold us all accountable if we do not speak out against evil? Forgive our silence if you have prodded us to speak in your name, through Jesus Christ, Son of Mary, Son of God. Amen.
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News. The Lord will be good to his servants, as he has promised. Friends, believe the Good News. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
EXHORTATION
Be under obligation to no one - the only obligation you have is to love one another.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Heavenly Parent, Brother of sinners, Spirit in the church, help us to agree in our prayers and in our common life that your purposes may be accomplished, your will obeyed, and your children reconciled to each other and gathered to Christ in the church. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
God of order, God of grace, God of the people, we are grateful for the commandments you have given to order our common life. We appreciate the teaching of Jesus as to how we are to interpret and implement them. In seeking to be reconciled with those who have sinned against us and with those against whom we have sinned, we are thankful for the aid of the Spirit. Grant that our happiness may always be in obedience to your commandants, in loving our neighbors as ourselves and loving you above all. We would be your obedient servants and loving children, a happy people gathering around the living Lord. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Lord of the church, receive our offerings as an expression of our love for you and for one another, that we may continue to gather here in your presence, to hear your word and to pray together. Amen.
PSALM 149:1-9
Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song,
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in its Maker;
let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.
Let them praise his name with dancing,
making melody to him with tambourine and lyre.
For the LORD takes pleasure in his people;
he adorns the humble with victory.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy on their couches.
Let the high praises of God be in their throats
and two-edged swords in their hands,
to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples,
to bind their kings with fetters and their nobles with chains of iron,
to execute on them the judgment decreed.
This is glory for all his faithful ones.
Praise the LORD!
