PROPER 20
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series III
* CALL TO WORSHIP
Turn your thoughts to God who is your helper and who will be the
mainstay of your life.
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of the gospel, the One who sends, The One who is sent and
returns, the One who is sent and remains with the church, we
declare our need of the wisdom that is from above, pure, peace-
loving, considerate, open to reason. We can be devious rather
than straightforward, hypocritical rather than sincere,
unforgiving rather than merciful, cruel rather than kind.
Forgive the bitter jealousy that leads to quarreling, the selfish
ambition that destroys those who are in the way, the ungoverned
passions that lead to disorder and evil of every kind. Temper
your justice with mercy for the sake of your obedient Son, Jesus
our peacemaker. Amen.
* DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! God comes to those who welcome even a child
in the name of Jesus. Friends, believe the Good News. In Jesus
Christ, we are forgiven.
* EXHORTATION
Show wisdom and understanding by deeds done in the humility that
comes from wisdom.
* PRAYER OF THE DAY
Galilean Jesus, mortal human, living Christ, teach us the
greatness that is expressed by the embrace of a child rather than
by rubbing shoulders with the powerful so that we may serve in
the manner of your servanthood. Amen.
* PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
God of wisdom, you are generous in sharing your wisdom with all
who are receptive. Loving God, your kindness is exemplified in
the humanity of Jesus and his openness to children. Spirit of
peace, you can pacify our aggressiveness with our enemies. We
are grateful for all that you have done for us in the events of
Good Friday, and Easter, and Pentecost. We appreciate the kindly
deeds you have inspired to diminish the evils that still
abound in our sinful world. With thanksgiving for what you have
enabled your people to reap from the seeds of peace, we look for
the further harvest of peacemaking, true justice. All praise be
given to you, O God. Amen.
* PRAYER OF DEDICATION
What we give to you, we give willingly in praise of your name for
that is good. We have gathered to worship you, and we go out to
serve you more humbly than before, with the help that you
continue to give. Amen.
* PSALM 1
Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat
of scoffers;
but their delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law they meditate day and night.
They are like trees planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.
The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
Turn your thoughts to God who is your helper and who will be the
mainstay of your life.
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of the gospel, the One who sends, The One who is sent and
returns, the One who is sent and remains with the church, we
declare our need of the wisdom that is from above, pure, peace-
loving, considerate, open to reason. We can be devious rather
than straightforward, hypocritical rather than sincere,
unforgiving rather than merciful, cruel rather than kind.
Forgive the bitter jealousy that leads to quarreling, the selfish
ambition that destroys those who are in the way, the ungoverned
passions that lead to disorder and evil of every kind. Temper
your justice with mercy for the sake of your obedient Son, Jesus
our peacemaker. Amen.
* DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! God comes to those who welcome even a child
in the name of Jesus. Friends, believe the Good News. In Jesus
Christ, we are forgiven.
* EXHORTATION
Show wisdom and understanding by deeds done in the humility that
comes from wisdom.
* PRAYER OF THE DAY
Galilean Jesus, mortal human, living Christ, teach us the
greatness that is expressed by the embrace of a child rather than
by rubbing shoulders with the powerful so that we may serve in
the manner of your servanthood. Amen.
* PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
God of wisdom, you are generous in sharing your wisdom with all
who are receptive. Loving God, your kindness is exemplified in
the humanity of Jesus and his openness to children. Spirit of
peace, you can pacify our aggressiveness with our enemies. We
are grateful for all that you have done for us in the events of
Good Friday, and Easter, and Pentecost. We appreciate the kindly
deeds you have inspired to diminish the evils that still
abound in our sinful world. With thanksgiving for what you have
enabled your people to reap from the seeds of peace, we look for
the further harvest of peacemaking, true justice. All praise be
given to you, O God. Amen.
* PRAYER OF DEDICATION
What we give to you, we give willingly in praise of your name for
that is good. We have gathered to worship you, and we go out to
serve you more humbly than before, with the help that you
continue to give. Amen.
* PSALM 1
Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat
of scoffers;
but their delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law they meditate day and night.
They are like trees planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.
The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
