Short Attention Span
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series VII, Cycle A
Call To Worship
Turn away from the golden idols of this world. Turn back to the man of sorrow and reason.
Collect
Bless us as your people today and every day, when we stray and when we return, At our best and at our worst. We turn to you for mercy, pardon, and peace. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession (built around Psalm 106:19-23)
Lord, both we and our ancestors have sinned; we have committed iniquity, have done wickedly. We made a calf at Horeb and worshiped a cast image. We exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass. We forgot God, our Savior, who had done great things in Egypt, wondrous works in the land of Ham, and awesome deeds by the Red Sea. We would have been destroyed, had not Moses, your chosen one, stood in the breach before you, to turn away your wrath from destroying us. Lord, we have chosen other gods, we have exchanged your glory for an image of worldly favor, which is nothing. We confess our sin and plead for your forgiveness. We turn around and turn back to you. Amen.
Hymns
"Great Is The Lord"
"Who Is So Great A God?"
"Where Are Kings And Empires Now?"
Proper 23/Ordinary Time 28
Sunday between October 9 and October 15 inclusive
Second Lesson: Philippians 4:1-9
Theme: Simple And Best
Call To Worship (Psalm 23 [KJV])
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Collect (based on Philippians 4:8-9)
Sisters and brothers, let us resolve that whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, we will think about these things. We will keep on doing the things that we have learned and received and heard and seen. May the God of peace be with us all. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Shepherd King, when we lose our way and worship the gods of our neighbors, the gilded idols of success and money and status, it is often because we have deliberately walked away from your mountain, and have not been content to wait for your Spirit to move in our midst. We have strayed, as your people, and we seek your guidance now so we might return to your fold. Forgive us. Reclaim us. Amen.
Hymns
"The Lord Of Love My Shepherd Is"
"Gentle Shepherd"
"Lord, With Devotion We Pray"
Proper 23/Ordinary Time 28
Sunday between October 9 and October 15 inclusive
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 22:1-14
Theme: The Invitation's In The Mail
Call To Worship (Isaiah 25:6-9)
One: On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear.
All: And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever.
One: Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.
All: It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
Collect
Lord, hear our prayer, that all might come to your banquet, and that those who find their way to our sanctuary will come to realize this is their home and that they are welcome. Fit us to be your servants in your house. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Yes, Lord, we accept the invitation to your banquet. We have nothing to wear, nothing that will suit such an occasion. We will depend upon you to provide not only the food and drink, the great hall, and the entertainment, but the proper attire as well. Thank you for justifying us. Thank you just for inviting us. Amen.
Hymns
"Jesus Calls Us"
"Guide My Feet"
"Love Divine, All Loves Excelling"
Turn away from the golden idols of this world. Turn back to the man of sorrow and reason.
Collect
Bless us as your people today and every day, when we stray and when we return, At our best and at our worst. We turn to you for mercy, pardon, and peace. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession (built around Psalm 106:19-23)
Lord, both we and our ancestors have sinned; we have committed iniquity, have done wickedly. We made a calf at Horeb and worshiped a cast image. We exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass. We forgot God, our Savior, who had done great things in Egypt, wondrous works in the land of Ham, and awesome deeds by the Red Sea. We would have been destroyed, had not Moses, your chosen one, stood in the breach before you, to turn away your wrath from destroying us. Lord, we have chosen other gods, we have exchanged your glory for an image of worldly favor, which is nothing. We confess our sin and plead for your forgiveness. We turn around and turn back to you. Amen.
Hymns
"Great Is The Lord"
"Who Is So Great A God?"
"Where Are Kings And Empires Now?"
Proper 23/Ordinary Time 28
Sunday between October 9 and October 15 inclusive
Second Lesson: Philippians 4:1-9
Theme: Simple And Best
Call To Worship (Psalm 23 [KJV])
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Collect (based on Philippians 4:8-9)
Sisters and brothers, let us resolve that whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, we will think about these things. We will keep on doing the things that we have learned and received and heard and seen. May the God of peace be with us all. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Shepherd King, when we lose our way and worship the gods of our neighbors, the gilded idols of success and money and status, it is often because we have deliberately walked away from your mountain, and have not been content to wait for your Spirit to move in our midst. We have strayed, as your people, and we seek your guidance now so we might return to your fold. Forgive us. Reclaim us. Amen.
Hymns
"The Lord Of Love My Shepherd Is"
"Gentle Shepherd"
"Lord, With Devotion We Pray"
Proper 23/Ordinary Time 28
Sunday between October 9 and October 15 inclusive
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 22:1-14
Theme: The Invitation's In The Mail
Call To Worship (Isaiah 25:6-9)
One: On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear.
All: And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever.
One: Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.
All: It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
Collect
Lord, hear our prayer, that all might come to your banquet, and that those who find their way to our sanctuary will come to realize this is their home and that they are welcome. Fit us to be your servants in your house. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Yes, Lord, we accept the invitation to your banquet. We have nothing to wear, nothing that will suit such an occasion. We will depend upon you to provide not only the food and drink, the great hall, and the entertainment, but the proper attire as well. Thank you for justifying us. Thank you just for inviting us. Amen.
Hymns
"Jesus Calls Us"
"Guide My Feet"
"Love Divine, All Loves Excelling"
