Being borne on eagle's Wings
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series II
Exegetical note: One of the most striking images of God in the Pentateuch appears in this passage: God is (like) an eagle, who bears the chosen people out of captivity and to God's very self. This underemployed image certainly "works" for both the people of the old covenant and those of the new as well.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 114)
Leader:
Let the earth tremble before the presence of God!
People:
LET THE MOUNTAINS QUAKE BEFORE THE GOD OF JACOB!
Leader:
For God turns rocks into pools of water,
People:
AND STONES INTO LIVING STREAMS!
Collect
Most high God, like a mother eagle you bore the children of Israel out of captivity and into freedom. Lift us likewise from the throes of sin: that, safe above that which holds us in bondage, we may be carried on your mighty wings to the heavenly blessings you have promised. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Most holy God, we confess that we sometimes grow comfortable in our captivity to sin, so that we neither seek nor even want the liberation that you can and will deliver; and we know that, as a result, we lead desperate and pointless lives. Forgive us, O God, and plant within us the seeds of discontent that will make us yearn for freedom and righteousness. Then rescue us from the evil bonds that have kept us from serving you and have numbed us to our wretchedness. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen
Proper 17
Sunday between August 28 and September 3 inclusive
Second Lesson: Romans 12:1-13
Theme:
The selves of the saved as sacrifices
Exegetical note: The first verse of this selection is a "hinge" or "pivot" between the soteriological explanations of chapters 1-11 arid the ethical ones of 12-15. The connective word is "therefore," but the idea that really ties salvation to action is that the "bodies" (i.e., selves) of the saved are living sacrifices, which in turn are the proper worship of God (probably, for Paul, in addition to rather than as opposed to the cultic activity).
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 114)
Leader:
When Israel went forth from bondage in Egypt,
People:
AND THE HOUSE OF JACOB WAS FREED FROM CAPTIVITY,
Leader:
Israel became the realm of God's rule,
People: AND GOD'S PEOPLE BECAME GOD'S SANCTUARY!
Collect
Eternal God, you have called upon your people to be living sacrifices in the service of the gospel. Give us now the courage to meet that challenge: that, fortified by your Spirit, we may be able to face every hardship in the name of the Christ. In that name we meet and pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Everlasting God, we confess with great shame that we have been willing to give up little or nothing for the sake of the gospel, much less to sacrifice ourselves, as Saint Paul said we must. Forgive us our timidity and selfishness, we pray, and sow within us the seeds of commitment and courage that will cause us to dedicate ourselves whole-heartedly to ministry and mission in the service of the Christ and the coming Reign that you have promised. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Proper 17
Sunday between August 28 and September 3 inclusive
Gospel:
Matthew 16:21-28
Theme:
Judgment upon the Church
Exegetical note: Jesus' warnings here about the cost of discipleship - including cross-bearing and loss of life - culminate in the apocalyptic vision of the Son of Man coming in glory with angels to reward (or punish), not humanity in general, but the disciples, and precisely on the basis of their performance. This is a particularly Matthean warning to the Church of his own day.
Call to Worship
Leader:
People of God, we are called to discipleship!
People:
WE ARE CALLED TO SUFFERING AND SACRIFICE!
Leader:
May we not be weighed and found wanting!
People:
MAY WE NOT FAIL IN OUR WITNESS!
Collect
God of majesty, you have warned us of crosses to be borne in your service. Give us the courage to acknowledge and accept them: that, strengthened by your sustaining Spirit, we may be fearless in our proclamation of the gospel and constant in our faith in the Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, it embarrasses us to admit, to you and to ourselves, just how weak and timid we have been in our service to the gospel, and how reluctant to bear any hardship, much less a cross, in our Christian witness. Forgive us our faintheartedness, O God, and grant us a measure of your own infinite strength, so that we may be willing and able to face any terror and make any sacrifice in the fulfilling of our discipleship to Christ Jesus, in whose name we trust and pray. Amen
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 114)
Leader:
Let the earth tremble before the presence of God!
People:
LET THE MOUNTAINS QUAKE BEFORE THE GOD OF JACOB!
Leader:
For God turns rocks into pools of water,
People:
AND STONES INTO LIVING STREAMS!
Collect
Most high God, like a mother eagle you bore the children of Israel out of captivity and into freedom. Lift us likewise from the throes of sin: that, safe above that which holds us in bondage, we may be carried on your mighty wings to the heavenly blessings you have promised. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Most holy God, we confess that we sometimes grow comfortable in our captivity to sin, so that we neither seek nor even want the liberation that you can and will deliver; and we know that, as a result, we lead desperate and pointless lives. Forgive us, O God, and plant within us the seeds of discontent that will make us yearn for freedom and righteousness. Then rescue us from the evil bonds that have kept us from serving you and have numbed us to our wretchedness. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen
Proper 17
Sunday between August 28 and September 3 inclusive
Second Lesson: Romans 12:1-13
Theme:
The selves of the saved as sacrifices
Exegetical note: The first verse of this selection is a "hinge" or "pivot" between the soteriological explanations of chapters 1-11 arid the ethical ones of 12-15. The connective word is "therefore," but the idea that really ties salvation to action is that the "bodies" (i.e., selves) of the saved are living sacrifices, which in turn are the proper worship of God (probably, for Paul, in addition to rather than as opposed to the cultic activity).
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 114)
Leader:
When Israel went forth from bondage in Egypt,
People:
AND THE HOUSE OF JACOB WAS FREED FROM CAPTIVITY,
Leader:
Israel became the realm of God's rule,
People: AND GOD'S PEOPLE BECAME GOD'S SANCTUARY!
Collect
Eternal God, you have called upon your people to be living sacrifices in the service of the gospel. Give us now the courage to meet that challenge: that, fortified by your Spirit, we may be able to face every hardship in the name of the Christ. In that name we meet and pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Everlasting God, we confess with great shame that we have been willing to give up little or nothing for the sake of the gospel, much less to sacrifice ourselves, as Saint Paul said we must. Forgive us our timidity and selfishness, we pray, and sow within us the seeds of commitment and courage that will cause us to dedicate ourselves whole-heartedly to ministry and mission in the service of the Christ and the coming Reign that you have promised. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Proper 17
Sunday between August 28 and September 3 inclusive
Gospel:
Matthew 16:21-28
Theme:
Judgment upon the Church
Exegetical note: Jesus' warnings here about the cost of discipleship - including cross-bearing and loss of life - culminate in the apocalyptic vision of the Son of Man coming in glory with angels to reward (or punish), not humanity in general, but the disciples, and precisely on the basis of their performance. This is a particularly Matthean warning to the Church of his own day.
Call to Worship
Leader:
People of God, we are called to discipleship!
People:
WE ARE CALLED TO SUFFERING AND SACRIFICE!
Leader:
May we not be weighed and found wanting!
People:
MAY WE NOT FAIL IN OUR WITNESS!
Collect
God of majesty, you have warned us of crosses to be borne in your service. Give us the courage to acknowledge and accept them: that, strengthened by your sustaining Spirit, we may be fearless in our proclamation of the gospel and constant in our faith in the Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, it embarrasses us to admit, to you and to ourselves, just how weak and timid we have been in our service to the gospel, and how reluctant to bear any hardship, much less a cross, in our Christian witness. Forgive us our faintheartedness, O God, and grant us a measure of your own infinite strength, so that we may be willing and able to face any terror and make any sacrifice in the fulfilling of our discipleship to Christ Jesus, in whose name we trust and pray. Amen
