A God for all
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series II
Exegetical note: The fact that the heroine of this story is not a Hebrew but a Moabite woman, and thus a traditional enemy of the Israelites suggests what, at the time of the writing, must have been an extraordinarily liberal idea, namely, that membership in God's chosen people should be open even to (hated) foreigners and that the God of Abraham could be their God, too. The fact that the book (named after this foreigner!) achieved canonical status suggests that the notion prevailed.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 146)
Leader:
Let us praise God as long as we live!
People:
LET US PRAISE GOD AS LONG AS WE BREATHE!
Leader:
We shall not entrust ourselves to humankind!
People:
WE SHALL RATHER FIND OUR HELP AND HOPE AND HAPPINESS lN GOD!
Collect
God of all humankind, your love and acceptance extends to all peoples. Make us as open as you: that, freed from the self-love that keeps us from affirming those unlike us, we may find ourselves more benevolent to all people everywhere. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Most compassionate God, we confess with shame that, while we affirm with our lips the worth of all people and their right to be called children of yours, in our hearts and minds we are full of prejudice and reservations, which keep us from accepting them as our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Forgive us, we pray, and cleanse our spirits of the fears and biases that separate us from our neighbors as well as our enemies. Help us to feel a oneness with all humankind, as the family of God that we are. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Proper 24
Sunday between October 16 and October 22 inclusive
Second Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Theme:
Thoroughgoing monotheism
Exegetical note: Paul is apparently addressing here a number of people who had been polytheists or, more likely, henotheists - that is, devotees of one god ("idol" here) who nevertheless did not deny the reality of others. Thus he congratulates them on their having become monotheists, rejected the other gods as (mere) idols, and embraced the "living and true God." In Old Testament times even the Jews had been subject to henotheistic "lapses" into the worship of other gods (idols).
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 146)
Leader:
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob!
People:
BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO WORSHIP THE ONE TRUE GOD!
Leader:
For ours is the God who made heaven, earth, and all that is!
People:
OURS IS THE GOD WHO KEEPS FAITH FOREVER!
Collect
God of being and action, you have revealed yourself as the one true God. Help us to resist the ongoing temptation to make and worship other divinities: that, freed from our idolatry, we may devote our hearts, minds, and spirits wholly to you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Most high God, we confess with deep sorrow our tendency to elevate minor concerns and attachments in our lives to divine status, and to devote ourselves to them as though they were gods. Forgive us this idolatry, O God; convince us by the power of your presence that you only are worthy of our affection and commitment; and help us at last to worship you alone in purity of heart as the very axis of our lives around which all else turns. In the name of Jesus the Christ we pray. Amen
Proper 24
Sunday between October 16 and October 22 inclusive
Gospel:
Matthew 22:15-22
Theme:
Separation of church and state
Exegetical note: The conversation depicted here must be understood in its original setting, in which the distinction between state and religion was blurred in a number of ways, not the least being the claim of the Roman emperor to be divine (and so designated on coins)! Jesus' famous dictum about "rendering," therefore, is a cleverly "safe" way of dealing with a question meant to entrap him, but also a profound statement about the appropriate separation between the secular and the sacred provinces, and thus between state and church.
Call to Worship
Leader:
Sisters and brothers, let us render unto God that which is due!
People:
LET US GIVE GOD GLORY AND HONOR!
Leader:
Let us give God thanks and praise!
People:
LET US GIVE GOD OUR FAITH AND HOPE, NOW AND FOREVER!
Collect
Living God, you have given us in scripture guidelines for weighing our many allegiances. Give us now the wisdom to choose well: that, beset by conflicting claims, we may know how best to serve you. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, we admit with great shame how, in the midst of conflicting claims and commitments, we often lose sight of our responsibilities to you, your Christ, and your coming Reign. We let the demands of family, friendship, business, and even country take precedence over our duties on your behalf, and wind up being, at best, half-hearted Christians and part-time disciples. Forgive us, we pray, and assist us in reordering our priorities, so that our ministry in Jesus' name will come first and permeate everything else that we do. In that name we pray. Amen
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 146)
Leader:
Let us praise God as long as we live!
People:
LET US PRAISE GOD AS LONG AS WE BREATHE!
Leader:
We shall not entrust ourselves to humankind!
People:
WE SHALL RATHER FIND OUR HELP AND HOPE AND HAPPINESS lN GOD!
Collect
God of all humankind, your love and acceptance extends to all peoples. Make us as open as you: that, freed from the self-love that keeps us from affirming those unlike us, we may find ourselves more benevolent to all people everywhere. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Most compassionate God, we confess with shame that, while we affirm with our lips the worth of all people and their right to be called children of yours, in our hearts and minds we are full of prejudice and reservations, which keep us from accepting them as our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Forgive us, we pray, and cleanse our spirits of the fears and biases that separate us from our neighbors as well as our enemies. Help us to feel a oneness with all humankind, as the family of God that we are. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Proper 24
Sunday between October 16 and October 22 inclusive
Second Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Theme:
Thoroughgoing monotheism
Exegetical note: Paul is apparently addressing here a number of people who had been polytheists or, more likely, henotheists - that is, devotees of one god ("idol" here) who nevertheless did not deny the reality of others. Thus he congratulates them on their having become monotheists, rejected the other gods as (mere) idols, and embraced the "living and true God." In Old Testament times even the Jews had been subject to henotheistic "lapses" into the worship of other gods (idols).
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 146)
Leader:
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob!
People:
BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO WORSHIP THE ONE TRUE GOD!
Leader:
For ours is the God who made heaven, earth, and all that is!
People:
OURS IS THE GOD WHO KEEPS FAITH FOREVER!
Collect
God of being and action, you have revealed yourself as the one true God. Help us to resist the ongoing temptation to make and worship other divinities: that, freed from our idolatry, we may devote our hearts, minds, and spirits wholly to you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Most high God, we confess with deep sorrow our tendency to elevate minor concerns and attachments in our lives to divine status, and to devote ourselves to them as though they were gods. Forgive us this idolatry, O God; convince us by the power of your presence that you only are worthy of our affection and commitment; and help us at last to worship you alone in purity of heart as the very axis of our lives around which all else turns. In the name of Jesus the Christ we pray. Amen
Proper 24
Sunday between October 16 and October 22 inclusive
Gospel:
Matthew 22:15-22
Theme:
Separation of church and state
Exegetical note: The conversation depicted here must be understood in its original setting, in which the distinction between state and religion was blurred in a number of ways, not the least being the claim of the Roman emperor to be divine (and so designated on coins)! Jesus' famous dictum about "rendering," therefore, is a cleverly "safe" way of dealing with a question meant to entrap him, but also a profound statement about the appropriate separation between the secular and the sacred provinces, and thus between state and church.
Call to Worship
Leader:
Sisters and brothers, let us render unto God that which is due!
People:
LET US GIVE GOD GLORY AND HONOR!
Leader:
Let us give God thanks and praise!
People:
LET US GIVE GOD OUR FAITH AND HOPE, NOW AND FOREVER!
Collect
Living God, you have given us in scripture guidelines for weighing our many allegiances. Give us now the wisdom to choose well: that, beset by conflicting claims, we may know how best to serve you. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, we admit with great shame how, in the midst of conflicting claims and commitments, we often lose sight of our responsibilities to you, your Christ, and your coming Reign. We let the demands of family, friendship, business, and even country take precedence over our duties on your behalf, and wind up being, at best, half-hearted Christians and part-time disciples. Forgive us, we pray, and assist us in reordering our priorities, so that our ministry in Jesus' name will come first and permeate everything else that we do. In that name we pray. Amen
