God expresses mercy when we deserve wrath
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Israel's sin of idolatry with the golden calf was a real test of God's mercy.
People:
We are amazed when we read of God's patience with Israel during their journey to the promised land.
Pastor:
His mercy with us is no less marvelous when we think of how we try his patience with our sinning.
People:
We thank God for his Son who intercedes on our behalf, bringing us mercy that is greater than our sins!
Collect
O loving God, whose mercy far exceeds the limits of any love you owe to us: Withhold your anger which we deserve, that we may experience forgiveness through your Son, Jesus our Savior, who intercedes on our behalf. In his name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We do not bow down to golden calves, Father, but our sins deny your lordship just the same. We sin against our better judgment and against your divine laws every day. Forgive us for our persistence, and the intensity with which we sin. May your mercy through Christ transform our inclination to sin into a desire to love and serve you. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Hymns
"Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing"
"Majestic Sweetness Sits Enthroned"
"There's a Wideness in God's Mercy"
"What Wondrous Love Is This?"
"When All Thy Mercies, O My God"
PROPER 20
Sunday between September 18 and 24 inclusive
Second Lesson: Philippians 1:21-27
Theme:
Live as the gospel requires
Call to Worship
Pastor:
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news of God's love.
People:
Christ has come to redeem us from sin, and raise us to new life.
Pastor:
Our new life in Christ should demonstrate his teachings as well as his salvation. That, too, is the gospel.
People:
May our lives become the gospel of Christ, interpreting God's love to others.
Collect
Father Cod, who has given your only Son to teach us the godly life, and to save us from the sinful life: Make us firm in our faith, that we may live in obedience to the gospel as given by Jesus our Lord, through whom we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We claim Jesus as our Savior, Father, because the good news of his salvation has been told to us. But we have listened more to our Lord's word of redemption than to his disciplines for living. Forgive us for our life styles that do not reflect the gospel of new life in Christ. Help us to live in accordance with the gospel, that we may be faithful in our witness. We pray in our Savior's name. Amen.
Hymns
"Lord, I Want to Be a Christian"
"O Jesus, I Have Promised"
"Take Time to Be Holy"
"Take Up Thy Cross"
PROPER 20
Sunday between September 18 and 24 inclusive
Gospel:
Matthew 20:1-16
Theme:
The workers in the vineyard
Call to Worship
Pastor:
The heavenly reward God promises to his children is not a reward we earn by good works.
People:
We could never become righteous enough to make up for past sin, or to be worthy of heaven.
Pastor:
God's love is given, then, not in proportion to our righteousness, but simply because he is love
People:
We thank God for loving us. May we never become jealous over his love to others who may seem less deserving than ourselves.
Collect
Gracious Father, who desires to forgive all sinners when they turn to you in repentance: Rid our minds of the worldly ways in which we evaluate a person's worthiness of forgiveness, that we may know our own forgiveness is by grace alone, and not by any righteousness of ours. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Faith convinces us of your Kingdom, Father, and of our forgiveness and acceptance into your Kingdom. But when we look at other sinners who repent so late in life, we wonder why they should be included. Forgive us for thinking we have earned, or deserved, a place in your Kingdom because of our years of service. Fill our hearts with thanksgiving for a redemption which is not based on good works. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymns
"Amazing Grace"
"Jesus, Where'er Thy People Meet"
"There's a Wideness in God's Mercy"
"What Shall I Do My God to Love"
Pastor:
Israel's sin of idolatry with the golden calf was a real test of God's mercy.
People:
We are amazed when we read of God's patience with Israel during their journey to the promised land.
Pastor:
His mercy with us is no less marvelous when we think of how we try his patience with our sinning.
People:
We thank God for his Son who intercedes on our behalf, bringing us mercy that is greater than our sins!
Collect
O loving God, whose mercy far exceeds the limits of any love you owe to us: Withhold your anger which we deserve, that we may experience forgiveness through your Son, Jesus our Savior, who intercedes on our behalf. In his name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We do not bow down to golden calves, Father, but our sins deny your lordship just the same. We sin against our better judgment and against your divine laws every day. Forgive us for our persistence, and the intensity with which we sin. May your mercy through Christ transform our inclination to sin into a desire to love and serve you. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Hymns
"Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing"
"Majestic Sweetness Sits Enthroned"
"There's a Wideness in God's Mercy"
"What Wondrous Love Is This?"
"When All Thy Mercies, O My God"
PROPER 20
Sunday between September 18 and 24 inclusive
Second Lesson: Philippians 1:21-27
Theme:
Live as the gospel requires
Call to Worship
Pastor:
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news of God's love.
People:
Christ has come to redeem us from sin, and raise us to new life.
Pastor:
Our new life in Christ should demonstrate his teachings as well as his salvation. That, too, is the gospel.
People:
May our lives become the gospel of Christ, interpreting God's love to others.
Collect
Father Cod, who has given your only Son to teach us the godly life, and to save us from the sinful life: Make us firm in our faith, that we may live in obedience to the gospel as given by Jesus our Lord, through whom we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We claim Jesus as our Savior, Father, because the good news of his salvation has been told to us. But we have listened more to our Lord's word of redemption than to his disciplines for living. Forgive us for our life styles that do not reflect the gospel of new life in Christ. Help us to live in accordance with the gospel, that we may be faithful in our witness. We pray in our Savior's name. Amen.
Hymns
"Lord, I Want to Be a Christian"
"O Jesus, I Have Promised"
"Take Time to Be Holy"
"Take Up Thy Cross"
PROPER 20
Sunday between September 18 and 24 inclusive
Gospel:
Matthew 20:1-16
Theme:
The workers in the vineyard
Call to Worship
Pastor:
The heavenly reward God promises to his children is not a reward we earn by good works.
People:
We could never become righteous enough to make up for past sin, or to be worthy of heaven.
Pastor:
God's love is given, then, not in proportion to our righteousness, but simply because he is love
People:
We thank God for loving us. May we never become jealous over his love to others who may seem less deserving than ourselves.
Collect
Gracious Father, who desires to forgive all sinners when they turn to you in repentance: Rid our minds of the worldly ways in which we evaluate a person's worthiness of forgiveness, that we may know our own forgiveness is by grace alone, and not by any righteousness of ours. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Faith convinces us of your Kingdom, Father, and of our forgiveness and acceptance into your Kingdom. But when we look at other sinners who repent so late in life, we wonder why they should be included. Forgive us for thinking we have earned, or deserved, a place in your Kingdom because of our years of service. Fill our hearts with thanksgiving for a redemption which is not based on good works. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymns
"Amazing Grace"
"Jesus, Where'er Thy People Meet"
"There's a Wideness in God's Mercy"
"What Shall I Do My God to Love"
