God's unlikely candidates
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series II
Exegetical note: Moses' troubling lack of hesitation or remorse over his act of murder aside, the real point of that incident, as well as of his assistance of and sojourn with the Midianites, seems to be his rootlessness and lack of identity before his call: he is born Hebrew, but reared Egyptian; exiled from Egypt because of his passionate defense of his true people, but then adopted a second time by the Midianites, though regarded by them as an Egyptian. The picture is of a man with a very unstable background, an unlikely candidate for God's call.
Call to Worship
Leader:
Let us worship the God of Israel!
People:
LET US PRAISE THE GOD WHO CALLED HIM TO SERVE!
Leader:
Let us give thanks to the God who looks past our human frailties!
People:
LET US ADORE THE GOD WHO KNOWS OUR HEARTS AND FREES OUR SPIRITS!
Collect
Holy God, you have time and again taken rootless people with no identity and made them effective servants of you and your will. Do likewise with us: that, despite our faults and limitations, we may become and remain instruments of your grace. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of boundless love, we confess that we use our humble stations in life and our limited talents as excuses to avoid serving you. We ignore your call and watch and wait for more visible saints to do your work. Forgive us, O God, and set before us the biblical examples of unlikely candidates for service to you, who, despite their handicaps and often their objections, yet by your power became movers and shakers for righteousness and justice, mercy and peace. In the name of Christ Jesus we pray. Amen
Proper 10
Sunday between July 10 and July 16 inclusive
Second Lesson: Romans 8:9-17
Theme:
Not slaves or debtors, but sons (and daughters!)
Exegetical note: Though there is still some disagreement about the extent of Hellenistic dualism in Paul's thought, it seems prudent not to read him in a too Neoplatonistic (dualistic) light, but rather to view his references to "flesh" and "spirit" as both referring humans in a more holistic sense, the former meaning their unredeemed state and the latter their redeemed. Whereas "fleshly humans" are captives and debtors, "spiritual humans" are sons and daughters, who can therefore call God "Abba," or "Dad."
Call to Worship
Leader:
Rejoice, Christians, for you are captives no more!
People:
HALLELUJAH, FOR WE ARE FREED FROM SIN!
Leader:
Praise God, whose Spirit makes us debtors no longer!
People:
THANKS BE FOR THE CHRIST, THROUGH WHOM WE ARE MADE CHILDREN OF GOD!
Collect
Eternal God, in Christ you have turned slaves and debtors to Satan into sons and daughters of yours. Make this fact a reality for us: that, freed from sin, we may truly join your holy family as brothers and sisters of Christ Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Most holy God, it is difficult for us to admit to you and ourselves just how unredeemed our lives still feel despite your gracious and merciful action toward us in Christ Jesus. Instead of acting like the sons and daughters of God that you have made us, we still often behave as slaves and captives of Satan, being unrighteous and doing evil. Forgive us, we pray, and remove from us every tendency and temptation to sin. Remake us in the image of your perfect Child, in whose name we pray. Amen
Proper 10
Sunday between July 10 and July 16 inclusive
Gospel:
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Theme:
Facing failures with the gospel proclamation
Exegetical note: The main point of the original parable (vv. 1-9), rather than the almost certainly later allegorical interpretation of the Church (vv. 18ff.), seems to be that, despite the fact that eventually it will find a fertile audience and yield extraordinary fruit, the gospel will initially and repeatedly fail to take root. In this regard, the injunction in verse 9 is telling the hearers of the parable either to heed its lesson, or simply to let the gospel itself "fall on deaf ears," if need be.
Call to Worship
Leader:
May God make us fertile soil for the gospel!
People:
MAY GOD MAKE US DILIGENT SOWERS OF THE WORD!
Leader:
May God grant us the patience to endure failure!
People:
MAY GOD GIVE US THE FAITH TO EXPECT A RICH HARVEST!
Collect
Great God, you have given us a gospel to spread and a warning that it may fall on deaf ears. Give us now patience: that, despite the apparent failure of our message to take root, we may yet proclaim it in confidence that the seeds of your Word are being planted. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Most holy God, we confess that we are easily discouraged in the performance of your work, and particularly in the task of proclaiming your gospel of love and mercy to the world. We see few visible results and take that as an excuse to shirk our responsibility to your holy Word. Forgive us, we pray, and inspire us again with the parable of the sower. Let us not be discouraged with the seemingly barren or rocky soil, but certain of the power of your holy seed to find fertile ground. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen
Call to Worship
Leader:
Let us worship the God of Israel!
People:
LET US PRAISE THE GOD WHO CALLED HIM TO SERVE!
Leader:
Let us give thanks to the God who looks past our human frailties!
People:
LET US ADORE THE GOD WHO KNOWS OUR HEARTS AND FREES OUR SPIRITS!
Collect
Holy God, you have time and again taken rootless people with no identity and made them effective servants of you and your will. Do likewise with us: that, despite our faults and limitations, we may become and remain instruments of your grace. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of boundless love, we confess that we use our humble stations in life and our limited talents as excuses to avoid serving you. We ignore your call and watch and wait for more visible saints to do your work. Forgive us, O God, and set before us the biblical examples of unlikely candidates for service to you, who, despite their handicaps and often their objections, yet by your power became movers and shakers for righteousness and justice, mercy and peace. In the name of Christ Jesus we pray. Amen
Proper 10
Sunday between July 10 and July 16 inclusive
Second Lesson: Romans 8:9-17
Theme:
Not slaves or debtors, but sons (and daughters!)
Exegetical note: Though there is still some disagreement about the extent of Hellenistic dualism in Paul's thought, it seems prudent not to read him in a too Neoplatonistic (dualistic) light, but rather to view his references to "flesh" and "spirit" as both referring humans in a more holistic sense, the former meaning their unredeemed state and the latter their redeemed. Whereas "fleshly humans" are captives and debtors, "spiritual humans" are sons and daughters, who can therefore call God "Abba," or "Dad."
Call to Worship
Leader:
Rejoice, Christians, for you are captives no more!
People:
HALLELUJAH, FOR WE ARE FREED FROM SIN!
Leader:
Praise God, whose Spirit makes us debtors no longer!
People:
THANKS BE FOR THE CHRIST, THROUGH WHOM WE ARE MADE CHILDREN OF GOD!
Collect
Eternal God, in Christ you have turned slaves and debtors to Satan into sons and daughters of yours. Make this fact a reality for us: that, freed from sin, we may truly join your holy family as brothers and sisters of Christ Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Most holy God, it is difficult for us to admit to you and ourselves just how unredeemed our lives still feel despite your gracious and merciful action toward us in Christ Jesus. Instead of acting like the sons and daughters of God that you have made us, we still often behave as slaves and captives of Satan, being unrighteous and doing evil. Forgive us, we pray, and remove from us every tendency and temptation to sin. Remake us in the image of your perfect Child, in whose name we pray. Amen
Proper 10
Sunday between July 10 and July 16 inclusive
Gospel:
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Theme:
Facing failures with the gospel proclamation
Exegetical note: The main point of the original parable (vv. 1-9), rather than the almost certainly later allegorical interpretation of the Church (vv. 18ff.), seems to be that, despite the fact that eventually it will find a fertile audience and yield extraordinary fruit, the gospel will initially and repeatedly fail to take root. In this regard, the injunction in verse 9 is telling the hearers of the parable either to heed its lesson, or simply to let the gospel itself "fall on deaf ears," if need be.
Call to Worship
Leader:
May God make us fertile soil for the gospel!
People:
MAY GOD MAKE US DILIGENT SOWERS OF THE WORD!
Leader:
May God grant us the patience to endure failure!
People:
MAY GOD GIVE US THE FAITH TO EXPECT A RICH HARVEST!
Collect
Great God, you have given us a gospel to spread and a warning that it may fall on deaf ears. Give us now patience: that, despite the apparent failure of our message to take root, we may yet proclaim it in confidence that the seeds of your Word are being planted. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Most holy God, we confess that we are easily discouraged in the performance of your work, and particularly in the task of proclaiming your gospel of love and mercy to the world. We see few visible results and take that as an excuse to shirk our responsibility to your holy Word. Forgive us, we pray, and inspire us again with the parable of the sower. Let us not be discouraged with the seemingly barren or rocky soil, but certain of the power of your holy seed to find fertile ground. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen
