The jealousy of God
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series II
Exegetical note: Writing in the days of the reformer King Josiah and the prophet Jeremiah, Zephaniah was preoccupied with the impending doom that he foresaw in the coming "day of the Lord," which for him would be an event of divine wrath and human anguish. The omitted verses of this chapter indicate that what "set God off" so was that his chosen people had fallen into the worship of such foreign deities as Baal and Milcom, so that the foretold catastrophes were evidence of God's jealousy.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 76)
Leader:
Glorious is God, more majestic than the eternal mountains!
People:
AND TERRIBLE IS GOD, BEFORE WHOSE ANGER NO ONE CAN STAND!
Leader:
For God utters judgments from the heavens!
People: GOD JUDGES TO SAVE THE WORLD'S OPPRESSED!
Collect
Most glorious God, you have warned us through scriptures about the dangers of idolatry. Keep us from the worship of false gods: that, concentrating only on you, we may be faithful to our calling as disciples of the Christ. In his name only do we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Most gracious God, we are sorry to admit how much and how often we are tempted to take various commitments that we have in our lives too seriously, to set them up as other gods besides you, and to give them priority over our worship and work in your holy name. Forgive us, O God, and strengthen our loyalty and faith with your Holy Spirit. Make us single-minded in our devotion to you and truehearted in our discipleship to Christ Jesus, in whose holy name we trust and pray. Amen
Proper 28
Sunday between November 13 and November 19 inclusive
Second Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Theme:
Moral support among Christians
Exegetical note: Paul's earlier utterances to the Thessalonians apparently had led them to believe that the parousia of the Christ was very near at hand, and to engage in speculation about "the times and the seasons." In response, Paul reminds them of the words of Jesus about that day coming "like a thief in the night," an image that he uses to contrast them as "day people," who should remain wakeful and sober, and who should - instead of engaging in idle speculation - give each other moral support.
Call to Worship
Leader:
Let the household of faith be glad!
People:
LET THE PEOPLE OF GOD REJOICE!
Leader:
For God's coming Reign is at hand!
People:
GOD'S SAVING RULE IS IN OUR MIDST!
Collect
God of promise and fulfillment, you have given us one another as fellow believers and disciples of the Christ. Help us to be truly supportive of each other: that, until your Reign comes in all its glory, we may live and work as a Church united by the hope we share. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of all ages, we confess that, as a Church, we are not always as supportive of one another as we should be and as you would like us to be. We use disagreements over belief and practices, and even budgets and personalities to foster disunity, and thus to get in the way of our being a loving community in ministry for you. Forgive us, we pray, and help us to put aside petty differences, so that we can at last live as your holy family and as effective disciples of your gospel in Christ Jesus. In his name we pray. Amen
Proper 28
Sunday between November 13 and November 19 inclusive
Gospel:
Matthew 25:14-30
Theme:
Preserving vs. promoting the gospel
Exegetical note: Exactly what Jesus' original intent was for this parable is uncertain, but the fearful, "protectionist" mentality of the third servant is universal and timeless: he timidly decides to protect what he has rather than to develop it, and because of his subsequent actions he is pronounced "wicked and lazy." This story could be applied to a myriad of cases, but its most likely referrent here is to those who would be preservers of the Gospel rather than promoters of it.
Call to Worship
Leader:
Let the children of God sing praises!
People:
LET THE FAMILY OF GOD GIVE THANKS!
Leader:
Let the household of faith be glad for what God has given!
People:
LET US ALL BE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANTS OF THE MOST HIGH!
Collect
Creator God, you have given us a most gracious gift in the gospel. Help us to use wisely that precious treasure: that, keeping it not to ourselves, we may promote it effectively to the service of you and the salvation of the world. In the name and selfless spirit of Christ Jesus we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Caring God, we confess with the deepest shame that we too often keep the good news that you have given us in the Christ to ourselves, as though we were to preserve rather than to proclaim it. We worry about creeds and confessions, principles and policies, and meanwhile forget that our first task is to carry your good news to the world. Forgive us, we pray, and commission us again with our apostolic charge. Make us yearn and burn to share the message of your grace in Christ Jesus with all people everywhere. In his holy name we pray. Amen
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 76)
Leader:
Glorious is God, more majestic than the eternal mountains!
People:
AND TERRIBLE IS GOD, BEFORE WHOSE ANGER NO ONE CAN STAND!
Leader:
For God utters judgments from the heavens!
People: GOD JUDGES TO SAVE THE WORLD'S OPPRESSED!
Collect
Most glorious God, you have warned us through scriptures about the dangers of idolatry. Keep us from the worship of false gods: that, concentrating only on you, we may be faithful to our calling as disciples of the Christ. In his name only do we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Most gracious God, we are sorry to admit how much and how often we are tempted to take various commitments that we have in our lives too seriously, to set them up as other gods besides you, and to give them priority over our worship and work in your holy name. Forgive us, O God, and strengthen our loyalty and faith with your Holy Spirit. Make us single-minded in our devotion to you and truehearted in our discipleship to Christ Jesus, in whose holy name we trust and pray. Amen
Proper 28
Sunday between November 13 and November 19 inclusive
Second Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Theme:
Moral support among Christians
Exegetical note: Paul's earlier utterances to the Thessalonians apparently had led them to believe that the parousia of the Christ was very near at hand, and to engage in speculation about "the times and the seasons." In response, Paul reminds them of the words of Jesus about that day coming "like a thief in the night," an image that he uses to contrast them as "day people," who should remain wakeful and sober, and who should - instead of engaging in idle speculation - give each other moral support.
Call to Worship
Leader:
Let the household of faith be glad!
People:
LET THE PEOPLE OF GOD REJOICE!
Leader:
For God's coming Reign is at hand!
People:
GOD'S SAVING RULE IS IN OUR MIDST!
Collect
God of promise and fulfillment, you have given us one another as fellow believers and disciples of the Christ. Help us to be truly supportive of each other: that, until your Reign comes in all its glory, we may live and work as a Church united by the hope we share. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of all ages, we confess that, as a Church, we are not always as supportive of one another as we should be and as you would like us to be. We use disagreements over belief and practices, and even budgets and personalities to foster disunity, and thus to get in the way of our being a loving community in ministry for you. Forgive us, we pray, and help us to put aside petty differences, so that we can at last live as your holy family and as effective disciples of your gospel in Christ Jesus. In his name we pray. Amen
Proper 28
Sunday between November 13 and November 19 inclusive
Gospel:
Matthew 25:14-30
Theme:
Preserving vs. promoting the gospel
Exegetical note: Exactly what Jesus' original intent was for this parable is uncertain, but the fearful, "protectionist" mentality of the third servant is universal and timeless: he timidly decides to protect what he has rather than to develop it, and because of his subsequent actions he is pronounced "wicked and lazy." This story could be applied to a myriad of cases, but its most likely referrent here is to those who would be preservers of the Gospel rather than promoters of it.
Call to Worship
Leader:
Let the children of God sing praises!
People:
LET THE FAMILY OF GOD GIVE THANKS!
Leader:
Let the household of faith be glad for what God has given!
People:
LET US ALL BE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANTS OF THE MOST HIGH!
Collect
Creator God, you have given us a most gracious gift in the gospel. Help us to use wisely that precious treasure: that, keeping it not to ourselves, we may promote it effectively to the service of you and the salvation of the world. In the name and selfless spirit of Christ Jesus we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Caring God, we confess with the deepest shame that we too often keep the good news that you have given us in the Christ to ourselves, as though we were to preserve rather than to proclaim it. We worry about creeds and confessions, principles and policies, and meanwhile forget that our first task is to carry your good news to the world. Forgive us, we pray, and commission us again with our apostolic charge. Make us yearn and burn to share the message of your grace in Christ Jesus with all people everywhere. In his holy name we pray. Amen
