PROPER 15
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series III, Cycle A
CALL TO WORSHIP
Mark my teaching, O my people, listen to the words I am to speak. I will tell you a story with meaning, I will expound the riddle of things past, things that we have heard and known, and our parents have repeated to us.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of all nations, your name is loved and hallowed in many languages. Yet nowhere in the world is your justice perfectly maintained and the right always done. We confess that we do not worship you in complete allegiance to your covenant with us nor in loving openness to all people of all nations, of all customs, of all conditions. We forget the mercy you have shown us in our time of disobedience, and do not share your readiness to show mercy to those who are now disobedient. Forgive us for the sake of your all-loving Son, Jesus of Nazareth. Amen.
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! The gracious gifts of God and his calling are irrevocable. Friends, believe the Good News. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
EXHORTATION
Show mercy as you have received mercy, for it is God's purpose to show mercy to all humanity.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Son of David, Son of God, heal our souls, that we may be saved from our doubts and know the healing of faith that restores both us and those to whom you send us, of whatever nation or condition. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
God of farmers and fishermen, we thank you for the harvest of the sea and the land, and for every wise plan of distribution that shares the plenty of the world with the greatest number of people, in this generation and those to come. God of all courts and legislatures, we are grateful for good laws and good decisions that overturn injustice and right wrongs, that protect the life of the vulnerable and restrain the power of the ruthless. God of all prophets and priests, we worship you whose face of truth and love we have seen in Jesus Christ. We rejoice in the spread of the good news in the world by word and deed, and celebrate your purpose to show mercy to all mankind. All praise be given to you, God of justice, God of salvation, God of mercy. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
May our offerings and our prayers, universal God, be so generous as to take in the needs of the whole world, and especially the hungry, that our aid may seem like manna from heaven to those who receive it, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
PSALM 133:1-3
How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard,
on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes.
It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion.
For there the LORD ordained his blessing,
life forevermore.
Mark my teaching, O my people, listen to the words I am to speak. I will tell you a story with meaning, I will expound the riddle of things past, things that we have heard and known, and our parents have repeated to us.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of all nations, your name is loved and hallowed in many languages. Yet nowhere in the world is your justice perfectly maintained and the right always done. We confess that we do not worship you in complete allegiance to your covenant with us nor in loving openness to all people of all nations, of all customs, of all conditions. We forget the mercy you have shown us in our time of disobedience, and do not share your readiness to show mercy to those who are now disobedient. Forgive us for the sake of your all-loving Son, Jesus of Nazareth. Amen.
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! The gracious gifts of God and his calling are irrevocable. Friends, believe the Good News. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
EXHORTATION
Show mercy as you have received mercy, for it is God's purpose to show mercy to all humanity.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Son of David, Son of God, heal our souls, that we may be saved from our doubts and know the healing of faith that restores both us and those to whom you send us, of whatever nation or condition. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
God of farmers and fishermen, we thank you for the harvest of the sea and the land, and for every wise plan of distribution that shares the plenty of the world with the greatest number of people, in this generation and those to come. God of all courts and legislatures, we are grateful for good laws and good decisions that overturn injustice and right wrongs, that protect the life of the vulnerable and restrain the power of the ruthless. God of all prophets and priests, we worship you whose face of truth and love we have seen in Jesus Christ. We rejoice in the spread of the good news in the world by word and deed, and celebrate your purpose to show mercy to all mankind. All praise be given to you, God of justice, God of salvation, God of mercy. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
May our offerings and our prayers, universal God, be so generous as to take in the needs of the whole world, and especially the hungry, that our aid may seem like manna from heaven to those who receive it, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
PSALM 133:1-3
How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard,
on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes.
It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion.
For there the LORD ordained his blessing,
life forevermore.
