Proper 18
Worship
Lectionary Worship Aids
Series VI, Cycle C
Theme: Clay In The Potter's Hand
Call To Worship
Leader: The Lord has examined me and he knows me.
People: The Lord knows everything I do, and he understands all my thoughts.
Leader: The Lord's knowledge of me is too deep.
People: It is beyond my understanding.
Leader: Come, let us worship God who has complete knowledge of us.
Collect
Awesome God, we marvel at your complete knowledge of us, and cannot comprehend how, knowing us so fully, you still depend on us to carry out your will. Humbly we come before you to offer our prayers of thanksgiving, and to beseech you to fill us with your Holy Spirit that we might be molded into disciples worthy of your trust. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Heavenly Father, like clay in the potter's hands we start out hoping to be a worthy vessel of your message, a disciple that you will be proud of. Then some weakness in us changes all that, and we come now asking that you will start over with us. Mold us and make us like Jesus, we pray, that we may be used by you to bring the Water of Life to those who thirst. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
Loving God, you know your children of every race and nationality. You understand our needs even better than we ourselves. Today we present our gifts and ourselves to be used by you in meeting those needs in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Hymns
"This Is A Day Of New Beginnings"
"Have Thine Own Way"
"He Touched Me"
Proper 18/Ordinary Time 23
Sunday between September 4 and September 10 inclusive
Second Lesson: Philemon 1-21
Theme: We Are All Brothers And Sisters In Christ
Call To Worship
Leader: Examine me, O God, and know my mind.
People: Test me, and discover my thoughts.
Leader: Find out if there is any evil in me.
People: Guide me in the everlasting way.
Leader: May our time of worship be a time of self-examination.
People: Open our hearts to you, O God, and cast out all prejudices we may harbor.
Collect
Merciful God, we come to you as those who once were bound by sin, but now, through the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus Christ, have been set free. Sharpen our understanding, we pray, that we may better comprehend how we have had a hand in keeping others from enjoying the freedom we know, and show us what we need to do to help liberate them by the power of Jesus' love. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
O God, we have not always treated others as our brothers and sisters in Christ, and we seek your forgiveness and theirs. Through the power of your Holy Spirit lead us now into paths of reconciliation that we may show forth your love in all our relationships. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
O God, once again we affirm our faith in you and your Church, which is your Body on earth. Use these gifts, we pray, in ways that will extend your call to freedom from sin, and show the world the path that leads to peace and goodwill among all peoples. Amen.
Hymns
"Help Us Accept Each Other"
"Jesus, Lord, We Look To Thee"
"Blest Be The Dear Uniting Love"
Proper 18/Ordinary Time 23
Sunday between September 4 and September 10 inclusive
Gospel Lesson: Luke 14:25-33
Theme: The Cost Of Being A Disciple
Call To Worship
Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow him. Are you willing and able to pay the cost of being a disciple of Jesus?
Come, and as we worship together, let us look at the cost of being a disciple!
Collect
Almighty God, make us loyal followers of our living Lord. Knowing the cost of being a disciple of Jesus, may we always obey his commands and demonstrate his Spirit of love and forgiveness in all that we say and do. In Jesus'Êname we pray. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Lord, you know us better than we know ourselves. You are aware that we have often failed to be your faithful disciples. Forgive us, we pray, and fill us with your Holy Spirit that we may willingly give up all that we have in order to follow you faithfully. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
Lord, Jesus Christ, with these gifts we commit ourselves anew to being your faithful disciples. Just as you followed the will of your Heavenly Father, even to the cross, so we would follow you. We pray that these offerings may be used by your Church to further your kingdom, and we ask that you will use us to seek out and enlist new disciples. Amen.
Hymns
"Are Ye Able?"
"I Surrender All"
"Take Up Thy Cross"
Call To Worship
Leader: The Lord has examined me and he knows me.
People: The Lord knows everything I do, and he understands all my thoughts.
Leader: The Lord's knowledge of me is too deep.
People: It is beyond my understanding.
Leader: Come, let us worship God who has complete knowledge of us.
Collect
Awesome God, we marvel at your complete knowledge of us, and cannot comprehend how, knowing us so fully, you still depend on us to carry out your will. Humbly we come before you to offer our prayers of thanksgiving, and to beseech you to fill us with your Holy Spirit that we might be molded into disciples worthy of your trust. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Heavenly Father, like clay in the potter's hands we start out hoping to be a worthy vessel of your message, a disciple that you will be proud of. Then some weakness in us changes all that, and we come now asking that you will start over with us. Mold us and make us like Jesus, we pray, that we may be used by you to bring the Water of Life to those who thirst. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
Loving God, you know your children of every race and nationality. You understand our needs even better than we ourselves. Today we present our gifts and ourselves to be used by you in meeting those needs in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Hymns
"This Is A Day Of New Beginnings"
"Have Thine Own Way"
"He Touched Me"
Proper 18/Ordinary Time 23
Sunday between September 4 and September 10 inclusive
Second Lesson: Philemon 1-21
Theme: We Are All Brothers And Sisters In Christ
Call To Worship
Leader: Examine me, O God, and know my mind.
People: Test me, and discover my thoughts.
Leader: Find out if there is any evil in me.
People: Guide me in the everlasting way.
Leader: May our time of worship be a time of self-examination.
People: Open our hearts to you, O God, and cast out all prejudices we may harbor.
Collect
Merciful God, we come to you as those who once were bound by sin, but now, through the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus Christ, have been set free. Sharpen our understanding, we pray, that we may better comprehend how we have had a hand in keeping others from enjoying the freedom we know, and show us what we need to do to help liberate them by the power of Jesus' love. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
O God, we have not always treated others as our brothers and sisters in Christ, and we seek your forgiveness and theirs. Through the power of your Holy Spirit lead us now into paths of reconciliation that we may show forth your love in all our relationships. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
O God, once again we affirm our faith in you and your Church, which is your Body on earth. Use these gifts, we pray, in ways that will extend your call to freedom from sin, and show the world the path that leads to peace and goodwill among all peoples. Amen.
Hymns
"Help Us Accept Each Other"
"Jesus, Lord, We Look To Thee"
"Blest Be The Dear Uniting Love"
Proper 18/Ordinary Time 23
Sunday between September 4 and September 10 inclusive
Gospel Lesson: Luke 14:25-33
Theme: The Cost Of Being A Disciple
Call To Worship
Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow him. Are you willing and able to pay the cost of being a disciple of Jesus?
Come, and as we worship together, let us look at the cost of being a disciple!
Collect
Almighty God, make us loyal followers of our living Lord. Knowing the cost of being a disciple of Jesus, may we always obey his commands and demonstrate his Spirit of love and forgiveness in all that we say and do. In Jesus'Êname we pray. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Lord, you know us better than we know ourselves. You are aware that we have often failed to be your faithful disciples. Forgive us, we pray, and fill us with your Holy Spirit that we may willingly give up all that we have in order to follow you faithfully. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
Lord, Jesus Christ, with these gifts we commit ourselves anew to being your faithful disciples. Just as you followed the will of your Heavenly Father, even to the cross, so we would follow you. We pray that these offerings may be used by your Church to further your kingdom, and we ask that you will use us to seek out and enlist new disciples. Amen.
Hymns
"Are Ye Able?"
"I Surrender All"
"Take Up Thy Cross"
