PROPER 19
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series III
* CALL TO WORSHIP
Love the Lord, who has heard us and listens to our prayers. God
has given us a hearing whenever we have cried out to heaven.
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Living and loving God, we worship you more readily in the
presence of your friends, than in the company of your detractors.
We don't find much blessedness in being persecuted and avoid
confessing our faith rather than expose ourselves to ridicule or
suffering. We do not have the courage of our convictions and
play safe much of the time. Forgive our failure to live our
supposed faith and to act on our declared sympathies through your
long-suffering Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
* DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! Gracious is the Lord and righteous; our God
is full of compassion. When we are brought low, God saves us.
Friends, believe the Good News! In Jesus Christ, we are
forgiven.
* EXHORTATION
Leave self behind, take up your cross and follow Jesus. Walk in
the Lord's presence in the land of the living.
* PRAYER OF THE DAY
Suffering Savior, Son of the suffering God, grant us courage to
accept suffering as well as healing and help for your name's
sake. Give us inner strength in the Spirit to be faithful by the
confession of your name, Jesus Christ, Son of the living God.
Amen.
* PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
God of life and health, we would thank you for health by caring
for the sick. We should show our gratitude for freedom by
working for the release of prisoners. We double our enjoyment of
what we have by sharing with those who don't have. We echo the
good news we have heard for those who live in the sadness of bad
times. Receive the worship we present in word and deed in the
Spirit of Jesus our Lord. Amen.
* PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Sovereign Lord, let our money talk for us in the hour of prayer,
but also use it to send a word to the weary, to strengthen and
to heal the sick in the name of Jesus. Amen.
* PSALM 19
The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them;
and nothing is hid from its heat.
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul;
the decrees of the LORD are sure, making wise the simple;
the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
But who can detect their errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
(or)
* WISDOM 7:26 -- 8:1
For she is a reflection of eternal light,
a spotless mirror of the working of God,
and an image of his goodness.
Although she is but one, she can do all things,
and while remaining in herself, she renews all things;
in every generation she passes into holy souls
and makes them friends of God, and prophets;
for God loves nothing so much as the person who lives with wisdom.
She is more beautiful than the sun,
and excels every constellation of the stars.
Compared with the light she is found to be superior,
for it is succeeded by the night,
but against wisdom evil does not prevail.
She reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other,
and she orders all things well.
Love the Lord, who has heard us and listens to our prayers. God
has given us a hearing whenever we have cried out to heaven.
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Living and loving God, we worship you more readily in the
presence of your friends, than in the company of your detractors.
We don't find much blessedness in being persecuted and avoid
confessing our faith rather than expose ourselves to ridicule or
suffering. We do not have the courage of our convictions and
play safe much of the time. Forgive our failure to live our
supposed faith and to act on our declared sympathies through your
long-suffering Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
* DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! Gracious is the Lord and righteous; our God
is full of compassion. When we are brought low, God saves us.
Friends, believe the Good News! In Jesus Christ, we are
forgiven.
* EXHORTATION
Leave self behind, take up your cross and follow Jesus. Walk in
the Lord's presence in the land of the living.
* PRAYER OF THE DAY
Suffering Savior, Son of the suffering God, grant us courage to
accept suffering as well as healing and help for your name's
sake. Give us inner strength in the Spirit to be faithful by the
confession of your name, Jesus Christ, Son of the living God.
Amen.
* PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
God of life and health, we would thank you for health by caring
for the sick. We should show our gratitude for freedom by
working for the release of prisoners. We double our enjoyment of
what we have by sharing with those who don't have. We echo the
good news we have heard for those who live in the sadness of bad
times. Receive the worship we present in word and deed in the
Spirit of Jesus our Lord. Amen.
* PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Sovereign Lord, let our money talk for us in the hour of prayer,
but also use it to send a word to the weary, to strengthen and
to heal the sick in the name of Jesus. Amen.
* PSALM 19
The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them;
and nothing is hid from its heat.
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul;
the decrees of the LORD are sure, making wise the simple;
the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
But who can detect their errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
(or)
* WISDOM 7:26 -- 8:1
For she is a reflection of eternal light,
a spotless mirror of the working of God,
and an image of his goodness.
Although she is but one, she can do all things,
and while remaining in herself, she renews all things;
in every generation she passes into holy souls
and makes them friends of God, and prophets;
for God loves nothing so much as the person who lives with wisdom.
She is more beautiful than the sun,
and excels every constellation of the stars.
Compared with the light she is found to be superior,
for it is succeeded by the night,
but against wisdom evil does not prevail.
She reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other,
and she orders all things well.
