PROPER 20
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series III, Cycle A
CALL TO WORSHIP
Add joy to your faith. Be one in spirit and one in mind, standing firm as you contend for the Gospel faith.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Owner of land and sea, Ruler of wind and wave, Spirit of Jesus Christ available to your people, we confess that we grumble about the work you give us to do, when it seems that we work longer and get no more reward than those have not worked as long and hard. We have not always found joy in our work for its own sake nor rejoiced in what others have done, whether early or late. In the silence of this place we acknowledge your right to do whatever you will with what is yours, but when our work and our life is tedious we complain uncivilly. Forgive our disrespect for you and our disregard for the task you have given us to do. With the help of the Spirit we may yet learn to find joy in your service. Amen.
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! Even when we do not remember God's acts of faithful love, our Savior delivers us for his name's sake. Friends, believe the Good News. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
EXHORTATION
Add joy to your faith and let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Heavenly Sovereign, save us from the jealousy that seeks to detract from the accomplishments of others, especially the young and those who have come late in life to your service, that all of us working together may find joy in serving you as one body, one in Spirit, One in mind. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Who can count, gracious God, the times you have relented from destroying rebellious and stubborn people forgetful of your past mercies and turning to idolatry, the worship of lesser things? How often has a Moses thrown himself into the breach to save a nation! How grateful we are that your special child, Jesus, has done this for the whole world. We rejoice that whether we have come early or late to work for Christ in the church, you reward us beyond our deserving. Thanks he given to you, gracious God, mediating Christ, reconciling Spirit. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Patient God, may our offerings never be given as an excuse for indulgence after we have completed our Sunday service, but rather as a portion that signified our discipline in worship and daily life, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
PSALM 105:1-6, 37-45
O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples.
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wonderful works.
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
Seek the LORD and his strength;
seek his presence continually.
Remember the wonderful works he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
O offspring of his servant Abraham,
children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
Then he brought Israel out with silver and gold,
and there was no one among their tribes who stumbled.
Egypt was glad when they departed,
for dread of them had fallen upon it.
He spread a cloud for a covering,
and fire to give light by night.
They asked, and he brought quails,
and gave them food from heaven in abundance.
He opened the rock, and water gushed out;
it flowed through the desert like a river.
For he remembered his holy promise,
and Abraham, his servant.
So he brought his people out with joy,
his chosen ones with singing.
He gave them the lands of the nations,
and they took possession of the wealth of the peoples,
that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws.
Praise the LORD!
Add joy to your faith. Be one in spirit and one in mind, standing firm as you contend for the Gospel faith.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Owner of land and sea, Ruler of wind and wave, Spirit of Jesus Christ available to your people, we confess that we grumble about the work you give us to do, when it seems that we work longer and get no more reward than those have not worked as long and hard. We have not always found joy in our work for its own sake nor rejoiced in what others have done, whether early or late. In the silence of this place we acknowledge your right to do whatever you will with what is yours, but when our work and our life is tedious we complain uncivilly. Forgive our disrespect for you and our disregard for the task you have given us to do. With the help of the Spirit we may yet learn to find joy in your service. Amen.
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! Even when we do not remember God's acts of faithful love, our Savior delivers us for his name's sake. Friends, believe the Good News. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
EXHORTATION
Add joy to your faith and let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Heavenly Sovereign, save us from the jealousy that seeks to detract from the accomplishments of others, especially the young and those who have come late in life to your service, that all of us working together may find joy in serving you as one body, one in Spirit, One in mind. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Who can count, gracious God, the times you have relented from destroying rebellious and stubborn people forgetful of your past mercies and turning to idolatry, the worship of lesser things? How often has a Moses thrown himself into the breach to save a nation! How grateful we are that your special child, Jesus, has done this for the whole world. We rejoice that whether we have come early or late to work for Christ in the church, you reward us beyond our deserving. Thanks he given to you, gracious God, mediating Christ, reconciling Spirit. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Patient God, may our offerings never be given as an excuse for indulgence after we have completed our Sunday service, but rather as a portion that signified our discipline in worship and daily life, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
PSALM 105:1-6, 37-45
O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples.
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wonderful works.
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
Seek the LORD and his strength;
seek his presence continually.
Remember the wonderful works he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
O offspring of his servant Abraham,
children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
Then he brought Israel out with silver and gold,
and there was no one among their tribes who stumbled.
Egypt was glad when they departed,
for dread of them had fallen upon it.
He spread a cloud for a covering,
and fire to give light by night.
They asked, and he brought quails,
and gave them food from heaven in abundance.
He opened the rock, and water gushed out;
it flowed through the desert like a river.
For he remembered his holy promise,
and Abraham, his servant.
So he brought his people out with joy,
his chosen ones with singing.
He gave them the lands of the nations,
and they took possession of the wealth of the peoples,
that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws.
Praise the LORD!
