PROPER 22
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series III
* CALL TO WORSHIP (responsively)
Sing aloud a song of thanksgiving,
and tell all God's wondrous deeds.
Love the house in which we pray,
and the place where we give God glory.
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God unlimited, God self-limited, God extending our limits, surely
you do not expect us to accept suffering without complaint! We
are frustrated with illnesses that rage on, keeping us from doing
the things that bring us satisfaction and recognition. Long
nights and months of futility seem such a waste to us. Too often
we question why it should happen to us, thinking ourselves to be
better than others. We forget the exposure of your Son Jesus, to
all the circumstances of our mortality. We ignore the spiritual
growth that could be ours to prepare us to minister to other
sufferers. Forgive our resistance to the healing of spirit and
body that your Spirit can enable through our faith in Jesus
Christ. Amen.
* DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! In the Spirit Jesus still comes healing who
suffer from various diseases and freeing many who are captives of
evil. Friends, believe the Good News! In Jesus Christ, we are
forgiven.
* EXHORTATION
Bear your part in spreading the Good News, whether in illness or
health, weakness or strength, in the service of God.
* PRAYER OF THE DAY
Synagogue-preacher, sick-bed-visitor, exorcist-of-evil, so teach
us, so heal us, so clear us of evil, that we may be ready
learners and teachers, visitors of the sick and the shut-in, of
other sinners, gathering around you in one needy company. Amen.
* PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Creator of stars, nurse to the wounded, healer of broken spirits:
that you have power to rule the cosmos, fills us with awe. That
you stoop to touch and heal us, fills us with amazement. You
give new heart to the humble.
We thank you for all that sustains life, human, vegetable,
animal. Receive the thanksgiving of all creation, the psalms of
your people, the music of the birds, the sounds of all living
things. Hear us wherever we gather to praise your name. Amen.
* PRAYER OF DEDICATION
God of the Gospel, we share the responsibility of spreading the
Good News, with pastors and elders, evangelists and teachers,
healers and nurses, identifying with all sorts and conditions of
people in order to communicate the word of your grace in Jesus
Christ. Amen.
* PSALM 26:1-12
Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity,
and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
Prove me, O LORD, and try me;
test my heart and mind.
For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I walk in faithfulness to you.
I do not sit with the worthless,
nor do I consort with hypocrites;
I hate the company of evildoers,
and will not sit with the wicked.
I wash my hands in innocence,
and go around your altar, O LORD,
singing aloud a song of thanksgiving,
and telling all your wondrous deeds.
O LORD, I love the house in which you dwell,
and the place where your glory abides.
Do not sweep me away with sinners,
nor my life with the bloodthirsty,
those in whose hands are evil devices,
and whose right hands are full of bribes.
But as for me, I walk in my integrity;
redeem me, and be gracious to me.
My foot stands on level ground;
in the great congregation I will bless the LORD.
Sing aloud a song of thanksgiving,
and tell all God's wondrous deeds.
Love the house in which we pray,
and the place where we give God glory.
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God unlimited, God self-limited, God extending our limits, surely
you do not expect us to accept suffering without complaint! We
are frustrated with illnesses that rage on, keeping us from doing
the things that bring us satisfaction and recognition. Long
nights and months of futility seem such a waste to us. Too often
we question why it should happen to us, thinking ourselves to be
better than others. We forget the exposure of your Son Jesus, to
all the circumstances of our mortality. We ignore the spiritual
growth that could be ours to prepare us to minister to other
sufferers. Forgive our resistance to the healing of spirit and
body that your Spirit can enable through our faith in Jesus
Christ. Amen.
* DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! In the Spirit Jesus still comes healing who
suffer from various diseases and freeing many who are captives of
evil. Friends, believe the Good News! In Jesus Christ, we are
forgiven.
* EXHORTATION
Bear your part in spreading the Good News, whether in illness or
health, weakness or strength, in the service of God.
* PRAYER OF THE DAY
Synagogue-preacher, sick-bed-visitor, exorcist-of-evil, so teach
us, so heal us, so clear us of evil, that we may be ready
learners and teachers, visitors of the sick and the shut-in, of
other sinners, gathering around you in one needy company. Amen.
* PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Creator of stars, nurse to the wounded, healer of broken spirits:
that you have power to rule the cosmos, fills us with awe. That
you stoop to touch and heal us, fills us with amazement. You
give new heart to the humble.
We thank you for all that sustains life, human, vegetable,
animal. Receive the thanksgiving of all creation, the psalms of
your people, the music of the birds, the sounds of all living
things. Hear us wherever we gather to praise your name. Amen.
* PRAYER OF DEDICATION
God of the Gospel, we share the responsibility of spreading the
Good News, with pastors and elders, evangelists and teachers,
healers and nurses, identifying with all sorts and conditions of
people in order to communicate the word of your grace in Jesus
Christ. Amen.
* PSALM 26:1-12
Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity,
and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
Prove me, O LORD, and try me;
test my heart and mind.
For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I walk in faithfulness to you.
I do not sit with the worthless,
nor do I consort with hypocrites;
I hate the company of evildoers,
and will not sit with the wicked.
I wash my hands in innocence,
and go around your altar, O LORD,
singing aloud a song of thanksgiving,
and telling all your wondrous deeds.
O LORD, I love the house in which you dwell,
and the place where your glory abides.
Do not sweep me away with sinners,
nor my life with the bloodthirsty,
those in whose hands are evil devices,
and whose right hands are full of bribes.
But as for me, I walk in my integrity;
redeem me, and be gracious to me.
My foot stands on level ground;
in the great congregation I will bless the LORD.
