Year A - Proper 13 (31 July - 06 Aug)

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VERSION: 8 May 2002

SUNDAY BETWEEN 31 JULY AND 6 AUG (PROPER 13),

YEAR A

In 2002: 11th Sunday after Pentecost, 4 Aug

In 2005: 11th Sunday after Pentecost, 31 July

In 2008: 12th Sunday after Pentecost, 3 Aug

In 2011: 7th Sunday after Pentecost, 31 July

In 2014: 8th Sunday after Pentecost, 3 Aug

- - -

Note: For explanations and suggestions on the various resources provided, see the documents 'General notes and resources' and 'Time after Pentecost' in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

LITURGY

SENTENCE

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder for suggestions on using a Sentence.

Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters,

and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! (Isa 55:1a NRSV)

OR, use one of the general Sentences in the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)

Traditional

O God, since you declare your almighty power

chiefly in showing mercy and pity:

Mercifully grant us such a measure of your grace,

that we may run to obtain your promises,

and share in your heavenly glory;

through your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, modernised traditional

Lord God, you reveal your almighty power

most of all in showing mercy.

In your loving kindness

let us run towards what you have promised,

and share in your heavenly treasure.

We ask this through your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, alternative

(Let us pray for the bread of life. [silence])

Loving Father,

your dear Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven

to be the true bread

which gives life to the world.

Give us this bread, so that he may live in us

and we in him.

For he lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, new

(Let us pray for the bread of life. [silence])

Thank you, compassionate God,

that your Son healed the sick

and fed those who were hungry.

Satisfy our hunger both for daily bread

and for the life-giving bread that lasts forever.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

FIRST READING AND PSALM

Note: There are two sets of first readings (with accompanying Psalms) given for the Sundays after Pentecost: (a) a new semi-continuous set, and (b) a set related thematically to the gospels (as in the earlier form of the lectionary). It is intended that either one of these two sets be used throughout and that they not be mixed.

1a

Genesis 32:22-31 Jacob wrestles with God

(If using NRSV, begin: 'That same night, Jacob got up . . . ')

Psalm 17:1-7,15

Antiphon:

In righteousness I will see your face. (Ps 17:15a NIV)

OR, 1b

Isaiah 55:1-5 Invitation to the thirsty

Psalm 145:8, 9,14-21

Antiphon:

The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.  (Ps 145:15 NRSV)

SECOND READING

Romans 9:1-5 Paul's sorrow for his own people

ALLELUIA VERSE (Matt 4:4)

Alleluia, alleluia.

No one lives on bread alone,

but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Alleluia.

GOSPEL

Matthew 14:13-21 Jesus feeds the five thousand

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL

This is the gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your great compassion.

Help us to receive your generosity with thanks,

and share your gifts with others.

Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER

Lord, we thank you for giving us

not only what we need, but much more.

Help us joyfully to accept your good gifts,

especially life and fellowship with you,

and to share your gifts with others.

Make us generous and self-giving.

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Call to prayer

God has made us his people and given us his Spirit. So let us pray for all the people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all the people in the world.

The regular response, OR:

We pray to the Lord:

Have compassion on your people.

Suggested intercessions

Concluding prayer

Heavenly Father, you show your loving care for the whole world, and your Son satisfied the needs of the five thousand. In your great goodness answer our prayers; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

PREFACE

It is indeed right and good,

Lord God, holy Father,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks to you,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(On this day)*

he overcame death by his resurrection

and opened up for us

the way to eternal life with you.

And so, with angels and archangels,

and with all the company of heaven,

we adore and praise your glorious name:

* The words 'on this day' are used only on Sundays.

COMMUNION INVITATION

For a choice of communion invitations, see the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Communion invitation', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

See the service order for a standard post-communion prayer. Alternatively, use the third prayer of the day (as listed above) at this point. It may be modified as follows.

Loving Father,

your dear Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven

to be the true bread

which gives life to the world.

As you have fed us with this bread,

may he live in us and we in him.

For he lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

DISMISSAL

Go in peace, filled with the abundant life that God gives you.

Thanks be to God. OR In the name of Christ. Amen.

HYMNS AND SONGS

FOR THE READINGS

Please note:        * =        Modernised version available

      G3, G4 . . . =        Guitar chords available in the Music Package 3, 4 . . .

      GS =        Guitar chords in the Supplement to LH

First reading (a): Genesis 32:22-31

LHS

AT

TIS

-

First reading (b): Isaiah 55:1-5

LHS

AT

TIS

Second reading: Romans 9:1-5

LHS

AT

TIS

Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21

LHS

AT

TIS

PSALM 17:1-7,15

For musical settings of Psalm 17:1-7,15, see Music Package 3. TIS 6, Lord, hear a cause that is just, is a version of Psalm 17:1,5-6,8,15.

PSALM 145:8,9,14-21

For musical settings of Psalm 145:8,9,14-21, see Music Package 10.

TIS 89, O Lord, you are my God and King, is a metrical paraphrase of Psalm 145:1-7,9-12.

The following paraphrase of Psalm 145:8-10,13b-21 by David Sch¸tz may be sung to the tune of 'Sent by the Lord am I' (ATO 412), or to Quam dilecta (LH 503) or St Cecilia (LH 416). If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

How gracious is the Lord;

the Lord is merciful.

He's slow to show his wrath,

abounds in steadfast love.

The Lord is good to all,

compassionate and kind.

Now all your works give thanks,

your faithful bless your name.

He's faithful in his words,

and gracious in his deeds.

He lifts up those who fall,

he holds up those weighed down.

All eyes shall look to you,

and you will give them food,

You open up your hand,

and satisfy our needs.

The Lord is just and kind,

he's near to all who call.

He fills and saves all those

who learn to fear his name.

The wicked he puts down;

he watches those he loves.

My mouth will praise the Lord;

all creatures bless his name.

NOTES ON THE READINGS

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Notes on the readings', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

GENESIS 32:22-31: Jacob at this time was returning to his homeland, afraid of the vengeance his brother Esau might exact on account of Jacob's tricking him out of the birthright so many years ago. The outward course of the physical wrestling match during the night expresses the inner spiritual encounter going on at the same time between Jacob and God. Despite Jacob's bad conscience, the man acceded to his demand for blessing, but left him with a permanent limp as a reminder of his obligations to the Lord because of that blessing. At the conclusion of the episode it becomes clear that Jacob persisted in his struggle with none less than the Lord. The 'man' departed before daylight lest Jacob see the face of the Lord and perish. Yet Jacob (now called Israel, meaning 'he strives with God') was certain he had seen God face to face in that gracious encounter.

ISAIAH 55:1-5: God invites the hungry and the thirsty to come to him for spiritual food and drink. This truly satisfying nourishment comes from God's free loving grace, without cost to us.

ROMANS 9 :1-5: Knowing personally the wonderful relationship with God given him freely through the Bread of life, Paul expresses his utter anguish that his fellow Jews have rejected Christ. Even though they had callously rejected God's plan of salvation in the covenant, he would gladly give up his own place in heaven if it were possible to save them from eternal separation from God by doing that. Christians really care about the eternal future of others.

MATTHEW 14:13-21: When the covenant God of Israel fed the people with manna for the period of their journey to the promised land, he demonstrated himself not only to be the almighty God above all gods but also to be a caring God. Jesus here similarly demonstrates his power of Godhead in the miracle of feeding the 5000. This gospel selection also shows his compassionate care for those who come to him with earthly and spiritual needs.

VISUAL

VISUALS FOR THE READINGS

Pictures or visual symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. For instance, the first reading (1a) from Genesis could be accompanied by an illustration like the one in the TEV Bible for Genesis 32:24: and the gospel could be accompanied by an illustration like the one in TEV for Luke 9:17.

DRAMA

'MEGA DRAMA'

See a drama for the day in Mega Drama resources (Openbook Publishers), originally included in these worship resources when they were released on disks.

DRAMATISING THE READINGS

The readings can be read by more than one person to make the dramatic meaning of the text clearer. For instance, the first reading (1a) from Genesis could be read by three readers: narrator, the man, Jacob; and the gospel could be read by three readers: narrator (the pastor), disciple, Jesus.

CHILDREN

'COME AND SEE JESUS'

The Come and See Jesus curriculum published by Openbook Publishers has a wealth of material and ideas that may be adapted for use in worship. Please note that a new edition of this material is currently available for the Revised Common Lectionary.

This week's story is 'The covenant at Mt Sinai (Exodus 19,20)'. Material for this story may be found in

Original Edition, Year A, Transfiguration

OR

Revised RCL Edition, Year A, Proper 13