Year A - Proper 21 (25 Sep - 01 Oct)

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VERSION: 8 May 2002

SUNDAY BETWEEN 25 SEP AND 1 OCT (PROPER 21), YEAR A

In 2002: 19th Sunday after Pentecost, 29 Sep

In 2005: 19th Sunday after Pentecost, 25 Sep

In 2008: 20th Sunday after Pentecost, 28 Sep

In 2011: 15th Sunday after Pentecost, 25 Sep

In 2014: 16th Sunday after Pentecost, 28 Sep

- - -

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.

Christ humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death,

even death on a cross. (Phil 2:8 NRSV)

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

INVITATION TO CONFESSION

If using the alternative first reading (1b), consider using the following introduction to the confession of sins:

Friends in Christ:

The Lord says:

'Rid yourselves of all the offences you have committed,

and get a new heart and a new spirit.

Why will you die, O house of Israel?

For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone,

declares the Sovereign Lord.

Repent and live!' (Ezek 18:31,32 NIV)

Therefore let us come to God our Father to confess our sins,

asking him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive us.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)

Traditional

O God, since without you

we are not able to please you:

Mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit

may in all things

direct and rule our hearts;

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,

without you we are not able to please you.

Direct our hearts

by the working of your mercy.

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 to be faithful stewards of our possessions. [silence])

Loving Father,

you have so generously given us

all that we are

and all that we call our own.

Help us to serve you

by managing our possessions wisely,

so that they may not be a curse in our lives,

but an instrument for blessing.

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, new

(Let us pray for humility. [silence])

Merciful God,

give us the same attitude as Jesus,

who emptied himself

and was obedient to you

all the way to his death on the cross.

Make us eager to put others before ourselves,

and their needs before our own.

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.

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

Exodus 17:1-7 God gives water from a rock

Psalm 78:1-4,12-16

Antiphon:

We will tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord. (Ps 78:4b NRSV)

OR, 1b

Ezekiel 18:1-4,25-32 Individual responsibility for sin

Psalm 25:1-9

Antiphon:

Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love.

(Ps 25:6a NRSV)

SECOND READING

Philippians 2:1-13 The humility and exaltation of Christ

ALLELUIA VERSE (Phil 2:10,11 NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia.

At the name of Jesus every knee should bend

and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Alleluia.

GOSPEL

Matthew 21:23-32 Which son obeyed his father?

(If using NRSV, begin 'When Jesus entered . . . ')

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL

This is the gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Thank you, Lord Jesus,

for coming and acting with the authority of God.

Help us truly to obey you.

Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER

Thank you, Lord, for all you have given us,

especially the gift of your Son.

Help us to accept his authority,

trust in him, and obey him.

Teach us to live our lives in service to you.

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Call to prayer

God has called us to adopt the servant attitude of Jesus Christ. Let us be concerned not only about our own interests, but value the interests of others, praying to God our Father in Jesus' name.

The regular response, OR:

Gracious Lord,

hear our prayer.

Suggested intercessions

Concluding prayer

Father, your Son taught us that we will receive whatever we pray for in faith. Hear our prayer, and satisfy the desires of our hearts, as we pray in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, 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,

you have so generously given us

all that we are

and all that we call our own.

Above all else,

you have given us your Son,

whose body and blood

we have received in this sacrament.

Help us to serve you

by managing our possessions wisely,

so that they may not be a curse in our lives,

but an instrument for blessing.

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.

BEFORE THE BLESSING

The following verses (based on Phil 2:1,2 NRSV) may be said before the blessing.

If there is any encouragement in Christ,

any consolation from love,

any sharing in the Spirit,

any compassion and sympathy,

let us be of the same mind,

having the same love,

being in full accord and of one mind.

DISMISSAL

Go in peace as God's children to do his will.

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): Exodus 17:1-7

LHS

AT

TIS

First reading (b) : Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32

LHS

AT

TIS

Second reading: Philippians 2:1-13

LHS

AT

TIS

Gospel: Matthew 21:23-32

LHS

AT

TIS

PSALM 78:1-4,12-16

For musical settings of Psalm 78:1-4,12-16, see Music Package 3.

PSALM 25:1-9

For musical settings of Psalm 25:1-9, see Music Packages 5, 6, 7 and 9. TIS 14, O Lord, make me know your ways, is a version of Psalm 25:1,4-5,8-10,14.

John Bell's paraphrase of Psalm 25 'I lift my soul to you, O God' may be found on page 14 of Psalms of Patience, Protest and Praise (c) 1993 Wild Goose Publications.

Note: The Iona Community is willing to allow a church or worship assembly to reproduce the words only of a song from this publication on a service sheet or overhead projector transparency that is to be used once only on a non-commercial basis . . . provided that the title of the song and name of the copyright owner are clearly shown.

Alternatively, the following paraphrase of Psalm 25:1-10 by David Sch¸tz may be sung to the tune 'Die Sach ist dein', LH 228. If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

      My God, in you I trust;

Do not let me be put to shame;

      don't let my foes rejoice.

Do not let those who wait for you

be disappointed in their hope.

Let them be disappointed who

have openly rejected you.

      Show me your ways,

      O Lord, teach me your paths.

Teach me and lead me in your truth,

      my Saviour and my God;

I wait for you the whole day long,

      do not forget me, Lord.

Be mindful of your mercy, Lord,

and of your steadfast love of old.

Forget and wipe away my sins

according to your steadfast love.

      Remember me,

      Lord, for your goodness' sake.

The Lord, my God, is good and just,

      therefore he shows the way

to sinners who return to him

      and those with humble hearts.

He shows the humble what is right,

and teaches them to know his will.

The paths of God are steadfast love

and faithfulness for those who keep

      his covenant

      and listen to his word.

NOTES ON THE READINGS

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

EXODUS 17:1-7: God had shown his marvellous saving hand to the Israelites in their rescue at the Red Sea. He had also miraculously provided food daily with bread (manna) and quail. However, the pattern of grumbling, of unjust criticism of Moses and of God, together with the threat of rebellion, emerged again on this occasion when they reached a location without water. They did not stop even to think whether God was testing them. They rather put God to the test. God's patience was abundantly demonstrated by his orders to Moses to strike the rock from which poured out water.

EZEKIEL 18:1-4,25-32: Jerusalem and Judah had experienced severe hardship through invasion, siege and exile. People became bitter. They tended to blame God for taking it out on them for their fathers' sins. ('The parents ate sour grapes, the childrens' teeth were set on edge'.) What a dangerous sentiment! Individuals and the community could in this way duck their own responsibility. God directs Ezekiel here to make it clear that each person needs to repent of his/her own guilt. When that happens God forgives, regardless of guilt. Verses 30-32 issue one of the most powerful appeals in Scripture to turn from judgment, to be renewed in heart and spirit - and to live!

PHILIPPIANS 2:1-13: Christ Jesus laid aside his eternal right to equality with the Father to become a slave under the human lot of misery resulting from the fall into sin. He became obedient to the Father's will even to bearing the punishment of death for the sins of all. Therefore, says St Paul, imitate the humility and service of Jesus in working the good pleasure of God through looking, not to your own interests, but the interests of others.

MATTHEW 21:23-32: The religious leaders from their stand-point of confirmed rejection here query Jesus' authority to teach and work miracles. He answers their query and points to their hardheartedness through the story of the two sons. God will always turn from those who stubbornly shut him out of their lives, and will find others who can be constituted on a spiritual basis to produce fruits from their new life created in and through the Saviour.

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 Exodus could be accompanied by a picture of water coming out of a rock.

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) could be read dramatically by various readers: narrator, Israelite(s), Moses, the Lord. The gospel could be read by four readers: narrator (the pastor), Jesus, chief priest, elder.

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 parable of the two sons (Matthew 21:28-32)'. Material for this story may be found in:

Original Edition, Year A, Semester 2, 19 Pentecost

OR

Revised RCL Edition, Year A, Semester 2, Proper 21.