Year A - Proper 24 (16 Oct - 22 Oct)

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VERSION: 11 April 2002

SUNDAY BETWEEN 16 AND 22 OCT (PROPER 24), YEAR A

In 2002: 22nd Sunday after Pentecost, 20 Oct

In 2005: 22nd Sunday after Pentecost, 16 Oct

In 2008: 23rd Sunday after Pentecost, 19 Oct

In 2011: 18th Sunday after Pentecost, 16 Oct

In 2014: 19th Sunday after Pentecost, 19 Oct

- - -

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.

The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious,

slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. (Exod 34:6 NRSV)

OR

From the rising of the sun to its setting there is none besides me.

I am the Lord, and there is no other. (Isa 45:6,7 NKJV)

OR

You have turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God,

and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead. (1 Thess 1:9,10 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

Lord, keep your family the church

in continual godliness,

that through your protection

it may be free from all evil,

and may devoutly serve you

in good works,

to the glory of your name;

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, keep your family faithful to you.

Protect us from all evil,

so that we may serve you

by doing good,

to the glory of your name.

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 that we may approach God with confidence. [silence])

Almighty and merciful God,

the Lord of heaven and earth,

your Son has opened for us

a new and living way into your presence.

Give us pure hearts and a sure faith

to draw near to you as our Father,

and to ask you for whatever we need.

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 good government. [silence])

Thank you, sovereign God,

for providing good order and government,

so that we can serve you peacefully.

Make us responsible citizens,

who honour you by

working for the common good

and respecting all lawful authorities.

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 33:12-23 The Lord shows his glory to Moses

Psalm 99

Antiphon:

The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples.

(Ps 99:2 NRSV)

OR, 1b

Isaiah 45:1-7 The Lord appoints King Cyrus of Persia to do his will

Psalm 96:1-9(10-13)

Antiphon:

Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. (Ps 96:7b NRSV)

SECOND READING

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 Serving God in faith, hope, and love

ALLELUIA VERSE (1 Thess 1:5 NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia.

The message of the gospel came to you not in word only,

but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.

Alleluia.

GOSPEL

Matthew 22:15-22 The question about paying taxes

(If using NRSV or NIV, substitute 'Jesus' for 'him' in v 15)

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL

This is the gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for bringing us into your kingdom.

Make us obedient to earthly authorities,

and above all to our heavenly Father.

Amen.

OFFERING ANNOUNCEMENT

The offering may be announced with reference to the gospel in words similar to these:

Jesus said: 'Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's,

and give to God the things that are God's.'

All we have and all we are has come from God,

so let us worship him with our offerings.

OFFERING PRAYER

Our loving God,

we thank you for protecting us in our daily lives

by providing an ordered and peaceful existence.

Help us to obey and respect the governing authorities.

But above all, lead us to honour and obey you, our Lord,

and to serve you with all that you have given us.

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Call to prayer

Let us bring to our God, who guides and protects us, the needs of the whole church, and the needs of all people.

The regular response, OR:

God, our Creator,

hear our prayer.

Suggested intercessions

Concluding prayer

Father, you are the true and living God. Continue to give us the strength to live as your servants, and to wait for the deliverance that you give us in your Son, our Lord 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.

Almighty and merciful God,

through his body and blood

your Son has opened for us

a new and living way into your presence.

Give us pure hearts and a sure faith

to draw near to you as our Father,

and to ask you for whatever we need.

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.

DISMISSAL

Go in peace. Serve the Lord, and obey all lawful authorities.

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 33:12-23

LHS

AT

TIS

First reading (b): Isaiah 45: 1-7

LHS

AT

TIS

Second reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

LHS

AT

TIS

Gospel: Matthew 22:15-22

LHS

AT

TIS

PSALM 99

For musical settings of Psalm 99, see Music Packages 1, 3 and 7. TIS 58, The Lord reigns, is a version of Psalm 99:1-7,9.

The following metrical paraphrase of Psalm 99 by David Sch¸tz could be used on this day. It is sung to the tune of the song 'God is so good', ATN 54. If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

The Lord is King! Fear and tremble!

He is enthroned in his temple!

Let the earth shake in the fear of God.

The Lord is great in his city!

He is above all the nations!

Let them all praise his great awesome name.

Holy is he - loving justice!

Our mighty King - giving fairness!

He acts with justice and righteousness.

All praise the Lord! Alleluia!

Worship his name! He is holy!

Come, bow before the Lord God, our King!

His priests are Aaron and Moses,

Samuel himself called on his name.

They cried to God, and he answered them.

They heard his voice speaking to them;

they kept the laws that he gave them;

he spoke to them from the fire and cloud.

O Lord our God, when you answered

you were forgiving toward them,

but you avenged all the wrong they did.

Extol the Lord - he is our God;

bow down on his holy mountain;

for the Lord God is the Holy One.

PSALM 96

For musical settings of Psalm 96, see Music Packages 1, 4, 7 and 10. See also TIS 54O sing a new song to the Lord.

For a song version, see ATW 468, 'Sing a new song'. Or the following paraphrase of Psalm 96 by David Sch¸tz may be sung to the tune 'Church Triumphant' (LH 227, TIS 98). If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

Come, sing a new song to the Lord,

come, sing a new song, all the earth.

Sing to the Lord, and bless his name,

that all may know his saving grace.

Let heav'n be glad, let earth rejoice;

let sea and all its creatures roar.

Let field exult, and all in it;

let trees and forests sing for joy.

Rejoice before the coming Lord,

for he shall come to judge the earth,

to judge the earth with righteousness -

he judges nations with his truth.

NOTES ON THE READINGS

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

EXODUS 33:12-23: At this stage of the wilderness journey to the promised land, the accompanying presence of God had been withdrawn because of the people's persistent stubborn resistance. Here Moses requests on the basis of the favour God has shown him in the past that God would go up to the promised land with them. Otherwise entry and possession would be meaningless. God's favourable answer emboldens Moses further to ask for an appearance of God for his own reassurance and for the people that despite the seeming restriction of God's presence God's authentic activity was with them. God's reply, made in human terms ('my face', 'my back') expresses the truth that no human being could see his full glory and live. Instead, the Lord promises Moses a partial but sufficient revelation made possible by his loving and protecting grace.

ISAIAH 45:1-7: King Cyrus ruled Babylon and its extensive empire. He probably didn't regard the God of Israel (whose people were his captives) as being any more or less than all the local gods of the other subject peoples in his realm. Isaiah nonetheless prophesies that the only true God of the cosmos will make Cyrus both powerful and rich in order to display God's glory. The high point of Cyrus's reign will be to return God's people to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. Even if Cyrus didn't recognise it, God permits and places earthly power and rule as he sees fit to achieve his long-term ends.

1 THESSALONIANS 1:1-10: St Paul felt a tremendous kinship with congregations which had come to Christ through his ministry. We can feel his vibrant joy as he describes what he has been hearing of the Thessalonians' Christian profession. He talks of the power of the word of the gospel which he had proclaimed. The Holy Spirit miraculously used it to effect a conviction in them which brought results. They not only embraced the gospel through this power by believing it, but continued with a life of faith, hope and love, of joy and steadfastness. They translated their faith into real life and witness which sounded strongly throughout the region.

MATTHEW 22:15-22: This attempt to entrap Jesus with a barbed question was aimed at either discrediting him in the general community or creating a reason to report him to the Roman authorities. The poll tax coin bore Caesar's inscription and was a hated reminder to people of their subservience. Jesus' brilliant answer recognised the reality of the governmental right to impose outward control over the population. However, the whole person belongs to God and therefore believers owe their first obedience to him in everything in which he calls for it. Only in that framework could obedience be given to government.

VISUAL

VISUALS FOR THE READINGS

Pictures or visual symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings.

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 by three readers: narrator, Moses, the Lord; and the gospel could be read by three or more readers: narrator (the pastor), disciple(s) of Pharisees, 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 'Paying taxes to Caesar (Matthew 22:15-22)'. Material for this story may be found in: Revised RCL Edition, Year A, Semester 2, Proper 24 (new story).