Year A - Proper 26 (30 Oct - 05 Nov)

Top Previous Next

VERSION: 8 May 2002

SUNDAY BETWEEN 30 OCT AND 5 NOV (PROPER 26), YEAR A

In 2002: 24th Sunday after Pentecost, 3 Nov

In 2005: 24th Sunday after Pentecost, 30 Oct

In 2008: 25th Sunday after Pentecost, 2 Nov

In 2011: 20th Sunday after Pentecost, 30 Oct

In 2014: 21st Sunday after Pentecost, 2 Nov

- - -

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.

ALL SAINTS DAY

If today is after 1 November, it may be celebrated as All Saints Day if this festival was not observed on 1 November. The propers for All Saints may be used instead of those given below.

LITURGY

SENTENCE

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

When you received the word of God which you heard from us,

you welcomed it as it is in truth, the word of God.

(1 Thess 2:13 NKJV alt)

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 Lord,

free your people from their offences,

that through your bountiful goodness

we may all be released

from the net of our sins

which because of our frailty

has entangled us;

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, free your people from their offences.

Through your great goodness

release us all from the net of our sins

which has entangled us because of our frailty.

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 cleansing and renewal. [silence])

Almighty God, heavenly Father,

to you all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from you no secrets are hidden.

Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,

so that we may perfectly love you

and worthily praise your holy 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, new

(Let us pray for the gift of humility. [silence])

Thank you, great God,

for the privilege of serving you.

Keep us from putting ourselves first.

Make us humble and considerate,

so that, like your Son,

we can be of service to others.

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

Joshua 3:7-17 Crossing the Jordan to the promised land

Psalm 107:1-7,33-37

Antiphon:

They saw the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous works in the deep.

(Ps 107:24 NRSV)

OR, 1b

Micah 3:5-12 The prophet declares the ruin of Jerusalem

Psalm 43

Antiphon:

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.

(Ps 43:5b NRSV)

SECOND READING

1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 Paul's conduct among the Thessalonians

ALLELUIA VERSE (Matt 23:12 NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia.

(Jesus said:) All who exalt themselves will be humbled,

and all who humble themselves will be exalted.

Alleluia.

GOSPEL

Matthew 23:1-12 Warnings against the scribes and Pharisees

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL

This is the gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Lord Jesus, thank you for setting us free

from the burden of the law's demands.

Make us humble and obedient like you.

Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER

Lord, you have given us

forgiveness of sins and salvation,

and made us your own children.

Teach us that you alone are our Lord and our Father,

and that true greatness in your kingdom means service.

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Call to prayer

God's word is at work in us, so let us serve each other and all people by praying to God our Father in Jesus' name.

Response

Father in heaven,

hear our prayer.

Suggested intercessions

Concluding prayer

Lord, your Son humbled himself and became a servant, and so took away our burden of sin and guilt. Keep us strong in the liberty that comes from being in Christ, and mercifully hear all the prayers we offer in his name.

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 God, heavenly Father,

to you all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from you no secrets are hidden.

By this holy sacrament,

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

so that we may perfectly love you

and worthily praise your holy 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.

DISMISSAL

Go in peace to humbly serve God and one another.

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): Joshua 3:1-17

LHS

AT

TIS

First reading (b): Micah 3:5-12

LHS

AT

TIS

Second reading: 1Thessalonians 2:9-13

LHS

AT

TIS

Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12

LHS

AT

TIS

PSALM 107:1-7,33-37

For musical settings of Psalm 107:1-7,33-37, see Music Package 3. TIS 67, Thus will say the Lord's redeemed, is a version of Psalm 107:1-5,23-26,28-31.

PSALM 43

For musical settings of Psalm 43, see Music Package 10.

Psalm 43 is a continuation of Psalm 42. Therefore, it may be sung to the tune by Olga Radke given at LHS 869 ('Like the deer'). The words of the verses here are by David Sch¸tz. If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

Vindicate me, God,

defend my cause,

and deliver me

from unjust hands.

Since you are my God,

why cast me off?

Why should I be sad

and so weighed down?

Why should I be sad, why troubled so?

I will trust and praise my Saviour God.

O send out your light,

send out your truth;

let them bring me to

your holy hill.

So I will approach

your altar, Lord.

I will praise you, God,

upon the harp.

Why should I be sad, why troubled so?

I will trust and praise my Saviour God.

NOTES ON THE READINGS

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

JOSHUA 3:7-17: Just as the Israelites were finally freed by the parting and closing of the waters of the Red Sea, so their entry and full commitment to taking the promised land is sealed by a similar, if lesser, miracle at the Jordan. The Ark of the Covenant served the double purpose of denoting the presence of the Lord and containing the tablets of the Ten Commandments. The Jordan, flowing a banker because of melting snow, banked back some probably 16 miles. As the priests bearing the ark entered the water it banked back until they stood on dry ground mid-river while the people passed over. The Lord indeed preceeded the people. His leadership would be paramount in their future in Canaan, and would be maintained insofar as the peoples' worship remained constant and their obedience to his law faithfully lived out.

MICAH 3:5-12: The first section of this reading (vv 5-8) is addressed by the prophet Micah to those who claimed to be prophets, yet gave a false message of 'peace' in order to receive financial gain from the powerful, but ignored those who were too poor to give them anything. Because they were self-dependant and ignored the Lord, they were devoid of any meaningful message. Micah, on the other hand, was empowered by the spirit of the Lord and would therefore fearlessly preach God's justice. Note that in this case justice meant dealing with the nation's sin. The second part of the reading (vv 9-12) addresses the rulers who saw the point of administering judgment only when there was some kind of financial advantage. Yet they piously claimed God's blessing upon themselves. Micah predicted the total destruction of Jerusalem and the temple because of their rejection of the Lord.

1 THESSALONIANS 2:9-13: Paul's and his companions' motives and actions had been misrepresented among the recent converts at Thessonalica after they left. Rather than exploit the people to whom they had brought the message of eternal life, they had worked hard with the gospel and supported themselves financially. In this section Paul reminds them of the life to which they have been called. Then he refers to the power which had turned their lives around and was still working in them. That power is the word of God, the message of Christ, which not only announces the good news but works faith and brings it into fruition in the heart and life of a believer.

MATTHEW 23:1-12: Our Lord here warns against the emphasis placed on following human authority in the teaching of God's word rather than God and Christ himself. The scribes and Pharisees placed a great deal of importance on following burdensome and detailed outward activities not actually contained in the law of Moses itself. They assumed authority without setting a personal example. Their own recognition was based upon empty ritual such as wearing a leather container (phylactery) on the arms and forehead containing Bible texts, and seeking positions which elevated them in a social sense. The follower of Jesus is to permit the word of God to instruct in such a way that God can rule in one's life in love to him and service to one's neighbour.

VISUAL

VISUALS FOR THE READINGS

Pictures or visual symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. For instance, during the reading of the gospel a simple picture, such as that in the TEV Bible for Matthew 23:4, could be displayed.

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 alternative first reading (1b) could be read by four readers: one reader to announce and close the reading; Micah; the Lord; representative of rulers, priests and prophets.

The gospel could be mimed as it is read.

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 'Martin Luther'. Material for this story may be found in:

Original Edition, Year C, Semester 2, Reformation

OR

Revised RCL Edition, Year A, Semester 2, Proper 26.