Year A - Proper 07 (19 June - 25 June)

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VERSION: 22 March 2002

SUNDAY BETWEEN 19 AND 25 JUNE (if after Trinity) (PROPER 7), YEAR A

In 2002: 5th Sunday after Pentecost, 23 June

In 2005: 5th Sunday after Pentecost, 19 June

In 2008: 6th Sunday after Pentecost, 22 June

In 2011: ---

In 2014: 2nd Sunday after Pentecost, 22 June

- - -

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.

If we have been united with him in a death like his,

we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

(Rom 6:5 NRSV)

OR

Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered,

and nothing is secret that will not become known.

What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light;

and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops.

(Matt 10:26,27 NRSV)

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

INTRODUCTION TO THE CONFESSION OF SINS

The confession of sins could be introduced as follows.

St Paul says:

Do you not know that all of us

who have been baptised into Christ Jesus

were baptised into his death?

Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death,

so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead

by the glory of the Father,

so we too might walk in newness of life.

Let us therefore confess our sins to God our Father

and ask him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive us

and help us to live our new life of faith.

The third question of the confession could be reworded as follows.

Do you intend, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to walk in newness of life, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father?

I do.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)

Traditional

Grant, O Lord,

that the course of this world

may be so peaceably ordered

by your government,

that your church may joyfully serve you

in all godly quietness;

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, govern the world

and keep it in peace,

so that your church may joyfully serve you

in all quietness.

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 desire the eternal blessings of God. [silence])

Strengthen our faith, Lord,

so that we do not set our hearts on earthly things,

but love the things of heaven.

As we are surrounded

by things that are passing away,

help us to cling to those that will last forever.

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 new life in Christ. [silence])

Thank you, loving God,

that we have been baptised into Christ's death.

We pray that, as you raised him from death,

we too live a new life,

dead to sin,

but alive for you in Jesus Christ.

For he 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 21:8-21 God's promise to Hagar and Ishmael

(Begin: 'The child Isaac grew . . . ')

Psalm 86:1-10,16,17

Antiphon:

(Bring joy to your servant, for) to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

(Ps 86:4 NIV)

OR, 1b

Jeremiah 20:7-13 Jeremiah struggles with his calling

(Begin: 'Jeremiah said:')

Psalm 69:7-10(11-15)16-18

Antiphon:

Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good.

(Ps 69:16a NRSV)

SECOND READING

Romans 6:1b-11 Dead to sin, but alive to Christ

ALLELUIA VERSE (Matt 10:39 NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia.

(Jesus said:) 'Those who find their life will lose it,

and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.'

Alleluia.

GOSPEL

Matthew 10:24-39 Do not be afraid; take up your cross and follow Christ

(Begin: 'Jesus said to the twelve apostles:')

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL

This is the gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Thank you, Lord Jesus,

for giving up your life for us.

Help us to trust in you more than everything else.

Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER

Lord, you have given us the privilege

of being your servants,

telling other people about you

and showing your compassion through our actions.

Give us courage to serve you

and not to count the cost.

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Call to prayer

We have been given new life through our baptism into Christ Jesus. Let us come to God our Father in his name, praying for the church and for the world.

Response

Lord in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Suggested intercessions

Concluding prayer

We thank you, Lord, that you are always more ready to listen to us than we are to pray. In your great mercy hear 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.

Thank you, Lord, for this healing gift.

Strengthen our faith,

so that we do not set our hearts on earthly things,

but love the things of heaven.

As we are surrounded

by things that are passing away,

help us to cling to those that will last forever.

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 take up your cross and follow the Lord.

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 21:8-21

LHS

AT

TIS

First reading (b): Jeremiah 20:7-13

LHS

AT

TIS

Second reading: Romans 6:1b-11

LHS

AT

TIS

Gospel: Matthew 10:24-39

LHS

AT

TIS

PSALM 86:1-10,16,17

For musical settings of Psalm 86:1-10,16,17, see Music Package 3.

The following paraphrase of Psalm 86:1-10,16,17 by David Sch¸tz may be sung to the tune Readhead 76 [Petra] (LH 330, TIS 222). If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

Listen, Lord, and answer me,

I am poor and need your help.

Save my life! I trust in you.

I'm your servant; you're my God.

All day long, I pray to you.

So be gracious, Lord, to me.

Make your servant glad, O Lord,

for I lift my prayer to you.

You, O Lord, forgive my sins,

and your love is always there

for all those who pray to you.

Listen, Lord, and hear my prayer.

In distress I pray to you,

for you always answer me.

There's no other god like you!

None can do the things you do!

All the nations you have made

shall bow down and praise your name.

Lord, our great and awesome God,

turn to me and strengthen me!

Since I am your servant's child,

prove your love and grace to me!

Let all those who hate me see

how you help and comfort me.

PSALM 69:7-10(11-15)16-18

For musical settings of Psalm 69:7-10(11-15)16-18, see Music Package 10. TIS 39, Let not those who hope in you, is a version of Psalm 69:6-15.

NOTES ON THE READINGS

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

GENESIS 21:8-21: As the infant Isaac grew, jealousy prompted Sarah to demand the expulsion of the older slave-born son of Abraham. Ishmael under current custom had certain rights of inheritance. Abraham's natural affection also made him unwilling to send Ishmael and Hagar away. God, however, once again transcended human frailty to enhance the practical long-term unfolding of his will. The further intervention of God to save Hagar and Ishmael in the desert underscores also God's purposes interplaying in the development of a future race of people, namely Ishmael's descendants.

JEREMIAH 20:7-13: After having faithfully carried out the Lord's charge to preach doom which would overtake the nation in forced exile to Babylon, Jeremiah finds his soul in turmoil. He stands alone among both his friends and his enemies. The united derision voiced in the mocking mimicry, 'terror is all around us', fills him with the depressive conviction that he carries the backlash of people's ill-will alone. Yet the drive, like a burning fire in his bones, to give voice to the Lord's judgment affords him no peace of soul. Even as he hears the whispered plots to do away with him, however, he becomes nonetheless convinced that the Lord will overcome his enemies, and so is able to sing a joyful song of praise.

ROMANS 6:1-11: Paul had experienced criticism from hostile listeners to the teaching of salvation purely through the gracious declaration of God that all sin was forgiven in Christ's substitutionary death. They sneeringly inferred, 'Surely, then, the more you feel free to sin the more God's grace can be exercised to forgive you.' In this section Paul argues decisively that it is an impossibility to continue living in sin if you have received God's grace. Each Christian has been taken back at his/her baptism and made to be present, so to speak, with Christ on the cross at Golgotha, dying together with him. Christ's own death meant a permanent break with the possibility of sin ever effecting him. His resurrection meant a permanent life in glory with the Father. Therefore, sharing these benefits and blessings, how can any believer return to the life of sin to which he/she has died with Christ? Being set free, the believer is alive in Christ.

MATTHEW 10:24-39: This reading belongs to a lengthy discourse of instruction by Jesus about what his disciples should expect and do when taking the gospel out into the world. If the master is maligned and rejected, the disciples should expect the same  experience. Yet they will not need to be afraid even of those who have the power of physical death. That which Jesus was teaching them in private, God's word, would fearlessly be made known by them under the Father's gracious keeping. Acknowledgment, or on the other hand denial, of Jesus would bring on them either eternal continuation of the loving relationship in glory or eternal rejection and punishment. Christ's message divides people, and will therefore result in hostility and rejection at even the closest family levels. Discipleship means first loyalty and total attachment to Christ himself over against all people and things. To love Jesus means to follow him regardless of the pain, rejection or persecution which may result.

VISUAL

VISUALS FOR THE READINGS

Pictures or visual symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. For instance, the second reading could be accompanied by an illustration of a baptismal symbol, such as a shell with three drops of water.

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 from Genesis (1a) could be read by four readers: narrator, Sarah, God, Hagar.

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 'Paul before King Agrippa (Acts 25:13 - 26:32)'. Material for this story may be found in

Original Edition, Year A, Semester 2, 5 Pentecost

OR

Revised RCL Edition, Year A, Semester 2, Proper 7.