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

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VERSION: 8 May 2002

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

YEAR B

In 2003: 8th Sunday after Pentecost, 3 Aug

In 2006: 9th Sunday after Pentecost, 6 Aug

In 2009: 9th Sunday after Pentecost, 2 Aug

In 2012: 10th Sunday after Pentecost, 5 Aug

In 2015: 10th Sunday after Pentecost, 2 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.

There is one body and one Spirit,

one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

one God and Father of all,

who is above all and through all and in all. (Eph 4:4-6 NRSV 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 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])

God, our source and our goal,

you have made us to hunger and thirst for you.

Satisfy our hunger

with the bread that gives real life,

your Son 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

2 Samuel 11:26 - 12:13a David's sin is condemned

Psalm 51:1-12

Antiphon:

I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

(Ps 51:3 NRSV)

OR, 1b

Exodus 16:2-4,9-15 The manna and the quails

(If using TEV, put 'all the Israelites' instead of 'they all' in verse 2)

Psalm 78:23-29

Antiphon:

The Lord rained down on them manna to eat. (Ps 78:24 NRSV)

SECOND READING

Ephesians 4:1-16 Unity in the body of Christ

ALLELUIA VERSE (based on John 6:27a NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia.

The Son of Man will give you

the food that endures for eternal life.

Alleluia.

GOSPEL

John 6:24-35 Jesus the bread of God gives life to the world

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL

This is the gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming from the Father

to give life to the world.

Help us to believe in you.

Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER

We thank you, Father,

for your Son Jesus who gives us life,

and for the Holy Spirit who joins us all together.

Increase our faith in Jesus

and our love for one another and all people.

Lead us to use the gifts you have given us

in loving service for the good of all.

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Call to prayer

Jesus said, 'I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.' Let us pray to God, who hears our prayers.

The regular response, OR:

O God and Father of us all,

hear our prayer

Suggested intercessions

Concluding prayer

Merciful God, you heard the prayers of your people in the wilderness and revealed yourself in the cloud, hidden but seen. Reveal yourself today in your Son as we receive his body and blood in communion, again hidden but seen, and hear our prayers. We pray through him who died in our place, 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.

OR, the following invitation may be used:

Jesus said: 'The bread of God

is that which comes down from heaven

and gives life to the world.'

(Thanks be to God.)

Come, everything is ready.

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, and grow in faith and love.

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): 2 Samuel 11:26 - 12:13a

LHS

AT

TIS

First reading (b): Exodus 16:2-4,9-15

LHS

AT

TIS

Second reading: Ephesians 4:1-16

LHS

AT

TIS

Gospel: John 6:24-35

See selection for first reading (b) plus:

LHS

AT

TIS

'I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE'

The song 'I am the bread of life' is particularly suitable for the gospel. If possible, use the version in Together in Song (no. 535) because it has been put in inclusive language.

'EAT THIS BREAD'

See All Together Everybody no. 270 (TIS 714) for the Taize ostinato response: 'Eat this bread'. This response and the verses to be sung with it may be sung by a small choir during communion, and taught to the congregation over the weeks that John 6 is read.

PSALM 51:1-12

For musical settings of Psalm 51:1-12, see Music Packages 5, 6 and 9.

TIS 31, Have mercy on us, living Lord, is a paraphrase of Psalm 51, and TIS 32, Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness, is a version of Psalm 51:1-4a,10-12,15.

The following paraphrases of the psalm are by David Sch¸tz. If reproducing either of these versions, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm. The first is sung to the tune Aus tiefer Not (Luther, LHS 310.

Have mercy on me, O my God,

according to your steadfast love;

wipe my transgressions from your sight,

according to your gen'rous grace.

O wash me from iniquity,

and cleanse me from the stain of sin;

for I know my transgressions.

I've sinned against you, Lord, alone,

and done what's evil in your sight,

so you are right to sentence me,

and blameless when you judge my sin.

Indeed, a sinner I was born,

but you seek truth within my heart;

so make me know your wisdom.

Purge me with hyssop, make me clean;

O wash me, make me white as snow.

Let me hear sounds of joy again;

and give me gladness in my soul.

O let the bones you crushed be healed.

and turn your face from all my sins,

blot out all my transgressions.

Create in me a clean heart, God,

and let my spirit be renewed.

Don't cast me out away from you,

or take your spirit from my heart.

Restore to me the joy I knew

when first you saved me from my sin.

Uphold me with your spirit.

This second version may be sung to the tune Delay not, LH 304. Note that verse 13 is added to complete the song verse.

Have mercy upon me, O God, in your love;

blot out my transgressions, O merciful God;

O wash me and cleanse me from all of my guilt,

for I know my sin and I know what I've done.

Against you, O Father, alone, I have sinned,

and done what is evil, condemned by your law.

I know that your judgment is righteous and true;

I know I am guilty, that's how I was born.

But you look for truth in my innermost thoughts;

so give me your wisdom deep down in my heart.

Oh, purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean,

and wash me and make me far whiter than snow.

That I may be glad, let me hear your good news;

and let me rejoice when my bones have been healed.

Don't let your eyes rest on the sins I have done;

blot out from your memory the things I've done wrong.

Create a clean heart within me, O my God,

and put a right spirit within me, O Lord.

Don't chase me away from your presence, I pray,

and don't take your life-giving spirit away.

O Lord, be my Saviour, renew all my joy,

Sustain in me your willing spirit to serve;

and then I will teach those who sing of your love,

and they will return to you just as I have.

PSALM 78:23-29

For musical settings of Psalm 78:23-29, see Music Package 6.

The following paraphrase of Psalm 78:23-29 by David Sch¸tz may be sung to the tune Vater unser (LH 421, TIS 550). If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

The Lord gave orders to the skies,

and opened up the gates of heaven,

the sky rained manna down on them,

and gave them grain from heaven to eat.

Then mortals fed on angels' bread,

and they were filled beyond their need.

He made the wind blow from the east,

and rained down meat on them like dust,

full flocks of birds blew in like sand,

and fell around where they had camped.

So God gave them the food they craved,

and all were filled with meat and bread.

NOTES ON THE READINGS

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

EXODUS 16:2-4,9-15: God allowed the Israelites, after miraculous rescue from slavery and death, to be led into a hopeless physical situation without natural means of proper nourishment. His miraculous provision of food also provided a test and learning opportunity for them. The use of this food sent from heaven called for faith and obedience and demonstrated that the real source of continued life is the word from God's mouth and that God trains his people in obedience to that word (Deut 8:3,16). The name 'manna' is derived from their initial question, 'man hu' (what is it?). Jesus pointed to his own coming as analogous to this miracle (John 6:41) but himself as an infinitely greater and eternal 'food'.

EPHESIANS 4:1-16: Every expression of Christian faith, Christian living and Christian love is meant by God to build up the unity of his people just as the means of giving the new life emanate from the Trinity's own unity. The many and varied gifts of spiritual leadership and ministry he has given his church are also given to achieve that unity. This unity is to bring Christians together to mature by growing into the character of their head, namely Christ. False doctrine destroys and divides. The truth of the word fabricates intricately a united body ever growing in love.

JOHN 6:24-35: After Jesus had fed the 5000 he quietly withdrew to avoid efforts forcibly to make him a king. That was still in the mind of the crowd which found him. They had seen no further in the miracle than the bread which they received, not giving a thought that it came from God's power. Jesus told them to devote their efforts rather to eternal life, which could only come by faith. The people, however, demanded a sign. They would only believe something they could see themselves. Jesus told them that the true bread gives what God deems to be true life; that he himself was the bread of life, and that to receive it meant believing in him.

VISUAL

VISUALS FOR THE READINGS

Pictures or visual symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. For instance, reading 1a from 2 Samuel could be accompanied by pictures like the illustrations in the TEV Bible for 2 Samuel 12:2, 12:3, and 12:4; reading 1b from Exodus by a picture like the illustration in TEV for Exodus 16:15; and the gospel by a picture of a loaf or loaves of bread.

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, reading 1a from 2 Samuel could be read by three readers: narrator, Nathan, David; reading 1b from Exodus could be read by four readers: narrator, one of the people, the Lord, Moses; and the gospel could be read by three readers: narrator (the pastor), one of the people, Jesus.

CHILDREN

BREAD

Children could make loaves of bread at a session before this service. During the reading they could show this bread to the congregation - or give pieces of the bread to the people. The children's address could talk about the importance of bread. The bread that the children provide could be used for holy communion. If this is done, then include the children in the bringing of the bread and wine to the table during the offertory.

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 now available for the Revised Common Lectionary.

This week's story is

EITHER

'Manna and quail' Original Edition, Series B, Semester 2 (Pentecost 11)

OR

'God feeds his people' Revised RCL Edition, Series B, Semester 2 (Proper 13)