Year B - Proper 14 (07 Aug - 13 Aug)

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VERSION: 8 May 2002

SUNDAY BETWEEN 7 AND AUG 13 (PROPER 14), YEAR B

In 2003: 9th Sunday after Pentecost, 10 Aug

In 2006: 10th Sunday after Pentecost, 13 Aug

In 2009: 10th Sunday after Pentecost, 9 Aug

In 2012: 11th Sunday after Pentecost, 12 Aug

In 2015: 11th Sunday after Pentecost, 9 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.

Put away from you all bitterness and anger,

and be kind to one another,

forgiving one another,

as God in Christ has forgiven you. (Eph 4:31,32 NRSV alt)

OR

Jesus said: 'No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them,

and I will raise them up at the last day.' (John 6:44 NIV)

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

Almighty and eternal God,

since you are always more ready to hear

than we to pray,

and are eager to give more

than we either desire or deserve:

Forgive us those things

of which our conscience is afraid,

and give us those things

which we are not worthy to ask,

except through the merits of 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

Almighty and eternal God,

you are always more ready to hear

than we are to pray,

and you are eager to give more

than we desire or deserve.

Forgive us those things

that make our conscience afraid,

and give us those things

that we are not worthy to ask for,

except 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 be defended in doubt and difficulty. [silence])

Merciful Father,

your Son Jesus Christ gave up his life

so that we might die to self

and live in him.

Give us such close fellowship with him

that in all doubts and dangers

our faith may not fail.

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 that we are joined to Jesus. [silence])

Lord Jesus, you are the bread of life from God.

Feed us with this heavenly bread.

Unite us more closely to yourself

and live within us forever.

For you live and reign

with the Father 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 18:5-9,15,31-33 The death of David's son Absalom

(Begin: 'King David . . . ')

Psalm 130

Antiphon:

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. (Ps 130:1a NRSV)

OR, 1b

1 Kings 19:4-8 Elijah fed by God

(If using NRSV or NIV, begin: 'Elijah went . . . ')

Psalm 34:1-8

Antiphon:

O taste and see that the Lord is good. (Ps 34:8a NRSV)

SECOND READING

Ephesians 4:25 - 5:2 Be imitators of God

ALLELUIA VERSE (John 6:51 NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia.

(Jesus said:) I am the living bread that came down from heaven.

Whoever eats of this bread will live forever.

Alleluia.

GOSPEL

John 6:35,41-51 Jesus the bread of life

(If using NRSV or TEV, put 'the crowd' insted of 'them' in verse 35)

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL

This is the gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Thank you, Lord Jesus,

for coming as the bread of life.

Give us eternal life through faith in you.

Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER

Thank you, loving God,

for giving us your Son,

who is our life-giving bread from heaven.

Make us more and more like you,

living a life of love and service.

Lead us to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving.

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Call to prayer

Even when sin and hardship seem to overwhelm us, God in his love provides what we need. In the name of Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit's guidance, let us turn to the Father and pray for the church, the world and those in need.

Response

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Suggested intercessions

Concluding prayer

Our caring God, you sent your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the eternal bread that brings life to all people. Hear our prayers and enable us to be your instruments to bring this wonderful message to all people. We ask this through 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: 'I am the living bread that came down from heaven.

Whoever eats of this bread will live forever;

and the bread that I will give for the life of the world

is my flesh.'

(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.

Merciful Father,

your Son Jesus Christ

offered up his body and blood

in sacrifice to you

so that we might die to self

and live in him.

Give us such close fellowship with him

that in all doubts and dangers

our faith may not fail.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

DISMISSAL

Go in peace. Be imitators of God.

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 18:5-9,15,31-33

-

First reading (b): 1 Kings 19: 4-8

LHS

AT

TIS

Second reading: Ephesians 4:25 - 5:2

LHS

AT

TIS

Gospel: John 6:35,41-51

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 130

For musical settings of Psalm 130, see Music Packages 2, 6 and 10. TIS 81, Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord, is also a version of this psalm. Music from Taize: Volume II has a few verses of Psalm 130 that may be sung to the ostinato response 'O Christe Domine Jesu', on page 45. In Psalms of Patience, Protest and Praise, page 48, the Iona Community has provided a paraphrase of Psalm 130.

The following is a metrical paraphrase by David Sch¸tz , which may be sung to the tune of Kingsfold ('I heard the voice of Jesus say', LH 306, TIS 585, AT 137). If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

Out of the depths, I cry to you,

Lord, hear my tearful prayer!

If you should mark iniquity,

O Lord God, who could stand?

But you forgive the sorry soul,

so all may fear your name.

I wait for you, for you I long,

and in your word I hope.

I wait for him far more than those

who wait for dawn to come.

O Isra-el, hope in the Lord!

With him is steadfast love.

He has great power to redeem,

and he alone can save

his people from their deadly sin

and raise them from the grave.

PSALM 34:1-8

Musical settings of Psalm 34:1-8 are in Music Package 6. Another setting of Psalm 34:1-8 is in TIS 22, I will bless the Lord at all times. See Music from Taize: Volume II for a verse of psalm 34 to be sung to the ostinato response 'O Christe Domine Jesu'.

The following metrical version of Psalm 34:1-8 by David Sch¸tz may be sung to the tune Llanfair (LH 11, TIS 388) with alleluias, or to the tune Gott sei Dank (LH 221, TIS 450) without alleluias. If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

I will bless the Lord always;

his praise always fills my mouth.

My soul makes its boast in God;

let the humble hear with joy.

Glorify the Lord with me,

let us praise his name as one;

I cried out, he heard my voice.

He freed me from all my fears.

Faces bright will look to him.

Never will we be ashamed.

In my helplessness, I prayed,

he saved me in time of need.

See, the angel of the Lord,

guards and saves his faithful ones.

Taste and see the Lord is good.

Blest are those who rest in him.

NOTES ON THE READINGS

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

1 KINGS 19:4-8: After his triumphant witness for the true God over against the priests of Baal at Mount Carmel, Elijah had to flee for his life. It seems that he fell into a deep depression resulting from his reversal of circumstances. The appearance of the angel, the provision of sustenance, the strength for the 40 days and nights journey to Mount Horeb (Sinai) all bear witness to the miraculous intervention of the Lord's hand when his plans are at stake.

EPHESIANS 4:25 - 5:2: From this list of 'do nots', accompanied by positive admonitions to holiness, it can be seen that the Christian still has the sinful capacity to drive the Holy Spirit away. The sins of anger and greed lead to destructive and divisive behaviour. There is vital importance in working at a loving and forgiving style of life. The love of God in Christ is the one model which can make the essential difference, which having saved us serves for us to imitate.

JOHN 6:35,41-51: These Jews had not been satisfied with the miracle of feeding the five thousand as a sign of Jesus' messiahship. After all, God had provided 'manna' in the desert for forty years in Moses' time. Jesus therefore makes it known that he IS the bread of life itself, and that the life which he gives is eternal (not just for forty years). 'Eating his flesh' and 'drinking his blood' here means becoming united with him through faith in his teaching. His death and resurrection will accomplish for the world the life which lasts forever. This is the bread which came down from heaven in his incarnation.

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 could be accompanied by pictures like the illustrations in the TEV Bible for 2 Samuel 18:9 and 19:4; and the second reading by a picture like the illustration in TEV for Ephesians 4:26.

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, David, the Cushite/Ethiopian; reading 1b from 1 Kings could be read by three readers: narrator, Elijah, Angel; and the gospel by three readers: narrator (the pastor), Jesus, one of the people.

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 now available for the Revised Common Lectionary.

This week's story is 'The Lord provides for Elijah' - Revised RCL Edition, Series B, Semester 2 (Proper 14) (new story - not in original edition).