Year B - Proper 15 (14 Aug - 20 Aug)

Top Previous Next

VERSION: 8 May 2002

SUNDAY BETWEEN 14 AND AUG 20 (PROPER 15), YEAR B

In 2003: 10th Sunday after Pentecost, 17 Aug

In 2006: 11th Sunday after Pentecost, 20 Aug

In 2009: 11th Sunday after Pentecost, 16 Aug

In 2012: 12th Sunday after Pentecost, 19 Aug

In 2015: 12th Sunday after Pentecost, 16 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.

Wisdom has build her house, she has also set her table:

Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.

(Prov 9:1a,2b,5 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

Almighty and merciful God,

since you give your faithful people grace

to offer you true and acceptable service:

Grant that we may so faithfully serve you in this life

that we fail not finally to obtain your heavenly promises;

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

Almighty and merciful God,

it is your gift

that your faithful people serve you well.

Help us to run without stumbling

and reach what you have promised.

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 all people may find their fulfilment in Christ. [silence])

Almighty and merciful God,

you have fulfilled our human longing

for justice and peace

in the coming of your Son as a human being.

May he shine in our lives,

so that all who see us

are drawn to him

as their only Saviour.

For he lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, new

(Let us pray for discernment. [silence])

Wise and all-knowing God,

give us your gift of wisdom.

When we don't know which way to go,

open our eyes and hearts,

so that we see clearly

the right path to take,

and do what pleases you.

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

1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 Solomon prays for wisdom

Psalm 111

Antiphon:

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. (Ps. 111:10)

OR, 1b

Proverbs 9:1-6 The invitation of Wisdom

Psalm 34:9-14

Antiphon:

Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. (Ps 34:10b NRSV)

SECOND READING

Ephesians 5:15-20 Live as wise Spirit-filled people

ALLELUIA VERSE (John 6:56 NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia.

(Jesus said:) 'Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood

abide in me, and I in them.'

Alleluia.

GOSPEL

John 6:51-58 Jesus' flesh and blood gives life

(Begin: 'Jesus said: . . . ')

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL

This is the gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Lord Jesus, thank you for giving your flesh and blood

for us to eat and drink.

Let us live with you forever.

Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER

Living God,

thank you for sending Jesus,

so that we can live in him and he in us.

Let us always remain in him,

so that, filled with the Spirit,

we may know and do your will.

Help us to live lives of thankfulness and joy,

serving you and other people.

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Call to prayer

True wisdom abides in God, for only he knows what is good. Let us pray to the Father in the full confidence that he will answer our prayers according to his plan and purpose.

The regular response, OR

O living Lord,

hear our prayer.

Suggested intercessions

Closing prayer

Loving Father, you have called us to be wise in the way we live. Hear our prayers and encourage us to continue to pray to you and sing your praises as a witness to your amazing grace. We pray 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.

Almighty and merciful God,

you fulfilled our human longing

for justice and peace

when your Son came as a human being.

As we have received his body and blood in this sacrament,

may he shine in our lives

so that all who see us

may be drawn to him

as their only Saviour.

For he lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

DISMISSAL

Go in peace, filled with the Spirit.

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): 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14

LHS

AT

TIS

First reading (b): Proverbs 9:1-6

LHS

AT

TIS

Second reading: Ephesians 5:15-20

LHS

AT

TIS

Gospel: John 6:51-58

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.

IONA SONG

The following song from the Iona Community is suitable for today:

Volume 3: Love from Below

O taste and see        page 112 (psalm and gospel)

PSALM 111

For musical settings of Psalm 111, see Music Packages 4, 6 and 9. Another version appears in TIS, no. 68 Praise the Lord.

Two metrical versions of Psalm 111 by David Sch¸tz are given here. If reproducing either of these versions, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

Version I: may be sung to the tune Herzlich Lieb (LHS 385)

Alleluia! Alleluia!

With all my heart I thank the Lord

      before the congregation.

The works of God are great and good,

and all who find their joy in him

      will seek to understand them.

His noble works and splendid ways

have won him fame and glorious praise;

for evermore his righteousness

and grace and mercy never cease.

      The Lord our God

provides for those who fear his name,

true to his word, always the same.

The Lord has shown his mighty power

by giving to his faithful ones

      a good land to inherit.

The things he does are right and just,

and all his laws deserve our trust,

      they will remain for ever.

He set his faithful people free,

when we were lost in slavery,

gave us his covenant and word -

holy and awesome is the Lord!

      Alleluia!

Be wise and learn to fear the Lord,

whose praise endures for evermore.

Version II: may be sung to the tune 'I am covered over' (ATA 130)

I will thank the Lord with all

      my heart before the presence of

      his holy ones.

Everything the Lord has done

      is great and wonderful, and

      I delight in it!

He is full of majesty

      and honour, and his righteousness

      will always last forever.

We will not forget him for

      he always shows us tenderness

      and mercy.

He provides the food for those

      who fear him; he will not forget

      his covenant;

he has shown his power to

      his people and he's given us

      a heritage.

All he does is just and true;

      and we can trust his precepts too,

      for they are always steadfast,

they have been set down to be

      performed in truth and righteousness

      for ever.

He has freed his people from

      their chains and he has given us

      his covenant.

Holy is the Lord our God

      and awesome is his holy name

      for evermore.

Wisdom starts with fearing God

      the Lord, and all who practise it

      will reach true understanding.

Everyone who loves the Lord

      our God will praise his name now

      and forever.

PSALM 34:9-14

For musical settings of Psalm 34:9-14, see Music Package 6. 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 34:9-14 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.

Fear the Lord, you saints of God.

Those who fear him have no want.

Many hunger though they're strong;

yet the saints of God are filled.

Those among you who love life,

and who wish to live long years,

come to me, and hear my word;

I will help you fear the Lord!

Keep your tongue from evil words,

and your lips from speaking lies.

Turn from evil and do good.

Work for peace and seek its goals.

NOTES ON THE READINGS

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

PROVERBS 9:1-6: The pithy 'wisdom' sayings of the Old Testament (as in Proverbs) provided practical ways of applying God's law to the whole of life. Here 'wisdom' is personified as a rich and generous hostess setting forth a feast and issuing a compelling general invitation for any and all to partake. All those who will lay aside their own intellectual pride and come may well be considered 'simple' (v 4) by the worldly, but will be amply nourished in the way of true holiness, growing and strengthening in a godly and righteous life.

EPHESIANS 5:15-20: The same wisdom depicted in the previous reading is urged here by St Paul for us, like his readers, to take up into our lives. Because we owe all of our new life to a gracious heavenly Father through our Lord Jesus Christ, we thank him in and by our lives and worship (vv 19,20). The mark of true wisdom is knowing oneself in the light of God's will. With that prominent value uppermost, we avoid the folly, immorality and drunkenness of our social surroundings. This is also a part of being filled with the Spirit.

JOHN 6:51-58: Eating and drinking the blood of Christ here means to receive everything he is and everything he did, does and will do in true and humble faith. In this way the miracle of eternal life is made ours and continues to nourish us. This excludes any 'wisdom' which is not God's, any personal effort which human beings think empowers them to be a part of God and his purposes. The Jews thought that the 'bread' of eternal life was God's law as they taught it. Hence the graphic and, to them, offensive imagery which Jesus employed to penetrate their stubborn complacency.

VISUAL

VISUALS FOR THE READINGS

Pictures or visual symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. For instance, the gospel could be accompanied by the holy communion symbol of bread and wine.

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 1 Kings could be read by three readers: narrator, the Lord, Solomon; reading 1b from Proverbs could be read by two readers: narrator, Wisdom (a female); and the gospel could be read 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

'Solomon asks for wisdom' Original Edition, Series B, Semester 2, Lower Level  (Pentecost 13)

OR

'Proverbs'. Material for this story may be found in either

Original Edition, Series B, Semester 2, Middle and Upper Levels (Pentecost 13)

OR

Revised RCL Edition, Series B, Semester 2 (Proper 15)