Year B - Proper 19 (11 Sep - 17 Sep)

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VERSION: 28 March 2002

SUNDAY BETWEEN 11 AND 17 SEP (PROPER 19), YEAR B

In 2003: 14th Sunday after Pentecost, 14 Sep

In 2006: 15th Sunday after Pentecost, 17 Sep

In 2009: 15th Sunday after Pentecost, 13 Sep

In 2012: 16th Sunday after Pentecost, 16 Sep

In 2015: 16th Sunday after Pentecost, 13 Sep

- - -

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.

Jesus said: 'If any want to become my followers,

let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me'. (Mark 8:34 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

Lord, we pray that your grace

may always go before and follow after us,

so that we may continually be devoted

to all good works;

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, let your loving kindness

always go before us and follow us,

and lead us continually to do good.

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 depend on God's mercy. [silence])

Loving heavenly Father,

it is by your mercy that we are redeemed.

Help us always to remember

that you have forgiven and accepted us

only because of Christ,

and not because of ourselves

or anything that we have done.

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 strength to follow Jesus' path of suffering. [silence])

Jesus, the Christ,

we thank you that you obediently suffered and died

to give us life.

Strengthen us to carry our cross

and willingly to go where you lead us.

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

Proverbs 1:20-33 The call of wisdom

Psalm 19

Antiphon:

The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.

(Ps 19:8a NIV)

OR, 1b

Isaiah 50:4-9a The obedient servant of the Lord

Psalm 116:1-9

Antiphon:

I walk before the Lord in the land of the living. (Ps 116:9 NRSV)

SECOND READING

James 3:1-12 Taming the tongue

ALLELUIA VERSE (Mark 8:35 NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia.

(Jesus said:) Those who want to save their life will lose it,

and those who lose their life for my sake,

and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.

Alleluia.

GOSPEL

Mark 8:27-38 Christ must suffer and die

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL

This is the gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Lord Jesus, thank you for suffering and dying

for our sakes.

Help us to forget ourselves and follow you.

Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER

Loving God,

we thank you for giving up your Son for us.

Help us to follow his way

of obedience and self-sacrifice,

willingly serving you and other people.

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Call to prayer

The Lord has come to us and has allowed himself to be nailed to a cross for our sake. Let us pray to God our Father in the precious name of his Son, so that we may be instruments of him who sent us.

The regular response, OR:

Lord of all blessing,

hear our prayer.

Suggested intercessions

Concluding prayer

Loving Father, hear our prayer and bless those who are in need. 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.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

See the service order for a standard post-communion prayer. Alternatively, use the fourth prayer of the day (as listed above) at this point. It may be modified as follows.

Jesus, the Christ,

we thank you that you obediently suffered and died

to give us life,

the life that we have again received in this sacrament.

Strengthen us to carry our cross

and willingly to go where you lead us.

For you live and reign

with the Father and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

DISMISSAL

Go in peace. Obediently follow our 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): Proverbs 1:20-33

LHS

AT

-

TIS

First reading (b): Isaiah 50:4-9a

LHS

AT

TIS

Second reading: James 3:1-12

LHS

AT

TIS

Gospel: Mark 8:27-38

LHS

AT

TIS

PSALM 19

For musical settings of Psalm 19, see Music Packages 3, 5, 6 and 7.

TIS 7, The sky tells the glory of God, is a version of Psalm 19:1-5, and TIS 8, God's law is perfect, is a version of Psalm 19:7-10.

The Iona song 'May the words of my mouth' in ATO 323 may be used as a congregational refrain, while a reader reads the verses of Psalm 19.

The following paraphrase of Psalm 19 by David Sch¸tz is sung to either St Denio (LH 392, TIS 143) or Foundation (LHS A4, TIS 578). If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

Accept now, O Lord, my redeemer, my rock,

the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart.

The heavens are telling your glory and power,

your handwork is shown by the sky all around.

Though night teaches night, and though day speaks to day,

no language is heard in the words that they say.

And yet their voice goes throughout all of the world,

their words are conveyed to the end of the earth.

God set up a tent for the sun in the sky;

it comes like a bridegroom on his wedding day,

and runs, like an athlete, from morning to night,

and nothing is hidden from its burning light.

The Lord's law is perfect, reviving the soul;

his precepts are right, making saddened hearts whole.

His teachings are certain, they make us all wise;

and all his commandments give light to our eyes.

The fear of the Lord will forever endure.

His judgments are righteous and holy and pure,

far sweeter than honey, more precious than gold;

in them both a warning and promise is told.

But no-one can know all the things they've done wrong,

so cleanse me from those secret things that I've done.

From sinning intention'ly, Lord, keep me free,

then holy and blameless forever I'll be.

PSALM 116:1-9

For musical settings of Psalm 116:1-9, see Music Package 6. TIS 71, I love the Lord who has heard my prayer, is a version of Psalm 116:1-5,12-20.

NOTES ON THE READINGS

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

ISAIAH 50:4-9a: The first verse (4) characterises a 'Servant' of God who cannot be excelled. Yet, for the sake of his servanthood, and because of it, he must suffer. Since the time of Cain and Abel those who serve God can and do suffer at the hands of the unrighteous. Yet in this instance the Servant is willing to commit himself in serene trust to come what may. He is sure of his ultimate vindication. God is stronger than his enemies. In this reading we can see our Lord Jesus here just a step short of the cross.

JAMES 3:1-12: People sometimes desire to exercise influence and power in the church through their ability to speak. James points out that the teacher in Christ's kingdom is using a power to influence which can have eternal repercussions, even in condemnation. Because of human failure, it is essential then that the tongue be subject to the same Christian self-control that pertains to the rest of the body. Even then, human double-minded openness to evil threatens to permit Satan's poison to work destruction. Our ordinary everyday speech should be in step with that of our worship.

MARK 8:27-38: Jesus from the beginning of his ministry knew of his messianic mission and the necessity of his eventual suffering and death. His question to the disciples revealed that they were beginning to see more clearly who he really was. Yet his private teaching to them concerning the necessity of suffering and death not only startled and staggered them, but was met with vigorous denial. There were two strands of prophecy in the Old Testament scriptures concerning the Messiah, namely, the suffering servant and the triumphant king. Jesus himself could not attain the crown without undergoing the cross. Any would-be  follower also needs to join him in suffering, even to death. Yet whatever loss is experienced in earthly terms is more than balanced in the ultimate glory Jesus will share with his own.

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 Proverbs could be accompanied by pictures like the illustrations in the TEV Bible for 1:28 and 1:33; the second reading by simplified pictures of a horse with bridle and bit, a ship on waves, and a bushfire; and the gospel by a picture like the illustration in TEV for Mark 8:34.

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 Proverbs could be read by two readers: narrator and Wisdom (a female); and the gospel by four readers: narrator (the pastor), Jesus, a disciple, Peter.

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 'Hezekiah's prayer'. Material for this story may be found in

Original Edition, Series A, Semester 2 (Pentecost 7)

OR

Revised RCL Edition, Series B, Semester 2 (Proper 19)