Year B - Proper 22 (02 Oct - 08 Oct)

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VERSION: 8 May 2002

SUNDAY BETWEEN 2 AND 8 OCT (PROPER 22), YEAR B

In 2003: 17th Sunday after Pentecost, 5 Oct

In 2006: 18th Sunday after Pentecost, 8 Oct

In 2009: 18th Sunday after Pentecost, 4 Oct

In 2012: 19th Sunday after Pentecost, 7 Oct

In 2015: 19th Sunday after Pentecost, 4 Oct

- - -

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.

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets,

but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son.

(Heb 1:1,2 NRSV)

OR

(Jesus says to God:) ‘I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters,

in the midst of the congregation, I will praise you.' (Heb 2:12 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

O almighty and most merciful God,

in your bountiful goodness

keep us from all things that may hurt us,

that we may be ready both in body and soul

cheerfully to accomplish those things

that are according to your will;

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,

in your goodness defend us

from everything that might hurt us,

so that we may be ready in body and soul

to do cheerfully what is according to your will.

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 live by faith. [silence])

Almighty and merciful God,

you have ordered our earthly life

that we must walk by faith and not by sight.

Give us such trust in your fatherly care

that we show our faith

by our courage in the face of all perplexities.

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 a child-like faith. [silence])

Loving heavenly Father,

you have made us your own children,

the younger brothers and sisters of your Son, Jesus.

Give us faith like a little child,

so that we ask you for whatever we need

with complete confidence.

We pray through 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

Job 1:1; 2:1-10 Job is tested

Psalm 26

Antiphon:

Your loving kindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in your truth. (Ps 26:3 NKJV)

OR, 1b

Genesis 2:18-24 The creation of woman

Psalm 8

Antiphon:

From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise.

(Ps 8:2a NIV)

SECOND READING

Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12 God has spoken through his Son

ALLELUIA VERSE

Alleluia, alleluia.

(Jesus said:) Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will not enter it.

Alleluia.

GOSPEL

Mark 10:2-16 Jesus teaches about divorce, and blesses children

(In verse 2, replace the first 'him' with Jesus')

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL

This is the gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Lord Jesus,

thank you for the gifts of marriage and children.

Give us faith like a child.

Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER

Almighty God,

thank you for speaking to us through your Son,

and for making us your daughters and sons.

Lead us to live holy lives

as your holy people.

Help us to show kindness and respect to others,

and to serve all those in need.

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Call to prayer

Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.' So let us, his children, come to God in prayer, knowing that he will hear us.

The regular response, OR:

O God of all glory,

hear our prayer.

Suggested intercessions

Concluding prayer

Loving heavenly Father, you sent your only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who being very God is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters. In him we are able to come before you as your children, your family. Hear our prayer, glorious Lord, that all may know your greatness. Through your Son we pray, 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.

Almighty and merciful God,

thank you for showing your love for us

in this sacrament.

As we walk throughout this earthly life by faith,

give us such trust in your fatherly care

that we show our faith

by our courage in the face of all perplexities.

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, as God's dear children.

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): Job 1:1; 2:1-10

LHS

AT

TIS

First reading (b): Genesis 2:18-24

LHS

AT

TIS

Second reading: Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12

LHS

AT

TIS

Gospel: Mark 10:2-16

See selections for first reading (b) plus:

LHS

AT

TIS

PSALM 26

Musical settings of Psalm 26 may be found in Music Package 6.

The following metrical paraphrase of Psalm 26 by David Sch¸tz is sung to the tune Trisagion, LHS 865. If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

Vindicate me, Lord, for I have been true,

and, without wavering, trusted in you.

Prove me, O Lord, and put me to the test,

try both my heart's and my mind's righteousness.

I keep your steadfast love always in sight;

I've lived in faithfulness through all my life.

I shun the worthless and vain hypocrite,

nor with the wicked will I ever sit.

I wash my hands to show you I am clean,

and, at your altar, I serve without sin,

singing to you a loud thanksgiving song,

telling your deeds to the world all day long.

I love the house where your glory abides!

Save me from all those who offer their bribes.

Those who do evil will be swept away -

save me from your righteous judgment that day.

But as for me, I will always be true;

graciously save me in all that I do.

I'm standing firmly in faith on your word,

and, with your people, I sing 'Praise the Lord!'

PSALM 8

For musical settings of Psalm 8, see Music Packages 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 and 8.

Versions of Psalm 8 may also be found in TIS, 3 Lord, our Lord, your glorious name, and 4 O Lord, our Governor.

A paraphrased version of Psalm 8 from the Iona Community may be found in John L Bell, Psalms of patience, protest and praise on page 8.

The following paraphrase, by David Sch¸tz, is sung to the tune Portland, LHS 374. If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

O Lord, our Lord, in all the earth

your glorious name is ever praised.

Even on lips of infant babes

your song is raised.

When I look at the sun and moon,

the stars and all in heav'n above,

how is it that we humans know

your saving love?

How can it be that you should care

for us poor creatures of the dust?

Yet you have made us like yourself

and honoured us.

Over all creatures great and small

you let us share your power to reign.

O Lord, our Lord, in all the earth

we praise your name.

NOTES ON THE READINGS

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

GENESIS 2:18-24: It is good for us, surrounded as we are by modern world-views, to have this reminder that the human creation is especially formed by God. The creation of woman from 'one of man's ribs (often rendered 'his side') and God's dictum 'It is not good that man should be alone' emphasise many things. Among them that if God is Trinity, and if humankind are in the image of God, they accordingly need social complementary fulfilment. Woman taken from man's side suggests equality even though she is different, a counterpart, a companion of the same order, like him. That they became one flesh points up the indissolubility of God's life-long arrangement for male and female.

HEBREWS 1:1-4; 2:5-12: Angels were very important beings in the Old Testament dispensation. Through them and through prophets God mediated his covenant with Israel. This letter begins at this point to Hebrew readers. It explains that in the New Covenant God has worked through his Son. Though he, together with the Father, created all things, he was yet born a human being. Now, having achieved God's purpose for the forgiveness of the human race, he is raised to full expression of divine power. His effective substitutionary suffering and death have shown him to be infinitely higher than the angels. His inclusion of human beings in the benefits of his work has also in this way made them higher than the angels.

MARK 10:2-16: Divorce was a matter of contention between Jewish religious parties. This question was maliciously meant to entrap Jesus and discredit him. Moses' assent to a certificate of divorce was not because God permitted it, but to place some restraint on a bad situation by at least providing the woman deserted this way some safeguard in her unenviable position. However, Jesus emphatically insisted that the way God intended marriage to be and still willed it to be must be observed. Being 'of one flesh' (compare today's first reading) means a union no more to be broken than that of father and son or mother and daughter.  The children whom the disciples dismissed as not important in their materialistic idea of the kingdom were precious to Jesus.  All people can only receive God's kingdom as a gift, in no way through their own doing. Here the child has the exemplary advantage in trusting willingness to receive what is given.

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 Job could be accompanied by a picture like the illustration(s) in the TEV Bible for 1:21 and/or 2:9; and the gospel by a picture of Jesus with children.

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 Job could be read by five readers: narrator, the Lord, Satan, Job's wife, Job; reading 1b from Genesis could be read by three readers: narrator, the Lord, Adam; and the gospel could be read by three readers: narrator (the pastor), Pharisee, Jesus. For the gospel, see also below under 'Blessing of children'.

CHILDREN

BLESSING OF CHILDREN

The children could gather round for the reading of the gospel (or after verse 12 they could be asked to come forward), and immediately after the response following the gospel the pastor could bless each child, laying his hands on them, saying something like 'N, (may) Jesus bless you'.

OR

In some places, the children are dismissed for Sunday school during the hymn after the gospel. This might be a good opportunity to introduce a regular 'blessing of the children' at this point, especially if they are not present to receive a blessing during communion. This blessing and dismissal corresponds in part to the way in which catechumens were blessed and dismissed before the celebration of the Lord's supper in the early church. The blessing may be done simply as outlined above, or in the following way:

For a discussion of blessings of people, see the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Blessings of people', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

'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:

EITHER

'The little children and Jesus', Original Edition, Series B, Semester 2 Lower Level (20 Pentecost).

OR

'God creates Eve'. Material for this story may be found in either:

Original Edition, Series B, Semester 2, Middle and Upper Levels (20 Pentecost)

OR

Revised RCL Edition, Series B, Semester 2 (Proper 22)