Year C - Proper 23 (09 Oct - 15 Oct)

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VERSION: 19 March 2002

SUNDAY BETWEEN 9 AND 15 OCT (PROPER 23), YEAR C

In 2004: 19th Sunday after Pentecost, 10 Oct

In 2007: 20th Sunday after Pentecost, 14 Oct

In 2010: 20th Sunday after Pentecost, 10 Oct

In 2013: 21st Sunday after Pentecost, 13 Oct

In 2016: 21st Sunday after Pentecost, 9 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.

If we have died with Christ, we will also live with him;

if we endure, we will also reign with him;

if we deny him, he will also deny us;

if we are faithless, he remains faithful - for he cannot deny himself. (2 Tim 2:11-13 NRSV)

OR, use one of the general Sentences in the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

LORD, HAVE MERCY (KYRIE)

The gospel for today, from Luke 17, is one of the original scriptural sources of the 'Lord, have mercy'. The following alternative form of the kyrie could be used today instead of the usual form in the service order.

Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy Or Kyrie, eleison.

Jesus, you heal our diseases, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy Or Christe, eleison.

Jesus, you make us clean, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy Or Kyrie, eleison.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)

Traditional

Merciful Lord,

grant to your faithful people

pardon and peace,

that they may be cleansed from all their sins

and serve you with a quiet mind;

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

Merciful Lord,

give pardon and peace to your faithful people.

Cleanse us from all our sins,

so that we may serve you with minds set at rest.

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. [silence])

Lord, you have called us to open our hands

so that you might fill them.

Open not only our hands,

but our hearts also,

so that we recognise your goodness,

count all things loss in comparison with you,

and desire to be made like 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.

OR, new

(Let us pray for thankfulness. [silence])

God of our salvation,

thank you for healing us and making us whole.

Make us always thankful and ready to praise you,

rejoicing in your goodness.

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

Jeremiah 29:1,4-7 Jeremiah's letter to the exiles in Babylon

Psalm 66:1-12

Antiphon:

Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth. (Ps 66:1 NRSV)

OR, 1b

2 Kings 5:1-3,7-15c Naaman is cured

(In v 7, insert 'from the king of Aram' (or 'of Syria' in TEV) after 'read the letter')

Psalm 111

Antiphon:

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart. (Ps 111:1a NRSV)

SECOND READING

2 Timothy 2:8-15 A call to endurance

ALLELUIA VERSE (based on Luke 7:7)

Alleluia, alleluia.

Lord, we are not worthy to receive you;

but speak the word only, and we shall be healed.

Alleluia.

GOSPEL

Luke 17:11-19 Jesus heals ten lepers

(Note: One of the bases for the kyrie (see also the gospel for Proper 25))

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL

This is the gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Lord Jesus, thank you for having mercy on us

and healing us of our sin.

Make us thankful in words and deeds.

Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER

Faithful God,

accept the gifts we bring

out of thankfulness for all you have done for us,

and use them for your service.

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Call to prayer

Like the ten lepers, let us cry out to God for mercy in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ.

The regular response, OR:

. . . let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy on us.

Suggested intercessions

Concluding prayer

Lord God, as we have died with Christ and live with him, hear our cry for mercy in his name, for he 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.

Lord, in this sacrament

you have placed into our open hands

the body and blood of Christ.

Open not only our hands,

but our hearts also,

so that we recognise your goodness,

count all things loss in comparison with you,

and desire to be made like 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.

DISMISSAL

Go in peace. God is always faithful.

OR

Go in peace and thankfulness. God has made you whole.

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): Jeremiah 29:1,4-7

LHS

AT

TIS

First reading (b): 2 Kings 5:1-3,7-15c

LHS

AT

-

TIS

-

Second reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-15

LHS

AT

TIS

Gospel: Luke 17:11-19

LHS

AT

TIS

PSALM 66:1-12

For musical settings of Psalm 66:1-12, see Music Package 9. TIS 36, Joyfully shout, all you on earth, is a paraphrase of Psalm 66:1-12.

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.

NOTES ON THE READINGS

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

JEREMIAH 29:1,4-7: After besieging and eventually sacking Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar took the greater part of the residents to Babylon (v1). Jeremiah reports in verse four that it was the Lord who deported them. The people were devastated that they had lost their identity and also their God. False prophets among them played on this and predicted that just a short stay in Babylon would see them home soon. Jeremiah knew God had in mind a far deeper chastening than that. He therefore wrote a letter to the exiles from Jerusalem to counter this disturbing influence. He counselled them to submit to God's will, to establish homes and families as if they were permanent residents, to become model citizens in the foreign community, and to pray for their new government and community as that which was given them by the Lord for their protection and welfare.

2 KINGS 5:1-3,7-15c: Naaman, a general in the Syrian army, had the much feared and disfiguring disease, leprosy. Arameans (Syrians) had long been raiding the borders of Israel. The little servant girl not only had compassion on her mistress's husband, but faith that God's prophet could help. A series of bungles was capped by a perceived slight from the prophet. However, the mere word of God's representative eventually proved efficacious when Naaman was willing to trust that word. The power of the true God was made evident in a miracle cleansing.

2 TIMOTHY 2:8-15: 'Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David' presupposes the whole history of Israel culminating in the everlasting kingship of King David's descendant. Even if preaching the gospel results in imprisonment or even death, the gospel itself cannot be suppressed. It will therefore bring salvation to those whom God had in mind when he shaped his plans of election back in eternity. Remaining true in the faith and confessing the faith means reigning with Christ in glory, for God is faithful to his promises. So that all this may transpire according to God's gracious purpose, Timothy is urged not only to warn against empty and meaningless disputes, but also to be very careful in conscientious presentation of the true exposition of Scripture.

LUKE 17:11-19: Some lepers, excluded from regular society but living together for mutual support, were certain Jesus could cure them. Approaching him, they begged him from a distance to have mercy on them. Jesus' command to show themselves to the priest called for faith that they would be healed. Anyone cured of leprosy was required to be declared cleansed by a priest according to Levitical law. All could have returned to thank Jesus upon realising they were whole. Jesus' disappointment that only one returned, a Samaritan at that, shows that godliness is sometimes more apparent outside the formal church than within it. This Samaritan was the only one who both witnessed to the power of God in the miracle as well as giving thanks. The pronouncement, 'Your faith has saved you', indicates that he was not only cleansed bodily, as were the other nine, but that salvation now lay with his soul.

VISUAL

VISUALS FOR THE READINGS

Pictures or visual symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. For instance, the reading from 2 Kings could be illustrated by a picture like that in the TEV Bible for 2 Kings 5:13; and the reading from Luke could be illustrated by a picture like that in the TEV Bible for Luke 17:17.

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, the reading from 2 Kings could be read by six readers: narrator, servant girl, king of Israel, Elisha's servant, Naaman, and Naaman's servant; and the gospel from Luke could be read by three readers: narrator (the pastor), leper, and Jesus.

CHILDREN

TALKING WITH THE CHILDREN

Talk about God's gift of healing, as you retell the story of Naaman or the story of the ten lepers. These are both dramatic stories that if told well will capture their imaginations.

'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 'Jesus heals ten men (Luke 17:11-19)'. Material for this story may be found in:

Original Edition, Year C, Semester 2, 21 Pentecost

OR

Revised RCL Edition, Year C, Semester 2, Proper 23.

OTHER MATERIAL

RITES FOR THE SICK

Both the first reading and the gospel for today are stories of healing. This may be an appropriate day to consider using one of the church's rites with special focus on illness. See: