Year C - Proper 25 (23 Oct - 29 Oct)

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VERSION: 8 May 2002

SUNDAY BETWEEN 23 AND 29 OCT (PROPER 25), YEAR C

In 2004: 21st Sunday after Pentecost, 24 Oct

In 2007: 22nd Sunday after Pentecost, 28 Oct

In 2010: 22nd Sunday after Pentecost, 24 Oct

In 2013: 23rd Sunday after Pentecost, 27 Oct

In 2016: 23rd Sunday after Pentecost, 23 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.

REFORMATION DAY

If Reformation Day is not celebrated on 31 October, it may be celebrated today (except where Proper 25 falls on 23 or 24 October), in which case the propers for Reformation Day are used rather than those given below. This will cause a slight problem in year C if the continuous series of first readings is followed, as reading 1a for Proper 24 (last Sunday) is the same as the first reading for the Festival of the Reformation, that is, Jeremiah 31. This could result in the same first reading being read two Sundays in a row. A solution could be to use the first reading from Proper 25 on the Sunday before Reformation Sunday.

LITURGY

SENTENCE

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder for suggestions on using a Sentence.

I will pour out my spirit on all flesh;

and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Joel 2:28a;32a NRSV)

OR

You are among us, O Lord, and we bear your name:

do not forsake us! (Jer 14:9b 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

O God, our refuge and strength,

the author of all godliness:

Be ready to hear

the devout prayers of your church;

and grant that what we ask in faith

we may fully obtain;

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 God, our refuge and strength,

and the source of all true devotion,

listen to the devout prayers of your church.

Let us fully obtain

what we pray for in faith.

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 for healing. [silence])

Almighty and merciful God,

your Son showed your love

by healing the sick and making them whole.

Look with compassion on our broken world,

and make us whole by his healing power,

so that we also may show your love to others.

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 humility. [silence])

Lord God, be merciful to us and hear our prayers.

Teach us to be humble,

knowing both our own sin

and your acceptance of us.

Keep us from passing judgment on others.

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

Joel 2:23-32 The coming day of the Lord for his people

Psalm 65

Antiphon:

You crown the year with your goodness. (Ps 65:11a NKJV)

OR, 1b

Jeremiah 14:7-10,19-22 The people plead to the Lord for mercy

Psalm 84:1-7

Antiphon:

My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord.

(Ps 84:2a NRSV)

SECOND READING

2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18 Christian courage in the face of death

ALLELUIA VERSE (Luke 18:14b NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia.

(Jesus said:) All who exalt themselves will be humbled,

but all who humble themselves will be exalted.

Alleluia.

GOSPEL

Luke 18:9-14 Parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector

(Note: One of the bases for the 'Lord, have mercy' (see also the gospel for Proper 23))

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,

even though we are sinners.

Keep us from pride and self-righteousness.

Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER

Lord God,

we cannot rely on our own goodness

or offer you anything you have not first given us.

Consecrate us for your service,

and use us and our gifts

according to your goodness.

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Call to prayer

Clothed in Christ and in his own humility, let us stand in the presence of God and pray: God, have mercy on us.

The regular response, OR:

. . . let us pray:

God, have mercy on us.

Suggested intercessions

Concluding prayer

Lord, we stand in your presence by your grace alone, and come to you in prayer only 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 third prayer of the day (as listed above) at this point. It may be modified as follows.

Almighty and merciful God,

you have given us the healing body of Christ

in the breaking of the bread.

Look with compassion on our broken world,

and make us whole by his healing power,

so that we also may show your love to others.

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. The Lord will keep you safe.

OR

Go in peace. Fight the good fight, run the race and keep the faith.

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): Joel 2:23-32

LHS

Hymns of praise, esp:

AT

TIS

First reading (b): Jeremiah 14:7-10,19-22

LHS

AT

TIS

Second reading: 2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18

LHS

AT

TIS

Gospel: Luke 18:9-14

LHS

AT

TIS

PSALM 65

For musical settings of Psalm 65, see Music Packages 1 and 9. For a hymn version of Psalm 65:1-5, see TIS no. 35 Praise waits for you in Zion, Lord.

PSALM 84:1-7

For musical settings of Psalm 84:1-7, see Music Packages 4, 6 and 9.

TIS 44, How lovely is your dwelling-place, is a paraphrase of Psalm 84:1-7,10-12. The following paraphrase of Psalm 84:1-7 by David Sch¸tz may be sung to the tune 'Wie lieblich ists hienieden' (LH 621). Note that verse 8 is added for the sake of versification. If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

How lovely is your dwelling,

O Lord of heav'nly hosts!

I long with deepest yearning

to stand inside its courts;

for there with all my being

I sing with joy to God.

The sparrow makes her nest there

and there she lays her young

in safety by your altar,

O Lord, my God and king.

How happy those who live there -

they never cease to sing.

You strengthen those who journey

to Zion, your abode;

your gentle rain refreshes

them on the desert road.

They long to see your face there -

O hear my prayer, O Lord.

NOTES ON THE READINGS

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

JOEL 2:23-32: The prophet Joel addressed Israel in the years following the return from exile in Babylon. Earlier in the book he interpreted the destructive impact of a locust plague and a bushfire on the agricultural wellbeing of the land to be God's call on the people to repentance. In this section he comforts the people with the evidence of God's absolution through the gift of rain and subsequent generous prosperity. They can praise God as they see the evidence of his open hand. From verse 28 onwards Joel switches the view to the last times. At some time in the future God will pour out his Spirit, not just on particular called prophets, but quite generally throughout his people. By whatever is meant by 'prophesying, dreaming dreams and seeing visions', Joel is certainly saying that the Spirit will reveal God's will through his activity. It is fitting that Peter was moved by the Spirit and the surrounding events of Pentecost Day to quote this passage.

JEREMIAH 14:7-10,19-22: After Jeremiah's intense pleas and warnings, there was a  false response among the people of Judah to repent. This is expressed in the prayer of verses 7-9, where their confession of sin combines with an expression of their remoteness from God owing to his remoteness from them. In verse 10 God's reply rejects their inadequate prayer, as he sees only their sin. Jeremiah takes up the people's cause in verses 19-22. In a most moving prayer of intercession he confesses their sins and the sins of their ancestors; he appeals on account of the throne of David that God established and the covenant God had made with them. He confesses that only the Lord has power and favour on which any hope can be laid.

2 TIMOTHY 4:6-8;16-18: Paul knows that he is about to die a martyr's death after being imprisoned and tried in Rome, but is ready for it. He is sure of the crown of righteousness because it is God's final gift of grace. He knows he will experience it in full when Christ comes again. He can honestly say that he has maintained his faithfulness to the end. Despite his being forsaken by many friends and having faced his trial alone, God has given him the strength to testify. Paul is certain that God’s gracious keeping will never be withdrawn.

LUKE 18:9-14: Some people are overwhelmingly confident they are so righteous that they can face the judgment of God without fear. They can also be arrogantly contemptuous of anyone not of their standard. We tend to judge people on their external performance. God sees straight through to the inner soul and the real nature of a person. This illustrative story of Jesus not only shows us how we are not to be, but points to the spiritual attitude which God desires. Genuine repentance, shown by the example of the tax collector, not only sincerely sorrows over sin, but turns to God in trusting prayer for his mercy. We are told the tax collector was 'justified'. He went away seen and declared by God as 'forgiven' together with God's gift of covering righteousness.

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 Timothy could be illustrated by a picture like that in the TEV Bible for 2 Timothy 4:8. The gospel could be illustrated by a drawing of the Pharisee and the tax collector.

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 Jeremiah could be read by two readers: one of the people, and the Lord (v 10). The gospel from Luke could be read by two (or four) readers: narrator (the pastor) and Jesus (and perhaps a Pharisee and tax collector).

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 'The Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14).' Material for this story may be found in:

Original Edition, Year C, Semester 2, 23 Pentecost

OR

Revised RCL Edition, Year C, Semester 2, Proper 25.