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 16TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME PROPER 11 6TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST July 17, 2022 A Liturgy For Worship and Meditation  SONG ("Click Here For Music) —Athelston Riley, 1906 —LASST UNS ERFREUEN: Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906 1). Ye watchers and ye holy ones, bright Seraphs, Cherubim and Thrones, raise the glad strain, Alleluia. Cry out, Dominions, Princedoms, Powers, Virtues, Archangels, Angels' choirs, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. 2). O higher than the Cherubim, more glorious than the Seraphim, lead their praises, Alleluia. Thou Bearer of the eternal Word, most gracious, magnify the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. 3). Respond, ye souls in endless rest, ye Patriarchs and Prophets blest, Alleluia, alleluia. Ye holy Twelve, ye Martyrs strong, all Saints triumphant, raise the song Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. 4). O friends, in gladness let us sing, supernal anthems echoing, Alleluia, alleluia. To God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit, Three in One, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One: open our lips and our mouth will declare your praise. Praise God, all of heaven and earth, praise God. For God alone is worthy of our praise! OPENING PRAYER Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; Blessed are You and blessed in your Kin-Dom now and for ever. Amen —(adapted) Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church, USA, 1979. SONG (Click Here For Music) —Daniel C. Roberts (1876) —NATIONAL HYMN: George W. Warren (1876) 1). God of the ages, whose almighty hand leads forth in beauty all the starry band of shining worlds in splendor through the skies, our grateful songs before thy throne arise. 2). Thy love divine hath led us in the past; in this free land with thee our lot is cast; be thou our ruler, guardian, guide, and stay, thy Word our law, thy paths our chosen way. 3). From war's alarms, from deadly pestilence, be thy strong arm our ever sure defense; thy true religion in our hearts increase; thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace. 4). Refresh thy people on their toilsome way; lead us from night to never-ending day; fill all our lives with love and grace divine, and glory, laud, and praise be ever thine. CALL TO CONFESSION People, what do you see? We see the many ways we distract ourselves. People, what else do you see? We see the good and the bad fruits we have produced. People, what do you see today? We witness and worship God today, grateful for love and forgiveness. PRAYER OF CONFESSION God of Justice, We confess to you today that we often find ourselves feeling bitter, distraught, and ashamed. We far too often fail to take accountability for our sins and wrongdoings. In an effort to feel better about ourselves, we overfill our plates with tasks, hoping to atone for our misdeeds. We confess that we have trampled on the needy, choosing greed. We confess that we have brought ruin to the poor of the land, neglecting many parts of your creation. We confess that we have practiced deceit, fearful of being exposed. We confess that far too often, we choose busyness over the gift of your loving presence. We lament our mistakes to you, O God. We mourn the harm we have caused knowingly and unknowingly, individually and collectively. We ask your forgiveness to envelop us, inspiring us to make amends with ourselves and others. Open our eyes that we may see the lessons you place before us. Help us better love you by loving your creation. Amen. FIRST READING—Amos 8 1). This is what the Sovereign God Of Hosts showed me: a basket of ripe figs. 2). God said, “What do you see, Amos?” “I basket of ripe figs,” I replied. Then God Of Hosts said to me: “The time is ripe for my people, Israel. I will no longer tolerate their atrocities. 3). The singers in the Temple will wail that day: ‘So many corpses scattered anywhere. Hush!’ ” —It is the Sovereign God Of Hosts who speaks. 4). Listen to this, you who live off of the needy and oppress the poor of the land, 5). you who say, “If only the New Moon were over so we could sell our grain,” and, “When Sabbath is over, we will sell our wheat charging higher prices for smaller portions, thus tilting the scales in our favor. 6). That way, we can buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals— and even make a profit on the chaff of the wheat!” 7). The God Of Hosts swears by the Pride of Jacob,* “I will never forget a single thing you have done.” 8). Will not the land tremble because of this, and all who dwell in it mourn? Will the land not rise up like the Nile, rising and sinking like the river of Egypt? 9). “That day— it is the Sovereign God Of Hosts who speaks— I will make the sun set at noon, and darken the earth in broad daylight. 10). I will turn your feasts into funerals and all your happy songs into dirges. I will have your loins all in sackcloth, your heads all shaved. I will make the land mourn as one would mourn for a dead child— all of this on that bitter day! 11). The time is coming— it is the Sovereign God Of Hosts who speaks— when I will send famine on the land: not a famine of bread or thirst for water, but a famine of not hearing the words of God Of Hosts. 12). People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east seeking revelation from the God Of Hosts, but will not find it. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward.
PSALMODY—Psalm 52 1). How can you boast about how corrupt you are, you tyrant? Even against God’s beloved 2). you forge wild lies all day long— your slanderous tongue is sharp as a razor! 3). You love evil, not good; falsehood, not truth telling. 4). You enjoy cruel gossip and slanderous talk. 5). So God will pull you down to the ground forever, sweep you away, leave you ruined and homeless and uprooted from the land of the living! 6). The righteous will look on, awestruck, and they will laugh at your plight. 7). “This is the one,” they’ll say, “who didn’t seek refuge in God, but trusted in great wealth and grew strong by destroying others.” 8). I am an olive tree flourishing in God’s house, for I trust in God’s love forever and ever. 9). I will praise you forever for what you have done; among your faithful I will put my trust in your Name, for it is good. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. SECOND READING—Colossians 1 15). Christ is the image of the unseen God and the firstborn of all creation, 16). for in Christ were created all things in heaven and on earth: everything visible and invisible, Thrones, Dominions, Sovereignties, Powers— all things were created through Christ and for Christ. 17). Before anything was created, Christ existed, and all things hold together in Christ. 18). The church is the body; Christ is its head. Christ is the Beginning, the firstborn from the dead, and so Christ is first in every way. 19). God wanted all perfection to be found in Christ, 20). and all things to be reconciled to God through Christ— everything in heaven and everything on earth— when Christ made peace by dying on the cross. 21). At one time, you were alienated from God by the way you thought and the evil things you did. 22). But now you are reconciled in Christ’s mortal body through death, so that you can now stand before God holy, pure and blameless— 23). provided you persevere and stand firm on the solid base of your faith. Never let yourselves drift away from the hope promised by the Good News that you have heard, which even now is being preached to the whole human race, and for which I, Paul, was made a minister. 24). Even now I find my joy in the suffering I endure for you. In my own body I fill up what is lacking in the sufferings of Jesus, for the sake of Christ’s body, the church. 25). I became a minister of this church through the commission God gave me, to preach among you the word in its fullness— 26). that mystery hidden from ages and generations past, but now revealed to God’s holy ones. 27). God’s will was to make known to them the priceless glory which this mystery brings to the nations— the mystery of Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28). This is the Christ we proclaim while we admonish everyone and teach them in the full measure of wisdom, hoping to make everyone complete in our Savior. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward.
THIRD READING—Luke 10 38). As they traveled, Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed him to her home. 39). She had a sister named Martha who welcomed him to her home. She had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at Jesus’ feet and listened to his words. 40). Martha, who was busy with all the details of hospitality, came to Jesus and said, “Rabbi, don’t you care that my sister has left me all alone to do the household tasks? Tell her to help me!” 41). Jesus replied, “Martha, Martha! You’re anxious and upset about so many things, 42). but only a few things are necessary—really only one. Mary has chosen the better part, and she won’t be deprived of it.” —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward.
PRAYER Ever-Faithful God, whose being is perfect righteousness: reconcile us in your love with the powerless and the impoverished, with those so often ignored or oppressed, and with those we have called our enemies, that we may serve all people as your hands of loving mercy and endless provision, and sit at the feet of those who need our compassionate care. Amen. SONG (Click Here For Music) —G. K. Chesterton (1906) —KING'S LYNN: Traditional English Melody 1). O God of earth and altar, bow down and hear our cry, our earthly rulers falter, our people drift and die; the walls of gold entomb us, the swords of scorn divide, take not thy thunder from us, but take away our pride. 2). From all that terror teaches, from lies of tongue and pen, from all the easy speeches that comfort cruel men, from sale and profanation of honour and the sword, from sleep and from damnation, deliver us, good Lord! 3). Tie in a living tether the prince and priest and thrall, bind all our lives together, smite us and save us all; in ire and exultation aflame with faith, and free, lift up a living nation, a single sword to thee. PRAYER OF INTERCESSION Friends in Christ, God invites us to hold the needs of our sisters and brothers as dear to us as our own needs. Loving our neighbors as ourselves, we offer our thanksgivings and our petitions on behalf of the church and the world. Loving God, help us to bring our needs to You. We pray for those parts of the world where there is war and unrest. For those in Ukraine, Afghanistan, Yemen, Palestine, and so many other places where there is no peace. Loving God, help us to bring our needs to You. Hear the cries of those who are frightened, strengthen and inspire those who work for peace. And help us to be people of peace ourselves. Loving God, help us to bring our needs to You. We pray for those parts of the world where there is war and unrest. Loving God, help us to bring our needs to You. We pray for justice, that in our country and across the world leaders will be inspired by the Spirit to act fairly and wisely for the common good, and that our institutions would be guided and renewed by those seeking to hear Your voice. Loving God, help us to bring our needs to You. We pray for those parts of the world where there is war and unrest. Loving God, help us to bring our needs to You. We pray for families, in particular families struggling with rising living costs and the extra struggles that the school holidays bring. Loving God, help us to bring our needs to You. Help them to know of Your peace and encouragement; and help us to form communities which nurture and support families of all kinds. Loving God, help us to bring our needs to You. We pray for those parts of the world where there is war and unrest. Loving God, help us to bring our needs to You. We pray for our Church, that at times of change and uncertainty we will be a place of refuge, silence and peace in our communities, that in a busy and troubled world we will have wisdom and compassion to support people in their pain; and guide them to find rest at Jesus' feet. Loving God, help us to bring our needs to You. We pray for those parts of the world where there is war and unrest. Loving God, help us to bring our needs to You. Hear our prayers, God of power, and through the ministry of your Chosen One, free us from all that would hinder our service to you and one another that we may desire you as the fullness of life and proclaim your saving deeds to all the world. Amen. SONG (Click Here For Music) —Georgia Elma Harkness (1954) —ViCAR: V. Earl Copes (1963) 1). Hope of the world, thou Christ of great compassion, speak to our fearful hearts by conflict rent. Save us, thy people, from consuming passion, who by our own false hopes and aims are spent. 2). Hope of the world, God's gift from highest heaven, bringing to hungry souls the bread of life, still let thy Spirit unto us be given to heal earth's wounds and end her bitter strife. 3). Hope of the world, afoot on dusty highways, showing to wand'ring souls the path of light; walk thou beside us, lest the tempting byways lure us away from thee to endless night. 4). Hope of the world, who by thy cross didst save us from death and dark despair, from sin and guilt; we render back the love thy mercy gave us; take thou our lives, and use them as thou wilt. 5). Hope of the world, O Christ o'er death victorious, who by this sign didst conquer grief and pain , we would be faithful to thy gospel glorious: Thou art our Lord! Thou dost forever reign! SENDING FORTH Go forth into the world knowing that you are sent by God to live and share your life in peace and justice. And, may God, our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, bless you and keep you forevermore. Amen. |
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WORSHIP IN INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE AND PROGRESSIVE THOUGHT
WHY A BLOG?
As a clergyperson with a disability now retired, this is my humble attempt to provide a ministry that some will find helpful. I have always focused on be inclusive and have struggled with the church's tradition of referring to God and humankind with masculine names and pronouns. Since the 1970's, thanks to my dear sister-in-law, I have been aware of the discrimination of women and have worked in the parish and community for equal rights with an equity of access to the resources that add blessing to life. I hope this site is of meaning to those who read it and worship with me and others within it. Peace.