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Ordinary 9B-33B

Sunday’s Coming: working toward September 23

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This is one of those weeks in the lectionary that, when perused on Monday morning, makes you wish for a different lectionary. Perhaps the Narrative Lectionary. Or a nice sermon series on something fun and easy. Or maybe preaching through Ezekiel or something.

But if you’re stuck with the RCL…there’s always the “ode to a capable wife” (which at least we know is not the best translation ever, but still). Perhaps you’ve been following along with Rachel Held Evans’ series on “women of valor” (a better translation of that capable wife business) and will try to tackle Proverbs 31 with a new light.

Or perhaps you’ll be contemplating how faithfulness makes us as strong as a tree…will you address the end of the psalm too, though it seems contrary to experience?

Maybe you want to take on James again this week, thinking about how living from a place of wisdom and peace can create a world of wisdom and peace, and conflict creates conflict. (for fun, take note of the verses cut out of the lectionary…interesting, eh?)

Or maybe you’re wondering: if the lectionary texts had an argument about who was the greatest, who would win, and what would Jesus say? What is success in a gospel-world, and how can we live there and in our earthly-success-world at the same time?

Lots to think about this week–where are you leaning? what seeds of ideas are waiting to sprout into a new way of encountering the Holy in worship? Leave your ideas here so we can create together!

POP–not our way, but your way

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Loving God,

we come this day with gratitude for the gift of life,

for the beauty of your world and your people around us.

We also come this day with hurt, with grief, with confusion—

and we lift up to you those who are in pain,

those who suffer, those who live with illness.

We ask for your comfort to surround your people who sorrow,

your peace to surround your people who live with violence,

your hope to surround your people in despair.

There are many things we do not understand,

and so we pray for your wisdom.

Even as we watch news

of riots and typhoons and shooting in our streets,

we call out for your kingdom of justice and peace and love.

And yet we do not always act as if your kingdom is at hand.

Remind us, Lord, to keep our attention on you.

Set our minds on divine things, that we may be agents of your healing.

Focus our eyes on you, that we may not be seduced by other gods.

When our hearts turn to other ways, call us back to your way.

Help us, O God, to follow you, to live like you, to seek your will,

that the world may know your grace.

Speak, Lord, for your servants are listening.

(silence)

You have called us to let go of our own vision to follow yours,

and have promised to be with us on the way.

Walk with us and help us to be faithful.

We pray these, and all things, in the name of our Risen Lord Jesus,

who taught us to pray together…

 

Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson, Ridgefield Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church, Crystal Lake IL.

confession: we long for wisdom

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We long for wisdom, O Lord, but prefer that it be our own.
We turn away from the ideas of others
and ignore the possibility and promise that come from life together with you.
Most of all, we drown out your gift of Wisdom as she seeks to get our attention,
for we believe that we know better
or would prefer to decide where we make her welcome.

Forgive us, loving God.
Bring an end to the self-righteousness that ignores you,
and awaken us anew to the Wisdom that comes only from you.
Show us how to walk in your ways and listen to your promise each and every day.

Submitted by Rev. Andy James, First Presbyterian Church, Whitestone, Queens, New York.

Invocation: set your spirit loose

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All-encompassing God
This hour is devoted to worshipping you
Though it is our whole lives that you require.
Set your spirit loose among us today
That we might be free from all which binds us
And all which divides our focus:
The lure of football games,
The rush to get on to lunch,
The chores and responsibilities awaiting us at home.
Let our worship be unhindered,
We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Submitted by Rev. Dan Mayes, First Christian Church of Spencer, IA

Sunday’s Coming: working toward September 16

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This week we have lots of hard teaching…have you ever wondered why wisdom can’t just be easy?

alas.

Wisdom calls out–standing on street corners, hawking her wares…and yet, few seem to be listening.

Even the creation–from sky to sea–is trying to offer us God’s way of wisdom.

But still we have trouble taming our tongue.

And so we come to the path of wisdom: take up your cross and follow me.

 

So…how will you approach these hard words this week? Anyone want to work on a confession using that proverbs text? a call to discipleship or a charge-and-benediction based on the gospel story? A call to worship expanding on the psalmist’s imagery?

Leave your ideas–big or small, fully formed or just a seed–in the comments, so we can create together!