Opening Prayer: Psalm 65:1-13

Here’s a suggested opening prayer inspired by Psalm 65:1-13. Feel free to revise it to suit your context.

Opening Prayer
(based on Psalm 65:1-13)

What mighty praise belongs to You, O God,
for Your acts of love and faithfulness toward us!

In Your mercy You hear our prayers,
You forgive our sins,
You provide for our needs.

From one end of the earth to the other,
You inspire worship and praise!
Even nature celebrates Your goodness.

We, too, would offer our praise and thanksgiving
for Your mercy and Your faithful love toward us.
Receive our adoration,
our confession,
our thanksgiving.

Through the power of Your Holy Spirit
make Your presence known among us
that we may hear Your Word and know Your will.

In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Intercessor, we pray.
Amen.

Opening Prayer: Romans 8:1-11

Here’s a suggested opening prayer for July 10, 2011 (Proper 10A), based on Romans 8:1-11, one of the suggested lectionary texts for that Sunday.  Feel free to revise it to suit your context.

Opening Prayer
(based on Romans 8:1-11)

Life-giving God,
we gather in Your presence
to offer You thanksgiving and praise
for all that You have done for us.

Through the life, death and resurrection of Your Son,
Jesus Christ,
we have been set free—
free from the power of sin that leads to death,
free to follow the leading of Your Holy Spirit,
free to love You with all our heart and soul and strength,
free to worship!

May Your Holy Spirit inspire our praise and our prayers.
Open our hearts and minds
to Your presence among us and within us,
and to the Word You have for us today.

To You alone, life-giving God,
belongs all praise and honor and glory and blessing,
now and to the end of time.
Amen.

Video: The Seed and the Soil

One more video suggestion for those who are exploring the parable of the Sower and the Seeds.  A higher definition version of this video is available for $12 from DanStevers.com.




Other video suggestions for this parable:  try Video: The Parable of the Four Soils or Video: Parable of the Sower.


Video: The Parable of the Four Soils

Here’s another video suggestion for those of you working with the parable of the Sower and the Seeds (Matthew 13, Mark 4, Luke 8).  It's called The Parable of the Four Soils -- a production of the Amelia Church of Christ.





Words of Assurance: Psalm 65

Words of Assurance
(based on Psalm 65:1-4)

Praise God – the God of our salvation!
Though we are overwhelmed by our sins,
when we bring them to God,
He forgives them all!
What mighty praise belongs to You, O God!

Litany of Praise: Psalm 65


Litany of Praise for the Gifts of God
(Psalm 65:1, 5-13)

What mighty praise belongs to You, O God!

You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds;
You are the hope of whole wide world.
You formed the mountains by Your power,
and armed Yourself with mighty strength.
You calmed the roaring seas with their pounding waves,
and silenced the shouting of the nations.
Even those who live at the far ends of the earth
stand in awe of Your wonders.
From where the sun rises to where it set,
You inspire shouts of joy!
What mighty praise belongs to You, O God!

You take care of the earth and water it,
making it rich and fertile.
The rivers of God will not run dry;
they provide a bountiful harvest of grain,
for You have ordered it so.
You drench the prepared ground with rain,
breaking up its clods,
softening it with showers,
blessing its yield.
What mighty praise belongs to You, O God!

You crown the year with Your good gifts;
the places where You have passed overflow with abundance:
the wilderness becomes a lush pasture,
the hillsides blossom with joy,
the meadows are covered with flocks,
and the valleys are clothed with wheat.
They all shout and sing together for joy!
What mighty praise belongs to You, O God!


Psalm 65:(1-8), 9-13 is one of the suggested lectionary texts for July 10, 2011 (the fourth Sunday after Pentecost).  For more worship resources related to Psalm 65, or to the other texts for that Sunday, click on Proper 10A in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.

For more worship resources for Thanksgiving Day, see this Index of Thanksgiving Day Resources.

For more scriptural litanies, click on litanies in the list of “Labels” below.


Litany: Light for the Path (Psalm 119)


Light for the Path

(based on Psalm 119:105-112, 18, 34)

 

Your Word, O God, is a lamp for our feet

and a light for our journey.

 

When everything around us is dark, and we can see no light at all,

may the light from Your Word show us the way to go.

 

When the future is uncertain, and we can’t see what lies ahead,

may the light from Your Word show us the way to go.

 

When we feel abandoned or betrayed, and have no one to turn to,

may the light from Your Word show us the way to go.

 

When we are tempted to do what we know is wrong,

may the light from Your Word show us the way to go.

 

Open our eyes to see the wonderful truths in Your Word. 
Give us understanding,
that we may keep Your law,
and put it into practice in our lives.

Amen.


Psalm 119:105-112 is one of the suggested lectionary texts for July 10, 2011 (the fourth Sunday after Pentecost).  For more worship resources related to Psalm 119:105-112, or to other scripture texts for that Sunday, click on Proper 10A in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.

For more ideas for congregational litanies, click on litanies in the list of “Labels” below. 


Call to Worship: Psalm 65


Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 65:1, 5, 8)

What mighty praise belongs to You, O God!
You are the hope of everyone on earth.
Even those who live at the farthest ends of the earth
stand in awe of your wonders.
From where the sun rises to where it sets,
You inspire shouts of joy.
What mighty praise belongs to You, O God!


Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 65:1-5)

What mighty praise belongs to You, O God!
You are the God of our salvation,
answering our prayers with mighty deeds,
and forgiving our sins with endless love.
You are the hope of the whole world.
We will fulfill the promises we’ve made to you,
in the company of Your people,
in this sanctuary where You meet us.

Introduction to the Reading of Scripture


Words of Introduction
to the Reading of God’s Word
(based on Isaiah 55:10-11)

Just as the rain and the snow come down from the sky
and stay on the ground to water the earth,
causing plants to grow
which provide seed to the farmer and bread for the hungry,
so it is with God’s Word.

God sends it out,
and it does not return to Him empty.
Instead, it does exactly what God wishes,
and accomplishes everything He intends.

Let us listen to what God is saying to us today….


Isaiah 55:10-13 is one of the suggested lectionary texts for July 10, 2011 (the fourth Sunday after Pentecost).  For more worship resources related to Isaiah 55, or to the other texts for that Sunday, click on Proper 10A in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.


Benediction: Proper 10A

Here are a few possible benedictions for July 10, 2011, the fourth Sunday after Pentecost.  They are based on the suggested scripture readings for that day.


Benediction
(based on Romans 8:10-11)

As you go from here, remember this:
the same Spirit of God who raised Jesus Christ from the dead,
also lives in you,
breathing new life and freedom into your hearts and minds.
So go from here with joy and confidence,
knowing that God Is at work within you.


Benediction 2
(based on Isaiah 55:10-13)

As we go from here,
we go with this promise from God's Word:

You will go out with celebration,
and be brought back in peace.
Even the mountains and the hills
will burst into song before you;
all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
In place of the thorn, beautiful cypress trees will grow;
in place of the nettle, the myrtle will grow.
This will be a testimony to God’s glory,
an enduring reminder of God’s faithfulness.

Go in joy and peace to serve the Lord.


For more worship resources related to the suggested lectionary texts for July 10, 2011 (the fourth Sunday after Pentecost), click on Proper 10A in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.

For more benedictions, click on benedictions or blessings in the list of “Labels” below. 


Words of Assurance: Romans 8:1-4


Here are a number of “Words of Assurance” to follow a time of confession, drawn from Romans 8:1-4.

Words of Assurance
(based on Romans 8:1-4, drawing on The Message)

There is now no condemnation
for those of us who belong to Jesus Christ!
We no longer have to live under the threat of God’s judgment.
For through Jesus, we have been freed
from the tyranny of sin and death.
For Jesus did what the law could never do.
He personally took on the human condition,
entering into the disordered mess of struggling humanity
in order to set it right once and for all.
Through him we have been set free!
Thanks be to God!



Words of Assurance 2
(Romans 8:1-2)

Brothers and sisters,
there is now no condemnation
for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
For the power of the life-giving Spirit
has freed us from the power of sin that leads to death.
So be at peace.
Through Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
Thanks be to God!


Words of Assurance 3
(Romans 8:1-2, 5:1)

Hear the good news:
There is now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
has set us free from the law of sin and death.

Since we have been justified through faith,
we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanks be to God!


Romans 8:1-11 is one of the suggested lectionary texts for July 10, 2011 (the fourth Sunday after Pentecost).  For more worship resources related to Romans 8, or to the other scripture texts for that Sunday, click on Proper 10A in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.

For more scriptural Words of Assurance, click on words of assurance in the list of “Labels” below. 

Prayer of Thanksgiving: Psalm 119


Prayer of Thanksgiving for the Word

(based on Psalm 119:105-112)

 

Life-giving God,

we praise You for the gift of Your Word;

for the light and life it brings to our lives.

Through it, we come to know You better;

we come to understand ourselves more fully;

and we find the wisdom and encouragement we need

to live as Your faithful disciples.

 

Help us keep Your Word at the centre of our lives;

a light to guide our way in whatever darkness we encounter,

or whatever temptations we face.

Teach us what it means to follow Your commandments,

and to walk in Your ways.

Amen.


Scripture Litany



Here’s a scriptural litany about the Word of God. I’ve written it for two voices with a congregational response, but it could be done by a single leader instead.

Litany on Scripture

One:     Know this: 
            no prophecy found in Scripture
            is a matter of the prophet’s own interpretation. 
            For prophecy has never been a product of human initiative,
            but it comes when men and women are moved to speak
            on behalf of God by the Holy Spirit.

Two:     For all Scripture is God-breathed;
            in its inspired voice, we hear useful teaching,
            rebuke, correction, instruction, and training for a life that is right,
            so that God’s people may be up to the task ahead
            and have all they need to accomplish every good work.

One:     You see, everything written in the days of old
            was recorded to give us instructions for living.
            We find encouragement through the Scriptures
            and a call to perseverance that will produce hopeful living.

Two:     For the Word of God is alive and moving;
            sharper than a double-edged sword;
            piercing the divide between soul and spirit, joints and marrow;
            able to judge the thoughts and will of the heart.

All:       Your Word is a lamp for my feet
            and a light for my path.
            Open my eyes to see
            the wonderful truths in Your law.
            Give me understanding,
            that I may keep Your law,
            and put it into practice with all my heart.


This litany is a compilation of a number of different scripture texts:  2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Romans 15:4, Hebrews 4:12, and Psalm 119:105, 18, 34.  The New Testament texts were taken from The Voice.™  Copyright © 2006, 2007, 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

For other litanies on this website, click on litanies in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page. 

For suggestions of songs that deal with the role of Scripture, click on Proper 10A, or see Praise & Worship Songs: Proper 10A,  Hymns & Songs about Scripture and Contemporary Hymns about Scripture.

Readers' Theatre: Matthew 13:1-9

If you’re using Matthew 13:1-9 in worship on July 10, 2011 (the fourth Sunday after Pentecost), here’s a Readers’ Theatre version which might be helpful.

It’s called The Sower and the Seed, written by Carol Montgomery.  She has set it for 6-7 voices, and it takes approximately four minutes to read.

A free downloadable PDF is available on the Readers Theatre All Year website.  

For more creative worship resources for July 10, 2011 (the fourth Sunday after Pentecost), click on Proper 10A in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.

Video: Parable of the Sower

If you are following the lectionary texts for worship on July 10, 2011, here’s a video you might want to take a look at. It’s from http://www.max7.org/, and is an animated retelling of  Jesus’ parable about the sower and the seeds (Matthew 13:1-9).



If you’re interested in using it, you can download a free high definition version on the Max7 website.  

Other video suggestions for this parable? Try Video: The Parable of the Four Soils or Video: The Seed and the Soil.  

For more creative worship resources for July 10, 2011 (the fourth Sunday after Pentecost), click on Proper 10A in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.  

Video: A Gamer's View of the Bible

Here’s an interesting video by Max7, called “Bigger than the World Itself.”  It would make an interesting addition to a worship service which explored the role of Scripture in our lives.  It’s a look at the Bible from a gamer’s perspective.




You can download a higher definition version of the video for free at http://www.max7.org/.

While you’re there, you might also be interested in taking a look at “What is the Bible Like?”  It would make a good visual introduction to a children’s feature or sermon on Scripture. Their description: “Waffle takes a look in the Bible and finds it full of amazing things.”


Praise & Worship: Proper 10A

If you’re looking for contemporary Praise & Worship song suggestions for July 10, 2011 (the fourth Sunday after Pentecost), here are some suggestions.  Instead of grouping them under the separate lectionary readings (as I have done in the past), I’ve grouped them into four general themes that seem to run through the scripture passages.

(If you’re looking for other song suggestions for July 10, 2011, also try Hymns & Songs about Scripture and Contemporary Hymns about Scripture.) 

God’s Word (see Psalm 119:105-112, Matthew 13:1-9, and Isaiah 55:10-13).

Ancient Words, Lynn DeShazo CCLI 2986399
Closer, Charlie Hall & friends CCLI 4665302
Every Promise of Your Word, Keith Getty/Stuart Townend
Show Us Christ, Doug Plank
The Word is AliveCasting Crowns CCLI 5077377
Your Word, Brian Doerksen CCLI 1127297
Word of God, Speak, Bart Millard, Pete Kipley CCLI 3912788

Celebration and praise—even from creation itself (see Psalm 65:1-13 and Isaiah 55:10-13).

All Things New, Brett Younker
Almighty GodTim Hughes CCLI 4685313
Creation Sings the Father’s SongKeith and Kristyn Getty CCLI 5333798
Filled with Your GloryStarfield CCLI 4301563
IndescribableJesse Reeves, Laura Story CCLI 4403076
Let Everything that has BreathMatt Redman CCLI 2430979
Maker of All ThingsTim Hughes CCLI 3359279
The Earth is Yours, Gungor CCLI 5665655

God gives life—to us (through Christ) and to all creation (see Romans 8:1-11, Psalm 65:1-13)

All Things New, Brett Younker
Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone), Louie Giglio/Chris Tomlin CCLI 4768151
All Things New, Brett Younker
Arms Open WideSam Knock CCLI 5371334
Breath of GodVicky Beeching CCLI 5462188
Creation Sings the Father’s Song, Keith and Kristyn Getty CCLI 5333798
Every Promise of Your Word, Keith Getty/Stuart Townend
Jesus SavesTim Hughes
New CreationLeeland CCLI 5509814
Saving One, Starfield CCLI 5673991
Shout to the North, Martin Smith CCLI 1562261
This is Our GodReuben Morgan CCLI 5060834
You Alone Can RescueMatt Redman CCLI 5376377

Through God’s grace, the Word bears fruit in us (Matthew 13:1-9, Isaiah 55:10-13)

Covenant of Grace, Don Wallace CCLI 2319980
Go, Matt Crocker CCLI 5806706
Follow, Leeland CCLI 5484544
From the Sun’s Rising, Graham Kendrick CCLI 30213
I Will FollowChris Tomlin CCLI 5806878
Send Me Out, Steve Fee CCLI 5621778
Step By Step, Beaker CCLI 696994

For more creative worship resources for the fourth Sunday after Pentecost (July 10, 2011), click on Proper 10A in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.