September 17, 2023 – Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost / Proper 19

Lectionary Readings   -   Gathering   -  Word  -   Eucharist   -   Sending   -   Music and Art

Lectionary Readings

Semicontinuous
Exodus 12:1–14
Before the Exodus, the Lord gives instructions for the Passover.

Psalm 149
Let the faithful praise the Lord with tambourine and dancing.

Complementary
Ezekiel 33:7–11
The Lord desires that the wicked turn away from evil, and live.

Psalm 119:33–40
Teach me your way, O Lord: to turn from vanity and disgrace.

Romans 13:8–14
Love is the fulfillment of the law; put on Christ; salvation is near.

Matthew 18:15–20
Jesus says: seek reconciliation; when you gather I am with you.

— Gathering —

Opening Sentences

We observe this day as the Lord’s Day,
giving thanks to God,
who gives justice to the oppressed,
who forgives us and redeems us,
and crowns us with steadfast love and mercy.
Let us worship the One who is worthy of our praise!

Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song


Thanksgiving For Baptism

At the baptismal font:
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
O Lord our God, we give you thanks
for the grace that is at work in us
through the gift of our baptism—
the sign of your threefold name,
the communion of your faithful people,
the promise of your glorious realm.
By the power of your Holy Spirit,
poured out upon us in baptism,
let your grace and peace grow in us,
until we gather at your heavenly throne
to give you thanks and praise forever;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Confession and Pardon​

At the baptismal font:
We are not here to pass judgment on each other:
all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
Therefore, let us go before God
as we offer our confession.

God our Judge,
we admit we have double standards.
We seek forgiveness for ourselves,
but fail to forgive others.
We seek relief for ourselves,
but fail to seek relief for others.
We seek leniency for ourselves,
but fail to show that mercy to others.
Forgive us, mighty God,
and help us to forgive,
showing others the same grace and mercy
that you have generously shown to us.

Lifting water from the font:
People of God, hear and believe:
God does not deal with us according to our sins,
but according to God’s own steadfast love for us.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far God removes our sins from us.
Thanks be to God!

— Word —

Prayer for Illumination

At the lectern or pulpit:
Faithful God, how blessed are those
who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Sanctify us by your Word and Spirit
so that we may glorify you
in the company of the faithful;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Scripture

Before the readings:
The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.
Listen to the word of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 6:4

After the readings:
Keep these words in your heart.
The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.
Thanks be to God.  
Deuteronomy 6:6

Sermon

Ascription of Praise

After the sermon:
To the Lord our God, Alpha and Omega,
be all glory and honor forever. Amen.
Revelation 21:6

Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song

Affirmation of Faith

The life, death, resurrection,
and promised coming of Jesus Christ
has set the pattern for the church’s mission.
His human life involves the church
in the common life of all people.
His service to men and women
commits the church
to work for every form of human well-being.
His suffering makes the church sensitive
to all human suffering
so that it sees the face of Christ
in the faces of persons in every kind of need.
His crucifixion discloses to the church
God’s judgment on the inhumanity
that marks human relations,
and the awful consequences
of the church’s own complicity in injustice.
In the power of the risen Christ
and the hope of his coming,
the church sees the promise
of God’s renewal of human life in society
and of God’s victory over all wrong.
The church follows this pattern
in the form of its life
and in the method of its action.
So to live and serve
is to confess Christ as Lord.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.32–33

Prayers of Intercession

With one mind in Christ, and one heart in the Spirit,
let us pray to the Lord of heaven and earth.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

In the name of Jesus, we pray for the church . . .
Let us live as new and holy people,
delivered from sin and death by the grace of Christ
through the waters of our baptism.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

In the name of Jesus, we pray for the earth . . .
Stretch out your hand to stop the rising waters;
lead us away from death and destruction
into the land of promise you provide.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

In the name of Jesus, we pray for all nations . . .
Lead all peoples, by the light of your presence,
to walk in freedom, to work for justice,
to seek your purpose, and to live in peace.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

In the name of Jesus, we pray for this community . . .
Allow us to learn from our sisters and brothers,
respecting different patterns and practices of life,
doing everything to your honor and glory. 
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

In the name of Jesus, we pray for loved ones . . .
Bless those for whom we pray: heal their diseases,
deliver them from trouble, renew their strength,
and satisfy them with goodness as long as they live.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Enable us, O God, by the power of your Spirit,
to live our lives in a way that is worthy of the gospel,
to the glory of the name that is above all names,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Philippians 1:27, 2:5, 9–11, 13

— Eucharist —

Invitation to Offering

At the communion table:
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,
to present yourselves as a living sacrifice,
holy and acceptable to God.
Let us offer our lives to the Lord.
Romans 12:1

Prayer of Dedication

At the communion table:
Merciful and gracious God,
you abound in steadfast love and faithfulness.
With gratitude, we bring our gifts to you.
Bless these gifts and bless our lives
that together we may share your mercy and grace
for the world you dearly love. Amen.

Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Blessed are you, O Lord our God:
Through the waters of the sea you saved your people,
delivering them from slavery in the land of Egypt.
Still you are our strength, our salvation, our song of joy.

Therefore we praise you, joining the song
of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
A Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy”) is sung.

Blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior:
You sent Jesus to release us from our slavery to sin.
As you forgive our debts, you call us to forgive one another,
remembering that we owe our very lives to your grace.
The words of institution are included here.

Remembering your goodness and grace,
we offer ourselves to you with gratitude
as we share this joyful feast.
A Memorial Acclamation (e.g., “Christ has died”) is sung.

Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this bread and cup;
make us one in the body and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Strengthen our faith and help us in our weakness,
so that we may honor you in everything we do
and welcome those whom you have called.

Through the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the unity of the Spirit,
we bless you, God of glory,
now and forever.
An Amen is sung.

Lord’s Prayer

 

Breaking the Bread

 

Communion of the People

 

Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song

 

Prayer after Communion

At the communion table:
God of glory, in this holy feast
you have made us one with Christ
and with that great multitude of the faithful—
those who hunger and thirst no more
and worship night and day in your temple.
Lead us in the paths of righteousness
and guide us to the springs of the water of life,
until we join the choir of the redeemed,
singing: Salvation belongs to our God
who is seated on the throne,
and to the Lamb: Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

— Sending —

Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song

 

Blessing and Charge

At the doors of the church:
The blessing of the one God—
Spirit, Son, and Father—
be with you now and always. Alleluia!
Ephesians 4:4–6

Lead a life worthy of your calling,
giving glory to God in all things. Amen.
Ephesians 4:1

“First Passover: Crossing through the Divided Sea”

South Africa, 2019

Additional Materials

Congregational Song

GATHERING

  • Come, You (Ye) Faithful, Raise the Strain (O) ST. KEVIN, AVE VIRGO VIRGINUM GTG 234, PH 114, 115
  • Judge Eternal, Throned in Splendor (E) RHUDDLAN GTG 342
  • Our God Is an Awesome God (OE) AWESOME GOD GTG 616
  • Jesucristo ayer, hoy, aquí / When Our Ancestors Sang Praise (OEG) Julian Zini, SSS 281

WORD

  • Jesus Loves Me! (E) JESUS LOVES ME GTG 188, PH 304
  • Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive (EG) DETROIT GTG 444, PH 347
  • Goodness Is Stronger Than Evil (OEG) GOODNESS IS STRONGER GTG 750
  • Hush! Hush! My Soul (OG) Edward C. Deas, AAHH 450

EUCHARIST

  • You Belong to Christ (OEG) YOU BELONG TO CHRIST GTG 492
  • Hallelujah! We Sing Your Praises / Haleluya! Pelo tsa rona (OEG) HALELUYA! PELO TSA RONA GTG 538
  • The Earth Belongs to God Alone (OE) SIMMONS GTG 715
  • We Bring Our Broken Towns (O) GARELOCHSIDE CH4 721

SENDING

  • Eternal Father, Strong to Save (O) MELITA GTG 8, PH 562
  • Sing Praise to God, Whose Mighty Acts (OE) SALVATION GTG 356
  • Make Me a Channel of Your Peace (E) PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS GTG 753
  • Through the Red Sea Brought at Last (O) STRAF MICH NICHT EH 187

Psalms and Canticles

Psalm 114

Metrical
  • When We Came Out of Egypt [7.6.7.6 D]; SGP 168
  • When Israel Was Going Forth [PISGAH]; GTG 58, PP 216 (with refrain)
  • When Israel Fled from Egypt Land [O HEILAND REISS, ANDRE]; PAS 114B, A, LUYH 41
Responsorial
  • Come You Faithful, Raise the Strain [GAUDEAMUS PARITER/AVE VIRGO VIRGINUM]; PAS 114C (alt. refrain 1)
  • Hallelujah, Hallelujah [O FILII ET FILIAE]; HTP1 132
  • Freedom is Coming / Dios nos libera; SSS 29–30

Exodus 15:1b–11, 20–21

Metrical
  • I Will Sing the Lord’s High Triumph [TYDDYN LLWYN]; HWB 261
Responsorial
  • I Will Sing to the Lord; PSA 174
  • I Will Sing, I Will Sing; G3 96
  • Let Me Sing to the Lord [GO DOWN, MOSES]; HTP2 42

Psalm 103:(1–7) 8–13

Metrical
  • Praise, My Soul, the King (God) of Heaven [LAUDA ANIMA]; GTG 619, 620, PAS 103F, PH 478, 479, LUYH 571, SSS 418
  • O My Soul, Bless Your Redeemer [STUTTGART]; GTG 439, PH 223
  • The Tender Love a Father Has [TALLIS ORDINAL]; PAS 103D
  • O Come, My Soul, Sing Praise to God [TIDINGS]; PAS 103A, LUYH 672
  • Bless the Lord, O My Soul / Bendecid al Señor [BLESS HIS HOLY NAME]; SSS 547
  • Ten Thousand Reasons / Diez mil razones; SSS 440
Responsorial
  • Bless the Lord, My Soul (Taizé); PAS 103C
  • El Señor es compasivo / The Lord Is Rich in Kindness; PAS 103G
  • The Lord Is Kind and Merciful; PFTS1 25
  • O Bless the Lord [I LOVE THE LORD]; PP 188
  • Bless the Lord, O My Soul [I WISH MY LOVE WAS A RED, RED ROSE]; CP1 8
  • The Lord Is Compassion and Love; PND 36
  • El Señor es compasivo / The Lord Is Kind and Merciful; SSS 524–525

Organ Music

  • “Dove of Peace,” Augsburg Organ Library: Summer, David M. Cherwien, AF (E)
  • “Be Thou My Vision,” SLANE, John Behnke, CON (E)
  • “In dir ist Freude,” BWV 608, Orgelbüchlein, J. S. Bach, multiple editions (M)

Anthems for Adult Choirs

  • “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah,” arr. Benjamin Harlan, JM, SATB, keybd (M)
  • “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah,” Mark Hayes, BP, SATB, opt tpt (M)
  • “Come, Christians, Join to Sing,” arr. Carlton Young, HOPE, SATB, tpts, org (M)
  • “Abide with Me,” arr. John Bertalot, AF, SATB div, org (A)
  • “The Majesty and Glory of Your Name,” Tom Fettke and Linda Lee Johnson, WORD, SATB, org (MA)
  • “The Greatest Gift Is Love,” Mark Hayes, BP, SATB, keybd (M)
  • “We Belong to God,” Dale Grotenhuis, Mark Foster, SATB, org (E)
  • “Neither Death nor Life,” Jonathan Crutchfield, MSM, SATB, solo, hn (MA)
  • “Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive,” Nancy Raabe, AF, SAB, pno (M)

Handbell Music

  • “Awesome God,” Sondra Tucker, 3–5 oct, HOPE, 2246, Level 3+
  • “Dear Lord and Father of Mankind,” Karen Thompson, 3–5 oct, opt 3 oct hc, SFP, 20/1841SF, Level 3
  • “Jesus Loves Me,” Jason W. Krug, 3–5 oct plus opt D8, opt 3–4 oct hc, GIA, G-10219, Level 2+

Art

  • First Passover, Crossing through the Divided Sea, stained glass, South Africa, 2019 (VDL)
  • Prophet Miriam, Pippa Blackall, stained glass, United Kingdom, 2008 (VDL)
  • Reconciliation, Josefina de Vasconcellos, Coventry Cathedral, UK, 1977 (VDL)
  • Art 2 Life Prayer, Wayne Forte (EYE)