Lectionary rescources for Ordinary 12 Year B

Lectionary - Ordinary 12 Year B | DB Home | RCL Resources Index |

1 Samuel 17: (1a,4-11,19-23) 32-49 David and Goliath
or 1 Samuel 17:57 - 18:5,10-16 David becomes a favourite
Psalm 9:9-20 The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed
or Psalm 133 When kindred live together in unity
2 Corinthians 6:1-13 Now is the acceptable time
Mark 4:35-41 Jesus calms the storm

Suggested Hymns (From Denis Towner. TIS = Together in Song; AHB = Australian Hymn Book; SA = Sing Alleluia)
1 Samuel 17: 32-49
Be thou my vision TIS.547 AHB.455
Fight the good fight with all thy might TIS.594 AHB.511
Stand up, stand up for Jesus TIS.592 AHB.509
Through all the changing scenes of life TIS.112 AHB.30
Who would true valour see TIS.561 AHB.467

Psalm 9: 9-20
By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered TIS.617 SA.15
God of grace and God of glory TIS.611 AHB.543
Now thank we all our God TIS.106 AHB.14

2 Corinthians 6: 1-13
Creator of the earth and skies AHB.556
I bind unto myself today TIS.478 AHB.454
Soldiers of Christ, arise TIS.570 AHB.481
This day God gives me strength of high heaven TIS.642 AHB.570

Mark 4: 35-41
Eternal Father, strong to save TIS.138 AHB.74
Jesus calls us! O'er the tumult TIS.589 AHB.505
Jesus, lover of my soul TIS.211 AHB.139
O changeless Christ, for ever new TIS.254 SA.69
O Jesus, I have promised TIS.595 AHB.514
Put all your trust in God TIS.555 AHB.464
Son of God eternal Saviour TIS.606 AHB.529

Sermon Summary (Click here for complete sermon)

Faith or fear: Who then is this?

Who then is this? (Mark 4:39-41) Who indeed! Who but God! Who else commands the wind and the sea? Whatever you make of it in human terms, Mark is telling us that here is an incarnation of God the creator. It was a question of faith in God, not a demonstration of strange occult powers designed to impress and frighten. His intention was not to inspire fear, but faith. (Compare Matthew 14:26-31 and Mark 4:40-41).

There was a question of authority similar to that of the healing in Mark 1:24-25, where he rebuked and silenced an evil power. (Mark 1:27 and 4:41). The parallel between the evil possessing the man and the storm threatening the disciples in the boat is closer when you realize that to the Hebrews the sea was an awesome thing. It was a sign of chaos, the opposite of the order in the world in which they saw the hand of God. (See Psalms 107:23-32). Who but the Lord God could so command? (Compare Mark 2:7).

It was God in Christ who desired them to have peace and live in faith. You might even say with William Barclay "In the presence of Jesus we can have peace in even the wildest storms of life". You can spell out what that might mean in our own life, trusting in the presence of Jesus, day by day. But just one thing! You first have to believe that he is God, otherwise your trust has no foundation.

We are not inclined to believe in psychosomatic weather! But there is always a danger of missing the point of a biblical narrative if we are concerned to make sense of in terms of our current understanding of the world. From the viewpoint of the apostles, what they experienced told them something about who this man was and what God is like, and it made sense in terms of their tradition

One of the stories of storm and calm in the Old Testament which tells us something of what we need to believe about God in order to enjoy the peace of the presence of Christ is the story of Jonah who was thrown into to sea to calm the storm. (Jonah 1:1-15). When his time came to sacrifice his life, it was as the guiltless one unlike Jonah; but Jesus took Jonah as a sign of his dying and rising (Matthew 12:39-41).

Another story of peace in the midst of a storm is one that used to told to encourage faith among Methodists, of how when John Wesley was going to America as a missionary the ship was caught in a great storm in the Atlantic and everyone was terrified -- everyone, that is, except one group of passengers who stayed below praying and seemed completely unperturbed. Wesley learned a great deal from those Moravians about complete trust in God through faith in Christ. Saved from the waves, saved from chaos, saved from the power of evil, saved from death - it takes many forms, but gift of saving grace is a well known gift of peace that comes from knowing that it is in Jesus Christ that God overcomes our fears.

Order of Service - Ordinary 12 (Pentecost +2) Year B - | DB Home | RCL Resources Index | Questions and Comments |

The Gathering of the People of God

CALL TO WORSHIP
Let us come before God in humility, gladness and confidence, for "now is the acceptable time".
"now is the day of salvation!" (From 2 Corinthians 6:2)
Grant us Lord the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to realize this promise of your presence in our lives.

HYMN God of grace and God of glory TIS.611 AHB

PRAYER OF ADORATION
Mighty and merciful God, we meet to celebrate your greatness.
We join with the hosts of heaven to sing your praise and to offer you worship.
For you are worthy of adoration from every mouth,
and every tongue should praise you.
You created the earth by your power; you save the human race by your mercy; and make it new by your grace.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we offer you our grateful praise.

CONFESSION
For our foolish or careless use of the gifts of your creation, Lord have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
For our indifference to the needs of others, our brothers and sisters for whom you died, Christ have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
For our neglect of fellowship and the means of grace in worship and private prayer, Lord have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. (2 Corinthians 5:19)
Hear then Christ's word of grace, 'Your sins are forgiven'
Thanks be to God
DOXOLOGY: (Hymn 576)
Now to him who loved us, gave us
every pledge that love could give,
freely shed his blood to save us,
gave his life that we might live,
be the kingdom, and dominion,
and the glory evermore.

WELCOME AND GREETING EACH OTHER

Service of the Word

INTRODUCTION OF THEME: Trusting God through faith in Christ
OLD TESTAMENT 1 Samuel 17: (1a,4-11,19-23) 32-49 David and Goliath
PSALM 9:9-20 The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed
EPISTLE 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 Now is the acceptable time
GOSPEL Mark 4:35-41 Jesus calms the storm

HYMN Who would true valour see TIS.561 AHB
SERMON
HYMN Eternal Father, strong to save TIS.138 AHB.74
OFFERING AND DEDICATION
SHARING TIME [Notices, celebrations, requests for intercessions]
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

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.
You are worthy to receive our prayers and praises, heavenly Father, eternal Lord God; and with all the church in heaven and on earth we praise you for your majesty and glory, for your goodness and grace. We thank you for the wonders of creation, and for the revelation of yourself to the world: for your gift of life to us for your mercy and grace throughout our lives for the joy of loving and being loved for all that is true and noble, all that is good and pure For these gifts we give you thanks and praise.

We thank you that you so loved the world that you sent your Son to be our Saviour, that whoever believes in him should have eternal life: for his dwelling among us, full of grace and truth for his dying for us on the cross for his rising again to be our eternal priest and king for his promise that he will come again and be our judge For the gift of Jesus Christ we give you thanks and praise.

We thank you for the presence and work of the Holy Spirit: for creating fellowship in the truth for sanctifying your family, the church for spreading the gospel throughout the world for revealing the things of Christ For the gift of your holy and life-giving Spirit we give you thanks and praise.

And so, Father, in his power, we offer ourselves to be a living sacrifice in your service; strengthen us to serve you, and gather us and all people to your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Intercessions
[For people known to us in special need ....
For peace and good government in this and all nations ... especially in those parts of the world where there is civil strife...
For our local community and the mission of this congregation .....
For the Uniting Church in Australia, especially for the coming meeting of the National Assembly, that unity may be preserved, and the truth of Christ maintained in the ministry of reconciliation throughout the whole life of the church.]

COLLECT FOR THE DAY
O God our defender, storms rage about us and cause us to be afraid. Rescue your people from despair, deliver your sons and daughters from fear, and preserve us all from unbelief; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and ever. Amen

THE LORD'S PRAYER [Front of the Hymn Book]

The Sending Forth of the People of God

HYMN Creator of the earth and skies AHB.556
WORD OF MISSION
BLESSING
DISMISSAL Go in peace to love and serve the Lord:
In the name of Christ. Amen.