Exodus 14:19-31 The escape of the Israelites through the sea on dry land
Psalm 114 When Israel went out from Egypt
or Exodus 15:1b-11,20-21 I will sing the Lord for he has triumphed gloriously
Romans 14:1-12 Why pass judgement on your brother or sister?
Matthew 18:21-35 Parable of one sinner forgiving another - the two debtors

Suggested Hymns (TIS = Together in song, AHB = Australian Hymn Book, SA = Sing Alleluia)
 

lesson	Hymns for Sunday 24, Yr.A	TIS	AHB	SA
	A mighty fortress is our God	103	[8]
Ps	All creatures of our God and King	100	3
G	All praIse to our redeeming Lord	442	367
G	Amazing grace (how sweet the sound)	129	56
G	And can it be	209	138
E	At the name of Jesus	231	170
Ps	Be still, for the presence of the Lord
O	Be thou my guardian and my guide		498
	Come O Fount of every blessing		152
O	Come you faithful raise the strain	[391]	278
G	Come, God's people, sing for joy	391		26
G	Dear Father, Lord of humankind	598	519
E	Father eternal, Ruler of creation		540
G	Father of heaven, whose love profound	131	60
E	Fold to your heart your sister and your brother	587	[503]
G	Forgive our sins as we forgive	635	564
Ps	Glorious things of you are spoken	446	374
E	God be in my head	549	456
G	God is love: let heaven adore him	153	93
O/C	God of many names	180
G	Great is your faithfulness	154
O	Guide me, O thou great Redeemer	569	478
G	Help us accept each other	648
G	I heard the voice of Jesus say	585	500
C	I will sing unto the Lord
E	In you is gladness	200
E	Jesus lives! your terrors now	372	294
G	Jesus, where'er thy people meet	445	372
G	Just as I am, without one plea	584	497
O	Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us	580	492
E	Lord Jesus, if the same you are	566	472
E	Lord Jesus, we belong to you	686
E	Lord, it belongs not to my care		466
E	Make me a captive, Lord	604	528
G	Make me a channel of your peace	607		66
O	O God of Bethel, by whose hand	564	49
E/G	O how I love Jesus
	O Jesus Christ may grateful hymns be rising	620	553
G	O Love that wilt not let me go	602	525
G	O the deep, deep love of Jesus	232
O	Our God, our help in ages past	47	46
O	Out of deep, unordered water
G	Praise, my soul, the King of heaven	134	68
G	Rock of Ages, cleft for me	222	157
O	Shalom to you now	778
Ps/C	Sing praise to God who reigns above	110	27
O	The God of Abraham praise	125	53
G	There's a wideness in God's mercy	136	[72]
O	Through the Red Sea brought at last	384	C622
O	Wade in the water
G	We are marching in the light of God	666
G	When all your mercies, O my God		39

Possible Hymns
(Numbers refer to The Australian Hymn Book and Sing Alleluia.)
Bind us together Lord
SA 34 Father welcomes all his children
SA 39 God has spoken through his people, hallelujah!
60 Father of heaven, whose love profound
63 O bless the Lord, my soul
105 The great love of God
138 And can it be
129 Kind of glory, King of peace
327 Holy Spirit, come confirm us
433 Let us break bread together with the Lord!
476 O for a heart to praise my God
519 Dear Lord and Father of mankind
564 Forgive our sins as we forgive
571 A new commandment

SONG Bind us together Lord,

Bind us together with cords
that cannot be broken,
Bind us together Lord,
bind us together,
Bind us together with love.

There is only one God;
There is only one King;
There is only one body;
That is why I sing:

You are the family of God;
You are the promise divine;
You are God's chosen design;
You are the glorious new wine:
 

Sermon summary (Click here for complete sermon on the gospel reading: If you do not forgive!)

[Note: a complete sermon on the lectionary gospel reading is linked to this page. In addition there is below an introduction of the theme on which the special family service set out in the order of service was based. The family service included several dramas based on scripture which had been prepared in advance only in part and were dependent upon active and spontaneous participation by the congregation under  a "director" who was a professional drama teacher and director of dramatic productions. There is no regular order of service posted here to go with the complete sermon on the lectionary. ]

What is a covenant?

See note at beginning of the Order of Service

One good example of a covenant is marriage. When people marry they promise to be faithful to each other, to share their lives together and care for each other. The relationship of people with God can be like that.

If Mary and John are being married, the minister asks:

John will you give yourself to Mary to be her husband,
to live together in the covenant of marriage?
Will you love her, comfort her, honour and protect her,
and forsaking all others, be faithful to her,
as long as you both shall live?

He answers: I will.

Mary than answers in the same way .... to be his wife, to live together in the covenant of marriage? .... I will.

The Old Testament books (that is the books of the Old Covenant) tell us of how God called the people of Israel into a covenant relationship with him that was like a marriage. They entered into this relationship especially when he led them out of slavery in Egypt: I will take you as my people, and I will be your God. You shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has freed you from the burdens of the Egyptians. [ Exodus 6:7]. Even when they were unfaithful God kept his promise -- you will call me, "My husband," ....I will make for you a covenant....And I will take you for my wife forever [Hosea 2:16-19].

In the New Testament (the books of the New Covenant) Christ is described as the husband and the community of his people, the church, as his bride. [Ephesians 5:29-32; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:7] and through him God at last has his covenant with humanity fulfilled as in a marriage [Revelation 19:7; 21:2-3].
 
 

Order of Service - Ordinary 24 (Pentecost 16) Year A - | DB Home | RCL Resources Index |

This special family service picks up one theme from the Old Testament reading in which the escape from Egypt was a foundation experience for the people belonging to the covenant of God with them. It is extended here into broader conceptions of covenant with a New Testament emphasis on inclusion of the least of all in the family of God. The service proceeds with several dramas based on scripture which had been prepared in advance only in part and were dependent upon active and spontaneous participation by the congregation under the direction of a lay leader who was a professional drama teacher and director of dramatic productions, with the minister leading the other parts of the service, including the great drama of the Lord's Supper.

The Gathering of the People of God

CALL TO WORSHIP

We gather for worship, the congregation sits and Drama No. 1 begins:

Who is to be included?

The disciples, the children and Jesus

Children's song.

Gospel Reading: Mark 10:13-16 Let the children come.

Narrative:

Who belongs to the Community of the New Covenant?

Symbol No.1 is distributed by the children:

Water, the sign of inclusion through Baptism into the Community of the New Covenant.

Welcome and introduction

HYMN SA 34 Father welcomes all his children

PRAYER OF ADORATION God how great you are!
? CONFESSION What have you done wrong?!
! DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS

Your sins are forgiven.
Thanks be to God.

OLD TESTAMENT

Drama No. 2 from Exodus 15:20-21: The people of Israel, who had been slaves, had just escaped from Egypt. The Egyptian army which came after them perished in the sea and the people began to celebrate

[See Exodus 14:19-31 The escape of the Israelites through the sea on dry land

Psalm 114 When Israel went out from Egypt
or Exodus 15: 1b-11,20-21 I will sing the Lord for he has triumphed gloriously]

Miriam led the people to sing and dance

HYMN SA 39 God has spoken through his people, hallelujah!

Symbol No. 2 is distributed by the children: Music in praise of God.

PSALM 149: 1-5 Praise the Lord! [All together]

Drama No 3: After the people had escaped and were wandering in the desert, they began to learn from Moses how God wanted them to live. They were now in a special relationship or Covenant with God. God promised to care for them and lead them to a new land. On their side, they were to live in the way he commanded.

[See Exodus 20:1-17.]

Moses and the ten commandments

When Jesus came he gave a new commandment: to love one another.

[John 13:34-35]

Symbol No. 3: A heart.

HYMN 571 A new commandment

OFFERING AND DEDICATION

SHARING TIME [Notices, celebrations, requests for intercessions]

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

ANTHEM Choir: Let his Word dwell in you richly.

Breaking bread together with the Lord

Drama No. 4 began at The Last Supper [See Matthew 26:26-29] and has been continued in the church ever since as the Eucharist or holy communion [1 Corinthians 11:23-26].

Symbol No. 4 for us today is the same breaking of the bread and sharing the cup of wine.

When we eat and drink, sharing these holy mysteries, we share in the life of Christ. We celebrate the new relationship or covenant that was established through his death and resurrection.

THE PEACE

HYMN 433 verses 1 and 2 Let us break bread together with the Lord!

Let us drink wine together with the Lord!

GREAT PRAYER OF 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.

Thanks and praise ..... in the eternal hymn: [SA 100c and 100d]

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

We thank you ....
[The great prayer of thanksgiving continues, recalling God's goodness in caring for his people, the life and saving work of our Lord Jesus Christ, how he commanded his disciples to remember him with the bread and the wine, and we pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit on us and what we do.]

THE LORD'S PRAYER [Front of hymn book]

BREAKING THE BREAD
COMMUNION
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

HYMN 433 verses 3 and 4 Let us sing songs together with the Lord

Let us all work together for the Lord

BLESSING
DISMISSAL
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
In the name of Christ. Amen.

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