Lectionary resources Ordinary 26 Year C

Lectionary - Ordinary 26 Year C

Jeremiah 32:1-3a;6-15 The prophet buys a field as a sign of hope
Psalm 91:1-6; 14-16 You will live in the shelter of the Most High
1 Timothy 6:6-19 `The love of money is the root of all evils'; vocation
Luke 16:19-31 The rich man and Lazarus; even if one should return

Suggested Hymns (From Denis Towner. TIS = Together in Song; AHB = Australian Hymn Book; SA = Sing Alleluia)

lesson Hymns for Sunday 26, Yr.C TIS AHB SA

E/G All my hope on God is founded 560 465

G Amazing grace, how sweet the sound 129 56

G Blest are the pure in heart 448 376

G Brother sister, let me serve you 650 14

G Christ is the world's light, he and none other 246 191

E Creator of the earth and skies 556

G Father Lord of all creation 631 567

E Feed us now, O Son of God 565

E Fight the good fight with all your might 594 511

G Fold to your heart your sister and your brother 587 503

G For the beauty of the earth 137 77

G God has spoken by his prophets 158 92

G God is love: let heaven adore him 153 93

Ps God is our strength and refuge 28

O God of eternity, Lord of the ages 89

God of freedom, God of justice 657 42

O God of Jeremiah, grieving 679

Ps He who dwells in the shadow of the most high 96

E/G I sing a song of the saints of God 551

I sing the almighty power of God 119 40

E Immortal invisible, God only wise 143 80

G Immortal love, for ever full 168

G Jesus remember me, when you come into … 730 55

E Let all mortal flesh keep silence 497 418

E May the mind of Christ my Saviour 607 537

Now thank we all our God 106 14

G O God of Bethel, by whose hand 564 49

E O Jesus I have promised 595 514

O Our God our help in ages past 47 46

G Praise to the Lord the Almighty 111 28

Praise with joy the world's Creator 179

O Put all your trust in God 555 464

E Rejoice the Lord is King 216 147

Ps Safe in the shadow of the Lord 644 74

G Seek O seek the Lord 464 397

G Son of God eternal Saviour 606 529

E Stand up, stand up for Jesus 592 509

E Take my life, and let it be 599 520

G Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord 161 109

E The head that once was crowned with thorns 378 301

G The Kingdom is upon you! 81

E The Lord is King! Lift up thy voice 64

G What does the Lord require? 618 568

G When I needed a neighbour, were you there 629 558

Where cross the crowded ways of life 608 532

Ps You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord 48

Other Possible Hymns
(Numbers refer to The Australian Hymn Book and Sing Alleluia. TIS = Together in Song)
55 (TIS 128) Sometimes an light surprises/ the Christian while he sings
318 (TIS 405) O Spirit of the living God
455 (TIS 584) Be thou my vision, O lord of my life
480 (TIS 571) Forth in thy name, O Lord, I go
503 (TIS 587) O brother man [Fold to your heart your sister your brother]
542 O God of earth and alter
548 Almighty Father, who for us thy Son dost give

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Sermon Notes

There is no necessary connection between the OT lesson giving Jeremiah's prophecy and the Gospel with the warning contained in the story of
Lazarus and the rich man, but they share in common a word addressed to the complacent in a time of crisis.

One must first feel the threat and the urgency of the proclamation. The Gospel reading is, in addition to its special purpose, one of many examples of warning that the Kingdom will come and catch many by surprise. In this case it is addressed especially to the Sadducees, who did not believe in resurrection and valued highly the signs of success in this life - the key is in the warning Dives asks to be given to his brothers who can be presumed to share his way of life and be in danger of a nasty surprise - this is an addition to the story that was commonly told among the Jews about the reversal of blessings after death. Most tragically they are likely to miss the greatest blessing of the resurrection, even if 'one should return'. Doubting the judgement of God they are in danger of missing the mercy and grace of God.

Similarly, at the time near the exile, when the city of Jerusalem was about to fall and the final destruction of the Kingdom of Judah was unavoidable, many still doubted Jeremiah's word from God, not seeing the justice and compassion in God's judgment and then when they were near panic, they found a sign of hope and mercy hard to accept. Judgment came from God who cares enough not to abandon them..

Sermon summary - Pentecost 19 (Ordinary 26) Year C [ Click here for complete sermon]

The idea that good people will find themselves in Paradise after they die, and those who have not been as good as they should have been will suffer in the flames of Hell, is a strong tradition in our culture, a legacy of many generations of Christian teaching and discipline. It is often of an object of satire and ridicule. Yet people do think about it. There are various interpretations of the story we read today of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) as of parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46), some emphasising social justice concerns, others the threat of eternal punishment.

We don't have to choose between these different ways of understanding the parable. But it was one of a number of warnings Jesus gave of the disastrous consequences of not being prepared for the sudden, unexpected coming of the Kingdom of God or of our own death. You might not have to take it literally, but you do have to take it seriously.

Jesus had been in dispute with the Sadducees about the possibility of resurrection. Besides being opposed to the teaching about resurrection, the Sadducees were known for their love of riches, so when Jesus began saying, (Luke 16:19) "There was a rich man...". His message comes, as usual at the end, when the rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers in case they should fall into the same trap (Luke 16:27-28). The should have known (Luke 16:29). He had argued scripture with them at other times (Mark 12:26-27). But, of course, the rich man knew that his brothers would not have learned this from Moses, so Jesus has him raise the extraordinary prospect of someone actually returning from the dead. (Luke 16:30-31). The justice of God pointed beyond itself to the promise of new life in his infinite mercy.

The Old Testament reading for today tells us something similar about God. We may learn something similar from the prophet Jeremiah in today's lesson (Jeremiah 32). The setting for a great symbolic action by Jeremiah, when he expressed faith in the future of the nation by buying a plot of land which the enemy was already taking over, is one of the two greatest events in a thousand years in the life of his nation.

The king and people flirted with the gods of foreign powers. (Jeremiah 35:15).They were said even to have sacrificed children to these terrible gods, and to have enslaved their own people who should have been set free an d to have done many other evils. (Jeremiah 32:33-36).Yet when the army of the king of Babylon was besieging the city, he, the very prophet of doom, went a nd bought land as a sign of hope (Jeremiah 32:37-44). Jeremiah, though he warned of judgment, gave the sign of new life in the midst of death.

Accept the warning, the dangers are real; and accept the promise.

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Order of Service - Pentecost 17 (Ordinary 26) Year C

The Gathering of the People of God

CALL TO WORSHIP
We come into the presence the Most High, we abide in the shadow of the Almighty, we say to the LORD,
"My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust." [from Psalm 91:1-2]

HYMN Immortal, invisible, God only wise TIS 143 AHB 80

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
Merciful God, our Maker and our Judge,
We have sinned against you in thought, word and deed:
We have not loved you with our whole heart,
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves;
We repent, and are sorry for all our sins.
Father, forgive us.
Strengthen us to love and obey you in newness of life;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. -- Romans 5:8
Hear then Christ's word of grace: Your sins are forgiven.
Thanks be to God

DOXOLOGY: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

WELCOME AND GREETING EACH OTHER

Service of the Word

INTRODUCTION OF THEME: and a word to the children.
OLD TESTAMENT Jeremiah 32:1-3a;6-15 The prophet buys a field as a sign of hope
PSALM 91:1-6; 14-16 You will live in the shelter of the Most High
EPISTLE 1 Timothy 6:6-19 `The love of money is the root of all evils'; vocation
GOSPEL Luke 16:19-31 The rich man and Lazarus; even if one should return

HYMN O Spirit of the living God AHB 318 TIS 405
SERMON
HYMN Almighty Father, who for us thy Son dost give AHB 548

OFFERING AND DEDICATION
SHARING TIME [Notices, celebrations, requests for intercessions]
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

COLLECT FOR THE DAY

Father, you graciously strengthen and replenish all who wait upon you. Grant us your Holy Spirit, that, by gladly serving others, we may always be true to Christ, our Lord and our Redeemer. He lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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

The Sending Forth of the People of God

HYMN Where cross the crowded way of life AHB 532 TIS 608

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

RCL Resources Index | Questions and Comments

lesson	Hymns for Sunday 26, Yr.C	TIS	AHB	SA
E/G	All my hope on God is founded	560	465
G	Amazing grace, how sweet the sound	129	56
G	Blest are the pure in heart	448	376
G	Brother sister, let me serve you	650		14
G	Christ is the world's light, he and none other	246	191
E	Creator of the earth and skies		556
G	Father Lord of all creation	631	567
E	Feed us now, O Son of God		565
E	Fight the good fight with all your might	594	511
G	Fold to your heart your sister and your brother	587	503
G	For the beauty of the earth	137	77
G	God has spoken by his prophets	158	92
G	God is love: let heaven adore him	153	93
Ps	God is our strength and refuge	28
O	God of eternity, Lord of the ages		89
	God of freedom, God of justice	657		42
O	God of Jeremiah, grieving	679
Ps	He who dwells in the shadow of the most high		96
E/G	I sing a song of the saints of God		551
	I sing the almighty power of God	119	40
E	Immortal invisible, God only wise	143	80
G	Immortal love, for ever full		168
G	Jesus remember me, when you come into …	730		55
E	Let all mortal flesh keep silence	497	418
E	May the mind of Christ my Saviour	607	537
	Now thank we all our God	106	14
G	O God of Bethel, by whose hand	564	49
E	O Jesus I have promised	595	514
O	Our God our help in ages past	47	46
G	Praise to the Lord the Almighty	111	28
	Praise with joy the world's Creator	179
O	Put all your trust in God	555	464
E	Rejoice the Lord is King	216	147
Ps	Safe in the shadow of the Lord	644		74
G	Seek O seek the Lord	464	397
G	Son of God eternal Saviour	606	529
E	Stand up, stand up for Jesus	592	509
E	Take my life, and let it be	599	520
G	Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord	161	109
E	The head that once was crowned with thorns	378	301
G	The Kingdom is upon you!			81
E	The Lord is King! Lift up thy voice		64
G	What does the Lord require?	618	568
G	When I needed a neighbour, were you there	629	558
	Where cross the crowded ways of life	608	532
Ps	You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord	48