Lectionary -- Ordinary 32 Year A
Joshua 24:1-3a,14-25 Choose this day whom you will serve.
Psalm 78:1-7 Telling the glorious deeds of the Lord
or Psalm 96 Sing to the Lord and new song/ let us make a joyful noise
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 About those who have died.
Matthew 25:1-13 The parable of the foolish bridesmaids.
Suggested Hymns (From Denis Towner. TIS = Together in Song; AHB = Australian Hymn Book; SA = Sing Alleluia)
A | Hymns for Sunday 32, Yr.A | |||
lesson | Hymn | TiS | AHB | SA |
G | All my hope on God is founded | 560 | 465 | |
E/G | At the first coming of the Lord | 10 | ||
E | At the name of Jesus | 231 | 170 | |
E | Be still, my soul, the Lord is on your side | 123 | 48 | |
Be thou my vision | 547 | 455 | ||
Ps | Bring many names, beautiful and good | 182 | ||
E | Christ is the world's light, he and none other | 246 | 191 | |
Christ our King before creation | 190 | |||
G | Christ's is the world in which we move | 677 | ||
Come dearest Lord, descend and dwell | 443 | 357 | ||
G | Comfort, comfort all my people | 647 | 25 | |
E | Etaernal light, shine in my heart | 548 | ||
Father all-loving and ruling in majesty | 160 | 104 | ||
Father we adore you | 716 | 35 | ||
G | For all the saints | 455 | 384 | |
O | For the might of your arm, we bless you | 535 | ||
Ps | Give ear, O people, to my teaching | 41 | ||
O | God gives us a future | 687 | ||
G | Hark a herald voice is calling | 264 | 192 | |
E | Have faith in God, my heart | 619 | 552 | |
E | He is risen! He is risen! | 379 | ||
G | Here, gracious Lord, we see you face to face | 516 | [438] | |
G | How brightly beams the Morning Star | [199] | 220 | |
G | I know that my Redeemer lives | 376 | 299 | |
Ps | I will sing the wondrous story | 233 | 173 | |
O | I'm not ashamed to own my Lord | 562 | 470 | |
E | Jesus lives! your terrors now | 372 | 294 | |
hc | Jesus the Lord said, "I am the bread" | 239 | 185 | |
Just as I am thine own to be | 527 | |||
E | Let saints on earth in concert sing | 370 | ||
E | Lo! he comes with clouds descending | 273 | 201 | |
E | Lord it belongs not to my care | 466 | ||
G | Lord Jesus, our bright Morning Star | 199 | [220] | |
Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy | 613 | 546 | ||
Lord of creation, to you be all praise | 626 | 557 | ||
G | Lord of light, whose name shines brighter | 392 | ||
Ps | Lord, you have been our dwelling place | 144 | 76 | |
E | Love divine all loves excelling | 217 | 148 | |
E | May flights of angels lead you on your way | 639 | C619 | |
O | Mine eyes have seen the glory | 315 | 205 | |
E | Now is eternal life | 385 | 305 | |
O | O happy day that fixed my choice | 406 | ||
O Jesus I have promised | 595 | 514 | ||
E | O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder | 155 | ||
G | O Master, let me walk with thee | 601 | 522 | |
O | Once to every man and nation | 499 | ||
G | Our Father, by whose name | 71 | ||
G | Our God our help in ages past | 47 | 46 | |
Pour out your Spirit from on high | 451 | 378 | ||
G | Praise to the Lord the Almighty | 111 | 28 | |
Rejoice in God's saints | 470 | 73 | ||
E | Rejoice, the Lord is King | 216 | 147 | |
G | Robe yourself, my soul, with gladness | 503 | [424] | |
G | Seek ye first the kingdom of God | 745 | 75 | |
Sent forth by God's blessing | 531 | 76 | ||
O | Stand up and bless the Lord | 449 | 383 | |
Take my life, and let it be | 599 | 520 | ||
Ps | Tell me the stories of Jesus | |||
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord | 161 | 109 | ||
The church's one foundation | 457 | 385 | ||
E | The Lord will come and not be slow | 194 | ||
The Son of God proclaim | 528 | 84 | ||
G | The strife is past, the battle done | 367 | 287 | |
Thou didst leave thy throne and thy kingly crown | 206 | |||
G | Wake, awake, for night is flying | 266 | 195 | |
G | What does the Lord require | 751 | 568 | |
G | When he comes back, when he comes back | 280 | 92 | |
When I survey the wondrous cross | 342 | 258 | ||
G | Ye servants of the Lord | 474 | ||
E | Your coming Lord, to earth at Bethlehem | 285 | 98 | |
O/Ps | Your hand, O God, has guided | 456 | 389 |
Sermon summary (Click here for complete sermon)
A jealous God
After enjoying the fruits of the promised land [Joshua 24:13] Joshua feared that the people of Israel might have forgotten the Lord who gave it to them and they would turn to other gods. The alternatives offered by the agricultural societies around them were symbolised by the idol of the golden calf [Exodus 32:1-8]. So Joshau challenged them: choose this day whom you will serve. [Joshua 24:15].
Our "promised land" and false gods
You can see some parallel with our situation of relative ease compared with the struggles of our ancestors in settling this land. Naturally, in a consumer society there is plenty of choice in religion as in everything, without much regard for the truth. Many seek ancient pagan sources of spiritual life and superstition increases. One way or another symbols of power, sex and money are raised up as idols. What kind of gods are people worshipping in Melbourne's brothels, gambling houses, theatres, stadiums, parliament, press and living rooms?
The call to commitment
The contrast becomes sharper and the choice more urgent as the Kingdom of God is revealed: as in the parable of the foolish bridesmaids [Matthew 25:1-13]. You cannot drift into the Kingdom of God. One way or another you must be prepared and make a deliberate commitment, whether it develops gradually or instantaneously; and it needs to be renewed from time to time. Today, as part of our commissioning of elders, we renew our own commitment. Nothing is more important to the future of this congregation than a deepening of commitment to God, and that means not allowing other things to take his place.
Avoid the too easy commitment
Joshua was reluctant to allow the people to make a new commitment because he feared they would break it [Joshua 24:19-20] and God is a jealous God [Exodus 20:2-5] who would not tolerate any service of other gods. It is important to see that we make our commitment as Christians who are in receipt of the grace of God that came to us in Jesus Christ. So we turn to him in a spirit of thanksgiving.
Order of service - Ordinary 32 (Pentecost 24) Year A - | DB Home | RCL Resources Index |
Commissioning of Elders and Congregational Covenant
The Gathering of the People of God
CALL TO WORSHIP
To all God's beloved, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
-- Romans 1:7
Let us invoke the Spirit of God that we may worship God in Spirit and in truth.
In the name of Christ. Amen.
HYMN 357 Come dearest Lord, descend and dwell
PRAYER OF ADORATION
CONFESSION
DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS ... '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: Commitment for discipleship
OLD TESTAMENT Joshua 24:1-3a,14-25 Choose this day whom you will serve.
PSALM 78:1-7 Telling the glorious deeds of the Lord
Choir One God
EPISTLE 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 About those who have died.
GOSPEL Matthew 25:1-13 The beginning of the birth pangs of the Kingdom
HYMN 499 Once to every man and nation
SERMON
INTRODUCTION TO THE MISSION COVENANT
Commissioning of Elders
SCRIPTURE SENTENCES
There are diverse gifts
but it is the same Spirit who gives them
There are different ways of serving God:
but it is the same Lord who is served.
God works through people in different ways:
but it is the same God
whose purpose is achieved through them all.
Each one of us is given a gift by the Spirit:
and there is no gift without its corresponding service.
There is one ministry of Christ:
and in this ministry we all share.
Together we are the body of Christ:
and individually members of it.
PRESENTATION
VOWS
Do you confess anew Jesus Christ as Lord? I do
Do you believe that you are called by God through the church to this ministry I do
Will you seek to live and work within the faith and unity of the one holy catholic and apostolic church? I will
Do you adhere to the Basis of union of the Uniting Church in Australia? I do
Relying on God's grace, do you promise to carry out the duties of your office? I do
[To the people]
Will you, the members of this congregation, accept Gloria and Noelene as elders? We will
Will you encourage them in love and support them in their ministry, serving with them the one Lord Jesus Christ? We will
CONGREGATIONAL COVENANT FOR MISSION
All together:
Our mission is to be the people of God at .... in fellowship with other Christians. To fulfil our mission, as we seek to be led
by the Spirit of God, we will prayerfully commit ourselves to:
worship God,
grow together in faith and love,
learn the way of Christ,
serve Christ and make him known in the community.
As a congregation within which each member will have their own calling, we will:-
Worship God in Spirit and in truth, in a variety of forms which allow full participation by people of all ages and different interests by offering both traditional and contemporary forms of worship; Grow together in faith and love; Learn the way of Christ, growing in understanding and commitment to the Christian faith, by establishing a strategy which emphasises continuing growth and renewal; Serve Christ and make him known in the community through service and evangelism.
Minister:
May God give us all strength to fulfil these vows; and to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus from generation
to generation for ever. Amen
ACT OF COMMISSIONING .... for the ministry of elder. Amen
[Hymn 572]
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious unto you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you peace.
DECLARATION
PRAYERS
HYMN 520 Take my life and let it be/ consecrated Lord to thee
OFFERING AND DEDICATION
SHARING TIME [Notices, celebrations, requests for intercessions]
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
COLLECT FOR THE DAY
THE LORD'S PRAYER [Front of the Hymn Book]
The Sending Forth of the People of God
HYMN 206 Thou didst leave thy throne and thy kingly crown
WORD OF MISSION
BLESSING
DISMISSAL
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord:
In the name of Christ. Amen.
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