Lectionary recources Ordinary 25 A

Exodus 16:2-15 God feeds the people in the desert in spite of their rebellion.
Psalm 105:1-6;37-45 For their sake he remembered his covenant.
Philippians 1:21-30 ...to me, living is Christ and dying is gain.
Matthew 20:1-16 The parable of the labourers in the vineyard.

Suggested hymns from Denis Towner (TIS = Together in Song , AHB = Australian Hymn Book, SA = Sing Alleluia)

lesson	Hymns for Sunday 25, Yr.A	TIS	AHB	SA
G	A spendthrift lover is the Lord	676
G	All praise to our redeeming Lord	442	367
G	All who love and serve your city	634	562
G	Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord	390		2
	Amazing grace (how sweet the sound)	129	56
Ps	Blessed are those whose way is blameless	75
O	Bread of heaven, on you we feed	513	434
G	By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered	617		15
E	Eternal Ruler of the ceaseless round		513
G	Father hear the prayer we offer		510
G	Father in whom we live		51
O	Feed us now O Son of God		565
E	Fight the good fight with all thy might	594	511
G	From heaven you came, helpless babe	256
O/G	Glorious things of you are spoken	446	374
E	God be in my head	549	456
G	God is unique and one		107
G	Great is your faithfulness	154
O/Ps	Guide me O thou great Redeemer	569	478
G	Have faith in God, my heart	619	552
E	I need you., Lord, for I have seen	625
E	In you is gladness	200
E	Jesus lives! your terrors now	372	294
E	Jesus the very thought of thee		126
	Jesus thy boundless love to me		462
G	Lead us heavenly Father, lead us	580	492
O	Lord enthroned in heavenly splendour		126
E	Lord it belongs not to my care		466
O/E	Lord Jesus, joy of loving hearts	499	[420]
E	Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy	613	546
G	May the mind of Christ my Saviour	609	537
E	My gracious Lord, I own thy right		483
G	O day of God, draw near	616	547
Ps	O give thanks to God, call the holy name aloud	66
G	O God of every nation	621
E	O Lord, you are my God and King	89	24
Ps	Praise to the Lord, the Almighty	111	28
O	Robe yourself, my soul, in gladness	503	[424]
O	Safe in the shadow of the Lord	644		74
Ps	Sing praise to God who reigns above	110	27
E	Son of God, eternal Saviour	606	529
G	Strengthen for service, Lord, the hands	496	417
G	Take my life, and let it be	599	520
	The God of Abraham praise	125	53
G	The Lord is King, lift up thy voice		64
G	There's a wideness in God's mercy	136	[72]
E	They lack not friends who have thy love		353
G	Through all the changing scenes of life	112	30
G	When all your mercies, O my God		39
G	With joy we meditate the grace	206	134
O	You satisfy the hungry heart		539
O	You shall cross the barren desert

Other Possible hymns(Numbers refer to The Australian Hymn Book and Sing Alleluia.)
SA 18 Christ is alive! Let Christians sing
SA 25 Comfort, comfort all my people
SA 73 Rejoice in God's saints, today and all days
65 Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty
142 Father, whose everlasting love
143 My heart is full of Christ, and longs
412 Awake, awake: fling off the night
420 Jesus, thou joy of loving hearts
454 v.7 [&8] Christ be with me, Christ within me

Australians believe in a fair go. "Fair go, mate!" is generally accepted as a fair and reasonable claim. The parable that Jesus told is about something better than a fair go. There is some Christian foundation to those egalitarian attitudes emphasising the inherent value of every person; but, sadly, the faith on which such values developed in previous generations has been buried deep beneath layers of selfish materialism in rececnt years or so.

Can we learn anything for the way we live today from the parable of the vineyard? [Matthew 20:1-16]. Of course, he was not giving a lesson in economics. His talk of money was to illustrate things of more lasting value. Yet, it is worth asking whether there are not some things to be learned from it for the way we earn our living or govern our society; that is, what does it mean for us after we have understood the essential meaning of the parable, which was that from God you can expect not just a fair go, but better than a fair go. The landowner hired labourers at different times throughout the day and paid them all for a full day's work. The only problem was the generosity of the landowner to the least deserving. That is the way it is with the grace of God, his willingness to give freely far more than we ask or deserve. The same reversal of expectations was celebrated in Mary's song. [Luke:50-53.]

So no one gets less than they deserve, but the least deserving get more. It is a strange economy. Equality is not a biblical idea, at least, not in the way we commonly think of it. It is there in the general idea that we are all children of God. [Galatians 3:28]. But there is something better than equal treatment. [Matthew 19:30]. This seems to apply to spiritual as well as material gifts [Matthew 19:2; Luke 19:8]. You will have to work out what this means for you. You will know that you cannot earn your place in the kingdom of God. It is gift of value beyond what you could expect. What happens if others are treated that way, in work, or giving service, or in family or personal relationships?

CALL TO WORSHIP
O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples.
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wonderful works.
-- Psalms 105:1-2

PRAYER OF ADORATION
Let us acknowledge the greatness and majesty of God as we offer our humble adoration:
Blessed are you, almighty Father, sovereign ruler of all creation:
we glorify and adore you.
Blessed are you, Lord Jesus Christ, loving Saviour of the world:
we glorify and adore you.
Blessed are you, eternal Spirit, gracious source of light and life:
we glorify and adore you.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Lord of endless power and might,
we praise your name for ever and ever.

CONFESSION
We have failed to love you with all our heart and to be good stewards of your creation: Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
We have failed to take up the cross of discipleship and to be good stewards of your gospel: Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
We have failed to be faithful members of your church and to be good stewards of your spiritual gifts: Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
The good news is that all who trust in Christ will have their sins forgiven and receive eternal life. As you hold this faith, I declare that you are set free from all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, to whom be glory for ever and ever.
Thanks be to God.

INTRODUCTION OF THEME: The overly generous character of God
OLD TESTAMENT Exodus 16:2-15 God feeds the people in the desert.
PSALM 105:1-6;37-45 For their sake he remembered his covenant.

EPISTLE Philippians 1:21-30 ...to me, living is Christ and dying is gain.
GOSPEL Matthew 20:1-16 The parable of the labourers in the vineyard.

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

...Concluding with The Salvation of the whole world
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light,
Look favourably on your whole church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; and by the peaceful operation of your providence, carry out the work of our salvation. And let the whole world feel and see that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and all things are returning to perfection through him from whom they took their origin; even through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Gelasian Sacramentary, 7th century.

WORD OF MISSION
Freely you have received, freely give. Never forget that God has blessed you with better than a fair go. Pray for grace to treat others as God has treated you.

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