Lectionary - Ordinary Sunday 32 Year B
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Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17 Ruth marries Boas
Psalm 127 Unless the Lord builds the house those who build it labour in vain
Hebrews 9:24-28 Christ removed sin by the sacrifice of himself once for all
Mark 12:38-44 Beware of the scribes! The poor widow put in more.

Suggested Hymns (From Denis Towner. TIS = Together in Song; AHB = Australian Hymn Book; SA = Sing Alleluia)
Hymns for Sunday 32, Yr.B
lesson hymn TIS AHB SA
G A spendthrift lover is the Lord 676
G All my hope on God is founded 560 465
O All praise to thee my God, this night 558 468
E And now O Father, mindful of the love 519 440
O As man and woman we were made 645 7
Ps As the deer pants for the water 703
G At the name of Jesus 231 170
O Bind us together, Lord
G Come let us to the Lord our God 577 490
E Come now everlasting Spirit 509 429
E Entered the holy place above 374 296
G Fill my whole life, O Lord my God 596 515
O/G Give thanks with a grateful heart 717
E Glory be to Jesus 344 263
G God himself is present 121 47
E Hail Redeemer, King divine 237 188
Ps Laudate Dominum, Sing praise and bless the Lord 73 57
E Lo! he comes with clouds descending 273 201
E Lord enthroned in heavenly splendour 520 441
E/G Love divine, all loves excelling 217 148
G Not the powerful, not the privileged 288
G Now thank we all our God 106 14
O O for a thousand tongues to sing 210 141
E O Lord my God when I, in awesome wonder 155
G O love how deep, how broad, how high 194 6
G O Master, let me walk with thee 601 522
O Our Father by whose name 71
G Our God we know your providence 167 118
E Rejoice the Lord is King 216 147
E See Christ was wounded for our sake 275
O/G Seek ye first the kingdom of God 745 75
E Son of God eternal Saviour 606 529
G Take my life, and let it be 599 520
E The King of glory comes, the nation rejoices 279 212
G The strife is past, the battle done 367 287
E There's a wideness in God's mercy 136 72
E We sing the praise of him who died 347 262
G What does the Lord require 618 568
G What does the Lord require of you 751
G When I survey the wondrous cross 342 258
O When love is found and hope comes home 654
G Where cross the crowded ways of life 608 532
E With joy we meditate the grace 206 134
E You we praise, high priest and victim 525 447
O Your love O God, has called us here 664
 

Other Possible Hymns
(Numbers refer to The Australian Hymn Book and Sing Alleluia.)
SA 28 (TIS 16) Do not be afraid, I am with you
SA 39 (TIS 636) God has spoken to his people, hallelujah [Open your ears, O Christian people]
SA 41 (TIS 416) Great God your Spirit, like a wind
SA 98 (TIS 265) Your coming Lord, to earth in Bethlehem
28 (TIS 111) Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation
79 (TIS 141) Praise to the holiest in the height
82 (TIS 146) God, who made the earth
447 (TIS 525) Thee we praise, high priest and victim
504 (TIS 588) In heavenly love abiding
527 Just as I am, thine own to be
537 (TIS 609) May the mind of Christ my saviour

Sermon summary (Click here for complete sermon)

Ruth the outsider

The story of Ruth in the little book that bears her name is one of the great short stories of all time. Its main theme is the acceptance of Ruth, an outsider, as she made herself part of Naomi's community and through her marriage to Boas secured the inheritance of Naomi's family. The way she and Naomi managed that is a tale of delightful intrigue. The secondary theme of friendship between Ruth and Naomi is something everybody can understand. "Ruth clung to her" and her immortal words are still recited today as a sign of loyalty and affection:

Ruth the outsider comes to share in the heritage of Israel. The universality of God's love is revealed, as it was again on the day of Pentecost when the Jews would have been reading the story of Ruth according to their custom at that festival. That God would fully accept and bless foreigners was something which the people of Israel should have known; in fact it was known to them, but it tended to be forgotten, just as it still tends to be forgotten in many nations today in spite of a general belief in the value of tolerance and friendliness.

We are inclined to take a romantic view of individual happiness and say that of course people should marry as they choose without regard for nationality, or even when it comes to the test, that family loyalties should give way to the attraction of one individual to another. That is not how it was with Ruth and Boas. That whole way of thinking, that is so popular in Western Society, would have seemed to them very strange indeed, and quite irresponsible. The reward of Ruth the foreigner came through her regard for family and community responsibilities, the very opposite of romantic individualism. Ruth's understanding of who was in relationship to others is a powerful contrast to the individualistic processes of self definition which are popularised for young women today by the mass media.

Order of Service - Ordinary 32 Year B - | DB Home | RCL Resources Index | Questions and Comments |

The Gathering of the People of God

CALL TO WORSHIP

Praise the LORD, all you nations!
Extol him, all you peoples!

For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.

Praise the LORD! -- Psalms 117
We praise the Lord in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

HYMN Praise to the holiest in the height TIS 141 AHB 79

PRAYER OF ADORATION

CONFESSION
Loving God, Lord of the Church, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word and deed: we have not loved you with all our heart or served you with all our strength; we have been blind to the vision of a renewed world and deaf to your call to costly discipleship; we have been indifferent to the suffering of others and unwilling to forgive one another. In your mercy, Lord, pardon and restore us, that together in the ministry of Christ we may serve you with joy all the days of our life. Amen.

DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
Hear then Christ's word of grace, 'Your sins are forgiven'
Thank you God

HYMN Do not be afraid, I am with you TIS 16 SA 28

WELCOME AND GREETING EACH OTHER

Service of the Word

INTRODUCTION OF THEME: Ruth the outsider

OLD TESTAMENT Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17 Ruth marries Boas
PSALM 127 Unless the Lord builds the house those who build it labour in vain
EPISTLE Hebrews 9:24-28 Christ removed sin sacrificing himself once for all
GOSPEL Mark 12:38-44 Beware of the scribes! The poor widow put in more

HYMN Thee we praise, high priest and victim TIS 525 AHB 447
SERMON
HYMN God, who made the earth TIS 146 AHB 82

OFFERING AND DEDICATION

SHARING TIME [Notices, celebrations, requests for intercessions]
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
In peace, we pray to you, Lord God.
For all people in their daily life and work;
for our families, friends and neighbours, and for those who are alone.

For this community, our country, and the world;
for all who work for justice, freedom and peace.

For the just and proper use of your creation;
for the victims of hunger, fear, injustice and oppression.

For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble;
for those who minister to the sick, the friendless and the needy.

For the peace and unity of the Church of God;
for all who proclaim the gospel, and for all seek the truth.

For the Uniting Church in Australia,
for ..., President of the Assembly,
for .... Moderator of the Synod,
and for ...., Chairperson of Presbytery,
and ...., Presbytery Minister,
for elders and members of the parish council,
and for all who hold office in this congregation;
for all who serve God in the church.

For our own needs, and for others for whom you have called us to pray.
[Silence]

Hear us, Lord
for your mercy is great.

We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of life.
[Silence]

We exalt you, O God our king;
and praise your name for ever and ever.

We give thanks for all those who have died in the peace of Christ, and for the promise of your eternal kingdom.
[Silence]

In Christ you have called us to eternal glory;
to you be praise for ever and ever. Amen.

COLLECT FOR THE DAY
O God,
Father of the widow and the orphan,
welcoming refuge for strangers,
and justice for the oppressed:
uphold the hope of the poor
who place their trust in your love;
that the time may soon come when no one will lack
the bread and freedom which you provide,
and all will learn to share freely
after the example of him who has given his very self,
Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

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

The Sending Forth of the People of God

HYMN In heavenly love abiding TIS 588 AHB 504
WORD OF MISSION
BLESSING
DISMISSAL Go in peace to love and serve the Lord:
In the name of Christ. Amen.

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