Lectionary -- Ordinary 33 Year A
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Judges 4:1-7 Then prophetess Deborah
Psalm 123 To you I lift up my eyes
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 the Lord will come like a thief in the night
Matthew 25:14-30 The parable of the talents
Hymns suggested by Denis Towner (TIS Together in Song, AHB Australian Hymn Book, SA Sing Alleluia)
A |
Hymns for Sunday 33, Yr.A |
|
|
|
lesson |
Hymn |
TiS |
AHB |
SA |
E |
A charge to keep I have |
573 |
487 |
|
O |
A prophet-woman broke a jar |
696 |
|
|
G |
A spendthrift lover is the Lord |
676 |
|
|
G |
Almighty Father, who for us thy Son dost give |
|
548 |
|
E |
Awake, awake! fling off the night |
|
412 |
|
E |
Be thou my vision |
547 |
455 |
|
O |
Beauty for brokenness |
690 |
|
|
E |
Captains of the saintly band |
|
354 |
|
G |
Christ from whom all blessings flow |
440 |
364 |
|
G |
Christ's is the world in which we move |
677 |
|
|
O/G |
Eternal Ruler of the ceaseless round |
|
513 |
|
G |
Faith will not grow from words alone |
691 |
|
|
E |
From heaven you came, helpless babe |
256 |
|
|
O |
God gives us a future |
687 |
|
|
O |
God has spoken by his prophets |
158 |
92 |
|
O |
God is my strong salvation |
15 |
493 |
|
O |
God moves in a mysterious way |
126 |
54 |
|
O/E/G |
God of grace and God of glory |
611 |
543 |
|
G |
God who stretched the spangled heavens |
163 |
112 |
|
E |
I want to walk as a child of the light |
643 |
|
|
O |
Inspired by love and anger |
674 |
|
|
Ps |
Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon us |
729 |
|
|
G |
Jesus, friend of little children |
|
524 |
|
E |
Jesus, united by thy grace |
|
365 |
|
E/G |
Let us talents and tongues employ |
537 |
|
59 |
Ps |
Lord, have mercy |
735 |
|
|
O |
Lord, hear my praying, listen to me |
689 |
|
|
G |
Mine eyes have seen the glory |
315 |
205 |
|
E |
No weight of gold or silver |
249 |
|
|
E/G |
O day of God, draw near |
616 |
547 |
|
O |
O God of truth, whose living word |
|
507 |
|
Ps |
Our God, our help in ages past |
47 |
46 |
|
G |
Praise and thanksgiving, Father, we offer |
627 |
569 |
|
Ps |
Put all your trust in God |
555 |
464 |
|
E |
Soldiers of Christ, arise |
570 |
481 |
|
G |
Take my life, and let it be |
520 |
520 |
|
E |
The Lord will come and not be slow |
|
194 |
|
E |
There's a light upon the mountains |
276 |
207 |
|
Ps |
There's a wideness in God's mercy |
136 |
[72] |
|
G |
We have a gospel to proclaim |
245 |
189 |
|
E |
Who would true valour see |
561 |
467 |
|
O |
Woman in the night |
661 |
|
|
Other Possible Hymns
(Numbers
refer to The Australian Hymn Book
and Sing Alleluia.)
8 A might stronghold is our God
14 Now thank we all our God
50 What shall I do my God to love
153 This, this is the God we adore
200 Come thou long expected Jesus
239 As with gladness men of old
258 When I survey the wondrous cross
452 I come with Christians far and near
487 A charge to keep I have
Sermon
summary (
Click here for complete sermon
)
What is the precious gift
The point of the parable of the talents is that we will all be called upon to give an account of how we have used what we have been given. More sharply, the message is that anyone who hides their gift and makes no good use of it is in danger of very severe judgement. [Matthew 25:30.]
We have an English word "talent", and we think of it usually as referring to our natural abilities: one might have a talent for music, another might have a gift of administration, another of teaching, etc. Jesus was really talking of something else.
Ministries such as teaching or prophecy, clearly have their specific spiritual gifts which may well be combined with what we would call natural gifts or talents, to be used for mission of the church and the good of the community. [Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11-13]. There is not a great emphasis here on natural talents. Indeed Paul belittled his own abilities [1 Corinthians 1:17 and see Acts 20:7-10]. The early Christians were poor and humble people [Matthew 5:1-11; 1 Corinthians 1:20-24.]
What then is so precious? What was so important that Jesus taught about it as he did in relation to the end of the life we know and the coming of the kingdom in the parable of the talents? First, what people were being called to account for were things of very great value. One talent was not a small gift, but worth fifteen to twenty years wages. (But compare Matthew 25:14-15 and Luke 19:11-27. The outcome is the same.) What could that be? Where else in the teaching of Jesus do we find him talking of things of great value? "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, ...or finding one pearl of great value ...[Matthew 13:44-46; See also Hymn 105 The great love of God; Matthew 19:21; Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 6:45.]
This then is the treasure, the precious gift, the talent we have been given that we dare not hide away but must let loose in the world: the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, the good news of the Kingdom of God. [2 Corinthians 4:6-7; 2 Timothy 1:11-14]. We will be judged on our use of this precious gift.
Order of Service - Ordinary 33 (Pentecost 25) Year A - | DB Home | RCL Resources Index |
The Gathering of the People of God
CALL
TO WORSHIP
Open our lips, O Lord:
And we shall declare your praise.
O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, made haste to help us.
Glory
to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, as now, and will
be for ever. Amen.
Let
us praise the Lord.
The Lord's name be praised.
HYMN 14 Now thank we all our God
PRAYER OF ADORATION
CONFESSION
For our slowness to recognize your gifts in other people and their calling to be children of God:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
For our reluctance to accept your free gifts and your gracious call to play our part in your
ministry: Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
For any cause of division in your body for which we are responsible: 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.
DOXOLOGY: Hymn 153 This, this is the God we adore [tune ii]
WELCOME AND GREETING EACH OTHER
Service of the Word
INTRODUCTION OF THEME: A talent is a precious gift we all have to share
OLD
TESTAMENT Judges 4:1-7 Then prophetess Deborah
PSALM 123 To you I lift up my eyes
EPISTLE 1 Thess 5:1-11 the Lord will come like a thief in the night
GOSPEL Matthew 25:14-30 The parable of the talents
HYMN 205 Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the lord
SERMON
HYMN 487 A charge to keep I have
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 James, 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
Lord God,
so rule and govern our hearts and minds
by your Holy Spirit,
that, always keeping in mind the end of all things
and the day of judgment,
we may be stirred up to holiness of life here,
and may live with you for ever in the world to come;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
THE LORD'S PRAYER
The Sending Forth of the People of God
HYMN SA 59 Let us tongues and talents employ
WORD
OF MISSION
BLESSING
DISMISSAL
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord:
In the name of Christ. Amen.
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