51A*
A Call to Worship
After Pentecost 10A [Ordinary 19A] or [Proper 14A] 2017
Psalm 105: 1-6, 16-22, 45b

We come, as people of every age have done, to worship and honour our God!
“Worship, honour, glory, blessing, LORD we offer to your name...”¹ Hallelujah! Amen!

We come, as people of every age have done, to sing and exalt God’s Holy Name.
“....young and old, their praise expressing, join your goodness to proclaim...”¹ Amen!

We come, as people of every age have done, to pray as we honour and revere
our God; to confess our sinfulness; and to pray for people needing God’s mercy.
“...As the saints in heaven adore you, we would bow before your throne; as your
angels serve before you, so on earth your will be done.”¹ “…Praise the LORD!” Amen.

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Psalm 105: 1-6, 16-22, 45b

1 Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness.
Let the whole world know what he has done.
2 Sing to him; yes, sing his praises.
Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.
3 Exult in his holy name;
rejoice, you who worship the LORD.
4 Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him.
5 Remember the wonders he has performed,
his miracles, and the rulings he has given,
6 you children of his servant Abraham,
you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.

16 He called for a famine on the land of Canaan,
cutting off its food supply.
17 Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them –
Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18 They bruised his feet with fetters
and placed his neck in an iron collar.
19 Until the time came to fulfil his dreams,
the LORD tested Joseph’s character.
20 Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free;
the ruler of the nation opened his prison door.
21 Joseph was put in charge of all the king’s household;
he became ruler over all the king’s possessions.
22 He could instruct the king’s aides as he pleased
and teach the king’s advisers.

45b Praise the LORD!

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Prayers of Thankfulness
After Pentecost 10A [Ordinary 19A] or [Proper 14A] 2017
Psalm 105: 1-6, 16-22, 45b

We come, as people of every age have done in every generation, to worship and
honour our God, the God of every century, of every nation, and of every race, culture
and tradition! We come to worship the Creating God of every morning, afternoon,
evening and night; the God of every season, hot or cold; wet or dry, harsh or subtle;
and devastating or comforting. We come to honour the Creator of people who are
gentle and kind or arrogant and offensive; people who are excellent leaders or cruel
warlords; people who are caring and supportive and people who are thoughtless.
We sing: “Worship, honour, glory, blessing, LORD we offer to your name...”¹ Amen!

We come, as people of every age have done in every generation, to sing and exalt
God’s Holy Name. We come to worship the Creating God of every circumstance in
life; in sickness and in health; in vibrant life and in painful dying and death; in age
and in youth; and in freedom and in captivity to all the diminishes human life. We
thank our Creating God for blessing us with the beauty of our planet and beyond;
and for everything created that is an expression of the loving holiness of our God.
We sing: “....young and old, their praise expressing, join your goodness to proclaim...”¹

We come, as people of every age have done in every generation, to pray as we
honour and revere our God; to confess our sinfulness; and to pray for people in
need of God’s compassion, mercy and forgiveness. We give thanks for those people
through the ages who have gently and tirelessly spoken of God’s forgiving grace;
and who have guided people of all ages to maturity in faith, because of their own
life and witness. We give thanks for people whom we name as God’s ‘Holy People’—
who have blessed and guided us in our faith journey; and who have never despaired
of us and our failings; but who have encouraged and inspired us to maturity in grace.
We sing: “...As the saints in heaven adore you, we would bow before your throne; as
your angels serve before you, so on earth your will be done.”¹ “…Praise the LORD!” Amen.

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A Personal Meditation
After Pentecost 10A [Ordinary 19A] or [Proper 14A] 2017
Psalm 105: 1-6, 16-22, 45b

Whenever I read a text with this message: “...Sing to him; yes, sing his praises...”
even after 20 years, I am usually transported mentally and spiritually to my years
of experiences in the South Pacific islands in my role as Area President of the
World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women. The Pacific Islanders
create music unlike any I have ever heard before or since. They have their own
style of singing and harmony, which is used almost constantly to sing their praises
to God. Their lifestyle, culture and traditions encourage and enable festivals of song
and singing, often expressed through choral competitions - including children from the
youngest ages to people in their advanced years. There can be no doubt, that they
sing to the glory of God; and in their own unique ways, they tell everyone about God’s wonderful deeds amongst them and for them. Thanks be to God for their faithfulness!



In Tonga, I was invited to address the senior students at their major church school—
whose school band had recently won prestigious international competitions; and from
my background of New Year’s Days Scottish and Irish marching, dancing and band
competitions, I was entranced by their skill and the dedication of their music teachers.
Addressing those impressively large young men and beautiful young women, was an
honour and a privilege, as they were at the age of decision making in their choices of
life style; starting the processes of selecting their life partners; and deciding on the
course of their life on those small islands that often did not give them very many career
options; unless they left the idyllic surroundings they were raised in. Whatever were their
choices, they took with them into maturity, a love of life, a love of music and of their God.



Unfortunately, even if we once had a beautiful voice to sing God’s praises in worship,
at home or wherever - time has caught up with many of us, and our voices are not what
they used to be! Never-the-less, we still have a heart, soul and mind even if our strength
has also deteriorated. The psalmist seems to understand human frailty when he sang:
“...Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the LORD. Search for the LORD and
for his strength; continually seek him. Remember the wonders he has performed, his
miracles, and the rulings he has given.... Praise the LORD!” Even if our memory is not
what it used to be - along with our voices – we can still live a life of praise and worship to
God, for God, and because of our God! Just as “...the LORD tested Joseph’s character..."
we are all tested in a variety of ways; and as Joseph’s life became a testimony to God’s
grace and mercy – may our own life and living have the same outcome! “...Praise the LORD!”



1 From “Together in Song” #772
“Worship, honour, glory, blessing”
Words by Edward Osler
Words are in the Public Domain

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Acknowledgements:
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation,
copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

*Revised Indexing Scheme from 'Consultation on Church Union' (COCU).

I acknowledge and give heartfelt thanks for the theological help and inspiration so frequently available from the writings of Professor Walter Brueggemann and Professorial brothers Rolf and Karl Jacobson; and the resources from "The Text this Week" (Textweek).

If the Prayers and/or Meditation are used in shared worship, please provide this acknowledgement:
© 2017 Joan Stott –‘The Timeless Psalms’ RCL Psalms Year A. Based on verses from Psalm 105.
Used with permission.

jstott@netspace.net.au
www.thetimelesspsalms.net

Download/view a pdf file of this document here: pentecost10[19]a_2017.pdf