51C*
A Call to Worship
Pentecost 11C [Ordinary 19C] or [Proper 14C] 2010
Psalm 50: 1-8, 22-23
We cry: ‘Bless the Lord!’ Let all that is within usrespond to God - who connects and talks with us:
through the reverent worship we offer to God and
through the wonders and ways of God’s creation.
We pray: ‘Bless the Lord who is the Holy One!’
Let us gather in response to the voice of God:
Who invites all God’s faithful people to come in
reverent worship and praise of their Great God.
We sing: ‘Bless the Lord!’ Come, let us celebrate
with thanksgiving! Let us recommit ourselves to God!
We come exclaiming with delight: ‘Bless the Lord!
as we offer our sacrifice of praise to our Holy God. Amen.
Prayers of Praise and Confession
Pentecost 11C [Ordinary 19C] or [Proper 14C] 2010
Psalm 50: 1-8, 22-23
O Lord our God, we gather together from the earth’s fourcorners as a global community, and as diverse communities
of multi-racial small communities to worship and thank you
for your nearness, and your strengthening presence to the
human heart and mind. The Holy One, the Lord, is not remote!
God welcomes all who come in a sacrifice of praise and worship!
Glorious God, from dawn to dusk, and dusk to dawn, your quiet
messages to us echo across time and space in so many ways!
The fiery brilliance of lightning tells us of the power of your energy;
the strength of the wind shouts of your all-pervading powers; and
the beauty of the night sky gently hums in praise of your majesty.
The sounds of your creation sing anthems to your generosity.
The movement of the tides roars about your authority and wisdom.
The diversity of life and colour tells us of your unknown qualities.
The warmth of the sun invites us to draw near to your presence.
We thank you, Never-silent God, for the many ways you speak to us!
Forgive us we pray, O God, when through familiarity, we allow the
words and actions of worship to become diminished in their message
and significance in the building up of our faith. Forgive us when our
songs of praises are absent-minded, and our prayers become a
rambling monologue rather than an awareness of God’s holy voice.
Open our eyes and our ears to the awesome sounds of the universe;
to the messages from the past which tell of your great faithfulness;
and to the accents of individuals and communities who praise your name.
Open our hearts and minds to the intimacy of worshipping God, so
that we may reverently connect with the Lord of all creation and love.
Now we respond with joy and anticipation to your invitation to worship
You, for you alone are God, and you alone are worthy of our praise. Amen.
A Personal Meditation
Pentecost 11C [Ordinary 19C] or [Proper 14C] 2010
Psalm 50: 1-8, 22-23
Living God, all powerful and mighty in word and deed—I come before you as just one person amongst many people—
all called by God from the four corners of the earth, to hear
God’s proclamations, challenges, charges and invitation.
Creative pause: | I am but one amongst many. |
God has called us all together from near and far to receive a word—
a message that stretches across the hours of light and darkness,
extending across the diversity and richness of all humankind—
to nations, communities, families and individuals – and even to me.
Creative pause: | God calls us together to receive a word of life. |
God has proclaimed a word of challenge to people who have made
a considered decision to be a follower of God; who faithfully seek
to worship and honour God in their communal and private worship;
and who daily give thanks for God’s gracious and merciful love.
Creative pause: | I am here listening, ready to receive God’s word. |
The Lord our God also calls on me to be more attentive for God’s
voice and messages. Have I been listening and looking in the
wrong places for my God? What is it God is saying to me that I
am not hearing properly? Will it be a message of a rebuke, or
calling for a renewed awareness of God’s holy presence in my life?
Creative pause: | Where have I looked for and listened for God? |
In my self-absorption, I have failed to worship God with truth and
honesty, and I have neglected my acts of worship and been slack
in my prayers. Forgive me Lord; and set me on a new path of life
where I can understand something of your holy and glorious presence.
Holy God, you alone are God and worthy of my worship and praise.
Creative pause: | May I worship of God with reverent integrity. |
Acknowledgements:
Unless stated otherwise, all Bible readings and extracts used in these weekly Prayers and
Meditations are from
‘The New Revised Standard Version’ Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council
of the Churches of Christ in the USA.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
*The additional weekly numbering is from the Revised COCU Indexing Scheme
COCU = ('Consultation on Church Union');
as it offers an easy sequential numbering
for the Revised Common Lectionary for the Church Calendar.
If any part of these Prayers and/or Meditations is used in shared worship, please provide
the following acknowledgement:
© 2010 Joan Stott – ‘The Timeless Psalms’ RCL Psalms Year C. Used with permission.
jstott@netspace.net.au
Download/view a pdf file of this document here: pentecost11[19]c_2010.pdf