46A*
A Call to Worship
After Pentecost 5A [Ordinary 14A] or [Proper 9A] 2017
Psalm 45: 10-17

Generous God: we give thanks for the many gifts that God bestows on us!
We come to give our thanks for the gifts of God’s fidelity and constant love.

Gracious God: we praise our God for the ‘means of grace’ that so bless us!
We come to praise our God for the many ways the truth of God is revealed.

Faithful God: be for us all this day, everything that we need to help us grow
in holy grace and in the knowledge of our Empowering and Enabling God.
We come in humility and reverent awe, to worship and praise our God, whose
faithful and trustworthiness establishes a model for us in all our relationships. Amen.

Psalm 45: 10-17
For the choir director:
A love song to be sung to the tune “Lilies.”
A psalm of the descendants of Korah.

10 Listen to me, O royal daughter; take to heart what I say.
Forget your people and your family far away.
11 For your royal husband delights in your beauty;
honour him, for he is your LORD.
12 The princess of Tyre will shower you with gifts.
The wealthy will beg your favour.
13 The bride, a princess, looks glorious in her golden gown.
14 In her beautiful robes, she is led to the king,
accompanied by her bridesmaids.

15 What a joyful and enthusiastic procession
as they enter the king’s palace!
16 Your sons will become kings like their father.
You will make them rulers over many lands.
17 I will bring honour to your name in every generation.
Therefore, the nations will praise you forever and ever.

Prayers of Thankfulness and Praise
After Pentecost 5A [Ordinary 14A] or [Proper 9A] 2017
Psalm 45: 10-17

Generous God: we give thanks for the many gifts that God bestows on us; and in
response, we offer our prayers, our praises and our worship because of our God’s
so freely gifted and gracious blessings. God’s fidelity and constant love for us is
to be marvelled at, because our own constancy and fidelity can be very fickle; and
our levels of commitment waver every day! We give thanks for varied expressions
of faithfulness we experience every day from our family, friends and loved ones;
and for this we are so grateful; but most of all we give thanks for their forgiveness!

Gracious God: we praise our God for the ‘means of grace’ that so bless us! For the
blessings of God’s holy word - spoken and read; for prayers and praises; for God’s
mercy and grace; for the various sacraments and the way they express the hope
and joy of God’s presence with us; and the many other ways through which God
blesses, forgives, renews and heals us. We give thanks that when we are receptive
to God’s presence, we learn new truths about God and about God’s constant love.

Faithful God: be for us all this day, everything that we need to help us grow in holy
grace and in the knowledge of our Empowering and Enabling God. We give thanks
for the inspiration we receive from other people whose lives are shining testimonies of
a life lived in love and grace; and for the patterns we have that enable us to follow in
their footsteps. We give thanks for the people who have taught us what it means to
be faithful and forgiving; what it means to be a follower of Jesus in difficult situation;
and what it means to live simply and graciously, by giving thanks for all we have and
are. We come in humility and reverent awe, to worship and praise our God, whose
presence with us is a constant guide, an ever-new challenge; and an endless blessing. Amen.

A Personal Meditation
After Pentecost 5A [Ordinary 14A] or [Proper 9A] 2017
Psalm 45: 10-17

Today’s psalm is categorised as a “Royal/Enthronement” Psalm as it celebrates
the royal marriage of the king – which one is not known – and it is quite exuberant
in its descriptions of the groom and bride. The theory behind the role of the king
of Israel was that as God’s appointee, he represented God to the people, and his
most important duty was to care for the most vulnerable of his subjects – on behalf
of God! The king was also considered to be the channel through which God’s care
and blessings were equitably distributed; and to bring about peace and justice for all.
Do all of the current world’s leaders still seek to provide that same level of care and
responsibility, and swear their oath of allegiance on the Bible or other holy books?

Creative pause: Are today’s leaders God’s appointees?


One of the main motivations for the king’s marriage was the hope of an heir to the
throne being born, to carry on the current king’s family dynasty. According to the
Uniting Church in Australia’s Marriage Service in “Uniting in Worship” in the section
“Declaration of Purpose” we read: “Marriage is appointed by God. The church believes
that marriage is a gift from God in creation and a means of grace in which a man and
a woman become one in heart, mind and body... Marriage is given that children may be
born and brought up in security and love, that home and family life may be strengthened,
and that society may stand upon firm foundations... Marriage is a way of life which all
people should honour; it is not to be entered lightly or selfishly, but responsibly and in
the love of God...”1 Since that ancient marriage in Israel, cultural changes, customs,
and traditions have dramatically changed, but marriage is still the basis for family life.
Unfortunately, not all marriages are seen as being God-inspired, or even being blessed
by God; but the concept still stands of two human beings joined in love for each other.

Creative pause: Marriage is a gift from God and a means of God’s grace.


Two of the world’s current heads of state have made similar oaths. When the Queen
of the United Kingdom was crowned she made her vows thus: “Archbishop: Will you
solemnly promise and swear to govern the Peoples of......... [naming the nations]
according to their respective laws and customs? Queen: I solemnly promise so to do.
Archbishop: Will you to your power cause Law and Justice, in Mercy, to be executed
in all your judgements? Queen: I will. Archbishop: Will you to the utmost of your power
maintain the Laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel?... [followed by the
structural and personnel laws of the Church of England....] and to the Churches there
committed to their charge, all such rights and privileges, as by law do or shall appertain
to them or any of them? Queen: The things which I have here before promised, I will
perform and keep. So help me God....” In recent times, all of the elected Presidents of
the United States of America vow the oath of office thus: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm)
that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the
best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

Creative pause: Is the vow of fidelity also applicable to leaders and their people?


1 “Uniting in Worship”
© 1988 The Uniting Church in Australia
Assembly Commission on Liturgy.
Published by the Joint Board of Christian Education
Melbourne Australia

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 45.
Used with permission.

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

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