48A*
A Call to Worship
After Pentecost 7A [Ordinary 16A] or [Proper 11A] 2017
Psalm 139: 1-12, 23-24

We come to God, to be enfolded, surrounded and encircled in God’s love
We respond to that supportive love with thanks, praise and joy-filled minds.

We come to God, to be enfolded, surrounded and encircled in God’s peace
We respond to that enlivening peace in sincere worship and joy-filled hearts.

We come to God, to be enfolded, surrounded and encircled in God’s grace
We respond to that empowering grace with delight and praise and joy-filled souls—
because God knows us so well, yet accepts and forgives our repentant offerings. Amen.

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Psalm 139: 1-12, 23-24
For the choir director: A psalm of David.

1 O LORD, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
2 You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
3 You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
4 You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD.
5 You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!

7 I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave, you are there.
9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
11 I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

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Prayers of Trust and Thankfulness
After Pentecost 7A [Ordinary 16A] or [Proper 11A] 2017
Psalm 139: 1-12, 23-24

Holy One, we come to you, O God, to be enfolded, surrounded and encircled in
the love God has for all creation and especially for humanity. God’s love is above
and beyond all other loves, friendships, companionships or alliances; because God’s
love is pure, selfless, and has no strings attached to it. All we are invited to do is
to accept and respond to that supportive love with thanks, praise and joy-filled minds.
Since time began, humanity has been exploring what that love of God means, and
today, we are no different to our forebears, God’s love is too precious and wonderful
for us to comprehend, but “...you place your hand of blessing on our head...” and
we give thanks that it is a hand of love and not judgement; it is mercy and not anger.

Trustworthy One, we come to you, Great God of Shalom to be enfolded, surrounded
and encircled in God’s peace; a peace that is active, vibrant and life restoring and
life renewing. We come to be absorbed into the being of God’s-Own-Self so that we
will know something of that peace “...which far exceeds anything we can understand...”²
We give thanks for the holy presence of God’s peace because as the psalmist sang:
“...You go before us and follow us... we can never get away from your presence...!”
even if we wanted to be separated from God! We respond to that enlivening peace in
sincere worship and joy-filled hearts, and wrap ourselves up in your blanket of peace.

Non-discriminating God, we come to you to be enfolded, surrounded and encircled
in the grace that is offered to us regardless of whether we deserve it or not. We come
seeking that grace which in reality, is the presence of God already within us to lift us
up; to heal us; to forgive and to reconcile us with others and with ourself. Transforming
God, through your grace you call us to yourself so that we may grow in your grace—
your love and your peace. We respond to that empowering grace with delighted thanks;
and with songs and prayers of praise that fills our lives with God’s own inspiring joy. Amen.

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A Personal Meditation
After Pentecost 7A [Ordinary 16A] or [Proper 11A] 2017
Psalm 139: 1-12, 23-24

Sydney-born Monica Brown is an oblate with the Good Samaritan Congregation,
and her religious formation was shaped and formed in the Benedictine tradition
and with the Sisters of the Good Samaritan; and her original music and spirituality
has blessed and enriched countless people throughout the world. One of her
lovely songs is based on two verses in Psalm 139: “...You go before me and follow
me. You place your hand of blessing on my head....I can never escape from your
Spirit! I can never get away from your presence...!” Monica sings thus: “Enfold
me in your love / enfold me in your love / encircle me O God / surround me with
your love / come fill me with your love.”¹ When we believe and know that we are
we are consciously enfolded, encircled, surrounded and filled by God’s love; it is
surely a love that is divine; and a love excels all other loves, friendships or fondness.



Monica continues to sing: “Enfold me in your peace / enfold me in your peace /
encircle me O God / surround me with your peace / come fill me with your peace.”¹
There are many Biblical references that define ‘peace’, yet it is amazing how they
vary according to the translation and the context of the situation relating to ‘peace’.
It is hard to go past the description of ‘peace’ in Paul’s letter to the young church
in Philippi: “...Always be full of joy in the LORD. I say it again—rejoice. Don’t worry
about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank
him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which far exceeds
anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live
in Christ Jesus...”² Once again the context and rationale for that ‘peace’ is important!



Finally, Monica sings: “Enfold me in your grace / enfold me in your grace / encircle me
O God / surround me with your grace / come fill me with your grace.”¹ A question that
pops up regularly in my weekly group is: What is this ‘grace’ you often talk about? The
traditional definition I learned as a child was that God’s grace is “God’s undeserved and
free favour and loving action to humanity, gifted to us by the ever-present Holy Spirit.”
John Wesley defined grace as: “God’s grace pervades all of creation and is universally
present. Grace is not a gift that God packages and bestows on us and creation. Grace
is God's presence to create, heal, forgive, reconcile and transform hearts, communities
and the entire creation. Wherever God is present, there is grace...!”³ That ‘amazing grace’
does indeed surround us, it enfolds us, it encircles us and fills us with God’s presence!



1 From “Holy Ground” CD Track #6
“Enfold me in your love”
Words and music by Monica Brown
© 1997 Monica Brown & Emmaus Productions
Used with personal permission.

2 Philippians 4: 5-7 (NLT)

3 Online resources

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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 139.
Used with permission.

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

Download/view a pdf file of this document here: pentecost7[16]a_2017.pdf