67B*
A Call to Worship
Reign of Christ the King (Pentecost 26B) [Ordinary 34B] or [Proper 29B] 2015
Psalm 132: 1-12

Pilgrim’s God, we ask that you: “...take my hand and lead me along life’s way;”
“...Without your care and favour I go astray; so take my hand... and lead the way.”1

Journeying God, we ask that you: “...take my heart and hide it within your grace;”1
“...through pain and pleasure guide it to be at peace. Lord, hold close your child,
and stay with me, and help me trust whenever I cannot see... and lead the way.”1

Faithful God, we ask that you listen to our prayers: “For when it seems you’re hiding your
saving might, still you are safely guiding me through the night...”1
Pilgrim’s God, we come in trust and hope for you to bless us as you: “...take my hand
and lead me along life’s way; protect and guide and feed me to endless day.”1 Amen.

Psalm 132: 1-12
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

1 LORD, remember David and all that he suffered.
2 He made a solemn promise to the LORD.
He vowed to the Mighty One of Israel,

3 “I will not go home; I will not let myself rest.
4 I will not let my eyes sleep nor close my eyelids in slumber
5 until I find a place to build a house for the LORD,
sanctuary for the Mighty One of Israel.”

6 We heard that the Ark was in Ephrathah;
then we found it in the distant countryside of Jaar.
7 Let us go to the sanctuary of the LORD;
let us worship at the footstool of his throne.
8 Arise, O LORD, and enter your resting place,
along with the Ark, the symbol of your power.
9 May your priests be clothed in godliness;
may your loyal servants sing for joy.

10 For the sake of your servant David,
do not reject the king you have anointed.

11 The LORD swore an oath to David
with a promise he will never take back:
“I will place one of your descendants on your throne.
12 If your descendants obey the terms of my covenant and the laws
that I teach them, then your royal line will continue forever and ever.”

Prayers of Petition and Trust
Reign of Christ the King (Pentecost 26B) [Ordinary 34B] or [Proper 29B] 2015
Psalm 132: 1-12

Pilgrim’s God, in trust, hope and humility, we come to worship you, the God
who travels with us – to wherever is our interim destination - we are all in need
of God’s guidance and blessings. Our journey through life takes us to many
and varied situations, to where trouble or joy; or where pain or happiness awaits
us – and where so often, our inner resources are unable to cope. Come to us,
God of the Ages, to be our Strength, our Hope, and our Source of all that is good
and pure. Just as King David vowed to honour and revere God in his worship, may
we all commit ourselves to worship God in sincerity and truth; to witness to God’s
love and mercy through our daily living and language; and to serve God wherever
and in whatever circumstances we are in, on this earthly pilgrimage home to God.
Pilgrim’s God, we ask that you: “...take my hand and lead me along life’s way;”
“...Without your care and favour I go astray; so take my hand... and lead the way.”1

Journeying God, you are the God of all peoples, all races, cultures and traditions;
and your people worship and praise you in so many ways, and each of whom seeks
to bring honour and reverence to God’s Holy Name. The faithful pilgrims on the
way to Jerusalem to worship at the temple came from different regions and with
different faith experiences; but they all came with the expectation of God’s blessing.
As we come to worship and praise our God, may we each have a sense of eager
anticipation of receiving God’s word of grace to us, to empower us in our ministry.
However, if the voice of God seems distant to us, help us never to stop listening.
Journeying God, we ask that you: “...take my heart and hide it within your grace;”1
“...stay with me, and help me trust whenever I cannot see... and Lord, lead the way.”1

Faithful God, we give thanks that you have always kept your promises, and that you
are totally reliable in all that you declare - both from your Holy Word; and from all the
prayers offered to you in faith and hope. Inspiring God, you reveal yourself to people
in different ways; and we give thanks for these revelations which help in our choices
and decision-making. We ask that you continue to reveal yourself to us, and to your
faithful people, so that we may more truly worship and praise you; and mature in our
faith and trust in the Eternal God. Holy God, we ask that “...your priests be clothed in
godliness; may your loyal servants sing for joy...” to the glory of your Glorious Name.
Faithful God, we come in trust and hope for you to bless and guide us, as you:
“...take my hand and lead me along life’s way; protect and guide and feed me to
endless day.”1 Amen.

A Personal Meditation
Reign of Christ the King (Pentecost 26B) [Ordinary 34B] or [Proper 29B] 2015
Psalm 132: 1-12

King David vowed “…I will not go home; I will not let myself rest. I will not let
my eyes sleep nor close my eyelids in slumber until I find a place to build a
house for the LORD, sanctuary for the Mighty One of Israel…” From their very
humble beginnings as stateless, tribal people, the “people of Israel” - renamed
by God from Jacob to “Israel” as their leader - so they became God’s chosen
people through God’s guidance and blessing. Their history of worshipping God
began when Abram built a primitive altar in Canaan before which to worship
God, and so the people of Israel’s first steps began as a people who worshipped
the One True God. Later on as they journeyed through the wilderness, Moses
erected a portable Tabernacle or “Tent of Meeting”, within which was kept the
Ark of the Covenant with its Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies. Although King
David had desperately wanted to build God a “proper home”, that only finally
happened through his son King Solomon. Through the centuries, the people of
Israel were always a people who worshipped God – with varying levels of fidelity.

Creative pause: Have you made vows before God - and kept them?


Visiting Zion and its holy temple was the life-time ambition of all devout Jews,
and after all the hazards of their journey, to be able to finally see their goal in
sight brought them great joy. This was an opportunity for them to make tangible
links with their heritage; to celebrate God’s gracious mercy to them as a nation;
and as a people with a religious culture and tradition. They could celebrate God’s
divine guidance to them as a nation, and as the Source of their religious fervour.
God had blessed them with a king whom they revered; and whose exploits were
celebrated and commemorated in worship, in song, and in story-telling to each
succeeding generation. They rejoiced in King David’s personal commitment to God,
and his seeking to provide an appropriate “home” for God’s holy presence to dwell—
where they could gather to worship, praise and thank God; to confess their sin
and receive forgiveness; and to recommit themselves to the worship of God.

Creative pause: The pilgrims blessed their God-fearing leaders – but do we?


It does not need much imagination to picture the small clusters of pilgrims trudging
along up the hills leading to Jerusalem and to the centrepiece of Zion itself with its
Holy Temple. Their singing of Psalm 132 added to the thrill and pleasure of journey’s
end being almost in sight, as they imagined the wonders of worshipping God at the
centre of their religious and personal life. Anticipation, and imagining longed-for
events all added to the total concept of such a pilgrimage. I have been very blessed
by going on “pilgrimages” to visit other countries and to share in the blessings of
their shared worship in widely varying styles of worship centres, especially amongst
people, cultures and languages with which I was unfamiliar. However, to my joy,
I discovered one of the few benefits of colonising people had been through music as
I could sing remembered words to well-known tunes; and so join in shared worship.
Each of the pilgrims on the way to Zion longed to experience the mystery of being
able to worship God in their own sacred space; of “singing the songs of Zion”; and
thus having their faith and hope renewed as a community who worshipped only God.
Such are the joys and challenges of being on a pilgrimage – especially to worship God.

Creative pause: Have you been on a pilgrimage – and were you blessed by it?


1 From “Together in Song” #593
“Lord, take my hand and lead me along life’s way”
© Words by Julie Hausmann 1825-1901
Used with permission CCLI License #221735

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 inspiration available from the writings of
Professor Walter Brueggemann; and through the resources from the internet and “The Text this Week” (Textweek).

If the Prayers and/or Meditations are used in shared worship, please provide this acknowledgement:
© 2015 Joan Stott – ‘The Timeless Psalms’ RCL Psalms Year B. Used with permission.

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

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