Sunday 11 July, 2021

General:
Lectionary
Hymns

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
(also Sea Sunday)

Readings are laid out as for the continuous form of the lectionary. Alternative related readings (OT and psalm only) are below. Hymns marked with an asterisk (*) are suggested for more than one reading

General

As we gather, Father, seal us (StF 570) possible communion hymn
Born in song! (StF 21)
Christ is made the sure foundation (StF 677)
Eternal God, your love’s tremendous glory (StF 3) 

2 Samuel 6: 1-5, 12b-19

Come on and celebrate! (StF 44)
God it was who said to Abraham (StF 464)
In the Lord I’ll be ever thankful (StF 776)
Praise the Lord, his glories show (StF 84)
Sacred the body God has created (StF 618)
Teach me to dance to the beat of your heart (StF 477) 

Psalm 24 

Hymn echoing the psalmist’s theme

Be still, for the presence for the Lord (StF 20)
God in his love for us lent us this planet (StF 727)
*Great is our redeeming Lord (StF 683)
King of glory, King of peace (StF 56) 

Ephesians 1: 3-14

Father God, I wonder how I managed to exist (StF 72)
*Great is our redeeming Lord (StF 683)
Have faith in God, my heart (StF 466)
Jesus – the name high over all (StF 357)
There is a redeemer (StF 338)
When I was lost, you came and rescued me (StF 367) 

Mark 6: 14-29 

All my hope on God is founded (StF 455)
A safe stronghold our God is still (StF 623)
God give us life (StF 612)
Lord, we have come at your own invitation (StF 595) possible communion hymn
My soul finds rest in God alone (StF 633)
*The prophets’ voice comes down the years (StF 162)
We trust the mighty love of God (StF 742)
*When listening prophets dare to speak (StF 163)
Wild and lone the prophet's voice (StF 189) 

Alternative related readings 

Amos 7: 7-15 

In an age of twisted values (StF 703) possible hymn of confession
“I have a dream”, a man once said (website only)
I will speak out for those who have no voices (StF 702)
*The prophets’ voice comes down the years (StF 162)
The right hand of God is writing in our land (StF 715)
*When listening prophets dare to speak (StF 163)

Psalm 85: 8-13 

Hymns echoing the psalmist’s theme 

Beauty for brokenness (StF 693)
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father (StF 51)
Speak, O Lord, as we come to You (StF 161)

The Revd Phillip Poyner has edited this week's hymn suggestions. He writes:

As last week, the theme of resistance to God’s word continues, but also ultimate success. Amos and John were courageous men, their prophecy fearful in content. Set against these readings is the beginning of Paul’s letter to Ephesus, the Jerusalem Bible translation demonstrating it may have been an early hymn. The passage speaks of ‘predestination’, but constantly the word ‘us’ is used indicating God’s pre-determined plan to bring the Church into being through Christ. The verses proclaim the blessings believers receive, echoed in the words of Psalm 85. 

The passage from 2 Samuel is, like Ephesians 1, a celebration of God’s presence in the lives of the chosen people and David’s intention is to make Jerusalem the city where the Lord was honoured and worshipped. In verse 16, his wife takes exception to his leaping and dancing and so "despised him". Unseemly for a king, or is she objecting to his “devotion to the Lord and spontaneity in worship” (Baldwin IVP)? Resistance comes in many forms.

 

Sunday 4 July, 2021
Sunday 18 July, 2021