Sunday 11 September, 2022

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

Jeremiah 4: 11-12, 22-28

Day of judgment! Day of wonder! (StF 732)
God moves in a mysterious way (StF 104)
God with us: Creator, Father (StF 8)
We pray until the hour, that awesome hour unknown (StF 741)

Psalm 14

Hymns reflecting the psalmist’s theme

A safe stronghold our God is still (StF 623)
As if you were not there, the skies ignite and thunder (StF 724)
How long, O Lord, will you forget an answer to my prayer? (StF 630)
Listening God, you hear us when we cannot speak (StF 524)

1 Timothy 1: 12-17

*Amazing grace – how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! (StF 440)
Father, whose everlasting love (StF 320)
I am not skilled to understand what God has willed, what God has planned (StF 349)
Immortal, invisible, God only wise (StF 55)
King of Glory, King of Peace (StF 56)
Let earth and heaven agree (StF 358)
Man of sorrows! What a name for the Son of God (StF 361)
Meekness and majesty, manhood and deity (StF 362)
My song is love unknown (StF 277)
*Praise, my soul, the King of heaven (StF 83)
Through all the changing scenes of life (StF 638)

Luke 15: 1-10

All people that on earth do dwell (StF 1)
*Amazing grace – how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! (StF 440)
Come, let us sing of a wonderful love (StF 443)
Come, thou fount of every blessing (StF 494)
Come with me, come wander, come welcome the world (StF 462)
I will sing the wondrous story (StF 323)
Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided (StF 470)
Now I have found the ground wherein sure my soul's anchor may remain (StF 561)
The King of love my shepherd is (StF 479)

Alternative related readings

Exodus 32: 7-14

Bread of Life, Truth Eternal (StF 578)
God of forgiveness, your people you freed (StF 425)
Jesus calls us! O'er the tumult (StF 250)
O, the love of my Lord is the essence (StF 431)
*Praise, my soul, the King of heaven (StF 83)
Your ceaseless, unexhausted love (StF 438)

Psalm 51: 1-10

Hymns reflecting the psalmist’s theme

Blest are the pure in heart (StF 244)
Jesus the first and last (StF 329)
Just as I am, without one plea (StF 556)
Let us break bread together with the Lord (StF 592)
Lord, we turn to you for mercy (StF 429)
More like you, Jesus more like you (StF 505)
O for a heart to praise my God (StF 507)
Out of the depths I cry to thee (StF 433)
Rock of ages, cleft for me (StF 434)
Take this moment, time, and space (StF 513)

Phillip Poyner writes:

It is good to think of God nurturing us but this week we learn the stark truth that all are foolish, stupid and skilled in doing evil. Like the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin we are unable to save ourselves. As often with the continuous readings, the Old Testament reading and Psalm have a similar message and both a ray of hope: "I will not make a final end.." and "O that Israel's deliverance would come."

In the Exodus reading, does Moses’ intercession persuade God have a change of heart or does he gain an insight into God’s patience, which Paul also sees in Christ (1 Timothy 1: 16)? It is Christ’s reaching out to sinners that changes our natures, giving us knowledge, understanding and enabling us to do good. Psalm 51, of course, could be a suitable congregational response (StF 811).