60A*
A Call to Worship
Pentecost 17A [Ordinary 28A] or [Proper 23A] 2011
Psalm 106: 1-6, 19-23

Praise the Lord! Give thanks for the goodness of the Lord!
The faithful love of the Lord our God endures forever!

The praises worthy of the Lord are beyond all words!
Who can list all the mighty wonders and deeds of our God?

We gather to share together in the praise of our God.
We come with joy to worship our God and give thanks! Amen.

Prayers of Confession
Pentecost 17A [Ordinary 28A] or [Proper 23A] 2011
Psalm 106: 1-6, 19-23

God of the ages, and God of all generations, we
come before you – rather ashamed of our actions,
our hopes, and plans for the future in the frenzied
pace of our life. We have not given space or time for
the wonder of worshipping you - we are just like our
ancestors who have gone before us! We have not
placed you at the centre of our life; or at the centre
of our heart and mind. We have not learned from
either our ancestors mistakes, or our own mistakes.
Merciful God, heal us, forgive us and renew us.

Generous God, we seek your mercy for the times
we make excuses for ourselves; when we conveniently
forget that you speak to us through our hearts, minds,
and consciences to guide us in our decision making.
We seek your gracious blessings, even though we
have been blind to the reminders of your presence
with us; we have hardened our hearts in our busyness;
and neglected our suffering and despairing neighbours.
Merciful God, heal us, forgive us and renew us.

Comforting God, we come as individuals with our own
sin; but we also come as a community with our communal
sin. Each of us are burdened with the memories of past
sin; of past shared sinfulness, when we have turned our
eyes away from the wonder and majesty of our Guiding
God, and our life’s choices are contrary to the ways of God.
We come with heavy hearts to lay before you our shared
and individual sin, aware that we have failed each other and you.
Merciful God, heal us, forgive us and renew us. Amen.

A Personal Meditation
Pentecost 17A [Ordinary 28A] or [Proper 23A] 2011
Psalm 106: 1-6, 19-23

What a great God I worship! It gives me joy and delight
to bask in the sunshine of God’s eternal love, and God’s
everlasting blessings. It is impossible to name and list all
the ways in which God pours out these generous gifts.
I feel a sense of deep satisfaction when I realise that I am
walking in God’s ways, and following God’s commands.
If only I obeyed God’s commands all the time; and if only I
always acted with justice and compassion! But I know
very well that I fail to that! Forgive me, my Patient God.

Creative pause: If only I obeyed God’s commands all the time!


Remember me with your love and favour O God, and turn
me around in the right direction again, so that I may share
in the joy of your eternal fellowship, and join in the loving
community of your faithful people. I know very well that I,
along with my ancestors and forebears, have been people
of sin; I belong with people who are neglectful and apathetic
towards what is good and right in life; and I have traded the
discernment of my faith and tradition for the fleeting appeal
of the things of this world. Forgive me, my Healing God.

Creative pause: My God, turn me again in the right direction.


I give thanks to God for the people who love and care about
me; who have prayed for me; and who listen to me when I
need help. There are many people who have guided me
over the years, and I am very grateful for their faith in God;
for their wisdom and encouragement; and for the way they
have reminded me of the ways God has challenged, blessed
and guided me in the past. Forgive me, my Empowering God.

Creative pause: God has blessed me through friends and colleagues.


Acknowledgements:
Unless stated otherwise, all Bible readings and extracts used in these weekly Prayers and Meditations are from
‘The New Revised Standard Version’ Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council
of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 *The additional weekly numbering is from the Revised COCU Indexing Scheme
COCU = ('Consultation on Church Union'); as it offers an easy sequential numbering
for the Revised Common Lectionary for the Church Calendar.

If any part of these Prayers and/or Meditations is used in shared worship, please provide
the following acknowledgement:
© 2011 Joan Stott – ‘The Timeless Psalms’ RCL Psalms Year A. Used with permission.

jstott@netspace.net.au

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