19th Sunday after Pentecost (NL305)

Color: Green
Closest RCL Sunday(s): Proper 23(28)A
Gospel Text: Luke 23:34
Sermon Text: Exodus 32:1-14 (Golden Calf)
Other Text Suggestions: Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23; Philippians 4:1-9
Prayer of the Day (WP): Faithful God of an unfaithful people, the people of Israel doubted your power and turned to other gods to fulfill their needs. We too, turn to other gods, seeking acceptance, power, and independence. Show us how to live humbly in you, and walk in your ways, in the name of the one who offered true power to all humanity, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Helpful Resources: re:Worship, revgalblog, SermonWriter, TextWeek, Word&World, BibleHub

Suggested hymns based on the Sermon text:

ELW #695. As Saints of Old
ELW #362. At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing
ELW #326. Bless Now, O God, the Journey
ELW #515. Break Now the Bread of Life
ELW #321. Eternal Lord of Love, Behold Your Church
ELW #605. Forgive Our Sins As We Forgive
ELW #647. Glorious Things of You Are Spoken
ELW #358. Great God, Your Love Has Called Us
ELW #795. God, My Lord, My Strength
ELW #673. God, Whose Almighty Word
ELW #678. God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending
ELW #399. O Holy Spirit, Root of Life
ELW #696. Jesus Calls Us; o’er the Tumult
ELW #336. Lamb of God (Your Only Son)
ELW #475. Lord, Enthroned in Heavenly Splendor
ELW #716. Lord of All Nations, Grant Me Grace
ELW #863. My God, How Wonderful Thou Art
ELW #343. My Song Is Love Unknown
ELW #322. Oh, Love How Deep
ELW #864/5. Praise, My Soul, the God of Heaven
ELW #623. Rock of Ages
ELW #351. O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
ELW #729. The Church of Christ, in Every Age
ELW #831. The God of Abraham Praise
ELW #506. The Word of God is Source and Seed
ELW #791. We Sing to You, O God
ELW #776. What God Ordains Is Good Indeed
ELW #510. Word of God, Come Down on Earth
Various Hymnals Cast Down, O God, the Idols (1997) by Herman Stuempfle
Various Hymnals Lord of All Being, Throned Afar by Oliver Wendell Holmes
Various Hymnals Lord of the Dance (1963) by Sydney Carter
Various Hymnals Meekness and Majesty (1986) by Graham Kendrick
(ELW=Evangelical Lutheran Worship;  LBW=Lutheran Book of Worship; WOV=With One Voice)

Other (mostly contemporary) options based on both:

“Amazing Love” By Graham Kendrick.
“Every Move I Make” By David Ruis.
“The King of Love My Shepherd Is” By Henry Williams Baker, John Bacchus Dykes.
“Mighty to Save” By Ben Fielding, Reuben Morgan.
More contemporary suggestions here.

Prayers of Intercession:

(Introduction and Conclusion from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, copyright © 2002)

Creator God, you call us to love and serve you with body, mind, and spirit through loving your creation and our sisters and brothers. Open our hearts in compassion and receive these petitions on behalf of the needs of the church and the world.

A brief silence.

We pray for the church universal, that we turn from the idols of dogma and judgement and worship you in honesty and truth. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for creation, that we turn from the idols of over-consumption and abuse and work to restore creation to the good state you made it. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for our leaders, that they may turn from the idols of greed and power and work for the benefit of all people. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for the sick and suffering, that they may be rescued from the evils of pain, disease, and hopelessness and that you may use us to bring hope and healing where it is needed. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for our congregation, that we may turn from the idols of apathy and selfishness and turn towards our neighbors in love and service. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Here other intercessions may be offered.

We pray for the saints who have walked before us in the way of Christ, that their dedicated example of love and faith inspire and strengthen our journey. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Holy One, hear our prayers and make us faithful stewards of the fragile bounty of this earth so that we may be entrusted with the riches of heaven. Amen.