Sunday BETWEEN 14 and Aug 20 (Proper 15), year B

2018 - 19 August (13th Sunday after Pentecost)
2021 - 15 August (12th Sunday after Pentecost)
2024 - 18 August (13th Sunday after Pentecost)
2027 - 15 August (13th Sunday after Pentecost)
2030 - 18 August (10th Sunday after Pentecost)
2033 - 14 August (10th Sunday after Pentecost)
2036 - 17 August (11th Sunday after Pentecost)

Note: For explanations and suggestions on the various resources provided, see the documents 'General notes and resources' and 'Time after Pentecost' in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

LITURGY

Sentence
See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder for suggestions on using a Sentence.

Wisdom has build her house, she has also set her table:
Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.  
(Prov 9:1a,2b,5 NRSV)

OR, use one of the general Sentences in the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)
Traditional
Almighty and merciful God, 
since you give your faithful people grace 
to offer you true and acceptable service: 
Grant that we may so faithfully serve you in this life 
that we fail not finally to obtain your heavenly promises; 
through your Son, 
Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who lives and reigns 
with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

OR, modernised traditional
Almighty and merciful God, 
it is your gift 
that your faithful people serve you well. 
Help us to run without stumbling 
and reach what you have promised. 
We ask this through your Son, 
Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who lives and reigns 
with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

OR, alternative
(Let us pray that all people may find their fulfilment in Christ. [silence])
Almighty and merciful God, 
you have fulfilled our human longing 
for justice and peace 
in the coming of your Son as a human being. 
May he shine in our lives, 
so that all who see us 
are drawn to him 
as their only Saviour. 
For he lives and reigns 
with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever.  
Amen.

OR, new 
(Let us pray for discernment. [silence])
Wise and all-knowing God, 
give us your gift of wisdom. 
When we don't know which way to go, 
open our eyes and hearts, 
so that we see clearly 
the right path to take, 
and do what pleases you. 
We ask this through your Son, 
Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who lives and reigns 
with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

FIRST READING AND PSALM
Note: There are two sets of first readings (with accompanying Psalms) given for the Sundays after Pentecost: (a) a new semi-continuous set, and (b) a set related thematically to the gospels (as in the earlier form of the lectionary). It is intended that either one of these two sets be used throughout and that they not be mixed.

1a
1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 Solomon prays for wisdom
Psalm 111
Antiphon:
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  (Ps. 111:10)

OR, 1b
Proverbs 9:1-6 The invitation of Wisdom
Psalm 34:9-14
Antiphon:
Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.  (Ps 34:10b NRSV)

SECOND READING
Ephesians 5:15-20 Live as wise Spirit-filled people

ALLELUIA VERSE (John 6:56 NRSV)
Alleluia, alleluia.
(Jesus said:) 'Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood
abide in me, and I in them.'
Alleluia.

GOSPEL
John 6:51-58 Jesus' flesh and blood gives life
(Begin: 'Jesus said: . . . ')

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL
This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Lord Jesus, thank you for giving your flesh and blood 
for us to eat and drink. 
Let us live with you forever. 
Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER
Living God, 
thank you for sending Jesus, 
so that we can live in him and he in us. 
Let us always remain in him, 
so that, filled with the Spirit, 
we may know and do your will. 
Help us to live lives of thankfulness and joy, 
serving you and other people. 
Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Call to prayer
True wisdom abides in God, for only he knows what is good. Let us pray to the Father in the full confidence that he will answer our prayers according to his plan and purpose.

The regular response, OR
O living Lord, 
hear our prayer.

Suggested intercessions
*	for the church, that it may ensure that God's people have access to the body and blood of our Lord
*	for the church, that it may always proclaim God's greatness by the Holy Spirit in music and song
*	for the United Nations, that they operate wisely and for the benefit of the innocent
*	for the removal of world leaders who abuse their countries for their own selfish gain
*	for those trapped in the world of drugs, alcohol abuse, promiscuity, gambling and other forms of addiction or self-indulgence
*	for the victims of all forms of abuse and for the families of the perpetrators

Closing prayer
Loving Father, you have called us to be wise in the way we live. Hear our prayers and encourage us to continue to pray to you and sing your praises as a witness to your amazing grace. We pray through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

PREFACE
It is indeed right and good, 
Lord God, holy Father, 
that we should at all times and in all places 
give thanks to you, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
(On this day)* 
he overcame death by his resurrection 
and opened up for us 
the way to eternal life with you. 
And so, with angels and archangels, 
and with all the company of heaven, 
we adore and praise your glorious name:

* The words 'on this day' are used only on Sundays.

COMMUNION INVITATION
For a choice of communion invitations, see the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Communion invitation', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

OR, the following invitation may be used:

Jesus said: 'I am the living bread that came down from heaven. 
Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; 
and the bread that I will give for the life of the world
is my flesh.'
(Thanks be to God.)
Come, everything is ready.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
See the service order for a standard post-communion prayer. Alternatively, use the third prayer of the day (as listed above) at this point. It may be modified as follows.

Almighty and merciful God, 
you fulfilled our human longing 
for justice and peace 
when your Son came as a human being. 
As we have received his body and blood in this sacrament, 
may he shine in our lives 
so that all who see us 
may be drawn to him 
as their only Saviour. 
For he lives and reigns 
with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

DISMISSAL
Go in peace, filled with the Spirit.
Thanks be to God.  OR  In the name of Christ. Amen.

HYMNS AND SONGS

FOR THE READINGS
Please note:	* =	Modernised version available
	G3, G4 . . . =	Guitar chords available in the Music Package 3, 4 . . . 
	GS =	Guitar chords in the Supplement to LH

First reading (a): 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14
LHS
132	Spirit of wisdom, turn our eyes
134	Come, O come, Thou quickening Spirit*
175	Thou art the way, to Thee alone*
379	Lord of creation, to Thee be all praise G AT 405, G6
422	Great Shepherd of Thy people, hear* G6
425	Lord, teach us how to pray aright G6
462	God of mercy, God of grace G6
812	The Lord in wisdom made the earth
AT
357	Give us hearts to know you, Lord
359	Holy Spirit, living water
TIS
226	Thou art the way: by thee alone
420	Holy Sprit, go before us
422	Come, Holy Spirit, come
444	Dear Shepherd of your people, hear
452	God of mercy, God of grace
547	Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
548	Eternal light, shine in my heart
626	Lord of creation, to you be all praise

First reading (b): Proverbs 9:1-6
LHS
265	How blest are they who hear God's Word* G3
268	Lamp of our feet, whereby we trace G6
AT
393	Real food, real drink
TIS
427	Lord, your word abiding
474	Here in this place
544	Since the world was young
548	Eternal light, shine in my heart

Second reading: Ephesians 5:15-20
LHS
121	Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord* G4
124	O Holy Spirit, enter Thou* G3
132	Spirit of wisdom, turn our eyes (alt tune 355,G3, alt tune 245, G6)
434	Let all the world in every corner sing G7
437	Now thank we all our God* G6
439	I will sing my Maker's praises G5
468	O praise ye the Lord
525	Awake, my soul, and with the sun G9
AT
150	Sing a new song
276	Into your death we go
298	Let's go out
325	Sing to God
326	Shout for joy
369	Shout to the Lord
TIS
96	Sing praise to the Lord!
105	Let all the world in every corner sing
106	Now thank we all our God
107	Sing praise and thanksgiving
399	Come, Spirit of God, holy Lord
400	O Holy Spirit, enter in
428	Help us, O Lord, to learn
471	In praise of God meet duty and delight
557	Awake, my soul, and with the sun
646	God is our song, and every singer blest

Gospel: John 6:51-58
LHS
89	Christ Jesus lay in death's strong bands* G5
251	Only begotten, Word of God eternal* G6
282	Draw nigh and take the body of the Lord*
284	O living Bread from heaven* G6
290	O Bread of life from heaven* G3
838	I am the Bread of life GS
842	Praise the Lord, rise up rejoicing G3
843	Saviour, to the Father's side
845	Strengthen for service, Lord (alt tune 109 G5)
AT
167	I am the Bread of life
183	Look beyond the bread you eat
270	Eat this bread
393	Real food, real drink
473	Bread for the world
478	This is the body
TIS
364	Christ Jesus lay in death's strong bands
495	Father, we give you thanks, who planted
496	Strengthen for service, Lord, the hands
498	Draw near and take the body of our Lord
505	Jesus invites his saints
535	I am the Bread of life
714	Eat this bread

'I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE'
The song 'I am the bread of life'' is particularly suitable for the gospel. If possible, use the version in Together in Song (no. 535) because it has been put in inclusive language.

'Eat this Bread'
See All Together Everybody no. 270 (TIS 714) for the Taize ostinato response: 'Eat this bread'. This response and the verses to be sung with it may be sung by a small choir during communion, and taught to the congregation over the weeks that John 6 is read.

IONA SONG
The following song from the Iona Community is suitable for today:

Volume 3: Love from Below
O taste and see	page 112 (psalm and gospel)

PSALM 111 
For musical settings of Psalm 111, see Music Packages 4, 6 and 9. Another version appears in TIS, no. 68 Praise the Lord.

Two metrical versions of Psalm 111 by David Schütz are given here. If reproducing either of these versions, please put 'Words (c) David Schütz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

Version I: may be sung to the tune Herzlich Lieb (LHS 385) 

Alleluia! Alleluia!
With all my heart I thank the Lord
	before the congregation.
The works of God are great and good,
and all who find their joy in him
	will seek to understand them.
His noble works and splendid ways
have won him fame and glorious praise;
for evermore his righteousness
and grace and mercy never cease.
	The Lord our God
provides for those who fear his name,
true to his word, always the same.

The Lord has shown his mighty power
by giving to his faithful ones
	a good land to inherit.
The things he does are right and just,
and all his laws deserve our trust,
	they will remain for ever.
He set his faithful people free,
when we were lost in slavery,
gave us his covenant and word -
holy and awesome is the Lord!
	Alleluia!
Be wise and learn to fear the Lord,
whose praise endures for evermore.

Version II: may be sung to the tune 'I am covered over' (ATA 130)

I will thank the Lord with all
	my heart before the presence of
	his holy ones.
Everything the Lord has done
	is great and wonderful, and
	I delight in it!
He is full of majesty
	and honour, and his righteousness
	will always last forever.
We will not forget him for
	he always shows us tenderness
	and mercy.

He provides the food for those
	who fear him; he will not forget
	his covenant;
he has shown his power to
	his people and he's given us
	a heritage.
All he does is just and true;
	and we can trust his precepts too,
	for they are always steadfast,
they have been set down to be 
	performed in truth and righteousness 
	for ever.

He has freed his people from 
	their chains and he has given us 
	his covenant.
Holy is the Lord our God 
	and awesome is his holy name 
	for evermore.
Wisdom starts with fearing God 
	the Lord, and all who practise it 
	will reach true understanding.
Everyone who loves the Lord 
	our God will praise his name now 
	and forever.

PSALM 34:9-14
For musical settings of Psalm 34:9-14, see Music Package 6. See Music from Taize: Volume II for a verse of psalm 34 to be sung to the ostinato response 'O Christe Domine Jesu'.

The following metrical version of Psalm 34:9-14 by David Schütz may be sung to the tune Llanfair (LH 11, TIS 388) with alleluias, or to the tune Gott sei Dank (LH 221, TIS 450) without alleluias. If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Schütz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

Fear the Lord, you saints of God. 
Those who fear him have no want. 
Many hunger though they're strong;
yet the saints of God are filled. 

Those among you who love life,
and who wish to live long years,
come to me, and hear my word;
I will help you fear the Lord!

Keep your tongue from evil words,
and your lips from speaking lies.
Turn from evil and do good.
Work for peace and seek its goals.

NOTES ON THE READINGS

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Notes on the readings', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

PROVERBS 9:1-6: The pithy 'wisdom' sayings of the Old Testament (as in Proverbs) provided practical ways of applying God's law to the whole of life. Here 'wisdom' is personified as a rich and generous hostess setting forth a feast and issuing a compelling general invitation for any and all to partake. All those who will lay aside their own intellectual pride and come may well be considered 'simple' (v 4) by the worldly, but will be amply nourished in the way of true holiness, growing and strengthening in a godly and righteous life. 

EPHESIANS 5:15-20: The same wisdom depicted in the previous reading is urged here by St Paul for us, like his readers, to take up into our lives. Because we owe all of our new life to a gracious heavenly Father through our Lord Jesus Christ, we thank him in and by our lives and worship (vv 19,20). The mark of true wisdom is knowing oneself in the light of God's will. With that prominent value uppermost, we avoid the folly, immorality and drunkenness of our social surroundings. This is also a part of being filled with the Spirit.

JOHN 6:51-58: Eating and drinking the blood of Christ here means to receive everything he is and everything he did, does and will do in true and humble faith. In this way the miracle of eternal life is made ours and continues to nourish us. This excludes any 'wisdom' which is not God's, any personal effort which human beings think empowers them to be a part of God and his purposes. The Jews thought that the 'bread' of eternal life was God's law as they taught it. Hence the graphic and, to them, offensive imagery which Jesus employed to penetrate their stubborn complacency.

VISUAL

VISUALS FOR THE READINGS
Pictures or visual symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. For instance, the gospel could be accompanied by the holy communion symbol of bread and wine.

DRAMA

'MEGA DRAMA'
See a drama for the day in Mega Drama resources (Openbook Publishers), originally included in these worship resources when they were released on disks.

dramatising the READINGS
The readings can be read by more than one person to make the dramatic meaning of the text clearer. For instance, reading 1a from 1 Kings could be read by three readers: narrator, the Lord, Solomon; reading 1b from Proverbs could be read by two readers: narrator, Wisdom (a female); and the gospel could be read by three readers: narrator (the pastor), Jesus, one of the people.

CHILDREN

'COME AND SEE JESUS'
The Come and See Jesus curriculum published by Openbook Publishers has a wealth of material and ideas that may be adapted for use in worship. Please note that a new edition of this material is now available for the Revised Common Lectionary.

This week's story is
'Solomon asks for wisdom' Original Edition, Series B, Semester 2, Lower Level  (Pentecost 13)
OR
'Proverbs'. Material for this story may be found in either
Original Edition, Series B, Semester 2, Middle and Upper Levels  (Pentecost 13) 
OR
Revised RCL Edition, Series B, Semester 2 (Proper 15)