Sunday BETWEEN 4 and 10 SEP (Proper 18), year A

2020 - 06 September (14th Sunday after Pentecost)
2023 - 10 September (15th Sunday after Pentecost)
2026 - 06 September (15th Sunday after Pentecost)
2029 - 09 September (16th Sunday after Pentecost)
2032 - 05 September (16th Sunday after Pentecost)
2035 - 09 September (17th Sunday after Pentecost)
2038 - 05 September (12th 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.

Owe no one anything, except to love one another,
for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.  
(Rom 13:8 NRSV)

OR
Jesus said: 'Where two or three are gathered in my name, 
I am there among them.'  (Matt 18:20 NRSV)

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

introduction to confession of Sins
One of the following may be used.

Friends in Christ, 
Jesus said: 'Truly I tell you, 
whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, 
and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.'
Let us confess our sins to God our Father 
and ask him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive us.

OR, if using the alternative first reading (1b):
Friends in Christ: The Lord says: 
As I live, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, 
but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; 
turn back, turn back from your evil ways; 
for why will you die, O house of Israel? 
Let us confess our sins to God our Father 
and ask him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive us.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)
Traditional
O Lord, let your continual pity 
cleanse and defend your church; 
and because it cannot continue in safety without you, 
preserve it forever by your help and goodness; 
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
Lord, in your constant mercy 
cleanse and defend your church. 
Guide it forever by your goodness 
because it cannot remain safe without 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.

OR, alternative
(Let us pray for guidance. [silence])
Guide and rule your church forever, Lord, 
so that we may walk warily in times of quiet 
and boldly in times of trouble. 
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, new
(Let us pray for harmony in the church. [silence])
Thank you, heavenly Father, 
that through your Son 
you have reconciled us to yourself 
and to one another. 
Teach us to follow his example 
by living at peace with each other. 
We ask this through 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
Exodus 12:1-14 The Lord institutes the Passover
Psalm 149
Antiphon:
The Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.  (Ps 149:4 NIV)

OR, 1b
Ezekiel 33:7-11 God appoints Ezekiel as a watchman
(Begin: 'The word of the Lord came to me:')
Psalm 119:33-40
Antiphon:
Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.  
(Ps 119:35 NRSV)

SECOND READING
Romans 13:8-14 The debt of love

ALLELUIA VERSE (2 Cor 5:19 NRSV)
Alleluia, alleluia.
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, 
and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL
Matthew 18:15-20 Steps towards reconciliation
(Begin: 'Jesus said to his disciples:')

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL
This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, 
that we can come to the Father in your name. 
Help us to be in harmony among ourselves. 
Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER
Thank you, Lord, for having mercy on us 
and accepting us as your people. 
Help us to be more and more like you, 
and work harmoniously with one another. 
Teach us to show love to each other, 
and to all people as they have needs. 
Amen.

Prayer of the Church
Call to prayer
Our Lord has promised us, 'Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them'. Since our Lord Jesus Christ is present with us, let us pray to our Father with confidence.

The regular response, OR:
Gracious Father,
hear our prayer.

Suggested intercessions
*	for the church, that it would receive sinners with compassion and forgiveness
*	for those who have strayed from faith in Christ, that they would return
*	for the enemies of the church, that they would receive God's mercy
*	for those who live with anger and bitterness, that God would give them peace.

Concluding prayer
Heavenly Father, even in the divisions of this world you make your church unified in Christ. Keep us bound together in love, and hear the prayer we have offered in Jesus' name. 
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.

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.

Lord, through this holy meal of Jesus' body and blood, 
strengthen your church, 
so that we may walk warily in times of quiet 
and boldly in times of trouble. 
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.

DISMISSAL
Go in peace to live in harmony with one another.
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): Exodus 12:1-14
LHS
89	Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong bands* (revised words of old v3) G5
834	At the Lamb’s high feast we sing G3
847	The Lamb’s high banquet called to share (alt tune 839, G7)
AT
349	There is a redeemer
TIS
-

First reading (b): Ezekiel 33:7-11
LHS
302	Sinners turn: why will you die?
304	Delay not, delay not, O sinner, draw near G7
314	Turn, Lord, Thine anger, and in mercy spare us G4
875	There's a wideness in God's mercy G9
AT
114	Come, my brother, come my sister
331	Turn to me with all your heart
397	Before I take the body of my Lord (These I lay down)
398	May the Holy Ghost lead you to repent (A child of God)
446	Mercy
TIS
136	There's a wideness in God's mercy
472	Father of mercy, God of consolation

Second reading: Romans 13:8-14
LHS
1	Hark, a herald voice is calling* G7
203	Through the night of doubt and sorrow* G9
205	Soldiers of Christ, arise G5 (first tune)
225	Soldiers of the cross, arise
239	Son of God, eternal Saviour G4
327	Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness* G3
380	O God of mercy, God of might G9
381	O God our Father, throned on high (alt tune 391, G9)
487	Wake, awake, for night is flying* G6
853	A new commandment I give unto you GS
855	Brother, let me be your servant GS
859	Seek, O seek the Lord
AT
65	A new commandment 
177	Love one another
191	Brother, let me be your servant
301	May the Father of love
373	Bound by love
491	You call me to love
506	Oh, let's get up to love and serve
TIS
258	Praise to you, O Christ our Saviour
264	Hark! a herald voice is calling
266	Wake, awake, for night is flying
416	Great God, your Spirit
464	Seek, O seek the Lord, while he is near
534	Love is his word, love is his way
570	Soldiers of Christ, arise
606	Son of God, eternal Saviour
630	The law of Christ alone can make us free
650	Brother, sister, let me serve you
699	A new commandment I give unto you

Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20
LHS
246	Father, be Thy blessing shed* G8
269	Speak forth Thy word, O Father G4
270	The law of God is good and wise G3
271	The gospel shows the Father’s grace G5
504	To Thy temple I repair G5
505	Father, who the light this day G4
506	Jesus, where'er Thy people meet G5
797	Blest be the tie that binds GS
800	May we be one GS
802	One family, we’re together GS
803	Peace with the Father G7
AT
31	Freely, freely
62	One family
172	May we be one
313	Christ, be our light
488	Open our eyes
TIS
285	Your coming, Lord, to earth
445	Jesus, where’er your people meet
466	Peace with the Father
477	Jesus calls us here to meet him
635	'Forgive our sins as we forgive'
648	Help us accept each other

PSALM 149 
For musical settings of Psalm 149, see Music Packages 3 and 9. TIS 95, Sing a new song to the Lord, is a version of Psalm 149:1-5.

The following paraphrase of Psalm 149 by David Schütz may be sung to the tune Alles ist an Gottes Segen (LH 283, TIS 556). If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Schütz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

Alleluia! Sing a new song
to the Lord, our King and Maker,
with his people gathered here!
Let the children of Jerus'lem
praise his name with dance and music,
and with tambourine and lyre.

God takes pleasure in his people,
and the Lord adorns the humble
with the crown of victory.
Let the faithful rise in triumph,
sing for joy at night and always
praise our God continually.

So, with swords of prayer and praises,
bring God's justice to the nations,
bring his judgment on the world!
To bind kings in chains of iron,
and bring prisoners into freedom,
is our glory! Praise the Lord!

PSALM 119:33-40
For musical settings of Psalm 119:33-40, see Music Packages 6 and 10.

NOTES ON THE READINGS

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

EXODUS 12:1-14: The Passover was an annual festival for family observance to remember the deliverance God brought about for his people enslaved in Egypt. The blood of the lamb sprinkled on door lintels saved the readied and believing people from death visited upon every Egyptian family. The angel of death 'passed over' these homes. The punishment of God upon the Egyptians enabled the Hebrews at last to leave. The strict observance of detail in preparation and partaking signified God's complete commitment and the peoples' reception of life and liberty solely from his hands in sincere repentance. The Passover continued annually to remind Jewish families of their need for deliverance from sin through the substitutionary blood of the lamb.

EZEKIEL 33:7-11: God's prophets held an awesome responsibility. How could the people of Israel know that their sin had separated them from God if they were not told? Hence Ezekiel's answerability to God's command, with his own life in God's kingdom at stake, if he didn't tell the unpopular truth. If the people rejected the call to repentance after Ezekiel's faithful preaching, though, they would be cut off from the kingdom by their own fault. The passage vividly shows God's grief over the loss of souls and his prime wish to save. An eternity cut off from God tragically thwarts his central wish.

ROMANS 13:8-14: 'Don't let us get too religious', is a commonly heard cry. Why? We might put people off! God sees his own commandments as an expression of perfect love. We are called to live the commandments in every moment of our lives. Live them perfectly and you will love perfectly. The works of darkness shut us off from God's light. Self-gratification chokes spiritual life. Therefore put on the Lord Jesus Christ.

MATTHEW 18:15-20: The church is a saved band of believers who support and help each other also to reach eternal life. Therefore sin in a fellow believer becomes a deep concern within the body. Our Lord puts forward the strategy we are to use to build each other up when sin threatens an individual. Christ says to speak with your brother/sister alone in order to gain him/her. If that fails, others are to help. If that in turn fails, the congregation is to act. The three steps described are meant to promote, express and achieve the unity of the body of believers. Forgiveness declared by the church or by a believer is the power of opening heaven's door (vv 18,19). Rejection of such spiritual approach and care closes it.

VISUAL

VISUALS FOR THE READINGS
Pictures or visual symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings.

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. 

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 currently available for the Revised Common Lectionary.

This week's story is 'David's sin, God's forgiveness (2 Sam 11:1 - 24:14)'. Material for this story may be found in 
Original Edition, Year C, Semester 2, 20 Pentecost
OR
Revised RCL Edition, Year A, Semester 2, Proper 18