Sunday BETWEEN 3 and 9 JULY (Proper 9), year A

2020 - 05 July (5th Sunday after Pentecost)
2023 - 09 July (6th Sunday after Pentecost)
2026 - 05 July (6th Sunday after Pentecost)
2029 - 08 July (7th Sunday after Pentecost)
2032 - 04 July (7th Sunday after Pentecost)
2035 - 08 July (8th Sunday after Pentecost)
2038 - 04 July (3rd 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.

Jesus says: ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, 
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; 
for I am gentle and humble in heart, 
and you will find rest for your souls.'  (Matt 11:28,29 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
Lord of all power and might, 
the author and giver of all good things: 
Graft in our hearts the love of your name, 
and increase our devotion; 
nourish us with all goodness, 
and by your mercy 
preserve in us what you have nourished; 
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 God, 
the author and giver of all good things, 
graft in our hearts a love for your name. 
Nourish in us what is good, 
and preserve in us what you have nourished. 
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 strength in weakness. [silence])
Almighty and merciful God, 
your Son revealed the wonder of your saving love 
in signs and miracles. 
Renew your people by your loving kindness, 
and sustain us in all our weakness 
by your mighty power. 
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 gentleness. [silence])
Thank you, Jesus, our gentle king, 
that you became a servant to all,
and gave up your life for us. 
As your followers, 
make us humble, so that, like you, 
we serve others. 
For you live and reign 
with the Father 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
Genesis 24:34-38,42-49,58-67 Abraham's servant finds a wife for Isaac
(Begin: 'Laban's guest said: "I am Abraham's servant . . . " ')
Psalm 45:10-17
Antiphon:
The peoples will praise you forever and ever.  (Ps 45:17b NRSV)
or
Song of Solomon 2:8-13
Antiphon:
Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.  (Song 2:10b NRSV)

OR, 1b
Zechariah 9:9-12 The humble king
Psalm 145:8-14
Antiphon:
I will extol you, my God and King  (Ps 145:1a NRSV)

SECOND READING
Romans 7:15-25a The struggle of the sinner-saint

ALLELUIA VERSE(Matt 11:25 NRSV)
Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus said, 'I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants.'
Alleluia.

GOSPEL
Matthew 11:16-19,25-30 Jesus reveals the Father, and the weary find rest in him
(Begin: 'Jesus said to the crowds:')

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL
This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Lord Jesus, thank you for revealing the Father. 
Help us to take your yoke 
and find rest in you. 
Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER
Thank you, Lord, for coming to us as a gentle king 
and bringing us victory over sin and death. 
Make us more and more like you, 
humble and gentle and serving others. 
Amen.

Prayer of the Church
Call to prayer
Christ invites us to come to him with all our burdens, so that he can give us rest. Trusting in his promise, let us pray with confidence to his Father and our Father.

The regular response, OR:
Lord, we come to you,
that we may find our rest.

Suggested intercessions
*	for the church, that it may be a resting place for the weary and the heavy laden
*	for schools and other places of learning, especially schools in the area
*	for agriculture, fishing and forestry
*	for those who are starving, malnourished and in poverty, both overseas and in Australia.

Concluding prayer
We trust in your mercy, Lord, and put all our concerns into your hands. We pray through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and 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.

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, 
your Son has revealed 
the wonder of your saving love 
in this sacrament. 
Renew your people by your loving kindness, 
and sustain us in all our weakness 
by your mighty power. 
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. Be humble in spirit, and take the yoke of the Lord.
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): Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67
LHS
579	Where’er I go, whate’er my task* G6
587	O happy home, where Thou art loved the dearest G7
588	O blest the house, whate’er befall* G6
589	O blessed home where man and wife G3
800	May we be one GS
892	Hear us now, our God and Father G3
AT
172	May we be one
280	Make us a family
320	I was there to hear your borning cry
403	God of Abraham (selected verses)
TIS
553	In all my ways, in every task
581	Happy the home that welcomes you, Lord Jesus
654	When love is found and hope comes home
664	Your love, O God, has called us here

First reading (b): Zechariah 9:9-12
LHS
5	O bride of Christ, rejoice* G4
9	Hark the glad sound! G6
11	The advent of our King G4
115	Rejoice, the Lord is King! 
733	Daughter of Zion G6
AT
220	There’ll be peace
328	Tell the city
355	Freedom is coming
434	Sing out with joy, he is coming
TIS
216	Rejoice, the Lord is King
269	Hark the glad sound
271	The advent of our God
336	O bride of Christ, rejoice
621	O God of every nation

Second reading: Romans 7:15-25a
LHS
125	Come, gracious Spirit, heavenly dove G5
141	Father of heaven, whose love profound G5
177	O my Saviour, lifted G5
309	Ah, Lord and God G5
312	In Thee alone, O Christ, my Lord
345	O that the Lord would guide my ways* G6
355	May we Thy precepts, Lord, fulfil* G3
399	In Thee, Lord, have I put my trust G7
525	Awake, my soul, and with the sun G9
AT
96	Don’t give up
171	Dying you destroyed our death
200	One more step
215	My hiding place
219	Then I will praise you
251	God sends us his Spirit
345	Nothing but the blood
349	There is a redeemer
TIS
131	Father of heaven, whose love profound
402	Come, gracious Spirit, heavenly dove
557	Awake, my soul, and with the sun
600	O my Saviour, lifted

Gospel: Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
LHS
217	O Christ, our true and only light* G5
219	Jesus shall reign where’er the sun G3
306	I heard the voice of Jesus say G7
308	Come unto Me, ye weary* G6
335	Just as I am G9
346	Forth in Thy name, O Lord, I go G5
426	What a friend we have in Jesus (G, STJ 26)
513	Peace to soothe all grief and woe G5
781	As water to the thirsty
AT
137	I heard the voice of Jesus say
230	Christ the worker
243	Wander in the sun
277	Like a wedding feast
284	Part of the family
TIS
178	Praise the God who changes places
183	Sing of the Lord’s goodness
207	Jesus shall reign where'er the sun
472	Father of mercy, God of consolation
563	Let him to whom we now belong
571	Forth in your name, O Lord, I go
584	Just as I am, without one plea
585	I heard the voice of Jesus say
590	What a friend we have in Jesus
600	O my Saviour, lifted
614	O God of love, whose heart is ever yearning

PSALM 45:10-17
For musical settings of Psalm 45:10-17, see Music Package 3.

PSALM 145:8-14
For musical settings of Psalm 145:8-14, see Music Package 10.

TIS 89, O Lord, you are my God and King, is a metrical paraphrase of Psalm 145:1-7,9-12. The following paraphrase of Psalm 145:8-14, by David Schütz, may be sung to the tune of 'Sent by the Lord am I' (ATO 412), or to Quam dilecta (LH 503) or St Cecilia (LH 416). If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Schütz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm. 

How gracious is the Lord;
the Lord is merciful.
He's slow to show his wrath,
abounds in steadfast love.

The Lord is good to all,
compassionate and kind.
Now all your works give thanks,
your faithful bless your name.

The whole world shall be told;
your kingdom be made known.
Your glory and your power,
from age to age endures.

He's faithful in his words,
and gracious in his deeds.
He lifts up those who fall,
he holds up those weighed down.

NOTES ON THE READINGS

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

GENESIS 24:34-38,42-49,58-67: This charming but lengthy account complements the intricate weaving together of events leading up to the birth of Isaac. The promise to Abraham of descendants occupying the land of Canaan prevented Isaac leaving himself, yet marriage to a godly wife required a return to Haran (Abraham's place of origin). A marriage from among the Canaanites would mean a future generation's confusion of loyalty to God, not to mention interference with God's long-term plans against the Canaanites. Hence the importance of the servant's mission. This reading serves to illustrate that God guides through signs and minor miracles involving even the smaller details of life. It also reminds us that a godly marriage highly enhances a true loving marriage relationship. 

ZECHARIAH 9:9-12: Zechariah is speaking to people in exile whom God is promising soon to restore to their homeland, the old promised land of Israel. Zechariah's prophecy in today's reading predicts security and peace through rule on their return, but looks further to a future King as an absolute ideal ruler. He is a figure who has suffered but comes in triumph and victory. Although without obvious outward resources of power, he will establish peace, not only in respect to the split kingdoms of the northern Israel (Ephraim) and the southern Judah (Jerusalem), but will bring about a universal peace through the earth. Instruments of war will not exist in this messianic kingdom. The reason for the Lord's promise of freedom for his people lies in his own faithfulness to the ancient covenant he made with their forebears.

ROMANS 7:15-25a: The fact that Paul doesn't want to do the things which are wrong shows that he agrees that God's law is right, even though he fails to obey it. This demonstrates that in his innermost soul he is still motivated and controlled by his own inborn sinfulness. Even his honest desire to do what he knows to be right is thwarted because of this. On the one hand he delights in God's law, but at the same time this propensity to evil leads him into wretched misery. Rescue from this contradictory spiritual upheaval can only come from Christ. For this he gives thanks.

MATTHEW 11:16-19,25-30: By 'this generation' Jesus is referring to people generally the world over at all times. Many people want the word of God personally to please them and to fit into their own expectations. The word of God is wisdom which permeates the deeds of those who receive it aright (vv 16-19). God's word reveals his will to those who like children accept and trust it for what it is. The word of the Father is revealed explicitly by Jesus as the Son of the Father. Therefore those heavily laden under the burden of sin can come to him to find satisfying rest.

VISUAL

VISUALS FOR THE READINGS
Pictures or visual symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. For instance, the alternative first reading (1b) from Zechariah could be illustrated by a picture of a king riding a donkey, such as the one in the TEV Bible for Zechariah 9:9

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 'Samson (Judges 13-16)'. Material for this story may be found in 
Original Edition, Year B, Semester 2, 17 Pentecost
OR
Revised RCL Edition, Year A, Semester 2, Proper 9
.