Sunday BETWEEN 24 and 28 may
(if after Trinity) (Proper 3), year A

2020 -
2023 - 
2026 - 
2029 - 
2032 - 
2035 - 27 May (2nd Sunday after Pentecost)
2038 - 

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.

Look at the birds of the air;
they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  (Matt 6:26 NRSV)

OR
Can a woman forget her nursing child,
or show no compassion for the child of her womb?
Even these may forget,
yet I will not forget you.  (Isa 49:15 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
O Lord, 
as you have set us free from the chains of sin, 
mercifully hear our prayers, 
and defend us from all evil; 
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, you have set us free 
from the chains of sin. 
In mercy listen to our prayers, 
and guard us 
against all the evil we face. 
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 (revised alternative)
(Let us pray that we live according to our faith. [silence])
Almighty and everliving God, 
we thank you for loving us and making us yours 
through your Son. 
Teach us to live as your people, 
and to show in our deeds 
what we profess by our faith. 
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
Isaiah 49:8-16a God affirms his eternal love for Israel

PSALM
Psalm 131
Antiphon: 
O Israel, hope in the Lord.  (Ps 131:3a NRSV)

SECOND READING
1 Corinthians 4:1-5 Stewards of God's mysteries

ALLELUIA VERSE (Matt 6:33 NRSV)
Alleluia, alleluia.
(Jesus said:) Strive first for the kingdom of God
and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL
Matthew 6:24-34 The heavenly Father's care
(Begin: 'Jesus said:')

Prayer after the gospel
This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for caring for us. 
Teach us not to worry, 
but help us to serve and trust in you alone. 
Amen.

Offering prayer
Thank you, heavenly Father, 
for caring for us and all our needs. 
Teach us to put you first in our lives, 
and to serve you by giving of ourselves 
and showing your love to others. 
Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Call to prayer
Jesus says: 'Do not worry. Your heavenly Father knows what you need'. So let us commit our needs and the needs of all people to his loving care.

Response
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

Suggested intercessions
*	for the church, that it would trust in God's guidance and protection
*	for all pastors and church workers, that God would bless their work and keep them from worry
*	for those in government and positions of leadership, that they would trust in God and seek to serve him, not power or wealth
*	for all in need, that they would trust in God and that God would show his care and help to them.

Concluding prayer
Merciful Lord, teach us to strive first for your kingdom and your righteousness and to trust that you will give us all that we need as well. We ask this 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.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
If it has not been used already, the third prayer under 'Prayer of the day' above may be modified as follows and used as a post-communion prayer.

Almighty and everliving God, 
we thank you for loving us and making us yours 
through your Son. 
As we have received his body and blood, 
help us to live as your people, 
and to show in our deeds 
what we profess by our faith. 
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. Your heavenly Father cares for you.
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: Isaiah 49:8-16a
LHS
8	Rise, children of the kingdom* (alt tune 107, G4)
9	Hark the glad sound! the Saviour comes G6
16	Hail to the Lord's Anointed G6
232	Rise, Thou light of gentile nations (vv 1,2,3) G4
440	Sing praise to God who reigns above (esp v 4) G3
458	Praise the Lord! ye heavens, adore Him G7
732	Comfort, comfort all my people
AT
25	Comfort, comfort
152	I have made a covenant
422	Canticle of Daniel
426	Great in power
448	Loving Spirit
480	On the day I called
TIS
93	Praise the Lord, you heavens adore him
110	Sing praise to God who reigns above
184	When trouble strikes and fear takes root
269	Hark the glad sound
275	Hail to the Lord's anointed
647	Comfort, comfort all my people

Second reading: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
LHS
194	Thy hand, O God, has guided (vv 3,4) G3
222	Thou whose almighty word G6
232	Rise, Thou light of gentile nations (vv 4,5)* G4
340	Be thou faithful unto death* G8
855	Brother, let me be your servant GS
AT
191	Brother, let me be your servant 
310	Yesu, Yesu
482	His love within the world
TIS
447	Lord, your almighty word
456	Your hand, O God, has guided
468	We are your people
640	Kneels at the feet of his friends
650	Brother, sister, let me serve you

Gospel: Matthew 6:24-34
LHS 
From the sections 'Trust', and especially:
387	The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want*
388	All depends on our possessing* G3
407	If thou but suffer God to guide thee* G6
443	Through all the changing scenes of life G7
598	I sing the almighty power of God G5
AT
34	Seek ye first the kingdom of God
384	If we will trust in God to guide us
TIS
10	The Lord's my shepherd
112	Through all the changing scenes of life
119	I sing the almighty power of God
128	Sometimes a light surprises
554	If we will trust in God to guide us
556	All depends on our possessing
745 	Seek ye first the kingdom of God

PSALM 131
For musical settings of Psalm 131, see Music Package 10 and TIS 82, O Lord, my heart is not proud.

NOTES ON THE READINGS

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

ISAIAH 49:8-16: The Lord gives the word of a future salvation to his people. Not only captives in Babylon will be brought back to Jerusalem by miraculous facilitating of the return by the miraculous hand of the Lord, but people of God from all directions and distance places. The time of heavenly joy, however, is contrasted by the depression of Jerusalem, bereft like a forsaken mother of its children. God gives the comforting assurance that he is like a mother who can never forget the child to which she has given birth. He has inscribed them on his own hands.

1 CORINTHIANS 4:1-5: Paul answers the implied criticisms of party-prone Corinthian members who had divided into factions favouring one of their previous pastors above the others. To start with, all the ministers were equally stewards called by God to make clear his mysteries. Therefore people do not have the full knowledge to equip them to pass judgment in this sphere. Paul himself cannot even let his own conscience pass judgment on himself, as it lacks all the facts. The judgment of God alone is pertinent, and that cannot be known until the great day of judgment. Commendation accordingly should be left to him.

MATTHEW 6:24-34: It is not possible to serve two masters with complete loyalty, devotion and duty, and personal effectiveness. One either serves God or serves money. The latter can lead one only to worry and spiritual ruin, drowned in material froth and bubble. When the kingdom of God and his righteousness is given its rightful place in one's faith and life, the Lord promises that the necessities of life will be provided additionally. Therefore the disciple is not to permit worry and anxiety to take first place over trust in the Lord's promises of sure provision of one day at a time.

VISUAL

VISUALS FOR THE READINGS
Pictures or visual symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. For instance, the first reading could be illustrated by a picture of sheep safely grazing and/or a highway across mountains; and the gospel by a picture like the one in the TEV Bible for Matthew 6:26.

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

TaLKING WITH THE Children
Talk about how God looks after us - like Mum and Dad.

'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.