16th Sunday after Pentecost – The Peanut Gallery

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening Prayer:

O God of justice, hear our cry and save us. Make us heed your word to the prophets; rouse us to the demand of the gospel and impel us to carry it out. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 146:1-6 – Free Church of Scotland
Hamilton Scottish Metrical Psalter 1650

Praise God. The Lord praise, O my soul.
I’ll praise God while I live;
While I have being to my God
in songs I’ll praises give.

Trust not in princes, nor man’s son,
in whom there is no stay:
His breath departs, to’s earth he turns;
that day his thoughts decay.

O happy is that man and blest,
whom Jacob’s God doth aid;
Whose hope upon the Lord doth rest,
and on his God is stayed:

Who made the earth and heavens high,
who made the swelling deep,
And all that is within the same;
who truth doth ever keep:
__________

Gospel Reading: Luke 16:19-31 (NLT)

Luke 16:19-31 New Living Translation (NLT)

Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.

“Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet. The rich man also died and was buried, and he went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.

“The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’

“But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’

“Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’

“But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’

“The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’

“But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”

__________

“Poor Man Lazarus” – The Georgia Spiritual Ensemble ·

__________

Intercession:

Merciful and gracious God: You welcome our prayers and attend especially to the cries of the poor. Hear us now as we pray –

+ For world leaders and those in authority, that they may govern with wisdom and compassion as those who are accountable to You….

+ For our brothers and sisters in Christ who are persecuted for their faith. that they may be delivered from injustice and be restored to their families and communities…..

+ For all those who are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness,or any other adversity, that Your people may gladly provide help. healing and hope in Your name….

+ For believers who are rich in this world, that we trust in You and use our money to do good….

+ For all believers that we be generous to those in need and always ready to share what we have….

God of grace and mercy, You are just to both rich and poor hear our prayers, we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.
__________

(We Will Feast in the house of Zion) – Sandra McCracken –

We will feast in the house of Zion
We will sing with our hearts restored
He has done great things, we will say together
We will feast and weep no more

We will not be burned by the fire
He is the LORD our God
We are not consumed, by the flame
Upheld, protected, gathered up

We will feast in the house of Zion
We will sing with our hearts restored
He has done great things, we will say together
We will feast and weep no more

In the dark of night, before the dawn
My soul, be not afraid
For the promised morning, oh how long?
Oh God of Jacob, be my strength

We will feast in the house of Zion
We will sing with our hearts restored
He has done great things, we will say together
We will feast and weep no more

Every vow we’ve broken and betrayed
You are the Faithful one
And from the garden to the grave
Bind us together, bring shalom

We will feast in the house of Zion
We will sing with our hearts restored
He has done great things, we will say together
We will feast and weep no more

Closing: – 1 Timothy 6:17-19

Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.

Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.
__________

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

16th Sunday after Pentecost

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Prayer

God most high, your ways are not our ways, for your kindness is lavished equally upon all. Teach us to welcome your mercy toward others, even as we hope to receive mercy ourselves. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
__________

“Sing to the King” – AGCChurch

__________

Reading: Matthew 20:1-16 (NLT)

Parable of the Vineyard Workers

“For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work.

“At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing.

“At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’

“They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’

“The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’

“That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage. When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’

“He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’

“So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”
__________

Intercessory Prayer

Sovereign Lord: You are close to all who call on you, to all who seek your mercy and grace. Hear us now, as we pray –

+ For every follower of Jesus, that we may appreciate your goodness and generosity…. Lord, hear us.
+ For every tribe and nation on earth, that our leaders may deal with each other peacefully…. Lord, hear us.
+ For our communities, that we may be as generous to others as you are with us…. Lord, hear us.
+ For workers and those who employ others, that the rights of all may be respected…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those who cannot find work, that their needs may not be forgotten…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all of our family members, that we may deal with each other with patience and forbearance…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those who gone before us in faith, that the Lord’s generosity may assure us of their place in the kingdom…. Lord, hear us.

God of kindness and compassion: You are close to all who call upon you; hear our prayers, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
__________

“May The Presence of the Lord Go With You” – Praise And Harmony Singers