PSALM 80:1-2,7-19
Shepherd of your flock, hear us;
you who are seated in majesty, let your glory shine.
When the time was ready you nurtured a new vine;
quickly it took root, it grew and spread.
It covered the land and crossed many rivers
even the sea could not stop it .
But now it is open to assault;
outsiders pick its fruit,
like wild animals the world tramples on it;
its fruitfulness and vigour are gone.
LORD God, sovereign of all that is, come close to us ;
see what has happened to your vine.
See how it perishes,
how it is being persecuted, even burned.
Protect your faithful one
the one whom you made strong for your service
Strengthen our desire to be faithful;
save us so that we may shout your praises.
O LORD, God of hosts, revive us;
and by your presence save us
"Fire" and "baptism" are two words that leap from the page, and it struck me that these speak of Pentecost and of the baptism of which Jesus spoke, namely the cross. In the worship space set up either (a) a large, free-standing cross surrounded at its base by tall "flames" of cellophane or similar material, or (b) a fix a large poster of a cross to a wall and attach "flames" to its base. It's true that the fire of the Spirit in people's lives caused, and still causes, them to take up their cross daily. It also caused, and still causes, conflict and division in families. The image of the flames at the base of the cross also reminds us of those who were burned for their faith.
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the Psalms
| HYMN SUGGESTIONS FOR SUNDAY 20
- YEAR C |
||
| A man there lived in Galilee | TIS 235 | AHB 176 |
| Be still, my soul: the Lord is on your side; | TIS 123 | AHB 48 |
| For all the saints | TIS 455 | AHB 384 |
| God has spoken by his prophets | TIS 158 | AHB 92 |
| I danced in the morning when the world was be | TIS 242 | AHB 183 |
| This, this is the God we adore | TIS 220 | AHB 153 |
| ISAIAH 5:1-7 |
||
| Awake, my soul, and with the sun | TIS 557 | AHB 469 |
| Father, we give you thanks, who planted | TIS 495 | AHB 416 |
| O God of every nation | TIS 621 | |
| PSALM 80:1-2, 8-19 |
||
| I will call upon the Lord | TIS 635 | |
| My heart is full of Christ, and longs | TIS 214 | AHB 143 |
| O come! O come, Emmanuel | TIS 265 | AHB 193 |
| O shepherd of Israel, hear us | TIS 42 | |
| HEBREWS 11:29-12:2 |
||
| At the dawning of salvation | TIS 392 | SA 9 |
| Author of faith, eternal word | TIS 565 | AHB 473 |
| Blessed be the everlasting God, | TIS 114 | AHB 34 |
| Give me the wings of faith to rise | TIS 438 | AHB 360 |
| How firm a foundation, you people of God | TIS 578 | AHB 491 |
| I bind unto myself this day | TIS 478 | AHB 454 |
| I want to walk as a child of the light | TIS 643 | |
| Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us | TIS 580 | AHB 492 |
| Now we come, our heavenly Father | TIS 462 | |
| O come! O come, Emmanuel | TIS 265 | AHB 193 |
| Rejoice in God's saints, today and all days | TIS 470 | SA 73 |
| With joy we meditate the grace | TIS 206 | AHB 134 |
| |
||
| LUKE 12:49-56 |
||
| Christ is alive! Let Christians sing | TIS 387 | SA 18 |
| Christ, when for us you were baptised | TIS 250 | SA 20 |
| Forgive our sins as we forgive | TIS 635 | AHB 564 |
| Hark! a herald voice is calling | TIS 264 | AHB 192 |
| Lord, keep us steadfast in your word | TIS 436 | |