WE GATHER BEFORE GOD (Psalm 139:1-6)
Lord God, you know me through and through;
you know my sitting down, and my getting up.
You sense what I am thinking from far away;
you understand my journeying and my resting.
In fact, you are familiar with the way I do everything;
even before I speak, you know what's on my mind.
You are in my past, and in my future,
you surround me with your love 
and your reassuring hand is upon me.
This wonderful knowledge is beyond my understanding;
it surpasses everything, and is beyond my grasp.

PRAYER OF ADORATION AND THANKSGIVING (Ps.139:1-6)
Lord God, you know me through and through;
you know my sitting down, and my getting up.
You sense what I am thinking from far away;
you understand my journeying and my resting.
In fact, you are familiar with the way I do everything;
even before I speak, you know what's on my mind.
You are in my past, and in my future,
you surround me with your love 
and your reassuring hand is upon me.
This wonderful knowledge is beyond my understanding;
it surpasses everything, and is beyond my grasp.

For the stories we share, for our life together,
and for the breathe of your Spirit among us, 
we thank you,
O LORD, our God.   Amen 

PRAYER OF APPROACH (including Ps.139:13-18)
Ever present God of grace,
by your Spirit you gather us to worship you;
you who formed my very consciousness,
and wove me together in my mother's womb
you who are so awesomely wonderful
you whose creativity is so marvellous.
Lord God, you know me through and through;
even my bones, being formed in secret,
in the depths of the earth, were not hidden from you.
Your eyes saw my embryo
and in your book are all written down 
days that were planned before any of them occurred.
Your thoughts of me, Lord God, are difficult to comprehend
and far beyond counting
If I tried to count them, they would be more than grains of sand
and if I came to the end, I would not have summed you up.
Engage us by your word and change us:
open our ears to hear you
open our eyes to see what we might become
open our hearts to follow in the way
you have shown to the world in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Looking for contemporary music and song resources? Try David MacGregor's Together to Celebrate
Or metrical psalms? Try Dale A. Schoening's Sing the Psalms

HYMN SUGGESTIONS FOR SUNDAY 23 - YEAR C
Be thou my vision	TIS 547	AHB 455
God, who stretched the spangled heavens	TIS 163	AHB 112
Lord in the strength of grace	TIS 483	AHB 408
Safe in the shadow of the Lord	TIS 644	SA 74
Sing, all creation, sing to God in gladness	TIS 61	AHB 111
Spirit of truth, essential God	TIS 426	AHB 332
Stand up and bless the Lord	TIS 449	AHB 383
What shall I do my God to love,	TIS 122	AHB 50
When Christ was lifted from the earth	TIS 248	SA 93
You are before me, Lord, you are behind	TIS 87	SA 97
Your hand O God has guided	TIS 456	AHB 389
JEREMIAH 18:1-11
God of Jeremiah, grieving	TIS 679
The church's one foundation	TIS 457	AHB 385
We are your people, Spirit of grace	TIS 468	SA 90
PSALM 139:1-6, 13-18
Forth in thy name O Lord I go	TIS 571	AHB 480
I am alone, yet not alone	TIS 605
I'll praise my maker while I've breath	TIS 90	AHB 44
Lord of creation to you be all praise	TIS 626	AHB 557
O love that wilt not let me go	TIS 602	AHB 525
One God, one living God	TIS 742
You are before me, Lord, you are behind	TIS 87	SA 97
PHILEMON 1-21
Brother, sister, let me serve you	TIS 650	SA 14
Help us accept each other	TIS 648
Joyful, joyful, we adore you	TIS 152
Our God our help in ages past	TIS 47	AHB 46
Where there is charity and love	TIS 434	AHB 591
LUKE 14:25-33
God, you touch the earth with beauty	TIS 610
Let him to whom we now belong	TIS 563	AHB 146
Take up your cross, the Saviour said	TIS 583	AHB 496