The Sunday Lectionary and Prayers for Sunday, August 13, 2023—Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

 

The Sunday Lectionary and Prayers
Sunday, August 13, 2023
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
[Ordinary 19, Proper 14]
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)
(Semi-continuous Reading Plan)

The Word is Near You
Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28; Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b;
Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-33

Miracles Worship Intro

Opening Statement

Anxiety is an increasingly prevalent part of life in the world today. What was experienced by the disciples in the wind and the waves and the dark of night resonates with our experience of anxiety in a world tossed by threats of climate change, upheaval, and pandemic. The pit into which Joseph was pushed is another powerful metaphor for the dark places of life, which often manifest as mental illness. Worship is a wonderful space to hear the words of Jesus: “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27 NRSV). In prayer, we can receive these words deep in our souls.

Opening Prayer
(Genesis 37, Psalm 105, Romans 10:15 NRSV, Matthew 14)

Eternal God, in visions and dreams, you offer us hope for a new tomorrow. Amidst life’s storms and raging waters, be with us in our time of need. Reveal to us the great works we are capable of, that we may rise above our narrow purposes, and be of service to the world. Bless our journeys, that it may be said of us: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Call to Confession
(Genesis 37)

We hear this morning the dramatic story of Joseph being thrown into a pit and then sold into slavery by his brothers. We too have known what it is to be betrayed. We too have known the feel of a pit, of being trapped and afraid. We too have been pulled in directions we do not wish to go. As we hear Joseph’s story this morning, we honor our own stories of pain and grief. Let us pray.

Lord of all our journeys, like Joseph’s brothers, we too find expedient ways to get rid of our problems; we too have cracks in our own families that deepen with every unkind word and the rejection of those we should love. God of hope, like Joseph, we too can find ourselves victims of violence, trapped in the dark, dragged against our will; we too can feel abandoned by those who should love us. In this quiet space of worship, we gather up every thread of pain and lay them in your warm embrace, placing our trust in you alone.

(Pause for a moment of silence)

We are your family. We belong to you. Wash us in your forgiveness and your strength and hold us in your love. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon
(Romans 10, Matthew 14)

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Everyone who risks the uncertain walk of faith receives aid from the one who calms the waters.

Today’s Verse-of-the-Day:

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

No one understands you better than God—He knows you far more profoundly than you can even know yourself. In fact, the Lord knows what you were created to be and all the great things He could accomplish through you if you were to surrender yourself to Him. He has designed you for a specific, fulfilling purpose, but you cannot find it or achieve it on your own. Rather, it is only by abiding in Him that it will come to fruition in your life.

Today’s Lectionary Readings:
First Reading

Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
Joseph sold by his brothers

Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan.

This is the account of Jacob’s family line.

Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.

Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

Now his brothers had gone to graze their father’s flocks near Shechem, and Israel said to Joseph, “As you know, your brothers are grazing the flocks near Shechem. Come, I am going to send you to them.”

“Very well,” he replied.

So he said to him, “Go and see if all is well with your brothers and with the flocks, and bring word back to me.” Then he sent him off from the Valley of Hebron.

When Joseph arrived at Shechem, a man found him wandering around in the fields and asked him, “What are you looking for?”

He replied, “I’m looking for my brothers. Can you tell me where they are grazing their flocks?”

“They have moved on from here,” the man answered. “I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’”

So Joseph went after his brothers and found them near Dothan. But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him.

“Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”

When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said. “Don’t shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father.

So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe he was wearing— and they took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it.

As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt.

Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.

So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.

A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b
Remembering Joseph
Confitemini Domino

Give thanks to the LORD and call upon his Name; *
  make known his deeds among the peoples.

Sing to him, sing praises to him, *
  and speak of all his marvelous works.

Glory in his holy Name; *
  let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

Search for the LORD and his strength; *
  continually seek his face.

Remember the marvels he has done, *
  his wonders and the judgments of his mouth,

O offspring of Abraham his servant, *
  O children of Jacob his chosen.

Then he called for a famine in the land *
  and destroyed the supply of bread.

He sent a man before them, *
  Joseph, who was sold as a slave.

They bruised his feet in fetters; *
  his neck they put in an iron collar.

Until his prediction came to pass, *
  the word of the LORD tested him.

The king sent and released him; *
  the ruler of the peoples set him free.

He set him as a master over his household, *
  as a ruler over all his possessions,

To instruct his princes according to his will *
  and to teach his elders wisdom.
    Hallelujah!

Lord our God, you are our strength and shield. Our hearts hope in you and we are helped. Accept us from among all the nations as a people who want to serve you. Strengthen our hearts, especially when we must be tested in every way and must face the many hardships that will come when we take up our task of proclaiming your name and witnessing to you. For you are strong and can protect us. You can fill us with light and with joy to proclaim again and again the salvation that is coming through your all-powerful goodness and mercy, salvation in Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

Second Reading
From the Epistles

Romans 10:5-15
The word of faith

Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.” But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Today’s Gospel Reading

Matthew 14:22-33
Jesus walking on the sea

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Here end the Readings

Click HERE to read today’s Holy Gospel Lesson message

The Nicene Creed

The Nicene Creed

• We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

• And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made; of the same essence as the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and was made human. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried. The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom will never end.

• And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life. He proceeds from the Father and the Son, and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified. He spoke through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and to life in the world to come. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

The Lord's Prayer - Our Father Who Art in Heaven

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Holy Communion

Holy Communion
A nondenominational serving of bread and wine

Though no video can truly replace the experience of celebrating together in our places of worship, we know that where two or more are gathered, the Lord is present. This table is open to all who recognize Jesus Christ as healer and redeemer. This table is open to all who work to bring God’s Kingdom here on earth. No one is turned away because of life circumstances. No one is barred from this table. No one seeking God’s abundant grace and mercy is turned aside. We see before us the abundance that a life of faith offers as we respond to God’s everlasting mercy in prayer and deed.

Benediction
(Genesis 37, Matthew 14)

May the God of the journey walk with you—in and out of pits, and in and out of storms. May our Creator God continue to form you and bless you. May the God of grace encourage you, this day, and every day, and beyond our days. Amen.

May the Lord Bless You and Keep You

Optional parts of the readings are set off in [square brackets].

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel lessons are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Responsive Readings from the Common Book of Prayer (1789).

The Daily Lectionary is a three year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year A. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2023, we will be in Year B. The year which ended at Advent 2022 was Year A. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest on what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
The Sunday Lectionary and Prayers for Sunday, August 13, 2023
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28; Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b;
Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-33
Anxiety is an increasingly prevalent part of life in the world today. What was experienced by the disciples in the wind and the waves and the dark of night resonates with our experience of anxiety in a world tossed by threats of climate change, upheaval, and pandemic. The pit into which Joseph was pushed is another powerful metaphor for the dark places of life, which often manifest as mental illness. Worship is a wonderful space to hear the words of Jesus: “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27 NRSV). In prayer, we can receive these words deep in our souls.