The Sunday Lectionary and Prayers for Sunday, September 3, 2023—Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

 

The Sunday Lectionary and Prayers
Sunday, September 3, 2023
Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
[Ordinary 22, Proper 17]
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)
  (Semi-continuous Reading Plan)

Standing on Holy Ground
Exodus 3:1-15; Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45b;
Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-28

Opening Statement

Knowing when to turn aside makes all the difference in the world. Moses sees a burning bush and turns aside to see what is afoot. Only then does God call to Moses from the fire. The psalmist urges the people to turn aside from everyday cares to seek the Lord—the source of strength and miracles, the fountain of wonder and joy. Paul exhorts the church of Rome to forsake feelings of resentment and hate, but instead repay evil with good, doing what is noble in the sight of all. Jesus rebukes Peter for succumbing to worldly considerations over God’s purposes. To find our lives, we must lose them. Such turning leads us to realize we are standing on holy ground.

Take Up Your Cross

Opening Prayer
(Exodus 3, Romans 12)

Great I Am, you come to us in unexpected ways. Excite our curiosity, that we might turn aside and realize we are standing on holy ground. Appear to us in fire and wonder, that we might see worlds beyond the reaches of our imaginations. Reveal the glory of your kingdom—where love is genuine, where evil is forsaken, where mutual affection abides, and hospitality is shown to strangers, where all are made one. Amen.

Call to Confession
(Exodus 3, Romans 12)

Loving God, Holy Shepherd, we long for a higher calling. When we would rather tend our flocks in peace than confront the powers of this age, open our hearts to your guidance and direction. When we would rather keep silent than face the suffering of others, open our mouths to speak your truth. Turn us from human considerations and set our minds on your kingdom, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon
(Exodus 3, Psalm 105)

The great I Am invites usto turn aside and boldly embrace paths that lead to life. Turn and receive blessing upon blessing.

Today’s Verse-of-the-Day:

Isaiah 48:17

This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.”

God may lead you into difficult circumstances (Mark 6:45–51), but wherever He guides you, He does it “to do good for you in the end” (Deut. 8:16).

Introduction to the Word
(Exodus 3)

As we listen for the word of God, turn aside from the worries and cares that imprison us in cages of our own making. Listen with awe and wonder to the great I Am—the one who invites us to new and wondrous possibilities. Listen well, for we worship on holy ground.

Today’s Lectionary Readings:
First Reading

Exodus 3:1-15
God calls Moses

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”

When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”

And Moses said, “Here I am.”

“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.

The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”

Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”

God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”

God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’

“This is my name forever,
    the name you shall call me

    from generation to generation.

A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45b
Remembering Moses
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.

Israel came into Egypt, *
  and Jacob became a sojourner in the land of Ham.

The LORD made his people exceedingly fruitful; *
  he made them stronger than their enemies;

Whose heart he turned, so that they hated his people, *
  and dealt unjustly with his servants.

He sent Moses his servant, *
  and Aaron whom he had chosen.
    Hallelujah!

Lord our God, we thank you that you come to help us with your power and might. We thank you that you come to us in our suffering and strengthen us in all we must endure on earth. You help us so that what is good and full of light comes more and more to us and to all people. We thank you and pray that your power, coming from the invisible world into the visible, may continue its quiet working in us until the day when everyone can see Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and into all eternity. Amen.

Second Reading
From the Epistles

Romans 12:9-21
Live in harmony

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Today’s Gospel Reading

Matthew 16:21-28
The rebuke to Peter

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

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
(Romans 12)

Live peaceably with others. Hold fast to what is good. Honor what is just and show mutual affection for all. Go with the blessings of the almighty.

A Prayer of Surrender

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, September 3, 2023
Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Exodus 3:1-15; Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45b;
Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-28
Knowing when to turn aside makes all the difference in the world. Moses sees a burning bush and turns aside to see what is afoot. Only then does God call to Moses from the fire. The psalmist urges the people to turn aside from everyday cares to seek the Lord—the source of strength and miracles, the fountain of wonder and joy. Paul exhorts the church of Rome to forsake feelings of resentment and hate, but instead repay evil with good, doing what is noble in the sight of all. Jesus rebukes Peter for succumbing to worldly considerations over God’s purposes. To find our lives, we must lose them. Such turning leads us to realize we are standing on holy ground.