Liturgy for the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost, Year A (Matthew)

Introduction

This week's liturgy for the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost (Year A) follows the Revised Common Lectionary and offers a full order of worship, a call to worship, opening prayer, prayer of confession, assurance of pardon, prayer for illumination, and benediction. This week's readings turn on obedience, the kind shown in action rather than only in words, and on the humility of Christ. If this liturgy is useful for your congregation, you're welcome to subscribe to my newsletter for more resources like it.

Lectionary Readings for this Sunday

Exodus 17:1-7: The Israelites quarrel with Moses for water in the wilderness, asking, "Is the Lord among us or not?" God provides water from the rock at Horeb, another miracle.

Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16: A call to teach the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, recounting the wonders done in Egypt and the water brought from the rock.

Philippians 2:1-13: Paul calls the church to have the same mind as Christ, who humbled himself, and to work out their salvation as God works within them.

Matthew 21:23-32: Jesus tells the parable of two sons, one who refuses his father's request but later obeys, and one who agrees but does not, asking which one did the father's will.

Liturgy for this Sunday

Call to Worship

One: Come, not with empty words, but with open hearts.

All: We come to worship in spirit and in truth.

One: God calls us to do what is right, not only to say it.

All: Let our worship shape how we live.

One: Let us worship the God who is patient with us.

All: Let us worship the God who calls us forward.

Call to Worship

One: Let the same mind be in us that was in Christ.

All: Christ, who humbled himself for our sake.

One: Come, and worship with humility.

All: Come, and worship with open hands.

One: Let us give God our whole selves today.

All: Let us worship the Lord together.

Opening Prayer

God of mercy, teach us to trust you even when the way is hard. Give us the mind of Christ, humble and willing. Help our actions match our words. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

Merciful God, we say yes to you with our words but too often say no with our lives. We have been proud instead of humble. We have doubted your presence with us. Forgive us, and make us willing again. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

More assurance of pardon scripture

Prayer for Illumination

Open our hearts, God, to hear your word and do it, not only to hear it. Amen.

Benediction

Go, and let your actions match your words. Go, in humility, like Christ who humbled himself for us. And may God, who is at work in you, complete what he has begun. Amen.

More benedictions and blessings

See also

Worship Resources
Calls to Worship
Opening Prayers
Prayers of Confession
Assurance of Pardon
Prayer of Illumination
Benedictions and Blessings