Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Proper 28, Year A, Matthew)
Introduction
Fear can make a faithful person very small. On the second-to-last Sunday of the church year, the readings name that fear honestly and call us past it, toward courage, wakefulness, and the generous use of what God has placed in our hands.
This complete liturgy for the Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Proper 28), Year A, follows the Revised Common Lectionary and includes a call to worship, opening prayer, prayer of confession, assurance of pardon, prayer for Illumination, and benediction. Consider joining my newsletter: join my newsletter.
Lectionary readings for this Sunday
Judges 4:1-7: Deborah, prophet and judge, sits beneath her palm tree and summons Barak to lead Israel against Sisera's army. Read who Deborah was and the Song of Deborah.
Psalm 123: A short Song of Ascents in which the people lift their eyes to God and plead for mercy.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11: Paul tells the church the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, so they should live awake as children of light. See what the Day of the Lord means and the armor of God.
Matthew 25:14-30: Jesus tells the parable of the talents, in which two servants risk what they are given and one buries it in fear. Learn what a talent was in the Bible and how much a talent weighed.
Liturgy for this Sunday
Call to Worship
One: To you we lift up our eyes, O God enthroned in the heavens.
All: As servants look to the hand of their master, our eyes look to you.
One: We come with what we have been given.
All: We come with open hands and willing hearts.
One: Let us worship the God who is generous beyond measure.
All: Let us worship the Lord together.
Opening Prayer
Generous God, you have raised up leaders from every generation to encourage your people to place their trust in you. Do so again. You entrust your gifts to us, not to bury but to spend. Free us from the fear that makes us small, and make us children of light, awake and ready for your day. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Gracious God, we confess that we are often ruled by fear. We hold back what you have given us, afraid to lose it, and we call our caution wisdom. Forgive us for burying our gifts. Give us courage to risk them for your sake. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
"For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him." (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10)
Hear the good news: in Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen.
More on the Assurance of Pardon
Prayer for Illumination
Open our eyes, O God, and steady our hearts as we hear your Word. Where we are afraid, give us courage; where we are asleep, wake us. Amen.
Benediction
Go now, clothed in faith and love, with the hope of salvation for your helmet. Encourage one another and build each other up. Spend your gifts freely, for the God who gave them goes with you. Amen.
More Benedictions and Blessings
See also
Worship Resources
Calls to Worship
Opening Prayers
Assurance of Pardon
Prayer for Illumination
Benedictions and Blessings
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