20th Sunday after Pentecost

COLOR: Green
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Job 1:1; 2:1-10; Psalm 26 (or Psalm 25); Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12; Mark 10:2-16

THEME IDEAS

The readings from Job and Psalm 26 are a celebration of personal integrity in faith. God boasts of Job’s integrity, proclaiming him a blameless and upright man, even after Satan was allowed to devastate his family and livelihood—even his health. Job illustrates that suffering is no indicator of whether one has lived a godly life. The psalmist brags of personal integrity, challenging God (foolishly, in light of Job) to put this integrity to the test. The Hebrews reading could be used to speak of Christ’s integrity and how he was made higher than the angels because of his faithfulness. The gospel reading does not fit with the other texts and deals with marriage, divorce, adultery, and entering the kingdom of God like children.

INVITATION AND GATHERING

Call to Worship (Job 1–2, Psalm 26)

In this world of hardship and pain,
walk with integrity before the Lord.
Save us from the time of trial, O God.
The pious lose their jobs and their livelihoods.
The righteous are struck down with disease and death.
Save us from the time of trial, O God.
Families are swallowed up in war.
Children are beaten and sold into slavery.
Save us from the time of trial, O God.
Shall we receive the good at the hand of God,
and not receive the bad?
In this world of hardship and pain,
we will walk with integrity before the Lord.

Opening Prayer (Hebrews 1, Mark 10)

Eternal God,
long ago you spoke to our ancestors
in many and various ways by the prophets;
but in these last days, you have spoken to us
by a Son.
May we become again like children
and receive your kingdom in our midst,
that we may walk in your ways without faltering,
and trust in your Spirit without wavering. Amen.

PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE

Prayer of Confession (Job 1–2, Psalm 26)

Holy God,
it is easy to boast of our faithfulness
when life is easy
and your blessings cascade over us
like ever-flowing streams.
Stop our mouths
when we brag of our integrity
and deride others
for their wayward feet.
Help us be more like Jesus,
who taught his disciples to pray
that they may be spared
from the time of trial,
than like the psalmist, who challenged:
“Prove me, O LORD, and try me;
test my heart and mind.”
May our faithfulness
speak louder than our words,
that others may see in our example
the joys of upright living,
whether we are receiving
the good from your hand,
or the bad. Amen.

Words of Assurance (Hebrews 2:11-12)

Hear these words from the book of Hebrews:
“The one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not
ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, saying, ‘I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters,
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.’ ”

Invitation to the Word (Hebrews 1–2)

Long ago, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets. Today, God speaks to us through a Son, who is the very Word of God. As we hear the words of the prophets, may we listen for the teachings of the incarnate Word that sanctifies us through God’s love.

Call to Prayer (Job 1–2, Psalm 26)

When Job’s wife derided his faithfulness by saying, “Do you still persist in your integrity? Curse God, and die,” Job responded, “Shall we receive the good at the hand of God, and not receive the bad?” As we come before God in prayer, may we too accept the bad with the good and keep our integrity, walking with God in trust and in unwavering faith.

THANKSGIVING AND COMMUNION

Invitation to Communion (World Communion Sunday)

Come to the table, you who are scattered and torn.
Here we find hope.
Come to the table, you who are scared and lonely.
Here we find love.
Come to the table, you who are tired and tense.
Here we find rest for our souls,
and food for our journey.
Come to the table, you who are lost and are searching.
Here we discover guidance,
and light for our darkness.
Come to the table, you who are happy or sad.
Here our lives are embraced by God’s grace.
(Joanne Brown)

Great Thanksgiving

We give you thanks, our creator and liberator,
for by your word you have called forth creation,
you have created us in your image.
You led us from slavery to freedom,
going ever before us with cloud and fiery pillar.
With burning coals you gave utterance to the prophets,
demanding that justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
In the fullness of time,
your Spirit descended like a dove upon Jesus,
anointing him to preach good news to the poor,
to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who were oppressed,
and to declare the reign of God in our midst.
When Jesus gathered together with his beloved disciples,
he was known to them in the breaking of bread.
Before feeding the multitudes,
he broke bread and gave thanks.
When two or three were gathered together,
he broke bread and gave thanks.
He sought the outcasts and broke bread with them,
witnessing the fullness of your grace.
(Joanne Brown)

Words of Institution

On the night of his greatest trial,
he gathered his friends together in an upper room,
and said to them:
“Tonight I am going to create
a sustaining community among you.
It will not require you to always be faithful or perfect
or good or right or powerful or unblemished or pure.
It will not require you to hold an advanced degree,
or to have the proper wealth, skin color, sexual identity,
gender, or religion.
This community we are creating together tonight
requires two things:
your willingness to share with one another
and your remembrance of me.
These two are enough to bind you to one another
and to your work on behalf of the world.
Take this bread, the bread of life.
It represents my physical presence,
which has been with you on many adventures.
It also represents the bodies
of all who have tried to love mercy, create justice,
and build the kingdom of God on earth.
Whenever you eat bread, remember this evening.
Think on what we have tried to do for the poor
and those who are marginalized.
Take this cup, the cup of salvation.
It represents the covenant we make with each other
to always be there for one another.
It also represents my promise to be with you always.
This cup and your thoughts of me will sustain you
and restore your spirits.”
As we break bread and drink this cup,
we do so remembering a life lived in thanksgiving—
a life of uncompromising commitment
to justice and equality;
a life that led to an unjust death on a cross.
And in the darkness of night,
when evil and betrayal seemed victorious,
your creative power burst upon us
in the glory of the resurrection.
In remembering all he did and taught,
we actively await with hope
for the coming of God’s reign
to bring peace and justice.
God of love,
send your Holy Spirit upon us.
Bless what we do here this morning,
that we and these gifts,
touched by your Spirit,
may be signs of life and love
to each other and to all the world. Amen.
Take and eat. May you never cease to hunger for justice.
Take and drink. May you never cease to thirst for mercy.

Offering Prayer (Job 1–2)

God of whirlwind and fire,
your ways are not our ways,
your judgments are as high above us
as the stars are above the sea.
We gratefully receive the blessings of your hands,
but fear to receive the evils that befall
our sisters and brothers.
Open our hearts
to accept the hardships of this life
and to rejoice in the blessings we have received,
that we may share them with those in need.
Amen.

SENDING FORTH

Benediction (Psalm 26, Hebrews 1–2)

Through the love of a savior,
we are sanctified as people of God.
Through God’s mercy, love, and grace,
we are brothers and sisters with Christ.
Through the Spirit that animates our lives,
we are the imprint of God’s very being.
Go and lead lives of integrity.
Go with the blessing of Christ’s love!

—Or—

Benediction (World Communion Sunday)

Ever-loving and ever-present God,
you have refreshed us at your table,
by granting us the presence of Jesus.
May the sharing of this sacred meal together
remain always in our hearts,
and weave us together as one body, one people.
Strengthen our faith,
that we might accomplish great things
through our love for one another.
Send us forth into the world
in courage and peace,
rejoicing in the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
(Joanne Brown and B. J. Beu)

CONTEMPORARY OPTIONS

Contemporary Gathering Words (Job 1–2)

Job was an upright man, blameless before God.
Why then was he stricken?
God’s ways are hard to understand.
But God loved him still?
God loved Job.
Why then was he stricken?
God’s ways are hard to understand.
May we be as faithful as Job
when evil befalls us.

Praise Sentences (Hebrews 1–2)

Jesus reflects God’s glory.
Jesus sustains all things by his power.
Jesus is the pioneer of our salvation.
Jesus reflects God’s glory.
Jesus sustains all things by his power.

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Adapted from The Abingdon Worship Annual 2009, © 2008 Abingdon Press
The Abingdon Worship Annual 2013 is available now.