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Writer's pictureIain McLarty

Proper 17C / 12th Sunday after Pentecost

Updated: Oct 4, 2022


You can find a YouTube playlist here with many of the songs suggested below.



Gathering


The Gospel and Epistle both have a theme of hospitality and of welcoming those who are marginalised by society so you could begin by offering everyone an open invitation to join in worship together with a great range of well-known contemporary hymns you could use including Here in this place / Gather us in (CH 623), Let us build a house (CH 198), For everyone born a place at the table (CH 685) and Jesus calls us here to meet him (CH 510). One church, one voice (Satellite) and All are welcome (OCP) would both be great for bands and have easy but catchy choruses which congregations should pick up quickly, the latter being a great alternative to “Let us build a house”.



Word


Psalm 81 is one of those which has relatively few settings. Sing to God our strength (Scheer) can be sung in a variety of styles while you could also use vv.1, 5-7 of Sing a psalm of joy (PFAS 81C / Hymnary) in order to get the appropriate verses for today. This is definitely a day where it’s worth considering singing it responsorially through and the chorus of You satisfy the hungry heart (CH 671 / PFAS 81A) works very well, with the text linking to the final verse of today’s reading.



Response


You could consider most of the songs suggested in the Gathering section for responding to either the Gospel or Epistle. At the table, all are equal (GIA) and God is waiting at the table (GIA) are both inspired by the Gospel while Come to the table of grace (Hope) would also link well and I, the Lord of sea and sky (CH 251) references it in v3. We can focus on our call to love the most marginalised in society with Christ’s is the world in which we move (CH 724), Beauty for brokenness / God of the poor (CH 259 / MP 806), God loved the world so much (WGRG) sung to Wondrous Love, or The Lord of the earth (WGRG) which is inspired by Oscar Romero. If you are celebrating communion many of the songs suggested already could work but you could also consider I come with joy, a child of God (CH 656), As we gather at your table (Hymnary / Hope) and This is the feast of freedom (GIA).


The Old Testament would suggest penitential songs, asking forgiveness for when we have been like the people of Israel and betrayed God and gone after worthless things. Jesus, lover of my soul (CH 490 / MP 372) and Great God, your love has called us here (CH 484) are good options while you could also consider a Kyrie such as James MacMillan’s Lord, have mercy (CH 648), the Ukranian Orthodox Kyrie eleison (CH 776), John Bell’s call and response Kyrie eleison (CH 777), or Kyrie eleison, have mercy (MP 1321 / Townend) which expands into a hymn. Hear the song of our lament (Resound) could link to v7 where it’s said that the land has been defiled, with the option of linking this to the contemporary context of the climate and ecological crises.



Sending


Our sending can link to the Gospel and Epistle themes by focusing on how we show God’s love for all people throughout our lives. A few of the songs already suggested such as I, the Lord of sea and sky (CH 251) and God loved the world so much (WGRG) are worth considering which you could also consider contemporary hymns such as As a fire is meant for burning (CH 252), Brother, sister, let me serve you (CH 694 / MP 1261) and We sing a love that sets all people free (CH 622) or worship songs such as God of justice (MP 1174 / CCLI), God of all comfort (Resound) and We are one in the Father’s love (CCLI).


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