57A*
A Call to Worship
Pentecost 14A [Ordinary 25A] or [Proper 20A] 2011
Psalm 105: 1-6, 37-45

Great is the Lord and praise be to God’s Holy Name!
Give thanks to the Lord, for God - our God - is good!

All you who worship the Lord, spread the good news!
Share the story of God’s mighty and powerful actions!

Generation after generation of people tell the same story…
God has travelled before and behind us, guarding and
guiding us. We gather to praise God’s Holy Name. Amen.

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Prayers of Praise and Trust
Pentecost 14A [Ordinary 25A] or [Proper 20A] 2011
Psalm 105: 1-6, 37-45

God of flame and smoke, God of cloud and shelter,
we come to worship and praise you for all you have
been to so many generations of people. In ancient
times, when all was dark and difficult, your bright and
fiery presence gave light in their darkness; when the
power of the sun scorched them in the daytime, the
cloud-shadow of your gentle presence protected them;
and you were never far from away them at any time,
day and night; guiding, blessing, sustaining and
nurturing them as they travelled each day with you.

God of yesterday, in the past, you gave your people
visible signs of your presence with them to guide and
direct them on their journey to their new home in God.
God of today, what are the signs of your presence with
us today? Are our eyes, ears, minds and hearts open
to the signs of your guiding and protecting presence?
We ask that you help us open ourselves to your abiding
presence, so that we can also be guided home to you.

God of tomorrow and the future, we offer you our praises
and our trust! You are the God who has always proved to
be absolutely trustworthy and who always keeps promises.
We praise you for the way you have brought joy in our life,
and look with anticipation to more joy in you in the future.
Praises to the God of our yesterdays, todays and tomorrows. Amen.

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A Personal Meditation
Pentecost 14A [Ordinary 25A] or [Proper 20A] 2011
Psalm 105: 1-6, 37-45

Has every nation and peoples had a defining event in their
history that shakes the foundations of their people, and turns
them in another direction? For the people of Israel they
certainly had such an event that influenced their whole
outlook and understanding of God and on life ever since
then. Their whole history seems to be summed up in the
way God acted amongst them, with them and for them.



Does each family have a defining event in their history as a
group that shakes the foundations of their family life, and
turns them in another direction? Does each town and city
have a defining event in their history as a group that shakes
their very foundations, and turns them in another direction?
I can think of a number of such events, such as natural
disasters; people deciding to move from their home to
another location; people deciding to become migrants—
legally or otherwise. These are all events with profound
effects on individuals and families. And where is God in
these decisions and circumstances? As the people of Israel
found, often to their dismay, God is right at the centre
of all these changes - travelling with us on our journey.



These defining moments can be chaotic or glorious times
of truth and beauty, where God is recognised and known in
new ways, that bring hope, joy, celebration and conscious
acts of worship and praise of their saving and renewing God.
When these moments bring despair, pain and sorrow, that too
can be a time to recognise and know God in new ways, that bring
hope, joy, celebration and conscious acts of worship and praise
of their saving and renewing God. How different is their route
to God, and yet how special is that time of worship and praise.



I give thanks to God for the opportunity to travel on both of
these routes, and that each of them brought me nearer to God.

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Acknowledgements:
Unless stated otherwise, all Bible readings and extracts used in these weekly Prayers and Meditations are from
‘The New Revised Standard Version’ Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council
of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

*The additional weekly numbering is from the Revised COCU Indexing Scheme
COCU = ('Consultation on Church Union'); as it offers an easy sequential numbering
for the Revised Common Lectionary for the Church Calendar.

If any part of these Prayers and/or Meditations is used in shared worship, please provide
the following acknowledgement:
© 2011 Joan Stott – ‘The Timeless Psalms’ RCL Psalms Year A. Used with permission.

jstott@netspace.net.au

Download/view a pdf file of this document here: pentecost14[25]a_2011.pdf

© 2011 Joan Stott - " The Timeless Psalms" RCL Psalm Year A