August 5 – Tenth after Pentecost

Worship materials for the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost through the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost were contributed by Lorna Martin, Toronto Uniting Church, Newcastle, Australia.

 

2 Samuel 11:26–12:13a

Nathan’s story that condemns David.

 

Psalm 51:1–12 (VU pp. 776–777)

Create in me a new heart, O God.

 

Ephesians 4:1–16

A life worthy of your calling; speak the truth in love.

 

John 6:24–35

The crowds ask for another sign from Jesus.

Spark

Display a number of wrapped gifts that contain carpentry tools such as a hammer, saw, pencil, drill and bits, plane, and sandpaper, or gift-wrap planting tools and seed packs that together would create a garden.

Theme Engagement Question

What belief about God, about how God works or how the world works, might you have learned as an absolute truth as a child that now needs to be re-examined?

With Children

Involve the children in opening the wrapped gifts. Discuss their use and how when used together they help to build and create something good. God gave each of us special talents and abilities. How might we use them together to help others?

Sermon Starter

The story in 2 Samuel highlights David’s abuse of power and shows how God forgives and never gives up on us. When have we seen people forgiven and offered a second chance? When have we experienced this forgiveness in our own lives?

 

The Ephesians reading speaks of the way in which the gifts of each person should be used together to grow and build up people and community in love. Adapt to your setting the story Conference of the Carpenter Tools (check the Internet), which illustrates how everyone’s special gifts, working together, are needed.

 

The Gospel of John points out that people often ask for more and more proof of Jesus’ identity and more and more proof of God’s existence. Think of the often-told story of a man who climbs on to his roof during a flood waiting for God to rescue him. We hear him deny the signs and help sent from God. A rowboat, a motor boat, and a helicopter come to rescue him, but he declines because he is waiting for God.

 

What signs do we see of God’s guidance and presence with us that help our belief? What signs do we miss because we are rigid in our expectations about how God will communicate? When we believe that Jesus is the one God sent, is our faith strong enough to take us where he leads?

Hymns

Hebrew Scripture

VU 368            “Holy Spirit, truth divine”

VU 371            “Open my eyes, that I may see”

MV 76             “If I have been the source of pain”

MV 78             “God weeps”

 

Psalm

VU 618            “God, when I stand”

MV 79             “Spirit, open my heart”

MV 115           “Behold, behold, I make all things new”

 

Epistle

VU 274            “Your hand, O God, has guided”

VU 468            “Let us talents and tongues employ”

VU 510            “We have this ministry”

VU 595            “We are pilgrims”

 

Gospel

VU 274            “Your hand, O God, has guided”

VU 509            “Here I Am, Lord”

VU 703            “In the bulb there is a flower”

MV 45             “You are holy”

MV 172           “God says”