Song
‘O blessed spring”, by Susan Palo Cherwien. You can also find this video directly at YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7YVJdKhI8
Prayer
Let us pray.
Great, oh Lord, is your mercy and love. You take upon yourself our burdens, you forgive our sin, you help us day by day when we call upon you.
Oh Lord, as we draw near to you in this time lift from us those things that weigh us down. Help us to hear your word and to know your thoughts and to give you the praise and glory you deserve.
Grant that in our worship your Spirit may transform the imaginings of our minds
and make them more like those of Christ Jesus. Guide us, O Lord, by your living presence. We ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen
From the Bible
The Bible reading for today is from the Gospel of Matthew and the words are below. A dramatic version of this reading is included in the Lumo video underneath the words.
Matthew 20:1-16
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the labourers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went.
When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’
When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the labourers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage.
Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’
But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
Message
The message is brought to you by Geoff Wellington from the Saltbush Community. Jesus tells a parable about a landowner who hires workers for his vineyard. Unexpectedly workers are hired all during the day at different times but paid exactly the same wage – a living wage.
What did you hear in the Word today? What do you find confronting about the vineyard? How can your Christian community celebrate the best the vineyard has to offer?
Before a time of prayer you may like to spend some time in silence sitting still. Close your eyes lightly. Sit relaxed but alert. Simply be still and open to God. You may prefer to do this while listening to the ‘Optional reflective music’ below.
Optional reflective music
The reflective music is, ‘Look at the world’, by John Rutter with ‘The Cambridge Singers’. If you have problems connecting, you can also try this link at YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Gpdc5Mjjq8&t=218s
Prayers for others & blessing
You may like to join in praying as you watch this video, ‘
Song
‘For you, deep stillness’, by Julie Perrin and Robin Mann. It can also be found via a direct link at Vimeo:
https://vimeo.com/432061818
Resources
The sermon and the opening prayer are based on content in the Saltbush service for this week, which can be found at:
https://saltbushcommunity.uca.org.au/video/the-word/pentecost-17-working-in-the-vineyard-matthew-19-27-20-16/