Opening Song
“Come to the banquet, there is a place for you“. The music is from ‘All together whatever/Seasons of the Spirit’ and is by Fay White. If you you prefer, you can go to the video directly at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNJSSNqH_5E
Prayer
Let us pray,
God of feasting and celebration, invite us from the highways and bye ways to your wedding banquet of life. Feed us with love, so that together with all your people, we might celebrate the coming of the kingdom. Forgive our lack of willingness to celebrate you and fully recognise your presence in the face of others. Come, for all is ready. Christ invites us to come and celebrate. Amen.
For the young at heart
‘I cannot come to the banquet’. If you you prefer, you can go to the video directly at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC2NgfkfD5c
From the Bible
The Bible reading for today is from Matthew 22:1-14. A Lumo video of this reading follows the words below.
Matthew 22:1-14
Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying:
“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them.
The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Message
The message is brought to you by Tim Jensen from the Saltbush Community. The parable of the wedding banquet is difficult to ponder. It may be that Jesus is challenging those who are abusing their positions of power, influence and authority.
What injustices have you experienced that you have been compelled to challenge? Name any injustices that your church spoken out against? What one action can you or your local community take in response to the systems of neglect and abuse found in our society?
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.
Prayers for others
Let us pray,
Merciful Creator, as you nurture our lives and grow us in your ways of wisdom and understanding through your Spirit and in the person of Jesus Christ, may we be always open to your leading and receptive of your grace.
Equip us O God to be bearers of the Gospel. (pause)
For those who are powerless and weighed down by the injustices they experience each day as they are judged by race, class and religion. (pause)
For the planet and all living things that fight for survival against the insatiable plunder of human excess. (pause)
We know you are with those who are experiencing difficult days in our communities, may we be free to share our lives with them also. (pause)
In this time of silence we bring you our prayers. (pause)
In Christ, we pray. Amen.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
Blessing
Lord of the wedding banquet you have invited us to celebrate and dance at the celebration of life. Send us now to live as faithful disciples spreading your good news of love and relationship to all who will listen. Bless us and the people we meet along the way Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Song
‘Let us build a house’, sung by the Collegiate Church of St. Mary, Warwick. If you you prefer, you can go to the video directly at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKJgcv8SdnQ
Resources
The sermon and ‘prayers for others’ 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-20-afflicting-the-comfortable-matthew-221-14/