The United Methodist Music & Worship Planner 2024-2025 CEB/NRSVue Edition

By David L. Bone and Mary Scifres

A weekly worship planning book for United Methodist pastors and musicians – Refreshed!

New with the 2024-2025 edition! The Music & Worship Planner includes both the CEB and NRSVue translations in one planner, along with added space for notes.

An all-in-one resource that helps both the music director and pastor plan the worship services for each Sunday and holy day of the year, The United Methodist Music and Worship Planner 2024-2025 is lectionary-based and places at your fingertips:
- Weekly pages in a spiral-bound format that help you plan the entire worship year from September through August.
- Eight or more suggested hymns for each service keyed to United Methodist worship resources: The United Methodist Hymnal, The Faith We Sing, Worship & Song, The United Methodist Book of Worship, and The Africana Hymnal.
- Complete lectionary text of the Old Testament, Psalm, Epistle, and Gospel readings using the Common English Bible translation.
- Reproducible worship planning forms.
- Resources for holidays and special days.
- Suggestions for prayers, solos, anthems, visuals, and much more.

In addition, you will find more:
- Emphasis on Methodist/Wesleyan theology, worship practices, and historical roots
- Consistent Worship elements
- Content for contemporary worship services
- More innovative worship elements

• Language: English
• Publisher: Abingdon Press
• Release date: Apr 16, 2024
• ISBN: 9781791015619

David L. Bone

David L. Bone is Executive Director of The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

Book preview

SEPTEMBER 1, 2024

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVue)

Song of Solomon 2:8-13

⁸The voice of my beloved!

Look, he comes,

leaping upon the mountains,

bounding over the hills.

⁹My beloved is like a gazelle

or a young stag.

Look, there he stands

behind our wall,

gazing in at the windows,

looking through the lattice.

¹⁰My beloved speaks and says to me:

"Arise, my love, my fair one,

and come away,

¹¹for now the winter is past,

the rain is over and gone.

¹²The flowers appear on the earth;

the time of singing has come,

and the voice of the turtledove

is heard in our land.

¹³The fig tree puts forth its figs,

and the vines are in blossom;

they give forth fragrance.

Arise, my love, my fair one,

and come away."

Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9

My heart overflows with a goodly theme;

I address my verses to the king;

my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.

²You are the most handsome of men;

grace is poured upon your lips;

therefore God has blessed you forever.

⁶Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever.

Your royal scepter is a scepter of equity;

⁷you love righteousness and hate wickedness.

Therefore God, your God, has anointed you

with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;

⁸your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.

From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;

⁹daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor;

at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.

Common English Bible (CEB)

Song of Solomon 2:8-13

⁸Listen! It’s my lover: here he comes now,

leaping upon the mountains,

bounding over the hills.

⁹My lover is like a gazelle

or a young stag.

Here he stands now,

outside our wall,

peering through the windows,

peeking through the lattices.

¹⁰My lover spoke and said to me,

"Rise up, my dearest,

my fairest, and go.

¹¹Here, the winter is past;

the rains have come and gone.

¹²Blossoms have appeared in the land;

the season of singing has arrived,

and the sound of the turtledove is heard in our land.

¹³The green fruit is on the fig tree,

and the grapevines in bloom are fragrant.

Rise up, my dearest,

my fairest, and go."

Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9

A marvelous word has stirred my heart

as I mention my works to the king.

My tongue is the pen of a skillful scribe.

²You are the most handsome of men;

grace has been poured out on your lips.

No wonder God has blessed you forever!

⁶Your divine throne is eternal and everlasting.

Your royal scepter is a scepter of justice.

⁷You love righteousness and hate wickedness.

No wonder God, your God, has anointed you

with the oil of joy more than all your companions!

⁸All your clothes have the pleasing scent of myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

The music of stringed instruments coming from ivory palaces entertains you.

⁹The royal princess is standing in your precious jewels;

the queen stands at your right, dressed in the gold of Ophir.

COLOR: GREEN 15th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVue)

James 1:17-27

¹⁷Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. ¹⁸In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave birth to us by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

¹⁹You must understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger, ²⁰for human anger does not produce God’s righteousness.

²¹Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.

²²But be doers of the word and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. ²³For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; ²⁴for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. ²⁵But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.

²⁶If any think they are religious and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. ²⁷Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, ²they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. ³(For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders, ⁴and they do not eat anything from

the market unless they wash, and there are also many other traditions that they observe: the washing of cups and pots and bronze kettles and beds.) ⁵So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders but eat with defiled hands? ⁶He said to them, "Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written,

‘This people honors me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from me;

⁷in vain do they worship me,

teaching human precepts as doctrines.’

⁸You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition. …

¹⁴Then he called the crowd again and said to them, Listen to me, all of you, and understand: ¹⁵there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile. …

²¹For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: sexual immorality, theft, murder, ²²adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, pride, folly. ²³All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.

Common English Bible (CEB)

James 1:17-27

¹⁷Every good gift, every perfect gift, comes from above. These gifts come down from the Father, the creator of the heavenly lights, in whose character there is no change at all. ¹⁸He chose to give us birth by his true word, and here is the result: we are like the first crop from the harvest of everything he created.

¹⁹Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to grow angry. ²⁰This is because an angry person doesn’t produce God’s righteousness. ²¹Therefore, with humility, set aside all moral filth and the growth of wickedness, and welcome the word planted deep inside you—the very word that is able to save you.

²²You must be doers of the word and not only hearers who mislead themselves. ²³Those who hear but don’t do the word are like those who look at their faces in a mirror. ²⁴They look at themselves, walk away, and immediately forget what they were like. ²⁵But there are those who study the perfect law, the law of freedom, and continue to do it. They don’t listen and then forget, but they put it into practice in their lives. They will be blessed in whatever they do.

²⁶If those who claim devotion to God don’t control what they say, they mislead themselves. Their devotion is worthless. ²⁷True devotion, the kind that is pure and faultless before God the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their difficulties and to keep the world from contaminating us.

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

The Pharisees and some legal experts from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus. ²They saw some of his disciples eating food with unclean hands. (They were eating without first ritually purifying their hands through washing. ³The Pharisees and all the Jews don’t eat without first washing their hands carefully. This is a way of observing the rules handed down by the elders.

⁴Upon returning from the marketplace, they don’t eat without first immersing themselves. They observe many other rules that have been handed down, such as the washing of cups, jugs, pans, and sleeping mats.) ⁵So the Pharisees and legal experts asked Jesus, Why are your disciples not living according to the rules handed down by the elders but instead eat food with ritually unclean hands?

⁶He replied, "Isaiah really knew what he was talking about when he prophesied about you hypocrites. He wrote,

This people honors me with their lips,

but their hearts are far away from me.

⁷Their worship of me is empty

since they teach instructions that are human words.

⁸You ignore God’s commandment while holding on to rules created by humans and handed down to you." …

¹⁴Then Jesus called the crowd again and said, Listen to me, all of you, and understand. ¹⁵Nothing outside of a person can enter and contaminate a person in God’s sight; rather, the things that come out of a person contaminate the person. …

²¹It’s from the inside, from the human heart, that evil thoughts come: sexual sins, thefts, murders, ²²adultery, greed, evil actions, deceit, unrestrained immorality, envy, insults, arrogance, and foolishness. ²³All these evil things come from the inside and contaminate a person in God’s sight.

Primary Hymns and Songs for the Day

Additional Hymn Suggestions

+Other Hymn Resources

Arise, Your Light Is Come OL-07293 (Song, Jas)

EL314, G744, N164, P411, VU79

We Give Thee but Thine Own 3922369 (Jas)

C382, EL686, G708, N785, P428, SH643, VU543

As a Chalice Cast of Gold OL-00790 (Mark)

C287, G429, P336, VU505

Additional Contemporary and Modern Suggestions

Solo/Ensemble Suggestions

+Arise, My Love, and Come Away (Song, Wedding)

V-3 (5)p. 36

The Call (Song, Wedding)

V-4p. 31

Cord of Three Strands (Song, Wedding)

V-5 (3)p. 10

Thank You for These Gifts (Song, Jas)

V-8p. 129

Take My Life (Jas, Mark)

V-3 (3)p. 17

V-8p. 262

+Set Me as a Seal (Song)

Scholz/Scholz; MorningStar MSM-50-9852

SATB, violin, keyboard (https://bit.ly/50-9852)

Take My Life, That I May Be (Jas, Mark)

Arr. Mark Sedio; AEC-2 p. 76

SATB, piano, flute, perc., opt. guitar (bit.ly/AEC-2-76)

+Hymn Anthem

644Jesus, Joy of Our Desiring (PD) (Song, Pss)

A simple anthem can be fashioned from the choir singing this hymn while the keyboard plays the well-known J.S. Bach chorale prelude on this tune. The choir can sing in unison or parts. Bach used this arrangement in one of his many cantatas. Most keyboard editions of this work are in G Major, so the choir will be singing one whole step higher than printed in the hymnal.

COLOR: GREEN 15th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Other Suggestions

Visuals:

Note: Song of Solomon and Psalm 45 make this an appropriate day to plan a reaffirmation of marital vows or a celebration of marriage anniversaries/engagements. Songs noted wedding above may be used, along with Reaffirmation of the Marriage Covenant: BOW135 or other resources such as BOW138, BOW537 or BOW626.

Opening Prayer: BOW460 or WSL60 (Jas)

Canticle: UM646. Canticle of Love (Song) See S-1, p. 387.

Prayer of Confession: BOW488 (Song, Jas, Mark)

Prayer: UM69, UM409, BOW502, or BOW530 (Jas, Mark)

Prayer of Thanksgiving: BOW550, BOW555 or BOW559 (Jas)

Offertory Prayer: WSL114 (Jas)

Closing Words: BOW567 (Jas)

Theme Ideas: Love/Great Commandment, Marriage, Stewardship/Generosity, Thanksgiving/Gratitude, Servanthood/Service, Discipleship/Following God, Faithfulness

Notes

SEPTEMBER 8, 2024

NRSVue

Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,

and favor is better than silver or gold.

²The rich and the poor have this in common:

the LORD is the maker of them all.

⁸Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity,

and the rod of anger will fail.

⁹Those who are generous are blessed,

for they share their bread with the poor.

²²Do not rob the poor because they are poor

or crush the afflicted at the gate,

²³for the LORD pleads their cause

and despoils of life those who despoil them.

Psalm 125

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,

which cannot be moved but abides forever.

²As the mountains surround Jerusalem,

so the LORD surrounds his people

from this time on and forevermore.

³For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest

on the land allotted to the righteous,

so that the righteous might not stretch out

their hands to do wrong.

⁴Do good, O Lord, to those who are good

and to those who are upright in their hearts.

⁵But those who turn aside to their own crooked ways,

the LORD will lead away with evildoers.

Peace be upon Israel!

CEB

Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23

A good reputation is better than much wealth;

high esteem is better than silver and gold.

²The rich and the poor have this in common:

the LORD made them both.

⁸Those who sow injustice will harvest evil;

the rod of their fury will come to an end.

⁹Happy are generous people,

because they give some of their food to the poor.

²²Don’t steal from the poor, because they are poor.

Don’t oppress the needy in the gate.

²³The LORD will take up their case

and press the life out of those who oppress them.

Psalm 125

The people who trust in the Lord

are like Mount Zion:

never shaken, lasting forever.

²Mountains surround Jerusalem.

That’s how the LORD surrounds his people

from now until forever from now!

³The wicked rod won’t remain

in the land given to the righteous

so that they don’t use their hands to do anything wrong.

⁴Lord, do good to people who are good,

to people whose hearts are right.

⁵But as for those people who turn to their own twisted ways—

may the LORD march them off with other evildoers!

COLOR: GREEN 16th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

NRSVue

James 2:1-10 (11-13), 14-17

My brothers and sisters, do not claim the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory while showing partiality. ²For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, ³and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, Have a seat here in a good place, please, while to the one who is poor you say, Stand there, or, Sit by my footstool, ⁴have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? ⁵Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? ⁶But you have dishonored the poor person. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into the courts? ⁷Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?

⁸If you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you do well. ⁹But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. ¹⁰For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.

¹¹For the one who said, You shall not commit adultery, also said, You shall not murder. Now if you do not commit adultery but you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. ¹²So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. ¹³For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

¹⁴What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Surely that faith cannot save, can it? ¹⁵If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food ¹⁶and one of you says to them, Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill, and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? ¹⁷So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

Mark 7:24-37

²⁴From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, ²⁵but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. ²⁶Now the woman was a gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. ²⁷He said to her, Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs. ²⁸But she answered him, Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs. ²⁹Then he said to her, For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter. ³⁰And when she went home, she found the child lying on the bed and the demon gone.

³¹Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went by way of Sidon toward the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. ³²They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. ³³He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. ³⁴Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. ³⁵And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. ³⁶Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one, but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. ³⁷They were astounded beyond measure, saying, He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.

CEB

James 2:1-10 (11-13), 14-17

My brothers and sisters, when you show favoritism you deny the faithfulness of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has been resurrected in glory. ²Imagine two people coming into your meeting. One has a gold ring and fine clothes, while the other is poor, dressed in filthy rags. ³Then suppose that you were to take special notice of the one wearing fine clothes, saying, Here’s an excellent place. Sit here. But to the poor person you say, Stand over there; or, Here, sit at my feet. ⁴Wouldn’t you have shown favoritism among yourselves and become evil-minded judges?

⁵My dear brothers and sisters, listen! Hasn’t God chosen those who are poor by worldly standards to be rich in terms of faith? Hasn’t God chosen the poor as heirs of the kingdom he has promised to those who love him? ⁶But you have dishonored the poor. Don’t the wealthy make life difficult for you? Aren’t they the ones who drag you into court? ⁷Aren’t they the ones who insult the good name spoken over you at your baptism?

⁸You do well when you really fulfill the royal law found in scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself. ⁹But when you show favoritism, you are committing a sin, and by that same law you are exposed as a lawbreaker. ¹⁰Anyone who tries to keep all of the Law but fails at one point is guilty of failing to keep all of it. ¹¹The one who said, Don’t commit adultery, also said, Don’t commit murder. So if you don’t commit adultery but do commit murder, you are a lawbreaker. ¹²In every way, then, speak and act as people who will be judged by the law of freedom. ¹³There will be no mercy in judgment for anyone who hasn’t shown mercy. Mercy overrules judgment.

¹⁴My brothers and sisters, what good is it if people say they have faith but do nothing to show it? Claiming to have faith can’t save anyone, can it? ¹⁵Imagine a brother or sister who is naked and never has enough food to eat. ¹⁶What if one of you said, Go in peace! Stay warm! Have a nice meal!? What good is it if you don’t actually give them what their body needs? ¹⁷In the same way, faith is dead when it doesn’t result in faithful activity.

Mark 7:24-37

²⁴Jesus left that place and went into the region of Tyre. He didn’t want anyone to know that he had entered a house, but he couldn’t hide. ²⁵In fact, a woman whose young daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit heard about him right away. She came and fell at his feet. ²⁶The woman was Greek, Syrophoenician by birth. She begged Jesus to throw the demon out of her daughter. ²⁷He responded, The children have to be fed first. It isn’t right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.

²⁸But she answered, Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.

²⁹Good answer! he said. Go on home. The demon has already left your daughter. ³⁰When she returned to her house, she found the child lying on the bed and the demon gone.

³¹After leaving the region of Tyre, Jesus went through Sidon toward the Galilee Sea through the region of the Ten Cities. ³²Some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly speak, and they begged him to place his hand on the man for healing. ³³Jesus took him away from the crowd by himself and put his fingers in the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. ³⁴Looking into heaven, Jesus sighed deeply and said, Ephphatha, which means, Open up. ³⁵At once, his ears opened, his twisted tongue was released, and he began to speak clearly.

³⁶Jesus gave the people strict orders not to tell anyone. But the more he tried to silence them, the more eagerly they shared the news. ³⁷People were overcome with wonder, saying, He does everything well! He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who can’t speak.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2024

Primary Hymns and Songs for the Day

Additional Hymn Suggestions

+Other Hymn Resources

Thee We Adore, O Hidden Savior, Thee (PD) (Mark)

EL476 (PD), G495, P519

Additional Contemporary and Modern Suggestions

Solo/Ensemble Suggestions

Bright and Beautiful (Prov)

V-3 (3)p. 10

Jesus Revealed in Me (Jas)

V-8p. 347

O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing (Mark)

V-1p. 32

V-6p. 28

God Is the Lord of All (Pss)

Handel/arr. Hopson; AEC-2 p. 55

2-part mixed, keyboard, opt. tpt (https://bit.ly/AEC-2-55)

For Everyone Born (Jas)

Arr. Tom Trenney; MorningStar MSM-50-6117

Unison, cello, piano (https://bit.ly/50-6117)

(SATB MSM-50-5011)

+Hymn Anthem

141Children of the Heavenly Father (Pss)

Stanza 1: Female soloist sings Stanza 1 a cappella (or accompanied).

Stanza 2: Male soloist sings melody. Keyboard (organ) plays lower three parts one octave higher than written. Hold repeated notes, creating a sustained accompaniment.

Stanza 3: All voices, unison. Keyboard plays lower three parts as written, sustaining repeated notes. Mezzo piano.

Stanza 4: All voices in four parts (or unison), a cappella (or accompanied). Mezzo forte. Molto ritard in last measures.

COLOR: GREEN 16th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Other Suggestions

Visuals:

Invite two readers to present this morning’s scripture from—one person luxuriously dressed and another dressed in threadbare, stained, or extremely casual clothing. Have them read vs. 17 in unison and close the reading with a hug or handshake.

This would be an appropriate day to schedule a healing service in relation to the Mark reading. Use BOW, pp. 615-621, A Service of Healing I, with the Holy Communion liturgy printed there. Other resources related to healing can be found on pp. 622-629.

+Call to Prayer: C456. Prayer from the Heart (Jas)

Sung Prayer of Confession: S2138. Sunday’s Palms Are Wednesday’s Ashes, stanza 3 (Jas)

Words of Assurance: S2169. God, How Can We Forgive, stanza 2 (Jas)

Prayer of Confession: WSL90 (Prov, Jas)

Prayer: UM639. Bread and Justice (Prov, Jas, Comm.)

+Prayer: C505. Prayer for Healing

Prayer: UM456. For Courage to Do Justice (Prov, Jas, Mark)

Healing Prayer: WSL204 or WSL209 (Mark)

Offertory Prayer: WSL114 (Jas)

Litany of Thanksgiving and Sending Forth: WSL175 (Mark)

Dismissal: BOW559 (Prov, Jas)

Sung Benediction: UM670. Go Forth for God (Pss)

Theme Ideas: Healing, Justice, Love/Great Commandment

Notes

SEPTEMBER 15, 2024

NRSVue

Proverbs 1:20-33

²⁰Wisdom cries out in the street;

in the squares she raises her voice.

²¹At the busiest corner she cries out;

at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

²²"How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?

How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing

and fools hate knowledge?

²³Give heed to my reproof;

I will pour out my thoughts to you;

I will make my words known to you.

²⁴Because I have called and you refused,

have stretched out my hand and no one heeded,

²⁵and because you have ignored all my counsel

and would have none of my reproof,

²⁶I also will laugh at your calamity;

I will mock when panic strikes you,

²⁷when panic strikes you like a storm

and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,

when distress and anguish come upon you.

²⁸Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;

they will seek me diligently but will not find me.

²⁹Because they hated knowledge

and did not choose the fear of the Lord,

³⁰would have none of my counsel

and despised all my reproof,

³¹therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way

and be sated with their own devices.

³²For waywardness kills the simple,

and the complacency of fools destroys them;

³³but those who listen to me will be secure

and will live at ease without dread of disaster."

Psalm 19 (UM750)

The heavens are telling the glory of God,

and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.

²Day to day pours forth speech,

and night to night declares knowledge.

³There is no speech, nor are there words;

their voice is not heard;

⁴yet their voice goes out through all the earth

and their words to the end of the world.

In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,

⁵which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,

and like a strong man runs its course with joy.

⁶Its rising is from the end of the heavens

and its circuit to the end of them,

and nothing is hid from its heat.

⁷The law of the LORD is perfect,

reviving the soul;

the decrees of the LORD are sure,

making wise the simple;

⁸the precepts of the LORD are right,

rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the LORD is clear,

enlightening the eyes;

⁹the fear of the LORD is pure,

enduring forever;

the ordinances of the LORD are true

and righteous altogether.

¹⁰More to be desired are they than gold,

even much fine gold;

sweeter also than honey

and drippings of the honeycomb.

¹¹Moreover, by them is your servant warned;

in keeping them there is great reward.

¹²But who can detect one’s own errors?

Clear me from hidden faults.

¹³Keep back your servant also from the insolent;

do not let them have dominion over me.

Then I shall be blameless

and innocent of great transgression.

¹⁴Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable to you,

O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

CEB

Proverbs 1:20-33

²⁰Wisdom shouts in the street;

in the public square she raises her voice.

²¹Above the noisy crowd, she calls out.

At the entrances of the city gates, she has her say:

²²"How long will you clueless people love your naïveté,

mockers hold their mocking dear,

and fools hate knowledge?

²³You should respond when I correct you.

Look, I’ll pour out my spirit on you.

I’ll reveal my words to you.

²⁴I invited you, but you rejected me;

I stretched out my hand to you,

but you paid no attention.

²⁵You ignored all my advice,

and you didn’t want me to correct you.

²⁶So I’ll laugh at your disaster;

I’ll make fun of you when dread comes over you,

²⁷when terror hits you like a hurricane,

and your disaster comes in like a tornado,

when distress and oppression overcome you.

²⁸Then they will call me, but I won’t answer;

they will seek me, but won’t find me

²⁹ because they hated knowledge

and didn’t choose the fear of the Lord.

³⁰They didn’t want my advice;

they rejected all my corrections.

³¹They will eat from the fruit of their way,

and they’ll be full of their own schemes.

³²The immature will die because they turn away;

smugness will destroy fools.

³³Those who obey me will dwell securely,

untroubled by the dread of harm."

Psalm 19 (UM750)

Heaven is declaring God’s glory;

the sky is proclaiming his handiwork.

²One day gushes the news to the next,

and one night informs another what needs to be known.

³Of course, there’s no speech, no words—

their voices can’t be heard—

⁴but their sound extends throughout the world;

their words reach the ends of the earth.

God has made a tent in heaven for the sun.

⁵The sun is like a groom

coming out of his honeymoon suite;

like a warrior, it thrills at running its course.

⁶It rises in one end of the sky;

its circuit is complete at the other.

Nothing escapes its heat.

⁷The Lord’s Instruction is perfect,

reviving one’s very being.

The Lord’s laws are faithful,

making naive people wise.

⁸The Lord’s regulations are right,

gladdening the heart.

The Lord’s commands are pure,

giving light to the eyes.

⁹Honoring the Lord is correct,

lasting forever.

The Lord’s judgments are true.

All of these are righteous!

¹⁰They are more desirable than gold—

than tons of pure gold!

They are sweeter than honey—

even dripping off the honeycomb!

¹¹No doubt about it:

your servant is enlightened by them;

there is great reward in keeping them.

¹²But can anyone know

what they’ve accidentally done wrong?

Clear me of any unknown sin

¹³and save your servant from willful sins.

Don’t let them rule me.

Then I’ll be completely blameless;

I’ll be innocent of great wrongdoing.

¹⁴Let the words of my mouth

and the meditations of my heart

be pleasing to you,

Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

COLOR: GREEN 17th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

NRSVue

James 3:1-12

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will face stricter judgment. ²For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is mature, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. ³If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. ⁴Or look at ships: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. ⁵So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.

How great a forest is set ablaze by a such a small fire! ⁶And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of life, and is itself set on fire by hell. ⁷For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, ⁸but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, made in the likeness of God. ¹⁰From the same mouth comes a blessing and a curse. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. ¹¹Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? ¹²Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.

Mark 8:27-38

²⁷Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi, and on the way he asked his disciples, Who do people say that I am? ²⁸And they answered him, John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets. ²⁹He asked them, But who do you say that I am? Peter answered him, You are the Messiah. ³⁰And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

³¹Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes and be killed and after three days rise again. ³²He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ³³But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.

³⁴He called the crowd with his disciples and said to them, If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ³⁵For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. ³⁶For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? ³⁷Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? ³⁸Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

CEB

James 3:1-12

My brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers, because we know that we teachers will be judged more strictly. ²We all make mistakes often, but those who don’t make mistakes with their words have reached full maturity. Like a bridled horse, they can control themselves entirely. ³When we bridle horses and put bits in their mouths to lead them wherever we want, we can control their whole bodies.

⁴Consider ships: They are so large that strong winds are needed to drive them. But pilots direct their ships wherever they want with a little rudder. ⁵In the same way, even though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts wildly.

Think about this: A small flame can set a whole forest on fire. ⁶The tongue is a small flame of fire, a world of evil at work in us. It contaminates our entire lives. Because of it, the circle of life is set on fire. The tongue itself is set on fire by the flames of hell.

⁷People can tame and already have tamed every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and fish. ⁸No one can tame the tongue, though. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹With it we both bless the Lord and Father and curse human beings made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰Blessing and cursing come from the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, it just shouldn’t be this way!

¹¹Both fresh water and salt water don’t come from the same spring, do they? ¹²My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree produce olives? Can a grapevine produce figs? Of course not, and fresh water doesn’t flow from a saltwater spring either.

Mark 8:27-38

²⁷Jesus and his disciples went into the villages near Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, Who do people say that I am?

²⁸They told him, Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and still others one of the prophets.

²⁹He asked them, And what about you? Who do you say that I am?

Peter answered, You are the Christ. ³⁰Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

³¹Then Jesus began to teach his disciples: The Human One must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and the legal experts, and be killed, and then, after three days, rise from the dead. ³²He said this plainly. But Peter took hold of Jesus and, scolding him, began to correct him. ³³Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, then sternly corrected Peter: Get behind me, Satan. You are not thinking God’s thoughts but human thoughts.

³⁴After calling the crowd together with his disciples, Jesus said to them, All who want to come after me must say no to themselves, take up their cross, and follow me. ³⁵All who want to save their lives will lose them. But all who lose their lives because of me and because of the good news will save them. ³⁶Why would people gain the whole world but lose their lives? ³⁷What will people give in exchange for their lives? ³⁸Whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this unfaithful and sinful generation, the Human One will be ashamed of that person when he comes in the Father’s glory with the holy angels.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2024

Primary Hymns and Songs for the Day

Additional Hymn Suggestions

+Other Hymn Resources

Open Your Ears (Prov)

E536, EL519, G453, VU272

Take Thou Our Minds, Dear Lord (Prov)

G707, P392

Lord Jesus, You Shall Be My Song (Jas)

EL808, G737, VU641 (Fr.)

Additional Contemporary and Modern Suggestions

Solo/Ensemble Suggestions

Be Thou My Vision (Prov)

V-6p. 13

The Heavens Declare His Glory (Pss)

V-8p. 248

Lord of the Dance (Mark)

V-3 (3)p. 34

Nothing…Everything (Mark)

V-8p. 162

+Come and Seek the Ways of Wisdom (Prov)

Arr. Thomas Paulson; Augsburg 9781506492414

2-part mixed, piano, flute (https://bit.ly/9241-4)

And Are We Yet Alive (Mark)

Mark Miller; Choristers Guild CGA1638

SATB, piano (https://bit.ly/CGA1638)

A Covenant Prayer (Mark)

Dan Forrest; Hinshaw HMC2289 (a cappella HMC2290)

SATB, keyboard (https://bit.ly/HMC-2289)

COLOR: GREEN 17th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

+Hymn Anthem

149Cantemos al Señor (Pss)

This anthem is best performed with improvised piano and guitar accompaniment. Add maracas, claves, and other percussion instruments for a festive rendition. Adapt the suggestions here to your choir.

Introduction: Guitar and piano.

Stanza 1: Soloist sings in Spanish.

Refrain: All voices, unison, in Spanish.

Stanza 1: All voices in English.

Refrain: All voices in Spanish.

Stanza 2: Soloist sings in Spanish.

Refrain: All voices, including congregation in Spanish.

Stanza 2: All voices in English.

Refrain: All voices, including congregation in Spanish. Repeat once and take the final ending.

Other Suggestions

Visuals:

+This would be an appropriate day to dedicate new church school teachers and/or celebrate Christian Education Sunday in relation to the Proverbs and James readings.

BOW601-602: Recognition of Church School Workers

BOW602-604: Commissioning of Class Leaders

BOW587-588: Presentation of Bibles to Children

BOW584: Resources for a Homecoming Service

BOW535: Prayer At the Beginning of a New School Year

Songs:

191 Jesus Loves Me

277 Tell Me the Stories of Jesus

3062 Spirit Child Jesus (Also Mark 8:34-38)

3065 Some Children See Him

+Greeting: N824 (Pss)

Opening Prayer: BOW461 (Pss)

Canticle: UM112. Canticle of Wisdom (Prov)

Song of Prayer: BOW193. Prayer for Wisdom (Prov)

Prayer: WSL47 or BOW525. For Wisdom (Prov)

Prayer for Illumination: WSL71 (Pss)

Prayers: WSL47 (Prov) and WSL71 (Pss)

+Prayer of Confession: N837 (Jas)

+Words of Assurance: N840 (Pss)

+Prayer: C1, C256, or N851 (Prov)

Responsive Prayer: BOW514. May This Mind Be in Us (Prov, Jas, Mark)

Prayer of Thanksgiving: WSL62 (Pss)

Dismissal: BOW189. May This Mind Be in Us (Prov, Jas)

Blessing: BOW564 (Prov, Jas)

Theme Ideas: Creation, Cross, Discipleship/Following God, God: Glory of God, God: Word of God, Sin and Forgiveness, Wisdom

Notes

SEPTEMBER 22, 2024

NRSVue

Proverbs 31:10-31

¹⁰A woman of strength who can find?

She is far more precious than jewels.

¹¹The heart of her husband trusts in her,

and he will have no lack of gain.

¹²She does him good and not harm

all the days of her life.

¹³She seeks wool and flax

and works with willing hands.

¹⁴She is like the ships of the merchant;

she brings her food from far away.

¹⁵She rises while it is still night

and provides food for her household

and tasks for her female servants.

¹⁶She considers a field and buys it;

with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

¹⁷She girds herself with strength

and makes her arms strong.

¹⁸She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.

Her lamp does not go out at night.

¹⁹She puts her hands to the distaff,

and her hands hold the spindle.

²⁰She opens her hand to the poor

and reaches out her hands to the needy.

²¹She is not afraid for her household when it snows,

for all her household are clothed in crimson.

²²She makes herself coverings;

her clothing is fine linen and purple.

²³Her husband is known in the city gates,

taking his seat among the elders of the land.

²⁴She makes linen garments and sells them;

she supplies the merchant with sashes.

²⁵Strength and dignity are her clothing,

and she laughs at the time to come.

²⁶She opens her mouth with wisdom,

and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

²⁷She looks well to the ways of her household and

does not eat the bread of idleness.

²⁸Her children rise up and call her happy;

her husband, too, and he praises her:

²⁹"Many women have done excellently,

but you surpass them all."

³⁰Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

³¹Give her a share in the fruit of her hands,

and let her works praise her in the city gates.

Psalm 1 (UM738)

Happy are those

who do not follow the advice of the wicked

or take the path that sinners tread

or sit in the seat of scoffers,

²but their delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law they meditate day and night.

³They are like trees

planted by streams of water,

which yield their fruit in its season,

and their leaves do not wither.

In all that they do, they prosper.

⁴The wicked are not so

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

⁵Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment

nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous,

⁶for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

CEB

Proverbs 31:10-31

¹⁰A competent wife, how does one find her?

Her value is far above pearls.

¹¹Her husband entrusts his heart to her,

and with her he will have all he needs.

¹²She brings him good and not trouble

all the days of her life.

¹³She seeks out wool and flax;

she works joyfully with her hands.

¹⁴She is like a fleet of merchant ships,

bringing food from a distance.

¹⁵She gets up while it is still night,

providing food for her household,

even some for her female servants.

¹⁶She surveys a field and acquires it;

from her own resources, she plants a vineyard.

¹⁷She works energetically;

her arms are powerful.

¹⁸She realizes that her trading is successful;

she doesn’t put out her lamp at night.

¹⁹She puts and her hands to the spindle;

her palms grasp the whorl.

²⁰She reaches out to the needy;

she stretches out her hands to the poor.

²¹She doesn’t fear for her household when it snows,

because they are all dressed in warm clothes.

²²She makes bedspreads for herself;

fine linen and purple are her clothing.

²³Her husband is known in the city gates

when he sits with the elders of the land.

²⁴She makes garments and sells them;

she supplies sashes to traders.

²⁵Strength and honor are her clothing;

she is confident about the future.

²⁶Her mouth is full of wisdom;

kindly teaching is on her tongue.

²⁷She is vigilant over the activities of her household;

she doesn’t eat the food of laziness.

²⁸Her children bless her;

her husband praises her:

²⁹ "Many women act competently,

but you surpass them all!"

³⁰Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting,

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

³¹Let her share in the results of her work;

let her deeds praise her in the city gates.

Psalm 1 (UM738)

The truly happy person

doesn’t follow wicked advice,

doesn’t stand on the road of sinners,

and doesn’t sit with the disrespectful.

²Instead of doing those things,

these persons love the Lord’s Instruction,

and they recite God’s Instruction day and night!

³They are like a tree replanted by streams of water,

which bears fruit at just the right time

and whose leaves don’t fade.

Whatever they do succeeds.

⁴That’s not true for the wicked!

They are like dust that the wind blows away.

⁵And that’s why the wicked will have no standing in the court of justice—

neither will sinners

in the assembly of the righteous.

⁶The Lord is intimately acquainted

with the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked is destroyed.

COLOR: GREEN 18th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

NRSVue

James 3:13–4:3, 7-8a

¹³Who is wise and knowledgeable among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. ¹⁴But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be arrogant and lie about the truth. ¹⁵This is not wisdom that comes down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. ¹⁶For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. ¹⁷But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. ¹⁸And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

4 Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? ²You want something and do not have it, so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it, so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have because you do not ask. ³You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures….

⁷Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

Mark 9:30-37

³⁰They went on from there