Worship Guide - 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Worship With One Click

You can choose to watch all of this Sunday's worship service in a series of linked videos, one after the other by clicking this link. Just press the button that says "PLAY ALL" and sit back and relax. You can also just click on the graphic to the left.​ Otherwise, proceed as normal through the sections.

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Jonah just blurts it out! The problem is God’s readiness to forgive: “That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing.”
​ Jonah’s disarming honesty is nothing, if not refreshing, and, perhaps, a bit of comfort to those of us (all of us?) who struggle not to allow our privilege to short-circuit our grace and generosity toward others, who find that, to the injury of others, our passion for justice has limits we would rather not acknowledge . 

But Jesus’ parable in Matthew draws us to another insight that may just have the power to save us all—a landowner, and workers paid equally for unequal work. Jesus both envisions the new order

of God and unmasks the deadly spirits of our disorder. Instead of using wages to reinforce distinctions, Jesus uses them to express equality and solidarity—a living wage, a day’s wage for each worker. Not equal pay for equal work, but plenty and not too much for all—an economy for all souls!​
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We nod our heads in agreement even as we remember the Spirit is often in the details. And the one detail that may be most essential, and at the root of America’s original sin is captured in the complaint of the first vineyard workers: “You have made them equal to us…” Indeed, God has! And therein lies the saving Good News. Enter into worship.

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Connections with Andrea

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Prelude

If you have prayers you would like to share, please do so here. These will be shared by email to our St Andrew prayer list so that we pray for what you hold by name. This information is not shared online in a searchable form.

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Gathering Song

O God, from your providing hand
even the dissatisfied and grumbling
receive what they need for their lives.
Teach us your ways of justice
and lead us to practice your generosity,
so that we may live a life worthy of the gospel
made known through your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Amen.

Hymn of Praise

Confession, Assurance

S​end a text to a couple of people. Make a call. Who comes to mind for you? Wish them well. More than that, wish them the peace that comes with justice. Then click below.

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The Word Made Flesh

Gracious God,
your Word surprises, challenges, upsets,
and overturns our way of seeing and thinking.
Come and find us today wherever we are, however we are.
By the power of your Holy Spirit,
cause that which is withering in us to blossom
and that which is exacting in us to broaden
until we see as you see,
and thereby glimpse the kingdom you are bringing.
Amen.


Jonah 3:10-4:11 † Psalm 145:1-8 † Philippians 1:21-30 † Matthew 20:1-16
*In the season after Pentecost (also known as Ordinary Time, or "Proper" Sundays, the first reading can follow one of two tracks—either a semi-continuous track that stays with a story over a number of Sundays or a paired track that companions more closely the gospel reading. This summer we are mostly using the paired readings. 

Psalm Response

Gospel and Reflection

You can find a printed version of this sermon here.

Respond with Song

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Give Thanks

If you haven’t already, set the elements—some bread, some juice or wine—in the room or space where you worship in these days with our faith community. Add flowers—something beautiful, and add something that reminds you of your deep connection with your human siblings.

​If a joy or a concern has come to mind, please share it with the assembly here so you do not carry it alone. These will be shared by email to our St Andrew prayer list so that we pray for what you hold by name. This information is emailed to a curated group, not shared or posted online in a searchable form.

As we respond to God's grace and new life, consider those ways you can express gratitude, thanksgiving and blessing. And remember that we continue to keep our financial commitments to our mission partners and staff. Thank you for remembering to send in your financial pledges and offerings.

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Sending Song

Go, Tell, Bless As You Are Blessed