Sunday 7 September 2025
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Creation Time runs from 1 September to the feast of St Francis on 4 October. The resource hub hosts a range of resources for worship and reflection under the theme of Climate and Creation
Readings are laid out as for the continuous form of the lectionary. Alternative related readings (OT and psalm only) are below. Hymns marked with an asterisk (*) are suggested for more than one reading
Jeremiah 18: 1-11
*Behold the servant of the Lord! (StF 546)
Jesus, lover of my soul (StF 355)
Spirit of the living God (StF 395)
Psalm 139: 1-6, 13-18
Hymns reflecting the psalmist’s theme
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart (StF 545)
Forth in thy name, O Lord I go (StF 550)
Holy Spirit, come confirm us (StF 382)
I was on your mind long before you formed the earth (StF 468)
O God, you search me and you know me (StF 728)
There is no moment of my life (StF 482)
Philemon vv 1-21
Amazing grace – how sweet the sound (StF 440)
As we gather, Father, seal us (StF 570)
Before I take the body of my Lord (StF 575) (a hymn of confession for use during a Communion service)
Brother, sister, let me serve you (StF 611)
Christ from whom all blessings flow (StF 676)
I come with joy, a child of God (StF 588)
God is Love, let heaven adore him (StF 103)
Jesus stand among us (StF 30)
Make me a channel of your peace (StF 707)
O thou who camest from above (StF 564)
Out of the depths I cry to thee, Lord God! O hear my prayer! (StF 433)
The peace of the Lord be always with you (StF 768)
Luke 14: 25-33
Lord, we have come at your own invitation (StF 595)
Lord, you have come to the seashore (StF 558)
O Jesus, I have promised to serve you to the end (StF 563)
One human family God has made (StF 687)
Speak, O Lord, as we come to you (StF 161)
Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee (StF 566)
Would I have answered when you called? (StF 674)
Alternative related readings
Deuteronomy 30: 15-20
Fight the good fight with all your might (StF 634)
Not far beyond the sea nor high (StF 159)
Psalm 1
Hymns reflecting the psalmist’s theme
*Behold the servant of the Lord! (StF 546)
Happy are they who find the grace (StF 500)
Lord of creation, to you be all praise! (StF 449)
What shall we offer our good Lord? (StF 671)
A prayer for peace and justice
Come as a dove flying
over still waters of hope,
putting peace into the hearts of people
who would wage war.
Come to the captives and the refugees.
Comfort all people who wait for freedom
and all people who wait for them to be free.
Come as the sound of silence
to hear the cries of people whose lives
are limited by gender-based violence
and domination. Stir up the hearts
of all who abuse their power and privilege.
Come as flames of justice
to a world where children are hungry;
a world ripped apart by untruths and greed.
Come as water cascading down a mountain
washing away the inequities of wealth and poverty.
Come change the story.
Come Holy Spirit, come now.
Amen.
Penny McCulloch, worship leader, Balsall Common Methodist Church, West Midlands
A contemplative breath prayer - Alternative Prayer
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23
(Breathe in) Lord, you are faithful,
(Breathe out) I hold fast to hope
A contemplative breath prayer
Sunday 7 September 2025
"So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions." (v. 33)