Proper 32     Book of Alternative Services

Eternal God,

who caused all holy scriptures

to be written for our learning,

grant us so to hear them,

read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,

that we may embrace and ever hold fast

the blessed hope of everlasting life,

which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

The holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ

according to Mark

41 Jesus sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. 43 Then he called his disciples and said to them, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 44 For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."           Mark 12:41-44

The Gospel of Christ.

 

PART ONE

A     Who are the characters in this reading?

1)     Jesus

2)     A Poor Widow

3)     The Disciples

 

B     What are they doing?

1)     Jesus is watching the crowd put money into the treasury.

2)     The widow put 2 small copper coins (penny) into the treasury.

3)     The disciples stopped what they were doing and responded

       to Jesus' call and listened to him.

 

C What is this reading about?

Jesus was interested with watching people put money into the treasury, who and how much.

(One group of Jews didn't want foreigners to either enter the Temple or put money into the treasury. Signs on rocks warned of death.)

(Widows depended on sons, their husband's inheritance, neighbours and self-sufficiency.)

The widow must have had great trust in God.

 

PART TWO

A     What message does God want us to hear?

        God is interested in our whole life including finances.

        God wants to see faith demonstrated in generosity.

 

B     What does this message reveal about GOD?

        God is a generous giver and wants us to be generous givers.

 

C     What does this message reveal about US?

        Money is important to us.

        We are capable of great generosity.

 

PART THREE

A     What is the Good News you hear in this reading?

I am important to God. This is demonstrated in concern for my poverty, or my wealth, and hopes that I will be generous.

 

B How are we to be stewards of this Gospel?

Learn how to manage money responsibly so that I can make an offering that blesses God, me, and others.

 

C     Write a personal prayer about this reading.

Thank you God for being interested in money, one of the important things in my life.

Please forgive my misuse of money.

Teach me to manage money so that I can continually give more and more to benefit those in need, and support our place of worship, Christian education, and ministry.

 

 

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Compassionate God, we remember soldiers who lost their lives in battle;

 inspire us to work for peace and justice.

 

Silence to remember

 

Benevolent God, your Spirit is revealed in the Gifts you give us;

 teach us how to offer ourselves and know the joy of giving.

 

Silence to think about the gifts God gave us this week, and the gifts we return to God today in thanksgiving.

 

Indwelling God, you know we want our offering to be a blessing;

teach us to focus on what we are able to offer and not on what we are not able to offer.

Silence to think about all we have to offer

 

Rescuing God, you created us in your image and long to dwell with us;

we thank you for accepting and calling us home.

 

Healing God, your Son Jesus Christ offered his life on the cross

and sealed the New Covenant with his blood;

grant us true repentance and forgiveness,

heal our infirmities and console our sorrows,

 

Empowering God, you dwell with us in Spirit;

enrich our lives with the word of your truth and the bread of your love.

 

With thankful hearts we say, Amen.