WORSHIP @ HOME
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time 4 October 2020
HOLY SPIRIT PARISH
Preparation
There are a few things you need to do to get ready before you begin.
• We recommend glancing through the whole service before you start. Adapt the service for your
family, especially so it will be age-appropriate.
• You could make the setting special by using a white table cloth and setting some candles out. Get the
whole family involved in the preparations.
• Place your family Bible on the table, if you have one, opened up to the Gospel of the day (Matthew
21:33-43)
• The script has leader and various reader parts. Anyone old enough to read well can perform these roles.
• An iPad/tablet computer or large phone could work well for reading the script. It would be helpful to
have two devices for multiple people to read. To access the slideshow and hymns, visit:
https://worship.pastoral.center/day/2020-10-04
• Don't worry, you don't have to do this perfectly. Have some fun with it. Let's pray!
JUST BEFORE YOU BEGIN
• Silence and set aside all phones or other devices that may interrupt you.
INTRODUCTORY RITES
OPENING SONG (OPTIONAL)
Start playing the video for this opening song, and then scroll down to sing along with the lyrics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y62EkDT7zQ
GREETING
Leader: ┼ In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
Leader: Grace and peace to you from God our Father
and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be God forever.
The response is: Blessed be God forever.
All: Blessed be God forever.
Leader: We gather together as a family
to listen to God's Word so it can lead us this week.
One with all of our sisters and brothers throughout the world,
let us now listen to God's Word and join in prayer.
LITANY IN PRAISE OF GOD'S MERCY
Together, we acknowledge how grateful we are for the mercy of God.
Leader: As we prepare to hear a story from our faith,
let us remember that God is merciful and wants us to be merciful too.
Lord Jesus, you know that we are not perfect like you and don’t always act out of love:
Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Leader: Lord Jesus, you showed us that the last shall be first and the first shall be last:
Christ, have mercy.
All: Christ, have mercy.
Leader: Lord Jesus, you give us the strength we need to make good choices:
Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
OPENING PRAYER
Leader: Let us pray.
Pause for a short time for everyone to pray in silence. Then pray the following out loud, carefully and with meaning.
Leader: God of Love,
you stand for justice
and are always on the side of the weak.
May we work toward a better world,
seeking what is best for all,
not just our friends or people who look like us.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
ALLELUIA
Play the video. Listen to the refrain the first time, then sing together when it repeats.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZc76QdNpPw&feature=emb_logo
GOSPEL
Lead your family in this action prayer, making the Sign of the Cross over your forehead, lips, and heart at each step.
Reader 1: In today’s reading, Jesus tells a story about some very mean servants.
We now do this action prayer together:
May the Lord be on my mind, ┼
on my lips, ┼
and in my heart ┼
as we hear the Gospel today.
A reading from the holy Gospel of Matthew.
This text is based on the translation used in the Lectionary for Masses with Children and is easier for young people to
understand.
Reader 1: Jesus told the chief priests and leaders to listen to this story:
A land owner once planted a vineyard. He built a wall around it and dug a pit to crush
the grapes in.
He also built a lookout tower. Then he rented out his vineyard and left the country.
When it was harvest time, the owner sent some servants to get his share of the grapes.
But the renters grabbed those servants. They beat up one, killed one, and stoned one of
them to death.
He then sent more servants than he did the first time. But the renters treated them in the
same way.
Finally, the owner sent his own son to the renters, because he thought they would
respect him.
But when they saw the man’s son, they said,
“Someday he will own the vineyard. Let’s kill him! Then we can have it all for ourselves.”
So they grabbed him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
Jesus asked,
“When the owner of that vineyard comes, what do you suppose he will do to those
renters?”
The chief priests and leaders answered,
“He will kill them in some horrible way.
Then he will rent out his vineyard to people who will give him his share of grapes at
harvest time.”
Jesus replied, “You surely know that the Scriptures say,
‘The stone that the builders tossed aside
is now the most important stone of all.
This is something the Lord has done,
and it is amazing to us.’
I tell you that God’s kingdom will be taken from you
and given to people who will do what he demands.
Matthew 21:33-43. From the Contemporary English Version, copyright © American Bible Society, 1991, 1995.
Reader 1: The Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
GOSPEL VIDEO REFLECTION
Here's a nine minute video for kids that reflects on this Gospel reading and how God gives second chances.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5JYinZ0GOs&feature=emb_logo
REFLECTION ON THE READINGS
Take some time to talk together about what the readings mean to each of you. You can do this however you would like,
but here are some thoughts and questions that can get you started.
• In the Bible, the writers sometimes use a grape vineyard as a symbol for God’s people. Both the Old
Testament reading and this Gospel reading for today make that comparison. They tell how God
cares for us like a skilled, loving farmer who does everything possible to help us grow and produce
good fruit. Who are the people in your life who help you and care for you so that you can grow to be
the best "you"?
• Why do you think the tenants acted so horribly to the servants that the landlord sent? Why would
they beat them up and kill them? Sadly, that’s what the people did to Jesus when he came as God’s
servant. Do you know of other children or other people who have been mistreated and hurt? What
could you do to help them?
• Jesus explains that some people (like the leaders of his own people, the Jews) rejected him just like
the tenants rejected the landowner’s servants but that won’t stop him. He can work through
ANYONE. The Kingdom of God is open to anyone who wants to produce good grapes through being
caring and generous and being their best selves. Who do you know who is a good and loving person,
even if they don’t go to your church, or share the same faith as you? Jesus is working through them
too!
GENERAL INTERCESSIONS
Leader: Now let’s pray together to God for what we need.
Reader 2: We pray for all the leaders in our nation, states, and local communities,
that they may lead with wisdom, justice, and love for all,
let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Reader 2: We pray for all of those who are struggling during this pandemic time,
with health, finances, loneliness, or other challenges,
let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Reader 2: We pray for all those who suffer in our country because of injustice and judgment
because of their skin color, their religion, or any other form of discrimination.
May we all work for justice because every single person is a child of God.
Let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Reader 2: For what else and for who else shall we pray?
Allow time for anyone else to speak prayers aloud.
LORD'S PRAYER
Leader: Jesus taught us to call God our Father, and so we have the courage to say:
All: Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
SIGN OF PEACE
Leader: Let us now offer each another a sign of peace.
Share some hugs!
A LITANY FOR SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
Leader: The response is: Lord, bring us closer to you!
All: Lord, bring us closer to you!
Leader: Lord our God,
we wish we could gather today with our parish community,
but we gather here out of love and concern for others.
You teach us that when two or three are gathered in your name,
you are there.
Together, we pray:
All: Lord, bring us closer to you!
Leader: Christ Jesus, you are present in a special way
when bread and wine are turned into your Body and Blood.
Since we cannot receive you in this way today,
We ask that you enter our hearts
so that we may receive you spiritually.
Together, we pray:
All: Lord, bring us closer to you!
Leader: Lord our God,
watch over your family
and keep us safe in your care,
for all our hope is in you.
All: Lord, bring us closer to you!
Concluding Rite
BLESSING & DISMISSAL
Leader: Go in the peace of Christ.
All: Thanks be to God.
CLOSING SONG (OPTIONAL)
Start playing the video, and then scroll down to sing along with the lyrics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtrbxIW7bRo&feature=emb_logo
After the Service
SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE
Take a picture of your family in your worship area and share it on social media (tag it with
#HolySpiritStClairWorshipAtHome).
PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL PARISH
Your parish still has to pay the electric bill and your staff, even when public Masses are cancelled. If you
haven't already, sign up for electronic payments or mail in a check today. Planned Giving Forms and
online donation portal are available on the parish website: https://holyspiritstclair.com.au/donations/.
Or you can send your donation to:
FIRST COLLECTION: For the Augustinian Clergy
Account Name: Augustinian Fathers
Bank: CBA
BSB: 067 950
Account Number: 000 030 02
SECOND COLLECITON: For the Parish
Account Name: Holy Spirit Parish St Clair
Bank: CBA
BSB: 067 950
Account Number: 000 005 78
Portions excerpted from or adapted from Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest: Leader's Guide © 1993 United States
Catholic Conference (USCC), 3211 Fourth Street, NE, Washington, DC 20017-1194 USA. All rights reserved. © 2020 The Pastoral
Center. All rights reserved.
