The document contains passages from Isaiah, Psalms 80 and 82, and a prayer. It discusses the metaphor of a vineyard and explores themes of justice, oppression, fruitfulness, and God's relationship with Israel. The overall message is that vineyards are meant to bear fruit for others, especially the poor and needy, and calls the reader to reflect on how to embrace both painful and joyful aspects of engaging with the world rather than resisting.

1. A Prayer for the People of God
God of justice,
your word is light and truth.
Let your face shine on us to restore us,
that we may walk in your way,
seeking justice and doing good.
Amen.

2. The Church Calendar
August 14

3. Isaiah 5; Psalm 80; Psalm 82
a VINEYARD is NOT for ITSELF

4. Let me sing to my beloved the song of my
lover for his vineyard. A vineyard my
beloved had on a hillside rich in soil. And
he hoed it and took off its stones, and
planted it with choice vines. And he built a
tower in its midst, and a winepress, too, he
hewed in it. And he hoped to get grapes
but it put forth rotten fruit. And now, O
dweller of Jerusalem
and man of Judah, judge, pray, between
ISAIAH 5:1-3 (ALTER)

5. What more could I have done for my
vineyard that I did not do? Why did I hope
to get grapes and it put forth rotten fruit?
And now, let me inform you, pray, what I
am about
to do to my vineyard: take away its hedge,
and it shall turn to waste, break down
its fence, and it shall be trampled.
And I will make it a wild field, and it
shall not be pruned nor raked, and thorn
ISAIAH 5:4-6a (ALTER)

6. And I will charge the clouds not to rain on
it.
For the house of Israel is the vineyard of
the Lord of Armies and the men of Judah
are
his delightful planting. He hoped for
justice, and look, jaundice, for
righteousness,
and look, wretchedness.*
ISAIAH 5:6ab-8 (ALTER)

7. Shepherd of Israel, hearken, he who
drives Joseph like sheep, enthroned on
the cherubim, shine forth…You carried
a vine out of Egypt, you drove away
nations
and planted it. You cleared space before
it and struck its roots down, and it filled
the land. The mountains were covered by
its shade, and by its branches the mighty
cedars.
PSALM 80:1-2; 8-12 (ALTER)

8. Why did you break through its walls so all
passersby could pluck it? The boar from
the forest has gnawed it, and the swarm of
the field fed upon it. God of Armies, pray,
come back, look down from the heavens
and see,
and take not of this vine, and the stock
that your right hand planted, and the son
you took to yourself – burned in fire,
chopped to bits,
PSALM 80:13-17 (ALTER)

9. May your hand be over the man on your
right, over the son of man you took for
yourself.
And we will not fall back from you.
Restore us to life and we shall call
on your name. Lord God of Armies,
bring us back. Light up your face,
that we may be rescued.
PSALM 80:18-19 (ALTER)

10. God takes his stand in the divine assembly,
in the midst of the gods he renders
judgment.
“How long will you judge dishonestly and
show favor to the wicked? Do justice to the
poor and the orphan. Vindicate the lowly
and the wretched. Free the poor and
needy, from the hand of the wicked save
them.
They do not know and do not grasp,
PSALM 82:1-5 (ALTER)

11. “As for me, I had thought: you were gods,
and the sons of the Most High were you
all.
Yet indeed like humans you shall die,
and like one of the princes, fall.”
Arise, O God, judge the earth,
for you hold in estate all the nations.
PSALM 82:6-8 (ALTER)

12. Isaiah 5; Psalm 80; Psalm 82
a VINEYARD is NOT for ITSELF

13. 1. The vines produce fruit
2. The fruit produces wine
3. The wine is meant to be
shared and enjoyed by others,
especially those who need
what the vineyard has to offer
WHAT’S THE VINEYARD FOR?

14. I am the vine, you are the branches.
Those who abide in me and I in them
bear much fruit
JOHN 15:5a

15. THE RHYTHM of the VINEYARD

16. QUESTIONS
Where are you/we right now?
Will you embrace the painful/joyful?
Will you/we engage or resist?

17. Prayer
Judge eternal,
you love justice and hate oppression;
you give peace to those who seek it,
and you condemn the rage of violence.
Give us courage to take our stand
with all victims of bloodshed and greed,
and, following your servants and prophets,
look to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
Amen.