Liturgy and Prayers - Sunday, 27 September 2020 – Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost, Year A (Proper 21).

Liturgy in one document: Pentecost 17A Liturgy in One Document

Opening sentence

Christ humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.  (Phil 2:8 NRSV)

INVITATION TO CONFESSION

If using the alternative first reading (1b), consider using the following introduction to the confession of sins:
Friends in Christ:
The Lord says:
‘Rid yourselves of all the offences you have committed,
and get a new heart and a new spirit.
Why will you die, O house of Israel?

For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone,
declares the Sovereign Lord.

Repent and live!’  (Ezek 18:31,32 NIV)

Therefore let us come to God our Father to confess our sins,
asking him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive us.

Prayer of the day - (Collect):

Traditional

O God, since without you
we are not able to please you:
Mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit
may in all things
direct and rule our hearts;
through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Modernised Traditional

Lord,
without you we are not able to please you.
Direct our hearts
by the working of your mercy.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Alternative

(Let us pray to be faithful stewards of our possessions. [silence])
Loving Father,
you have so generously given us
all that we are
and all that we call our own.
Help us to serve you
by managing our possessions wisely,
so that they may not be a curse in our lives,
but an instrument for blessing.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

New

(Let us pray for humility. [silence])
Merciful God,
give us the same attitude as Jesus,
who emptied himself
and was obedient to you
all the way to his death on the cross.
Make us eager to put others before ourselves,
and their needs before our own.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Alleluia Verse

Alleluia, alleluia.
At the name of Jesus every knee should bend
and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Alleluia.

Prayer after the Gospel

This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Thank you, Lord Jesus,
for coming and acting with the authority of God.
Help us truly to obey you.
Amen.

Offering Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for all you have given us,
especially the gift of your Son.
Help us to accept his authority,
trust in him, and obey him.
Teach us to live our lives in service to you.
Amen.

Prayer of the Church

Prayer points

  • National Council of Churches in Australia Call for Further Prayer and Fasting, September 26-27

    This weekend, the NCAA are calling people to pray and fast for the nation. You can learn more about this and the National Solemn Assembly of indigenous Christian elders here.

    Prayer petitions you might like to add to your prayers this weekend:

    • Lord, we pray that you will renew our nations, granting us times of refreshing and healing of our land, and ask that you reveal your love to all the people of Australia and New Zealand.
    • Creator God, make us mindful custodians of this land and which we share, and help each of us to work to look after our environment. Give us your wisdom as we seek to make better decisions for the planet. Guide our steps so that we can journey together with our First Nations peoples, listening and learning from each other in these matters.
    • Father God, we seek your forgiveness for the times we have failed to acknowledge and respect our First Nations people. Cleanse us of bitterness, racism, and the temptation to ignore the suffering of others. Help us to seek justice and equality for all of your children.
    • Healing God, we cry out for relief for all people groaning under the weight of this pandemic. Be with those who are sick, with those who mourn, and with all those who care for and protect our people in this trying time. We thank you for scientists and doctors striving to find vaccines and treatments. Lord God, please bring an end to this pandemic.
    • Lord our comforter, strengthen the resolve of all those who are faced with increased vulnerability through the loss of employment and the increased pressures of living in communities facing impacts of the restrictions on the freedom of socialization. Give our government leaders and our decision-makers insight and wisdom as they wrestle to keep all our communities safe.

    Other resources:

    Prayers for Victoria

    On behalf of the people of Victoria and other areas facing outbreaks:

    • Jesus, be with the people of Victoria as they struggle with strict lock-down measures. We pray that these measures will help bring an end to the suffering of many. Bring comfort and relief to all those who are struggling with sudden changes to their lives, and protect all essential service workers.
    • Lord, we pray for the families of all those who are mourning the loss of loved ones. Envelope them in your love, and draw them close to you in their pain and loss.
    • Father God, protect all your children in [insert name/s of areas affected]. Help officials to locate and contain the outbreak, and restore health to those afflicted with coronavirus.

    For those in Victoria, and other areas facing outbreaks:

    • Heavenly Father, we flee to you in this time of crisis, seeking your protection and comfort. Grant us peace and calm in the midst of this storm, Lord, and help us to place our trust in you.
    • Lord God, thank you for health care workers and all those who place themselves in harm’s way to provide for our daily needs. Protect them as they go about their duties and give them rest and relief from the strain they carry.

  • The Lutheran World Federation has released the following prayer documents:

    Intercessory Prayer in the midst of the spread of COVID-19

     

Additional Prayer Points

LCA International Mission

Services with Holy Communion:

Preface

It is indeed right and good,
Lord God, holy Father,
that we should at all times and in all places
give thanks to you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(On this day)*
he overcame death by his resurrection
and opened up for us
the way to eternal life with you.
And so, with angels and archangels,
and with all the company of heaven,
we adore and praise your glorious name:

* The words ‘on this day’ are used only on Sundays.

Communion Invitation

Jesus says: ‘I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to me will never be hungry,
and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’
(Thanks be to God.)
Come, everything is ready.

OR

Jesus says: ‘My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.
Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood remain in me, and I in them.’
(Thanks be to God.)
Come, everything is ready.

Prayer after Communion

See the service order for a standard post-communion prayer. Alternatively, use the third prayer of the day (as listed above) at this point. It may be modified as follows:

Loving Father,
you have so generously given us
all that we are
and all that we call our own.
Above all else,
you have given us your Son,
whose body and blood
we have received in this sacrament.
Help us to serve you
by managing our possessions wisely,
so that they may not be a curse in our lives,
but an instrument for blessing.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Dismissal

BEFORE THE BLESSING
The following verses (based on Phil 2:1,2 NRSV) may be said before the blessing.

If there is any encouragement in Christ,
any consolation from love,
any sharing in the Spirit,
any compassion and sympathy,
let us be of the same mind,
having the same love,
being in full accord and of one mind.

DISMISSAL
Go in peace as God’s children to do his will.
Thanks be to God.  OR  In the name of Christ. Amen.