Liturgy and Prayers - Sunday, 19 September 2021 – Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost, Year B (Proper 20)

Liturgy in one document: Pentecost 17B Proper 20 Liturgy in One Document

Opening sentence

Whoever wants to be first
must be last of all and servant of all.  (Mark 9:35b NRSV)

Prayer of the day - (Collect):

Traditional

Lord, grant your people grace
to avoid the contamination of the devil,
and to follow you, the only Lord,
with pure hearts and minds;
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, help your people
to avoid all contamination of the devil,
and to follow you, the only Lord,
with pure hearts and minds.
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 for a willingness to serve others. [silence])
Almighty and merciful Father,
your Son Jesus Christ has taught us
that what we do for those in need
we also do for him.
As he became the servant of all,
help us to be a servant to others.
For he lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

New

(Let us pray that we become more like Jesus. [silence])
Loving and self-giving God,
teach us to follow the example of your Son, Jesus,
who was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter.
Lead us to be submissive to you,
and kind and considerate to others.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Alleluia Verse

Alleluia, alleluia.
(Jesus said:) ‘Whoever welcomes me, welcomes not me
but the one who sent me.’ (Mark 9:37b NRSV)
Alleluia.

Prayer after the Gospel

This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Lord Jesus, thank you for giving up everything,
and dying and rising to life again.
Help us also to serve others.
Amen.

Offering Prayer

Thank you, God, for giving us so much,
especially your Son, Jesus Christ.
As you have loved and accepted us,
teach us to love and accept others.
Make us peace-loving
and ready to serve.
Amen.

Prayer of the Church

Prayer points

  • PRAYER PETITIONS DURING THIS TIME OF COVID OUTBREAKS AND LOCKDOWNS

    • Father God, children all over your creation are crying out for mercy in the face of this COVID pandemic. We cry out with them. Lord have mercy. Especially today we ask for your mercy on the heads of nations as they lead their countries through this season of fear and despair. Give them wisdom and peace. Bless them with capable advisors and administrators. Strengthen them with forbearance – especially in the face of criticism and community unrest. Lord, have mercy.
    • Lord, we recognise we are a well blessed nation – despite the financial and health challenges we face. Please keep us from complacency and apathy as we consider those who are most impacted by the COVID virus – at home and abroad. Open our hearts to those who struggle. Continue to prompt your love to overflow in us to them. For you live and reign over all things. Lord have mercy.
    • Where there is grief O Lord, where sadness overwhelms in the face of dying in this COVID season; bring your mercy and love. Comfort people with your promises and presence. Use your faithful people as your living and loving presence with those who grieve. Lord, in your mercy.

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.

OR
This cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks
is a communion in the blood of Christ.
This bread that we break
is a communion in the body of Christ.
(Thanks be to God.)
Come, everything is ready.

Prayer after Communion

EITHER
Let us pray. We give you thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed
us through this healing gift; and we pray that through it you would
graciously strengthen us in faith toward you and in love toward one
another; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
OR
Let us pray. Heavenly Father, as you did not spare your own Son, but
gave him up for us all: Grant that we who have received his body and
blood in the sacrament may live in him and he in us, so that, as your
children, we may walk in your ways and serve you all the days of our
life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Alternatively, use the third prayer of the day (as listed above) at this point. It may be modified as follows.

Almighty and merciful Father,
thank you that your Son Jesus Christ
has served us at his own table.
As he became the servant of all,
help us to be a servant to others.
For he lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Dismissal

Go in peace, and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

OR In the name of Christ. Amen.