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Liturgy and Prayers - Sunday, 26 September 2021 – Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Year B (Proper 21)
Liturgy in one document: Pentcost 18B Proper 21 Liturgy in One Document
Opening sentence
Are any among you suffering?
They should pray.
Are any cheerful?
They should sing songs of praise. (Jas 5:13 NRSV)
INVITATION TO CONFESSION
The following invitation may be used before the confession of sins.
Friends in Christ:
St James says:
‘Anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.
Therefore confess your sins to one another,
and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.’
Continue with confession of sins as in the order.
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 a strong and sincere faith. [silence])
Holy God,
take away any obstacles
that cause us to stumble or fall
in our faith,
and keep us from causing others to stumble.
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.
(Jesus said:) ‘Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink
because you bear the name of Christ
will by no means lose the reward.’
Alleluia.
Prayer after the Gospel
This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Thank you, Lord Jesus,
for giving people power to do good in your name.
Help us not to cause any believers to stumble.
Amen.
Offering Prayer
Thank you, loving God,
for uniting us with Christ
and with one another.
Lead us to help and pray for each other,
and to live our lives in praise to you
and in service to all in need.
Amen.
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
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
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:
Holy God,
we thank you for strengthening our faith
in this sacrament.
Take away any obstacles
that cause us to stumble or fall
in our faith,
and keep us from causing others to stumble.
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
Go in peace, because you bear the name of Christ.
Thanks be to God.
OR In the name of Christ. Amen.
