Liturgy and Prayers - Sunday, 31 October 2021 -Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost, Year B (Proper 26)

Liturgy in one document: Liturgy in One Document Pentecost 23B Proper 26

Opening sentence

Hear, O Israel:
The Lord our God, the Lord is one. (Deut 6:4 NIV)

INVITATION TO CONFESSION
The link between the First Commandment and the first reading 1b and the gospel could be made in the confession:

Friends in Christ:
Since the Lord our God has commanded us
to have no other gods,
we are to fear, love, and trust God above anything else.
(Continue with the invitation in the order).

OR, new version
Friends in Christ:
The Lord our God has told us to have no other gods,
so we should honour, love, and trust God
more than anything else.
(Continue with the invitation in the order).

 

Prayer of the day - (Collect):

Traditional

O Lord,
free your people from their offences,
that through your bountiful goodness
we may all be released
from the net of our sins
which because of our frailty
has entangled us;
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 God, free your people from their offences.
Through your great goodness
release us all from the net of our sins
which has entangled us because of our frailty.
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 cleansing and renewal. [silence])
Almighty God, heavenly Father,
to you all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from you no secrets are hidden.
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
so that we may perfectly love you
and worthily praise your holy name.
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 that we love God and our neighbour. [silence])
Everliving God,
we thank you for giving yourself in love
through your Son Jesus.
Lead us by your great love
to love you with all our heart,
soul, mind, and strength,
and to love our neighbour as we love ourselves.
We ask this through 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 does my commandments and teaches them
will be called great in the kingdom of heaven’.
Alleluia.

Prayer after the Gospel

This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Lord Jesus, thank you for your great love.
Help us to love God completely,
and to love others as we love ourselves.
Amen.

Offering Prayer

Thank you, holy God,
for sending Jesus as our high priest,
whose blood makes us pure and holy.
Inspire us by the great love you have shown,
so that we may love you
more than anything else,
and serve you by loving other people.
Amen.

Prayer of the Church

Prayer points

  • If using the Old Testament reading b), you could add this prayer petition:
    Lord God, heavenly Father,
    you have commanded us to have no other gods.
    Keep us faithful to you alone,
    dethrone the idols in our life,
    and give us the grace to fear/honour,
    love and trust you above all things.

    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

The third prayer of the day (as listed above) may be used at this point. It may be modified as follows.

Almighty God, heavenly Father,
to you all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from you no secrets are hidden.
By this holy sacrament,
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
so that we may perfectly love you
and worthily praise your holy name.
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, to love and serve the living God.
Thanks be to God.

OR In the name of Christ. Amen.