Liturgy and Prayers - Wednesday, 26 January 2022 -Australia Day
Liturgy in one document:
Opening sentence
Come, let us worship the Lord.
He is our maker.
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.
Australia is the Lord’s, and everything in it.
He cares for each one of us.
The Lord is a great God,
a great King above all gods.
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Prayer of the day - (Collect):
Traditional
Gracious God, the ruler of all nations,
you have richly blessed this land and its people.
Lead all Australians
to acknowledge your goodness,
give thanks for your favour,
and obey you by serving each other.
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.
Modernised Traditional
Alternative
New
Alleluia Verse
Alleluia, alleluia.
Owe no one anything, except to love one another;
for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
Alleluia.
Prayer after the Gospel
This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Thank you, Lord Jesus,
that we are citizens of Australia
and also belong to the kingdom of God.
Make us responsible citizens,
and above all obedient to our heavenly Father.
Amen.
Offering Prayer
If the gospel for Australia Day is used instead of the gospel for the day, the following words may be used to announce the offering:
Jesus said:
‘Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s,
and to God the things that are God’s.’
All we are and all we have come from God;
let us worship him with our offerings.
An offering procession may be held, in which material goods for the needy as well as the money offerings may be taken to the altar. If an offering procession is held, including material gifts, arrangements should be made previously for people to leave their gifts in baskets or boxes in a convenient assigned place, either during the preceding week or before the service.
When the offering is presented, the following prayer may be said:
We thank you, loving God, for our country,
the Commonwealth of Australia,
and all you have given us here.
Thank you for caring for us in our daily lives
and providing peace and protection
through our government and laws.
Help us to respect the governing authorities
and obey the laws of our country.
But above all, lead us to honour and obey you, our Lord.
Accept these offerings,
and use them to help people in need
and to build your kingdom.
Into your hands, O Lord, we commit our country.
Amen.
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.
You have sent your only Son
to appear among us as a human being,
and through him
you have fully revealed
the light of your presence to us.
And so, with angels and archangels,
and with all the company of heaven,
we adore and praise your glorious name:
Communion Invitation
General
1 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.
2 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.
Australia Day
Every time we eat from this bread and drink from this cup
we proclaim the Lord’s death to each other and to our fellow Australians.
(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:
God of the whole world,
you call people of every nation, tribe, race and language
to be your holy nation.
Strengthen us,
who have received the body and blood of your Son,
to live as your people
and to serve our fellow Australians in your 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
BLESSING
The following words may be used before the usual blessing.
The Lord be with you
in your daily occupations,
in your rest and leisure,
and in everything you undertake.
DISMISSAL
Go in peace, as citizens of heaven.
Thanks be to God.
OR In the name of Christ. Amen.