SUNDAY BETWEEN 21 AUGUST AND 27 AUGUST PROPER 21
Sunday, August 26th, 2018
Readings 1 Kings 8:1, 6, 10-11, 22-30, 41-43; Psalm 84; Ephesians 6:10-20; John 6:56-69
Collect
Almighty God, we are taught by your word that all our doings without love are worth nothing. Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Alt 1
Offensive God, refusing our religion of sacrifice and power: find us in our wandering, speak to us the word of life, liberate our violent hearts, and let us abide with you; through Jesus Christ, the holy one of God. Amen. (Prayers for an Inclusive Church (2009) alt.)
Alt 2
Gracious God, although we once were strangers, you receive us as friends and draw us home to you. Set your living bread before us, so that we may be strengthened to continue the work your Son has commissioned us to do. Amen. (Revised Common Lectionary Prayers (2002) alt.)
Prayer over the Gifts
God of glory, receive all we offer this day as a symbol of our love, and increase in us that true and perfect gift. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer After Communion
Living God, increase in us the healing power of your love. Guide and direct us that we may please you in all things, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.
First Reading – Baptism
[THE FIRST LESSON IS WRITTEN IN THE 2ND CHAPTER OF THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS, BEGINNING AT THE 10TH VERSE.]
Reader: A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ–he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Reader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
All: Thanks be to God.
Psalm
REFRAIN Happy are the people whose strength is in you!
How dear to me is your dwelling, O Lord of hosts! My soul has a desire and longing for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God. R
The sparrow has found her a house and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young; by the side of your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. R
Happy are they who dwell in your house! they will always be praising you.
Happy are the people whose strength is in you! whose hearts are set on the pilgrims’ way. R
Those who go through the desolate valley will find it a place of springs, for the early rains have covered it with pools of water.
They will climb from height to height, and the God of gods will reveal himself in Zion.
Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; hearken, O God of Jacob. R
Behold our defender, O God; and look upon the face of your anointed.
For one day in your courts is better than a thousand in my own room, and to stand at the threshold of the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of the wicked. R
For the Lord God is both sun and shield; he will give grace and glory;
No good thing will the Lord withhold from those who walk with integrity.
O Lord of hosts, happy are they who put their trust in you! R
PSALM 84
Second Reading
[THE SECOND LESSON IS WRITTEN IN THE 6th CHAPTER OF THE LETTER OF ST. PAUL TO THE EPHESIANS, BEGINNING AT THE 10TH VERSE.]
A READING FROM THE LETTER OF PAUL TO THE EPHESIANS
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.
HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT IS SAYING TO THE CHURCH.
[THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD.]
THANKS BE TO GOD. (EPHESIANS 6:10-20)
Gospel
[THE LORD BE WITH YOU. AND WITH THY SPIRIT.
THE HOLY GOSPEL IS WRITTEN IN THE 6TH CHAPTER OF THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SAINT JOHN, BEGINNING AT THE 56TH VERSE.
GLORY BE TO THEE, O LORD.]
THE LORD BE WITH YOU. AND ALSO WITH YOU.
THE HOLY GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO JOHN
GLORY TO YOU, LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Jesus said, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.
When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.” Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
THIS IS THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.
PRAISE TO YOU, LORD JESUS CHRIST.
[PRAISE BE TO THEE, O CHRIST] (JOHN 6:56-69)
Prayers for the Candidates
Robert+ then says to the congregation,
Let us now pray for Elina Maddison who is to receive the sacrament of new birth.
Christina Deliver Elina, O Lord, from the way of sin and death.
All Lord, hear our prayer.
Christina Open her heart to your grace and truth.
All Lord, hear our prayer.
Christina Fill her with your holy and life-giving Spirit.
All Lord, hear our prayer.
Christina Teach her to love others in the power of the Spirit.
All Lord, hear our prayer.
Christina Send her into the world in witness to your love.
All Lord, hear our prayer.
Christina Bring her to the fullness of your peace and glory.
All Lord, hear our prayer.
Christina concludes,
Grant, O Lord, that all who are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ your Son may live in the power of his resurrection and look for him to come again in glory; who lives and reigns now and for ever.
All Amen.