Faith & Worship

The Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) offers a three-year cycle with four readings for every Sunday in the Church Year.

These readings are:
A Lesson from the Hebrew Scriptures (or Acts during the Season of Easter)
A Psalm
A Lesson from the Epistles or Acts
A Lesson from the Gospels

The following prayers follow a traditional form using the pattern of ACT (Adoration, Confession and Thanksgiving).

There is also an opening prayer which can be used at the beginning of a service.

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Proper 8 (13th Sunday in Ordinary Time)

Sunday between June 26 and July 2 inclusive

2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 ; Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20; Galatians 5:1, 13-25; Luke 9:51-62

OPENING PRAYER

Father, Son, Holy Spirit,
within whose unity
lies all that is you,
perfect love,
justice, peace
and power,
as we gather here today,
your body, your church
throughout this world,
fill our outstretched hearts
with your spirit,
encircle us with your love,
make yourself known to us
in new ways,
exciting ways,
challenging ways.
Empower us,
Inspire us,
Glorious Trinity

ADORATION

In times of weakness and hour of need,
yours is the strength by which we carry on,
the shoulder we rest our head upon.
When our load is heavy and too much to bear,
yours are the arms stretched out to help us
the grace that we depend on.
In times of weakness and hour of need,
your voice is heard,
‘Come… find rest.’
This is grace divine,
the path we tread to wholeness
of body and spirit,
the path that leads to you,
and for which we offer our offering of praise.



CONFESSION

Father God,
you are the one who leads us
from darkness into light,
from captivity into freedom,
from anxiety into peace,
from despair into joy.
Yet we long to break free,
choosing independence,
convinced of our own wisdom,
forgetting your love and grace.
Forgive us,
draw close to us,
embrace us once again
in your loving arms,
and enable us to follow you
in worship and grateful service
each day of our lives
Amen

THANKSGIVING

For the fruits of your Spirit,
wherever they are shown
we give our grateful thanks.
For kindness shown by stranger,
the faithfulness of friends,
for patience and forbearance
and peace that calms the heart,
for love that sees beyond the self
to the person who lies within.
For the fruits of your Spirit,
wherever they are shown
we give our grateful thanks.

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