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 16 (21st Sunday in Ordinary Time)

Sunday between August 21 and August 27 inclusive

Jeremiah 1:4-10; Psalm 71:1-6, Hebrews 12:18-29; Luke 13:10-17

OPENING PRAYER

God of the past,
accept the people we have been
and the baggage we drag behind us.

God of the present,
accept the people we are now
and the potential that lies within us.

God of the future,
accept the people we could be
and by your Spirit transform us.

ADORATION

For the love you have shown us
since the moment of our birth
and the path you open for us
as your servants here on earth.
For the footsteps that we follow,
and the words that we shall say
as seed that we shall scatter
as we walk this narrow way.
For the harvest you shall gather
on that great and glorious day,
O Lord to you we offer
this our sacrifice of praise.


CONFESSION

This morning
and all mornings
as we face the day
daunted by expectations
others place upon us,
weighed down by burdens,
unsure of outcomes,
opposed,
alone,
afraid,
remind us
that you faced all this
and more,
that we might loose
the chains that bind us,
rise above and beyond
the troubles of this world,
and know peace
in your embrace.

THANKSGIVING

For those moments when
faced by difficult circumstances
we have been given a word
to use in due season
that has calmed a troubled soul,
or a gift of healing,
comfort or compassion
that has its source in you,
we offer this our thanksgiving prayer.
For those moments when
beset by doubt and uncertainty
you have granted us a faith
that sees beyond the present
to a future that is glorious,
and humility to accept the help
that comes from others,
but ultimately from you,
we offer this our thanksgiving prayer.

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