October 9, 2016
Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost / Proper 23
Color: Green
Lectionary Readings
Semicontinuous
Jeremiah 29:1, 4–7 Build houses and plant gardens in exile; seek the welfare of the city.
Psalm 66:1–12 Make a joyful noise to God, who brought us out to a spacious place.
Complementary
2 Kings 5:1–3, 7–15c Elisha tells Naaman to wash in the Jordan; he is cured of leprosy.
Psalm 111 I give thanks with my whole heart; great are the works of the Lord.
2 Timothy 2:8–15 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead; that is my gospel.
Luke 17:11–19 Jesus heals ten people with leprosy; only one returns to give thanks.
— Gathering —
Call to Worship
Give thanks to God, who is our peace.
We give thanks with all our hearts.
Praise the Lord, who makes us whole.
We praise the holy name of God.
Let us worship God.
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Prayer of the Day
Holy God, through Christ you came
to heal our diseases and cleanse our sin.
Let our lives be signs of gratitude
for the gift of your amazing grace,
so that all the world might know
the good news of your saving love
and the faith that makes us well.
This we pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Call to Confession
At the baptismal font:
We are broken vessels that hold no water,
yet God is gracious to us.
Jeremiah 2:13
Trusting in God’s grace,
let us confess our sin.
Prayer of Confession
Sovereign God, we confess
that we have not turned away from sin.
You offer us your grace,
but we fail to show our gratitude.
You heal us by your mercy,
but we fail to give you glory.
Forgive us, God of grace.
Strengthen us in faith,
so that we may be made well
and live to praise your name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Declaration of Forgiveness
Lifting water from the baptismal font:
As a potter holds a piece of clay,
God holds and shapes our lives.
Jeremiah 18:6
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Thanks be to God.
— Word —
Prayer for Illumination
At the lectern or pulpit:
Eternal Wisdom,
from generation to generation
you teach your people the way to live.
Through words that are ancient
you speak your living Word.
Speak to us now with all that we need
to honor you and walk in your way
with honesty and humbleness of heart.
Amen.
Scripture
Before the readings:
Sacred writings, our instruction in salvation
through faith in Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 3:15
After the readings:
The words of Scripture, inspired by God.
Thanks be to God.
2 Timothy 3:16
Sermon
Ascription of Praise
After the sermon:
Blessed be the Lord our God. Amen.
Luke 1:68
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Affirmation of Faith
General Use / Time after Pentecost
We believe that the church
must witness against and strive against
any form of injustice,
so that justice may roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an
ever-flowing stream.
We believe that the church
as the possession of God
must stand where the Lord stands,
namely against injustice
and with the wronged.
We believe that in following Christ
the church must witness against
all the powerful and privileged
who selfishly seek their own interest
and thus control and harm others.
Adapted from the Confession of Belhar
Prayers of the People
Trusting in the power of God to deliver us,
let us make our prayers of intercession for all,
saying: God our Savior, hear our prayer.
We pray for the church . . .
Help us to bear witness to the gospel:
the saving power of Christ at work
among us and in all the world.
God our Savior, hear our prayer.
We pray for the world . . .
Be mindful of your gracious covenant.
Feed the hungry and redeem the captives.
Establish justice and righteousness on earth.
God our Savior, hear our prayer.
We pray for this community . . .
Let us build houses and live in them,
plant gardens and eat what they produce,
and seek the welfare of this place.
God our Savior, hear our prayer.
We pray for loved ones . . .
Heal those who are isolated by illness
and restore them to our community,
so that we may give thanks together.
God our Savior, hear our prayer.
Merciful and mighty God, as you are one,
make us one with you through Jesus Christ,
whom you have sent to redeem us,
and in whose holy name we pray. Amen.
— Eucharist —
Invitation to Offering
At the communion table:
God has called us to do good,
to be rich in good works,
generous and ready to share.
With gratitude to the giver of life,
let us offer our lives to the Lord.
1 Timothy 6:13, 18
Prayer of Dedication
At the communion table:
God of all good gifts,
you bless us with so much to share.
Use the gift of our money
and the gifts of our lives
to bring your healing and hope,
your justice and peace
to our neighbors, near and far. Amen.
Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God:
Through the words of your prophets
you bring hope and healing to all nations
and show that your love knows no bounds.
Therefore we praise you, joining the song
of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
A Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy”) is sung.
Blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior:
Offering mercy to a Samaritan leper,
Jesus demonstrated the gift of your grace
and our calling to live in faith and gratitude.
The words of institution are included here.
Remembering your goodness and grace,
we offer ourselves to you with gratitude
as we share this joyful feast.
A Memorial Acclamation (e.g., “Christ has died”) is sung.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us
and upon this bread and cup;
make us one in the body and blood
of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Help us to remember, above all else,
that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead
and we are called to new life in him.
Through the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the unity of the Spirit,
we bless you, God of glory,
now and forever.
An Amen is sung.
Lord’s Prayer
Breaking the Bread
Communion of the People
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Prayer after Communion
At the communion table:
God of grace, you invite us to your table
and welcome us as part of your family.
You feed us with your body
and satisfy our deepest hunger.
We thank you for these gifts.
Now send us out into the world
by the power of your Spirit
that we may be your witnesses,
sharing the life-giving news of the gospel. Amen.
— Sending —
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Blessing and Charge
At the doors of the church:
The Lord bless and keep
your going out
and your coming in
from this time on
and forevermore. Alleluia!
Psalm 121:8
Proclaim the message,
be persistent in prayer,
do the work of the gospel,
and carry out the ministry
of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
2 Timothy 4:2, 5; Luke 18:1