John 8:21-38; Psalm 128; Eccl. 5:1-20

Sept. 22, 2021
RCL Daily Readings, Year B

John 8:21-38
Psalm 128
Eccl. 5:1-20

Prayer of Invocation
Read Psalm 128
Lord God, the Psalmist tells us that there are blessings for those who fear the Lord and that those blessings will be given to the next generation as well.  Lord we pray today that our fear of you would increase in reverence and faith so that your creation will be cared for by the generations to come.  Amen.

Intercessory Prayer
God of Abraham, who begot the Son of Man so that His inheritance of eternal life could be given to those who believe, you have heard our prayers.  We pray a thanksgiving for the redemption that you have given us out of your great love and grace.  We pray also especially for the children and the children of the children to come of this world tonight.  May they be blessed through the faith of this generation.  May our belief be so great that we, as the hands and feet of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, put an end to the suffering in this world that is caused by sins of the world.  May there be an end to economic problems and political discord.  May there be an end to suffering caused by addiction and abuse.  May there be an end to discrimination and inequalities.  May there be an end to violence and war.  May your power and miracle, O Lord, heal physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual unhealthiness that people feel and experience.  We pray it in the name of the Anointed One who has taught us to pray Our Father… Amen.

Great Thanksgiving
Read Eccl. 5:1-20
Christ our Lord invites all to his table who love him,
  who earnestly repent of their sin
  and seek to live in peace with one another.
Therefore, let us confess our sin before God and one another.

Let us pray…
Son of Man who was lifted up for our sins, we confess now before you our sins in silence...
We confess our unbelief that you have gone before and welcome us to the place in heaven that you have gone.  We confess that we have been rash with our mouths.  We confess that we have not always reached out to the poor and the oppressed or defended those whose have inequality of rights.  We confess that our own love of money has an impact on how we reach out to those who have less as we try to build up treasures here instead of in the kingdom.  We confess that we make our work more important than yours.  Hear our prayer o Lord and forgive.  Amen.

Hear the Good News:
The Son of Man has promised that those who believe will not die in their sin.
Because you have believed you are set free from your sins.
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
Glory to God. Amen.

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing,
  always and everywhere to give thanks to you,
  Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
When we turned away and gave ourselves over to the evil of the world
  by taking what was forbidden, we lost our connection to you.
When we turned away and did not see that you had already given us a place
  where fruits were plentiful, we lost our provision from you.
When we turned away and did not love others as you love us,
  we damaged our relationships with others
And through it we put ourselves into bondage to sin.
But you sent your Son out of your great love so that we could see
  that He was making all things right in the world and reconciling our connection to you.
And so,
  with all your people on earth and all the company of heaven
  we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ,
  who was sent from above
  who was with you from the beginning
  who taught by your authority
  who the world proclaims is the Messiah that through
Through His baptism of suffering, death, and resurrection
  you gave birth to your Church,
  delivered us from slavery to sin and death,
  and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.
At his ascension you exalted him
  to sit and reign with you at your right hand.

On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread,
gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."

When the supper was over he took the cup,
gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant,
poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of faith

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,
and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,
that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.
By your Spirit make us one with Christ,
one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world,
until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet.
Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church,
all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father (God), now and for ever.
Amen.

 

This is the body and blood of Christ,
  by it you are set free from your enslavement to sins.
Eat and drink.  Amen.

 

Benediction
His blessing is upon you
Take His blessing to the world
  So that the children and the
  children’s children
  in generations to come
  will be blessed by
The Love of the Father
The Grace of the Son
And the Unity of the Spirit.
Amen.