1 Kings 5:1-5, 8:1-13; John 2:19-21

Narrative Lectionary, Year 4, Week 8, Oct. 31
1 Kings 5:1-5, 8:1-13; John 2:19-21

Opening Prayer
O Lord our God:
We pray that your glory would fill this house of the Lord.  May your presence be as visible to us and those who have not come into this holy place, just as it was to those who gathered in the Temple in Jerusalem after Solomon dedicated it to your service.  May people come to know you because of it.  In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Prayer of Preparation
O Lord, Son of David
Just as rest was given on every side to David’s kingdom so that there was neither adversary nor evil occurrence, may we be freed now from the adversaries and evil occurrences that may try to steal our attention from you and your message.  Give us this rest on every side so that we can learn today and grow closer to you through it.
Amen

Offering Prayer
Today, O God, we bring into your house an offering.  We pray simply that the offerings we make, and the blessings that come from them be too numerous to count.
Amen.

Intercessory Prayer
Christ Jesus, our King:
We, your body that makes up your temple, pray to you because of the wars fought against us on every side, the foes that are not yet put under our feet, and the adversaries and the evil occurrences that we cannot yet rest from.  Day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, even second by second, our bodies, over the course of a lifetime, become more and more destroyed.  Yet, you will rebuild them when you take all the dead from their graves, just as the Temple that is your body was rebuilt in a three day period.  When this rebuilding is accomplished, the assembly of all the children of God will be gathered in the heavenly Tent of Meeting to worship and praise your everlasting glory that fills the room and beyond.  In the meantime, as we deal with these things, which we battle against, we ask your mercies for all who are grieving, sick, suffering, and facing trials in life.  Lift them up and let them see the presence of your glory now.  Even if it does not bring healing in this life, let it bring hope of the life to come.  We will forever be thankful and praise your name singing your praises so that people from all the nations hear of your greatness.  We pray it in your name with the prayer you have taught:  Our Father… Amen.

Benediction
Let His glory fill you to overflowing in the week to come
It will if you allow it… for God’s glory is so big it needs three persons.
May God the Father,
God the Son,
and God the Spirit
Give you rest on every side.
AMEN

Psalm 75, Job 41:12-34, John 13:1-17

RCL Daily Reading, Oct. 20
Psalm 75, Job 41:12-34, John 13:1-17

Prayer of Invocation
God, by your works you proved to us in times past and present that you are near to your people.  God, by your works at the end of times you will prove to those who have not yet believed that you have always been near to the entire world.  At that time, you will pour out judgment from the cup of righteousness.  We pray that we will be found among the righteous who will be exalted.  May this time of prayer, study, and communion bring grace to us all.  Amen.

Intercessory Prayer
God of Jacob to whom we sing praises because you are the righteous judge:
You’ve heard the prayers tonight for those who are in need of your mercies.  We question the reason for evil such as this in our world.  Why must a child suffer?  Why must a God-fearing person become sick and die?  How can natural disaster strike and cause destruction of the property of both the faithful and the unfaithful alike?  The answer, of course, from a faithful reading of Scripture is that sin allowed all of this evil to enter into the world.  So while a person may be faithful, they can suffer because of the sins of others.  Without sin there would be no hatred, racism, or prejudice.  Without sin there would be no violence, abuse, or war.  Without sin there would be no addiction, idolatry, or perversion.  All of these can lead to the kinds of sufferings we pray about tonight.  And if no sin had ever occurred, no sickness and death would have ever existed.  But we know you will recreate this earth and that all will be right.  Until then, you have asked us to act as you acted.  To be servants that wash the feet of those in need.  May we have the strength and courage we need to do this.  We pray this in Jesus name, with His prayer: Our Father… Amen.

 

Communion
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…
Lord Jesus:
We confess tonight of our envy;
  we are envious when we see the riches of others and so we try to retain our riches for ourselves,
  or we will turn to deceit to gain more riches,
  or we might turn against a friend for our own benefit;
  we are envious of the blessings bestowed on others and so we try to gain those blessings,
  and perhaps we do this by claiming credit that is not ours,
  or by trying to do things our way instead of yours.
These sins, as with so many others begin with envy that is so closely related to pride and greed.
Forgive us now of all our sins that we confess in silence…
AMEN

Hear the Good News:
God has declared that the righteous will be exalted.
Jesus through washing the feet of the disciples showed them that they were served by Him and found clean in His sight.  Therefore, as disciples of Jesus Christ,
In His holy name, you are forgiven.
Glory to God. Amen.

We lift our hearts to you, O Lord,
We give you thanks to you, our God because
it is always a good, right, and joyful thing,
  to give thanks to you,
  Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
Beginning at the dawn of time when placed in the garden,
  we have thought we can judge for ourselves to determine what is good and right.
Therefore, all of mankind has not found themselves standing as one that is righteous and exalted,
  but instead counted among the wicked.
But through the actions of Jesus Christ as who humbled Himself to be a servant,
  we are made clean,
  we are found righteous,
  and we will be exalted,
allowing that we will follow Him into His kingdom where
  all of your people on earth and in heaven
  will sing praises to your name and join the 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 taught by example what it is to be a servant leader,
  who went into the depths of hell to defeat even the Leviathan,
  who died and was resurrected and ascended to Heaven,
  who made the way for us to follow.
By 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.

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 of Christ broken for you.  Take and eat. AMEN
This is the blood of Christ shed for you.  Take and drink. AMEN.

Benediction
Jesus says to us:
“Do you know what I have done for you?”
He is Teacher and He is Lord.
He gives an example and has said we will be blessed if we do the same.
He was sent by the love of the Father to give us this grace.
He has sent by His grace the Spirit to give us the gifts we need to do His work.
AMEN

Psalm 51:10-14, 1 Samuel 16:1-13, John 7:24

October 24, 2021
Narrative Lectionary, Year 4, Week 7
Psalm 51:10-14, 1 Samuel 16:1-13, John 7:24

Opening Prayer
Lord who spoke through the prophets:
  we come peaceably
  we come to sacrifice
  we come seeking the Lord’s anointed
  we come wanting to see as you see
May the Spirit of the Living God be present among us as we worship, in peace and see the love of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray.
Amen

Prayer of Preparation
God of our salvation,
  cleanse our hearts
  renew our spirits
  let us be joyful
as my tongue sings aloud of your righteousness.
Amen

Offering Prayer
Lord God:
David knew rightly that no sacrifice would cleanse him of his sins.  Only a repentant heart would restore his soul in your eyes.  You could see that his heart was in the right place after his repentance, just as it was when you first called him.  May our gifts be given with the right attitude of our hearts.  The attitude that is not doing this to make us right in your eyes, but the attitude that we are already right in your eyes and this is a response.
Amen.

Intercessory Prayer
Lord who sees our inner self:
Because you can see into the hearts of men, you know that we are full of pain and suffering.  Allow each of us gathered here to see as you see.  Let us see this pain so that we can have empathy and begin to know how to respond.  We lift up before you now, in the silence of our hearts, the pains that we have each carried in with us…  But we also lift up to you the pain that we know others are dealing with as they suffer through death and grief, illness and injury, depression and anxiety, persecution and discrimination, abuse and addiction, joblessness and homelessness, adultery and divorce, and so many more.  We lift up before you now, in the silence of our hearts, the pains of others that we are aware of…  we pray to you in the name of Jesus Christ who knew pain on our behalf as we pray his prayer.
Our Father… Amen.

Benediction
May your spirit be renewed this week
May your joy be restored this week
May your tongue sing of God’s righteousness this week
In Father, Son, and Spirit, may it be so
AMEN 

Psalm 26, Obadiah 17-21, Luke 16:19-31

RCL Daily Reading Year B
Oct. 13, 2021

Prayer of Invocation
Lord who examines each of us:
Tonight, we walk with integrity to your altar.  We mean by this that we want our heart and mind to trust you and you alone as we proclaim with thanksgiving your wonderous works.  All the while we continue to seek your redemptive and merciful Spirit that is sent through your Son Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray.  Amen.

Intercessory Prayer
Father God of all including father Abraham:
We thank you for having spoke to us through Moses and the prophets, and having revealed yourself to us not only in this word, but in the Word who is Your Son, Jesus Christ.  We pray tonight for those among us who are full of sores.  Perhaps these sores are physical and are the aches and pains of injury, disease, or violence.  Perhaps these sores are mental and are caused by long ago trauma, recent griefs, anxieties, the state of the world and its affairs, or other psychological issues.  Perhaps these sores stem from want and need created by poverty or marginalization.  Sometimes we even inflict more sores upon ourselves because we seek to stem the pain of other sores, but we have not sought healing in the right places.  Whatever the source of the sores on our bodies or in our hearts, you Lord, reach out especially to those who have these hurts… And you call upon your church to do the same.  We pray tonight, Lord Jesus Christ, that we would be, as your church, the ones who would do this so that the Lazarus’s of the world will find rest in your bosom.  We pray it with your prayer: Our Father… Amen.

Communion
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…
Lord, although our feet stand here with your congregation,
  we are sometimes like the rich man in the parable,
  we seek to maintain only our wealth
  we fail to pay any attention to the needy who are at our door.
Forgive us we pray for our idolatry, hypocrisy, and evil deeds.
Forgive us we pray when we don’t reach out to these who are our cousins
  and instead side with their persecutors by our failure to act.
Forgive us also of our sins that we confess in silence…
AMEN

Hear the Good News:
The Lord our God has lovingkindness and washes us so we are innocent in his eyes.
He does not gather our lives with the bloodthirsty, the sinister, the briber.
But instead, he allows us to walk in integrity, redeeming us and being merciful.
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
Glory to God. Amen.

We lift our hearts to you, O Lord,
We give you thanks to you, our God because
  it is always a good, right, and joyful thing,
  to give thanks to you,
  Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

At one time, the people of the earth walked with integrity,
  but they soon left that behind, choosing their own walk instead of yours.
  Since then, all have chosen their own walk, except One.

You foretold that your Anointed would arrive through the prophets
  and John prepared the way for Him announcing that
  roads would be straight and mountains leveled
  making it clear that it is easy to get to Him.

His arrival and sinlessness on this earth makes it possible
  that we can follow His way when our time here on earth is finished
  re-establishing the walking with integrity in your eyes
  to Mount Zion, the heavenly habitation of your Glory,
The place where the congregation of your people on earth and in heaven
  praises 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 taught us through stories about your kingdom
  about the works of faith that allow us to look forward to our residence there.
He ascended after His resurrection so that we can rise to life and ascend to heaven.

By 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.

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 bread and drink from the Lord’s table feeds you and sustains you because it is the body and blood of Christ.  Take, eat, drink. Amen.

 

Benediction
See the needy at your doorstep and care for them.
Through the Love of our Father God
Through the Grace of the Christ
Through the Spirit of the Living God
the chasm between heaven and earth is bridged to give you life.
AMEN

1 Samuel 3:1-4:1a; John 20:21-23

October 17, 2021
Narrative Lectionary Year 4, Week 6

Invocational Prayer
Jesus, bringer of peace, and sender of the Spirit:
Even if it feels early for a Sunday morning and we want to go lay down again, we are here because you have called.  We gather now for worship, through the word, song, and prayer in the house of the Lord.  The lamp of God is not extinguished, but it burns in our hearts and your servants are listening.  Amen.

Prayer of Preparation
Light of God
We want our ears to tingle and we don’t want to let any of these words fall to ground because you, O Lord, are revealed through this word.  Let we your servants listen as we now say “Speak Lord.”
Amen

Offering Prayer
God revealed through the word of the prophets, God who is revealed as the Word, God sends the Spirit of Peace:
We give you thanks for all the blessings provided to us.  We pray Lord that through the gifts we offer, you would be revealed to our church, our community, and even the whole world.  Let us hide nothing from you, but give of ourselves fully, to be used as your servants.  And let the work we do be good in your eyes.  Amen.

Intercessory Prayer
Lord who has spoken through the prophets:
Your people now speak to you, asking for your word to be revealed to them through the mercies that they seek.  Nothing is hidden from you, and so you are already aware of the needs of the world that include disease, death, destruction, despair, and depression.  You are already aware of the needs of the world that include addiction, abuse, animosity, and anxiety.  You are aware of these and so many more.  We know that we may sometimes be unfaithful and the words you speak fall to the ground.  But we do wish to take full advantage of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that atones for sins and we pray that the sins of the world would soon be ended and these problems would be healed.  We pray it in His holy name, with His prayer.
Our Father… Amen.

Benediction
It is not for us to do what is good in our eyes
But to do what is good in His eyes
The Father has seen it is good to provide His blessing of forgiveness
  Through His Son
The Father has seen it is good to provide His blessing of peace
  Through His Spirit
In the Precious, Holy Name of these Three
AMEN

Psalm 122, Jeremiah 3:6-14, Matthew 5:27-37

RCL Daily Readings for Oct. 7, Year B

Prayer of Invocation
Lord, whose city is a place of prosperity, peace, and security:
We your people who represent many families are glad to enter into your house to give thanks to the name of the Lord.  For the sake of all our relatives and friends, we say “Peace be within you!” as we seek your good blessings on each of all who we will name in this time of prayer.
Amen.

Prayer of Intercession
Merciful Lord:
You have made covenant with your people, and you liken it marriage.  When we marry, we say we promise to remain faithful in sickness and health.  We know that you remain faithful to us in our sickness and health.  We pray to you now for the sickness of the world… the physical sickness that causes illnesses like cancers, heart disease, COVID, and even death; the mental health sickness that causes the anxieties, depressions, and paranoias; the spiritual sickness that causes violence, discrimination, abuse, and other sins.  We pray to you Lord, as you abide with us through this sickness, that your mercies would bring healing to all of these sicknesses.  We thank you for hearing the prayers of your people gathered together in one name, the name of Jesus Christ, who taught us this prayer: Our Father… Amen.

Great Thanksgving
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…
Lord, whose throne in the heavenly house of God is the seat of judgment:
We offer to you our confession for the violation of your covenant.
We have lusted after other gods, committing adultery against you, O Lord,
   when we have loved money over you;
   when we have loved self over you;
   when we have loved technology over you;
   when we have loved success over you;
   when we have loved status symbols over you;
   when we have loved celebrity over you;
   when we have loved anything or anyone over you.
You said that to love you is the greatest of the law and to love neighbor is the second.
And so, we confess also that we have not loved our neighbors and this stems from our idolatries.
Hear our prayers, O Lord, and forgive us of these sins and the sins we confess now in our hearts… AMEN

Hear the Good News:
The Lord our God has said:
  “I will not cause my anger to fall on you.
    For I am merciful,
    I will not remain angry forever.
   Only acknowledge your iniquity,
   that you have transgressed against the Lord your God,
   and have scattered your charms
   to alien deities under every green tree,
   and that you have not obeyed my voice.”
Having confessed before God, He is merciful and His anger subsides.
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 you established the bounds of the heavens and the earth,
  you gave us a place, set aside, where all was prosperous and peaceful;
  but we transgressed against your will and we were exiled from the Garden.
When you established the bounds of your heavenly city on earth,
  you gave us a place, set aside, where it was supposed be prosperous and peaceful;
  but we transgressed against your will and we were exiled to Babylon.
When you sent your Son, he promised a place in the heavenly city of your kingdom,
  a place, set aside, where all will be prosperous and peaceful,
  a place where all your people on earth and all the company of heaven
  will 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 taught us by His words and example
  what love for God and neighbor looks like.
  He explained to us how vital the covenant with you is,
  and how we can adhere to it.
By 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.
And when He ascended into heaven,
  the place of prosperity and peace,
  He made it possible for us to follow.

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.

With the breaking of the bread, which is the Body of Christ, broken for us, we return from our backsliding.
  Take and eat. 

With the supping from the cup, which is the Blood of Christ, poured out for the remission of sins, we return from our backsliding. 
  Take and drink.  Amen.

 

Benediction
Children of the Lord:
As you leave from these walls, and each goes to his and her own walls and palaces,
  take with you the peace and prosperity of this place.
This prosperity and peace with will be with you for all time
  so long as you stay in covenant with the Lord God.
And He will be faithful to bring us to Zion.
He is the Lord, the Father.
He is the Lord, the Son.
He is the Lord, the Spirit.
In His holy and Triune Name.
AMEN

Exodus 16:1-18, John 6:51

Narrative Lectionary
Year 4, Week 5
Oct. 10, 2021

Exodus 16:1-18, John 6:51

Opening Prayer
Lord of all who wander through the desert:
Sometimes we trust you enough to follow you, but when this begins to feel hard, we start to think that perhaps we’re lost.  Then we begin to complain and our trust begins to falter.  Today, we come seeking bread of life that will enable us to trust that there is an eternal life…
even if it seems hard because we are unsure where we’re going,
even if it seems hard because we are unsure how to get there,
even if it seems hard because we’ve left behind seems more attractive than it actually was.
In times like this, remind us that you have provided all we need to sustain our lives and our souls.
In the name of the one who is the Bread of Life Come Down From Heaven
AMEN 

Prayer of Preparation
Lord Jesus, the Bread of Life Come Down From Heaven:
We desire now to eat of the bread that allows us to live forever, the bread that is your flesh, which you have given for the whole world.  Open our hearts to receive this gift that it will feed our souls.  We pray this to you in your name, Lord Jesus, AMEN.

Offering Prayer
We have seen the glory of the Lord like a cloud in the wilderness that is full of quails and a fine frost on the ground that fed the camp of Israel.  We have seen the glory of the Lord in five fishes and two loaves that fed 5000.  If miracles like this can happen, then it is possible that the gifts we bring today can, through your miracle, bring life to the community of this church, the county around us, and even the entire state, country, and world.  May it be so, Lord Jesus, that through the provision of your miracle, your church blesses many thousands more.  In your holy name, AMEN.

Intercessory Prayer
God who has appeared as fire and cloud in Sinai:
Even though we know you have freed us from sin through Jesus Christ, who is the bread of life, we sometimes have complaints just as those who were freed from slavery in Egypt.  We want to bring these complaints to you with the right attitude of asking for your mercy and not the wrong attitude of complaining as if life were better before we knew you.  So first we ask that you cause our hearts to have the right attitude.  And then we ask for these things because sometimes they are so difficult that we cannot continue to live abundantly with these complaints in our lives.  And so, we do not complain, but we ask your mercy for those who live with chronic disease, hospitalizations, need of surgical interventions, need of healing from illness, grief, mental health struggles, victimization, addiction, abuse, discrimination, persecution.  We ask that you would rain down upon the bread of life so that they will feel life anew.  We pray in the name of Christ with His prayer…Our Father… Amen. 

Benediction
Congregation:
Like the whole congregation of the children Israel
You have received the word of God today
Let this bread of life from heaven be with you always
Because it is:
Sent by God the Father
Seen in Jesus the Son
Shared through the Holy Spirit
AMEN