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