Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Old Testament
Joshua 5:2-12
1 Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God.
Psalm
Psalm
34
*At the end of the Psalms this is sung or said Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
New Testament
2 Corinthians 5:17-20
Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God.
Gospel
Luke 15:11-24, 25-32
Deacon:The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you. Or And with your spirit
Deacon: May the Lord be on our minds, on our lips, and on our hearts as we hear His Holy Gospel. The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke.
People: Glory to You, Lord Christ.
Deacon: We are reading from Luke's Gospel chapter 15, beginning at verse 11.
11 Then He said: 'A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.' ' 20 And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry. 25 Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.' 28 But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, 'Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.' 31 And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.' '
After the Gospel reading, the deacon elevates the book and says:
Deacon: The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, Lord Christ.
Prayers of the People
Brothers and sisters, as the Lord provided for the needs of His people in the wilderness, so He will provide for us. Therefore, let us present our needs and the needs of the whole world to Him.
For the Church; that She will boldly proclaim to the world the message of God's redeeming work through Jesus Christ.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
For nations ravaged by war and violence; that a time of peace and stability will remain upon them.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
For those who tend to the sick, the poor and the hungry; that they will see Christ in those they serve.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
For those who have participated in abortions; that they will repent and come to know the great mercy and forgiveness God has extended to us through Jesus.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
For all God's people; that we will be faithful ambassadors of God's Kingdom and live out the ministry of reconciliation He has called us to.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
For our youth; that they will learn the ways of the Lord and become faithful disciples of Christ.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
For our own special intentions. (Pause)
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Father in heaven, it is You who draws us to Yourself and do not count our sins against us. Hear our prayer and give us the grace to love and forgive even those who have harmed us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN