Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Old Testament
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God.
Psalm
Psalm
23
*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
Ephesians 2:13-22
Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God.
Gospel
Mark 6:30-34
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 Mark.
People: Glory to You, Lord Christ.
Deacon: We are reading from Mark's Gospel chapter 6, beginning at verse 30.
30 Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. 31 And He said to them, 'Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.' For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. 32 So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. 33 But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. 34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.
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, since we have been brought near to God by the blood of Jesus, Who has broken down the wall of separation between us and our God, let us bring our requests before Him.
That the Patriarch, all Bishops, Priests, Deacons and those who minister to God's people will have the heart and mind of Christ, the Good Shepherd.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That nations will administer justice and mercy to their people and seek peace with their enemies.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That those who live in constant fear will come to realize that the peace that is from above and surpasses all understanding comes only through a relationship with Jesus.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That those who have participate in abortions and repented, yet still have trouble forgiving themselves will experience, in a deep way, the total forgiveness God has given them through Christ our Lord.
For the leadership of the Church.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That those who protect and defend us at home and abroad will be kept safe by the mercy and grace of God.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That we, like the disciples, will set time aside regularly to sit alone with the Lord in our 'deserted place'.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That we will have the compassion of Christ for the sick, the lost and needy.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Gracious Father, through Your Son we are no longer strangers.
Hear our prayer and give us the grace to grow into that Holy Temple where You will live and reign forever and ever.AMEN