O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Old Testament
Genesis 18:20-33
1 Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God.
Psalm
Psalm
138
*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
Colossians 2:8-14
Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God.
Gospel
Luke 11:5-13
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 11, beginning at verse 5.
5 And He said to them, 'Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; 7 and he will answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'? 8 I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. 9 So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!'
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, the Lord is gracious and merciful and full of loving-kindness. Therefore, with faith and great expectations, let us offer our requests up to Him.
That the Church will be persistent in prayer, interceding, like Abraham, even for those in rebellion to God.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That the nations will recognize Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That we, like the Apostle Paul, will be faithful to share the Gospel in both word and deed as God presents the opportunity.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That loved ones who have strayed from the faith will repent and have a renewed fervor for Christ.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That we will be good stewards over God's creation and that He will continue to bless us with all the necessities of life.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That we will see the image of God in the lowly, the poor, the stranger and the imprisoned.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
For our own special intentions. (Pause)
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Gracious Father, Your mercy endures forever. Mercifully grant these petitions and give us the grace to be faithful disciples of Christ. We ask this through His most Precious Name. AMEN