Today Is: Proper 15
Sun, 15 Aug 2021 -- The Lectionary Cycle is: B

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Collect for: Proper 15 Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of his redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Old Testament Proverbs 9:1-6 1 Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars; 2 She has slaughtered her meat, She has mixed her wine, She has also furnished her table. 3 She has sent out her maidens, She cries out from the highest places of the city, 4 Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!' As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, 5 Come, eat of my bread And drink of the wine I have mixed. 6 Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding. Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God. Psalm Psalm 34 1 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. 5 They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed. 6 This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. 8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! 9 Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. 10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. 11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 12 Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. 14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. 16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. 20 He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken. 21 Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned. 22 The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned. *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 5:15-20 15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God. Gospel John 6:53-59 Introduction to the Gospel: 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 John. People: Glory to You, Lord Christ. Deacon: We are reading from John's Gospel chapter 6, beginning at verse 53. 53 Then Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread which came down from heaven -- not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.' 59 These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum. 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 Prayers of the People for: Proper 15 Brothers and sisters, God has made an everlasting Covenant with us and so we can approach Him without any fear. Therefore, let us bring our needs and the needs of the whole world before Him. That the Church will continue to lift up Jesus, so that all men may be drawn unto Him. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. For family, friends and neighbors. That those who serve in public office will not seek personal gain, but rather the good of all those they represent, especially the poor and the powerless. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That husbands and wives will grow in their love and respect for one another. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That God's people will continue to pray and work for laws and policies that respect all human life, from conception to natural death. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That we, nourished at the Eucharistic Table, will offer ourselves a living and holy sacrifice to God as Jesus did for us. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That we, who share in Christ's Divinity, will exercise our Spiritual Gifts given to each by the Holy Spirit for the common good. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That those who are struggling with difficult decisions will receive the wisdom God has promised to all who ask in faith. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. Gracious and compassionate Father, You are the ever faithful God. Hear our prayer and give us the grace to walk before You in holiness and righteousness all our days, through Christ our Lord.AMEN