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
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
Ephesians 5:15-20
Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God.
Gospel
John 6:53-59
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
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