Today Is: Proper 16

Collect for: Proper 16
Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Old Testament
Isaiah 66:18-21

18 For I know their works and their thoughts. It shall be that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and see My glory. 19 I will set a sign among them; and those among them who escape I will send to the nations: to Tarshish and Pul and Lud, who draw the bow, and Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands afar off who have not heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles. 20 Then they shall bring all your brethren for an offering to the LORD out of all nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,' says the LORD, 'as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. 21 And I will also take some of them for priests and Levites,' says the LORD.

Officiant: The Word of the Lord.
The People: Thanks be to God.

Psalm
Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
Confident is the man who obeys the voice of the LORD.

4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. 6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
Confident is the man who obeys the voice of the LORD.

7 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah 8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.
Confident is the man who obeys the voice of the LORD.

10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Confident is the man who obeys the voice of the LORD.

*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
Hebrews 10:5-10

5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: 'Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. 7 Then I said, 'Behold, I have come -- In the volume of the book it is written of Me -- To do Your will, O God.' ' 8 Previously saying, 'Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them' (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, 'Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.' He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Officiant: The Word of the Lord.
The People: Thanks be to God.

Gospel
Luke 13:22-30

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 Luke.
People: Glory to You, Lord Christ.
Deacon: We are reading from Luke's Gospel chapter 13, beginning at verse 22.

22 And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 Then one said to Him, 'Lord, are there few who are saved?' And He said to them, 24 Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know you, where you are from,' 26 then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.' 27 But He will say, 'I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.' 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. 29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.'

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 16

Brothers and sisters, since God has made us members of His family, let us go to our Father for our needs and the needs of the whole world.

That the Church, as the agent of the Kingdom of God on earth, will walk in the power of the Holy Spirit and be a witness to God's saving grace through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

That those who persecute the Church will, like the Apostle Paul, have a life-changing conversion through an encounter with Jesus.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

That governments will enact laws that administer justice and mercy to all their people and reflect the Will of God.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

That all life will be seen as sacred, from conception till natural death.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

That we will grow in maturity by being able to distinguish good and evil.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

That we will humble ourselves before God and man that the Lord may exalt us in due time.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

That those who care for the sick and dying will reflect the heart of Christ to those they serve.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

Almighty God, You are a consuming fire. Hear our prayer and give us the grace to serve You acceptably with reverence and holy fear. We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN