Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Old Testament
Isaiah 35:4-7
Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God.
Psalm
Psalm
146
*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
James 2:8-9
Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God.
Gospel
Mark 7:24-37
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 7, beginning at verse 24.
24 From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden. 25 For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 But Jesus said to her, 'Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs.' 28 And she answered and said to Him, 'Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children's crumbs.' 29 Then He said to her, 'For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.' 30 And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed. 31 Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee. 32 Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him. 33 And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. 34 Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, 'Ephphatha,' that is, 'Be opened.' 35 Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly. 36 Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it. 37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, 'He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.'
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 earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof. Therefore, let us present our needs to the Father with great confidence. That the Church will always reflect the generous love, mercy, forgiveness, and compassion of Christ.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That those who serve in ordained ministries will be living examples of Christ and an inspiration to those they serve.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That government leaders will enact laws that discourage prejudice and promote justice.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That, as members of Christ's Body, we will always be mindful of the needs of the widow, the orphan, the poor and the unwanted child.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That God will give us ears to hear and eyes to see and a heart to respond to what the Holy Spirit is doing in our lives.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That wayward sons and daughters will repent and return to the Mercy Seat of Christ.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That those who are near death and those who grieve the loss of loved ones will find consolation in the Resurrected Christ.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Loving God, by Your great mercy and goodness You provide for all our spiritual and material needs. Grant the petitions we offer You today as may be best for us, through Christ our Lord. AMEN