Today Is: Proper 23

Collect for: Proper 23
Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Old Testament
2 Kings 5:8-15

8 So it was, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, 'Why have you torn your clothes? Please let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.' 9 Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha's house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, 'Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.' 11 But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, 'Indeed, I said to myself, 'He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.' 12 Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?' So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, 'My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, 'Wash, and be clean'?' 14 So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 15 And he returned to the man of God, he and all his aides, and came and stood before him; and he said, 'Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel; now therefore, please take a gift from your servant.'

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

Psalm
Psalm 111

1 Praise the LORD! I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. 2 The works of the LORD are great, Studied by all who have pleasure in them.
The LORD our God remains faithful forever; And those who believe will know.

3 His work is honorable and glorious, And His righteousness endures forever. 4 He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; The LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
The LORD our God remains faithful forever; And those who believe will know.

5 He has given food to those who fear Him; He will ever be mindful of His covenant. 6 He has declared to His people the power of His works, In giving them the heritage of the nations.
The LORD our God remains faithful forever; And those who believe will know.

7 The works of His hands are verity and justice; All His precepts are sure. 8 They stand fast forever and ever, And are done in truth and uprightness.
The LORD our God remains faithful forever; And those who believe will know.

9 He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Holy and awesome is His name. 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.
The LORD our God remains faithful forever; And those who believe will know.

*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
2 Timothy 2:8-15

8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, 9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. 12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. 13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. 14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

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

Gospel
Luke 17:11-19

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 17, beginning at verse 11.

11 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, 'Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!' 14 So when He saw them, He said to them, 'Go, show yourselves to the priests.' And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. 17 So Jesus answered and said, 'Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?' 19 And He said to him, 'Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.'

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 23

Brothers and sisters, even when we are faithless, God is faithful. Therefore, let us bring our needs and the needs of the whole world before Him, Whom we can put all our trust in.

That the Church will manifest the love and forgiveness of God to a lost and faithless world.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

That nations will put aside their pride and selfish ambitions and seek peace and reconciliation.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

That there will be an end to human trafficking, child abuse, domestic violence, and abortion.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

That those who live in despair and hopelessness will experience God's grace in new and different ways and come to know and surrender to the plans He has for them.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

That those suffering in body, soul or spirit will, like Naaman, be touched and healed by the mercies of God and glorify the Father in their healing.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

That we will be good stewards of God's creation and use its resources rightly in service to others.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

For our own special intentions. (Pause)
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father, every good gift comes from You. Hear our prayer and give us the grace to have a thankful spirit, like the cleansed leper of the Gospel, for all the blessings You have bestowed upon us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN