Today Is: Proper 26

Collect for: Proper 26
Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; 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 1:10-17

10 Hear the word of the LORD, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the law of our God, You people of Gomorrah: 11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?' Says the LORD. 'I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, Or of lambs or goats. 12 When you come to appear before Me, Who has required this from your hand, To trample My courts? 13 Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies -- I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. 14 Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. 16 Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, 17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.

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

Psalm
Psalm 119

137 Righteous are You, O LORD, And upright are Your judgments. 138 Your testimonies, which You have commanded, Are righteous and very faithful.
Blessed are all who turn to the LORD, and listen to His words of righteousness.

139 My zeal has consumed me, Because my enemies have forgotten Your words. 140 Your word is very pure; Therefore Your servant loves it.
Blessed are all who turn to the LORD, and listen to His words of righteousness.

141 I am small and despised, Yet I do not forget Your precepts. 142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth.
Blessed are all who turn to the LORD, and listen to His words of righteousness.

143 Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, Yet Your commandments are my delights. 144 The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting; Give me understanding, and I shall live.
Blessed are all who turn to the LORD, and listen to His words of righteousness.

*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 Thessalonians 2:9-12

9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

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

Gospel
Luke 19:1-10

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 19, beginning at verse 1.

1 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, 'Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.' 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, 'He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.' 8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, 'Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.' 9 And Jesus said to him, 'Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.'

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 26

Brothers and sisters, He Who is our salvation is in the midst of us. Therefore, let us bring our requests before Him.

For the unity of the Church.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

For the Church; that She will faithfully live out the Gospel in both word and deed and make disciples of all nations.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

For the conversion of those who persecute God's people.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

For nations that abuse their power and their people; that liberty will flourish and overcome the oppression.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

For protection and deliverance from danger, violence, war and natural disasters.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

For God's peace in our lives, families, neighborhoods, and nation.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

For the zeal of Zacchaeus to see Jesus more clearly and the willingness to make proper restitution where necessary.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

For those who mourn the loss of loved ones.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

For our enemies and those who have mistreated us.
Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father, hear our prayer and give us the grace to love the truth and hate what is evil. We ask this through Christ our Lord.    Amen.