Tag: The Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does.

31st Ordinary Sunday, 30 October: Wis 11:22-12:2; Psa 145; 2 The 1:11-2:2; Luke 19:1-10 ~ a worthy life

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

We worship God, whose mercy for all people never fails. Zacchaeus took Jesus at his word and changed his life.

Opening Prayer:

Just and merciful God, true Lord of every house, sure delight of every heart, come into our midst today to speak your word and satisfy our hunger. Enable us to see you clearly, to welcome you with joy, and to give justice and mercy a place in our lives. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
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“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” – at Royal Albert Hall, London


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A Reading from the Apocrypha: Wisdom 11:22-12:2 (NRSVCE)
[God loves all of creation and encourages those who sin to repent.]

The whole world before you is like a speck that tips the scales, and like a drop of morning dew that falls on the ground. But you are merciful to all, for you can do all things, and you overlook people’s sins, so that they may repent.

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For you love all things that exist, and detest none of the things that you have made, for you would not have made anything if you had hated it. How would anything have endured if you had not willed it? Or how would anything not called forth by you have been preserved?

You spare all things, for they are yours, O Lord, you who love the living. For your immortal spirit is in all things.

Therefore you correct little by little those who trespass, and you remind and warn them of the things through which they sin, so that they may be freed from wickedness and put their trust in you, O Lord.
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 145:1-2, 8-11, 13, 14 (NLT)

I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever. I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever.
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The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation. All of your works will thank you, Lord, and your faithful followers will praise you. They will speak of the glory of your kingdom; they will give examples of your power.
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For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations. The Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does.
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The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads.
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“Psalm 145” – Travis Cottrel


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A Reading from the Letters: 2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2 (NLT)
[Paul writes of his pleasure at the faith of the community. But he also wants to reassure those disturbed by a false claim that Christ is about to return.]

So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him. Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us.
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A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 19:1-10 (NLT)
[Zacchaeus welcomes his savior into his house and decides to change his ways.]

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Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.

When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”

Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.

Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”

Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
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“I will never be the same again.” – Sapphire Singers


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Intercessory Prayer:

Merciful God: You raise those who are bowed down with grief or worry. Hear our prayers.

+ For those who follow Christ — that we, like Zacchaeus, may declare our sins and find peace…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those who have never known Your love — that Your mercy may surround them…. Lord, hear us.
+ For the suffering people of Aleppo and Syria — that You may defend them and protect them…. Lord, hear us.
+ For refugees of good will — that they may find safe havens and support while waiting to return home…. Lord, hear us.
+ For the people on the edge of our communities — that they may discover You are close to them…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all those in need, the sick and the worried — that the care of friends may bring them peace…. Lord, hear us.
+ For the upcoming US presidential election – that truth, justice and wisdom may prevail, and that Your will be done…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all those who have died in Christ – that they may know Your compassion and dwell with You eternally…. Lord, hear us.

O God our King, You support Your people in all our needs: show us Your kindness, we pray, through Christ our Lord.
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“Faithful one” – Robin Mark


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Benediction:

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. – 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
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+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

5th Sunday of Easter, 24 April: Acts 14:21-27; Psalm 145:8-13; Revelation 21:1-5; John 13:31-35 ~ love one another

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Praise God, who raised his son Jesus from the dead. Lord, give us enthusiasm for passing on the Good News.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening Prayer:

We behold your glory, O God, in the love shown by your Son, lifted up on the cross and exalted on high. Increase our love for one another, that both in name and in truth we may be followers of the risen Lord Jesus and so reflect by our lives the glory that is yours. Grant this through Jesus Christ, the firstborn from the dead, who lives and reigns with you now and always in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Love divine all loves excelling” – Keswick Praise


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A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles: Acts 14:21-27 (NLT)
[Paul and Barnabas complete their missionary journey, encouraging their new converts to persevere.]

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After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God. Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. Then they traveled back through Pisidia to Pamphylia. They preached the word in Perga, then went down to Attalia.

Finally, they returned by ship to Antioch of Syria, where their journey had begun. The believers there had entrusted them to the grace of God to do the work they had now completed. Upon arriving in Antioch, they called the church together and reported everything God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, too.
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 145:8-13 (NLT)

The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.

All of your works will thank you, Lord, and your faithful followers will praise you. They will speak of the glory of your kingdom; they will give examples of your power. They will tell about your mighty deeds and about the majesty and glory of your reign. For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations.

The Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does.
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Psaume 145 / Psalm 145 – Taizé


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A Reading from the Revelations of John: Revelation 21:1-5 (NLT)
[In the new Jerusalem awaiting believers, there will be no more mourning or sadness.]

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”
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A Reading from the Gospels: John 13:31-35 (NLT)
[Jesus instructs his followers to love one another.]

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As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will give his own glory to the Son, and he will do so at once. Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
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Spiritual Song: “How He Loves Us” – David Crowder Band


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Intercessory Prayer:

Merciful, compassionate God, we come before you today with confidence. Hear the deep yearnings of our hearts.

+ For those affected by earthquakes in Japan and Ecuador, that they may be helped….
+ For migrants and refugees, that they may find respite while they wait to return home….
+ For homeless and needy people in our communities, that they may be cherished….
+ For missionaries, that they may put fresh heart into new believers….
+ For young people receiving Confirmation this year, that the Spirit may guide their lives….
+ For the sick and dying, that they may receive compassionate care and spiritual support….
+ For those who have died in Christ, that they may take their place in the new Jerusalem, where mourning and sadness is no more….

Gracious, loving God, you are compassionate to all your creatures, help us according to your will, through Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever. Amen.
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Hymn: “Here is love, vast as the ocean” – Robin Mark

Benediction:

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. (Revelation 22:20-21)

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen