Tag: Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

32nd Ordinary Sunday, 06 November: 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14; Psalm 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15; 2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5; Luke 20:27-38 ~ lead me home

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

We worship God who sustains us in this life and promises us resurrection in the life to come.

Opening Prayer:

God of all the living, in the resurrection of Christ Jesus you have given us the life which even death cannot destroy. Remember your unshakeable promise and strengthen us to live in this world as your new creation. We ask 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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“How Great Thou Art ( 1957 )” – George Beverly Shea


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A Reading from the Apocrypha: 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14 (NRSVCE)
[The story of a woman and her sons whose faith in the resurrection gave them the strength to endure martyrdom.]

20 Christian Women Who Died as Martyrs [click on picture for more information]
20 Christian Women Who Died as Martyrs
[click on picture for more information]

It happened also that seven brothers and their mother were arrested and were being compelled by the king, under torture with whips and thongs, to partake of unlawful swine’s flesh. One of them, acting as their spokesman, said, “What do you intend to ask and learn from us? For we are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our ancestors.”
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And when he was at his last breath, he said, “You accursed wretch, you dismiss us from this present life, but the King of the universe will raise us up to an everlasting renewal of life, because we have died for his laws.”

After him, the third was the victim of their sport. When it was demanded, he quickly put out his tongue and courageously stretched forth his hands, and said nobly, “I got these from Heaven, and because of his laws I disdain them, and from him I hope to get them back again.” As a result the king himself and those with him were astonished at the young man’s spirit, for he regarded his sufferings as nothing.

After he too had died, they maltreated and tortured the fourth in the same way. When he was near death, he said, “One cannot but choose to die at the hands of mortals and to cherish the hope God gives of being raised again by him. But for you there will be no resurrection to life!”
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15 (NLT)
[The Lord hears our prayers, and when we die brings us to the sight of glory.]

Prince Harry happily takes the time to speak to some of the children individually and bends down to hear them.
Prince Harry happily takes the time to speak to some of the children individually and bends down to hear them.

O Lord, hear my plea for justice. Listen to my cry for help. Pay attention to my prayer, for it comes from honest lips.
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My steps have stayed on your path; I have not wavered from following you. I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray.
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Guard me as you would guard your own eyes. Hide me in the shadow of your wings.
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Because I am righteous, I will see you. When I awake, I will see you face to face and be satisfied.
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“Apple of Your eye (Psalm 17)” – Sons of Korah


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A Reading from the Letters: 2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5 (NLT)
[Paul writes to the Christians of Thessolonika to reassure and encourage them.]

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.
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Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you. Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer. But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. And we are confident in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we commanded you. May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.
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A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 20:27 (NLT)
[Jesus’ answer to people who doubted the resurrection of the dead.]

Then Jesus was approached by some Sadducees — religious leaders who say there is no resurrection from the dead. They posed this question: “Teacher, Moses gave us a law that if a man dies, leaving a wife but no children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother’s name. Well, suppose there were seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children. So the second brother married the widow, but he also died. Then the third brother married her. This continued with all seven of them, who died without children. Finally, the woman also died. So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her!”

children-of-the-resurrection

Jesus replied, “Marriage is for people here on earth. But in the age to come, those worthy of being raised from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage. And they will never die again. In this respect they will be like angels. They are children of God and children of the resurrection.

“But now, as to whether the dead will be raised — even Moses proved this when he wrote about the burning bush. Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, he referred to the Lord as ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ So he is the God of the living, not the dead, for they are all alive to him.”
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“Take My Hand, Precious Lord” – Joey + Rory


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Intercessory Prayer:

O God: bend down and listen as we pray; pay heed to our cries:

+ For peace in our world, especially in Syria and the Middle East — that innocent people may be defended from war and violence…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all those who are kind to refugees and the destitute — that You may reward their goodness…..  Lord, hear us.
+ For Christians persecuted for believing — that You may fill them with courage…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those who doubt that life continues after death — that they may hear the Good News…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all who mourn their loved ones — that You may comfort them and raise those who have died in Christ to their eternal rest…. Lord, hear us.
+ For the upcoming US presidential election – that Your will may done, on earth as it is in heaven…. Lord, hear us.

Lord our God, You watch over and protect Your people: turn your ear to us, we pray, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“Great Is Thy Faithfullness” – Israel Houghton


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Benediction:

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say. – 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
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+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Sunday, 08 November: 1 Kings 17:10-16; Psalm 146:7-10; Hebrews 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44 ~ simple gifts and expectations

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

Opening Sentence and Prayer:

Gathering together in the Lord’s house, we bring simple gifts into God’s presence – our love, our care for each other, our worshiping hearts and voices.
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God, our provider, You are the orphan’s hope and the widow’s bread. Strengthen our faith, that with simplicity of heart we may come to trust in You alone and hold back nothing in serving You. 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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Hymn: “We Come Rejoicing” – The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir


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A Reading from the Old Testament: 1 Kings 17:10-16 (NLT)
[A poor widow’s hospitality to Elijah the prophet is rewarded.]

So [Elijah] went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?” As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.”

pot-of-oil-and-flour

But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.”

But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!”

So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days. There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 146:7-10 (NLT)

He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The Lord frees the prisoners. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down. The Lord loves the godly.

The Lord protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.

The Lord will reign forever. He will be your God, O Jerusalem, throughout the generations.

Praise the Lord!
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“What Joy (Psalm 146)” – Sarah Emerson


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A Reading from the Letters: Hebrews 9:24-28 (NLT)
[Christ offers his sacrifice once and for all. When he comes in glory, he will reward those who wait for him.]

For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice.

And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.
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A Reading from the Gospels: Mark 12:38-44 (NLT)
[Unlike the showy religious leaders, the poor widow gives with generosity of heart.]

Widows Mite james c christensen art
Widows Mite
james c christensen art

Jesus also taught: “Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets. Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be more severely punished.”

Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins.

Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”
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Hymn: “Even So” – Terry MacAlmon

Even so / Come Lord Jesus come / Even so / Take your bride away / How my soul / Longs to be with you my Lord / Even so / Even so / Come Lord Jesus come
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Intercessions:

The Lord raises up those who are bowed down, so let us come before Him with confidence. Lord, hear our prayers:

+ For all Christian leaders – that their faith may be genuine and sincere…. Lord, hear us.
+ For Christians everywhere – that we may be generous to the poor…. Lord, hear us.
+ For ourselves – that we may be open to conversation with people whose convictions are different from ours…. Lord, hear us.
+ For church pastors – that they may help their congregations to have hope…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those with little to call their own – that their trust in You may bring many blessings…. Lord, hear us.
+ For peace in Syria, and for divine protection for the Syrian refugees who seek a temporary home in Europe…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all who have died, particularly those who have lost their lives through war or violence – that they, and all we have lost to death, may enjoy eternal salvation…. Lord, hear us.

Loving God, You support those in sorrow or pain: help us in all our needs, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Hymn: “He Reigns” Newsboys


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Benediction:

May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13)

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