Sign of the Cross

Greeting  

Option A

Blessed be the Lord our God who dwells among his people.
May God's love and peace be with you all.

Option B

"How awesome is this place!
This is none other than the house of God." [Gen. 28.17]
May God's peace and love be with you all.

Introduction and Litany of Praise

Option A

We believe that the Lord dwells in our houses of worship.
But do we also believe that he dwells first of all in us?
That we are the People of God?
St Paul calls us "God's building… God's holy temple."
Do we try to live as a fitting dwelling place for God? (pause)

Lord, your body is the new temple,
destroyed by evil people but raised up by the Father:
Lord, have mercy.

Lord, we are also your temple,
because your Spirit dwells within us:
Christ have mercy.

Lord, we should keep our body holy,
because it is your temple:
Lord, have mercy.

Option B

In today's Gospel we see Jesus creating a riot in the temple as he drives out the traders and the cattle. When he is finished, his Father's house is reclaimed for worship.

Let us ask the Lord to drive out the sin and selfishness in our own lives, so that we can become temples of the Holy Spirit. (pause)

Lord Jesus, zeal for your Father's house consumes you:
Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, your body is the true temple of God:
Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you are the power and wisdom of God:
Lord, have mercy.

Opening Prayer

All-holy God,
in every place on earth
you gather your people into your presence
to proclaim the wonders of your love.
As we celebrate the dedication of the cathedral church of Rome,
deepen our unity with your faithful throughout the world,
and build us up into a house of prayer for all nations.
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. AMEN.

Liturgy of the Word

Homily

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL

P       Let us pray to our heavenly Father for the Church founded by Christ.

             With confidence we pray:

CM     Lord, hear our prayer. (Please repeat)

1. For the lay faithful: (pause)
   may they offer spiritual worship to the Lord
   by witnessing to the Gospel of Christ
   in the midst of the world and its concerns. We pray:
   
2. As the Lord purified the temple may he purify the whole people of God
   so that we can become God's building. We pray:
   
   
3. May we see our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit
   and give them the respect they deserve. We pray:
   
   
4. May the Lord give healing to the sick,
   comfort to the dying,
   conversion to sinners
   and light to those experiencing darkness in their lives. We pray:
   
   
5. For all our relatives and friends who have died: (pause)
   that the God in whom they hoped will look on them with love
   and welcome them to the place he has reserved for them. We pray:
   

[The Presider may add a Petition that is local / relevant]

P    Lord, may everything we do
      begin with your inspiration,
      continue with your help,
      and reach perfection under your guidance.
      Grant this through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord God,
we bring before you
these gifts of bread and wine
to remember Jesus - the foundation of our faith.
May we become living stones,
allowing ourselves be built into a spiritual house,
to be a holy priesthood,
to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to you
through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

[ P #53 Preface for DEDICATION OF A CHURCH # 2 may be used.]

Invitation to the Lord’s Prayer

In this house of prayer
let us offer to our Father in heaven
the prayer of his Son Jesus:
Our Father ...

Deliver us Lord  

Deliver us, Lord, from sin and fear
which deprive the body of life.
Fill us with your zeal
so that we will acknowledge you in the presence of others
as we prepare with joy and hope
for the full coming among us
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Prayer for Peace

St Paul reminds us:
"You are God's temple…
God's Spirit dwells in you." (pause)
Lord Jesus,
look upon the faith of your Church
and grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom
where you live for ever and ever. AMEN

Rite of Peace
We are living stones, a chosen race, God's own people.
Let us offer to one another a sign of peace.

Optional Prayer to accompany the ‘Breaking of Bread’

P      We, the members of Christ's Church,
        are gathered from north and south, east and west.
        May we become as this blessed bread,
        a blessed people,
        blessed and broken in the love and care of one another.
A     LAMB OF GOD.....

Invitation to Communion

This is the Lord Jesus
who loves his Church
and offered himself for her salvation.
Blessed are we who are invited to his banquet.
Lord, I am not worthy…

Prayer after Communion   

Father, you make your Church on earth
a sign of the new and eternal Jerusalem.
By sharing in this sacrament
may we become the temple of your presence
and the home of your glory.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. AMEN.

Solemn Blessing

The Lord of earth and heaven
has assembled you before him this day
to recall the dedication of the Church of St. John in Rome.
May he fill you with special blessings. AMEN

God the Father wills
that all his children scattered through out the world
become one family in his Son.
May he make you his temple,
the dwelling place of his Holy Spirit. AMEN

May God free you from every bond of sin.
May you live with him forever in the company of all his saints. AMEN

May almighty God bless you, (+)
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN

Dismissal     

Go… and show to the world that you are God's temple.
and that God's Spirit dwells in you.
Thanks be to God.