Sign of the Cross

Greeting  

From God the Father
and Christ Jesus our Savior,
grace and peace be with you. [Titus 1:4]

Introduction and Litany of Praise

Today we celebrate the Feast of two great saints -
Peter, the leader of the apostles,
and Paul, the preacher to the nations.

We give thanks to God for their lives
and pray that we too may have a faith that reaches out to the world. [pause]

Lord Jesus, you are the foundation of our faith:
Lord, have mercy.

Christ Jesus, you are the way, the truth, and the life:
Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you are the Son of the living God:
Lord, have mercy.

Introduction to Gloria

We now join our voices with Christians all over the world
as we give praise and glory to God:

Opening Prayer

Option A
Gracious God,
you crowned the faith of PETER
and the tireless preaching of PAUL
with a share in Christ's triumphant death.

Renew our faith through their intercession
and, by the example of their lives,
rekindle our zeal for proclaiming the gospel.

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. AMEN

Option B
Your grace, O God,
transformed Peter and Paul into mighty witnesses
of bold preaching,
faithful serving,
and sacrificial love - even unto death.

As we give thanks today for their example
we ask your grace that, with them,
we may fight the good fight,
finish the race,
keep the faith
and receive at last the crown of glory.

We make our prayer 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        On this solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul,
           let the church pray fervently to God in the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

             Let our response be:

CM     Lord, protect your people. (Please repeat)

1. For the Church in our time; (pause)
   that the Holy Spirit may guide it through the present pains of renewal and purification while keeping faithful to the gospel as it speaks its message in the language of today, we pray:
   
   
2. Peter was the rock upon which Christ founded his church. (pause)
   For his successor, Pope __________, that together with his fellow bishops, he may guide God's Church in truth and in love, we pray:
   
   
3. Paul was a fearless preacher. (pause)
   For those who devote their lives in a special way to spreading the faith;
   for theologians, preachers, catechists, missionaries and those who present the Church through the mass media, we pray:
   
   
4. For those who, like Peter and Paul, have been unjustly imprisoned. (pause)
   May they be sustained by the Lord who rescues people in their distress,
   we pray:
   

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

P     Loving Father, hear the prayers of your people.
       Keep us true to the teachings of the apostles Peter and Paul
       and inspire us to imitate their example and continue their work.
       We ask this through Christ, our Lord. AMEN.

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord God,
in these signs of bread and wine
we remember Jesus, your Son,
who gave himself to all
as bread to be broken and shared
and as wine to be poured out in joy.
Let him become for all who obey him
the source of eternal salvation.
All this we ask through the same Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Invitation to the Lord’s Prayer

United as one family in the faith of the Apostles,
we are able to pray:
Our Father ...

Deliver us Lord  

Deliver your Church, Lord, from every evil
and grant it peace in our day.
In your mercy keep us free from sin
and protect us from anxiety
as we wait in hope
for the coming of him
who is the Church's one foundation,
our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Prayer for Peace

Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles:
"I leave you peace, my peace I give you."
Look not on our sins,
but on the faith of your Church,
and grant us " the crown of righteousness
which is reserved for all who have fought the good fight,
have finished the race,
and kept the faith".
Grant us also the peace of your kingdom
where you live for ever and ever. AMEN

Exchange of Peace
Jesus has made our peace by his death on the cross.
Let us now greet each other in that peace.

Optional Prayer to accompany the ‘Breaking of Bread’

P      May our sharing in this one cup and one bread
        be our pledge to live according to the Spirit of God.
        'For when we eat this bread and drink this wine
       we proclaim the death of the Lord Jesus
       until he comes in glory'. (1 Cor. 11:26)

A     LAMB OF GOD.....

Invitation to Communion  (based on Revelation 22:17)

This is Jesus the Son of the Living God.
Flesh and blood has not revealed this to us,
but our Father in heaven.
Blessed are we to be invited around this altar-table.

Lord, I am not worthy…

Prayer after Communion   

Lord God of all nations,
you have refreshed us in this holy meal.
Grant that we may be the Church of Peter,
firm in faith, built on rock.
May we also be the Church of Paul,
restless until Christ is known by all.

Bless the missionary work of the Church
so that, in our country and throughout the world,
your name may be glorified.
All this we ask through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Solemn Blessing

May God, who frees you from fear
and fills you with courage,
walk always by your side. [Acts 12: 7-10]
AMEN.

May the God of all grace
who has called you to eternal glory in Christ,
support and strengthen you. (1 Peter 5:10-11)
AMEN.

May the Lord rescue you from every evil
and bring you safe to his heavenly kingdom.
To him be the power for ever and ever. [2nd Tim. 4: 17-18]
AMEN.

And may almighty God bless you, +
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. AMEN.

Dismissal     

Let us go in peace and bear witness to the gospel.
Thanks be to God.