Greeting [based on2nd Reading]

Jesus Christ learned obedience through what he suffered,
and became to all who obey him the source of eternal salvation.
May this Lord Jesus be with you always.

Introduction and Litany of Praise

Option A

Today we hear the ancient promise of God:

"I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts;

and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

Let us ask the Lord to give us a new heart and a new spirit,

that we may learn to know God's ways and follow them. (pause)

In your kindness, Lord, you show mercy to us.
Lord, have mercy.

In your compassion, Lord, you blot out our offences.
Christ, have mercy.

You create new hearts for us, O Lord; you cleanse us from our sin.
Lord, have mercy.

 

Option B

A grain of wheat has to die in order to bear fruit.

We too have to die to ourselves in order to live more fully as human beings and as Christians.

We ask forgiveness from the Lord for living our lives too centered on ourselves. (pause)

Lord Jesus,
you make a new covenant with us, writing the law of love in our hearts: Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus,
you are the grain of wheat that dies that it may produce the fruit of our salvation: Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus,
you are lifted up from the earth so that you may draw all to yourself: Lord, have mercy.

Opening Prayer

Option A

Hear, O God,
the prayers and supplications of your Son
who established the new and everlasting covenant,
by becoming obedient even unto death on the cross.

Through all the trials of this life,
may we produce the abundant fruit
of that seed that falls to the earth and dies,
and so be gathered as your harvest for the kingdom of heaven.

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.

Option B

In our hearts, O God,
you have written a covenant of grace,
sealed by the obedience of Jesus your Son.
Raise us up with Christ -
the grain fallen to earth
that yields a harvest of everlasting life.

Bring us to glorify your name
by following faithfully the path that leads to you.

We ask this through Christ, our deliverance and hope,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
holy and mighty God for ever and ever. AMEN.

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL

Presider

Let us offer up prayers and supplications to God through Jesus
who has become the source of our eternal salvation, so we pray:

CM           Lord, hear your people.

                 Please repeat:

For those who are looking for a faith to believe in: [pause]
that they may see in Jesus someone who answers their deepest yearnings for the meaning to life. We pray:

That all the peoples of the world may come to know the Lord through the law of love written in their hearts. We pray

For those who hold positions of responsibility: [pause]
that they may set aside personal ambition and work unselfishly for the good of others. We pray:

That the afflicted, who offer their prayers with loud cries and tears,
may find strength in their union with Jesus, who was made perfect through suffering. We pray:

That we may come to accept the great truth Christ teaches us,
that if we want to save our life we must spend it generously in his service.We pray:

For all those gathered here; [pause]
that we may be more forgiving and self-sacrificing, so that we may walk in newness of life. We pray

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

Presider

Heavenly Father,
your Son tells us that he is the wheat grain which falls on the ground and dies in order to yield a rich harvest.

Help us to die to our selfishness
so that our lives may be open to your love.
We make our prayer 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

Option A

The prayer that Jesus taught us is written in our hearts,
so we can say to our God:

Option B

Let us pray in the name and in the words of Jesus,
who learned obedience through what he suffered:

Deliver us Lord

Deliver us, Lord, from every evil,
and from loving our own life so much
that we may be in danger of losing it.
Protect us from all anxiety in the face of suffering
as we work in joy and hope
for the coming in glory
of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Prayer for Peace

Lord, Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles:
"Whoever serves me must follow me."
Grant that we may serve you and follow you
as we work for the spread of the kingdom,
where you live for ever and ever.

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]

'Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies,
it remains just a single grain,
but if it dies it bears much fruit.'
It takes many grains of wheat to make this one bread.
We who eat of it are one in the body of Christ.

Invitation to Communion

Option A

Behold Jesus, who was lifted up from the earth
and draws all people to himself.

Blessed are we who are invited around this altar-table.

Option B

Behold the Servant of God, obedient unto death on a cross,
highly exalted as Lord of glory.
Blessed are those who are called to the banquet of the Lamb.

Prayer after Communion [based on 2nd Reading]

Blessed are you, gracious God;
we glorify your name through Jesus, your Son.
He offered up prayers and supplications to you
and he was heard because of his reverent submission to your will.
Although he was your Son
he learned obedience through what he suffered
and became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

May we serve him and follow him
so that with him we may glorify your name.
This we ask through the same Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Blessing

May the Lord be above you to bless you,

about you to protect you,
within you to empower you.

And may our loving God,
+ Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

come down upon you
and remain with you for ever. AMEN.

Dismissal

Option A

Our celebration is ended.
Go and follow Jesus by a life of service.

Option B

Confessing that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God,
go forth in the peace of Christ.