Sign of the Cross

Greeting  

The Lord be with you.

Introduction and Litany of Praise

Option A
If Jesus were to stand here before you today and ask you:
"Who do you say I am" what answer would you give him?
(pause)

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

Lord Jesus, you are the living Rock that saves us:
Christ, have mercy:
Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you entrusted to Peter the 'power of the keys'
in order to guide your people:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Option B
We may wonder at times why Jesus entrusted his
Church to weak people? Yet in spite of the weaknesses
of our leaders God still trusts them and promises
to be with us all until the end of time.
Let us ask Jesus to help us live up to that trust. (pause)

Lord Jesus, we believe in you for you
are the Messiah, the Son of the living God:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you have commissioned your
Church to bring God's forgiveness to the world:
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you have promised that the powers
of evil can never overcome those
who put their complete trust in you:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Opening Prayer

Option A
God, well-spring of all wisdom,
and source of every insight,
you inspired Simon Peter to confess
that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God.
On this rock of faith you have built your church.
Pour out your Spirit in abundance,
that all may join in this profession,
and become living stones
standing firm upon the one foundation,
which is 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
Loving God,
you sent your Son among us
to reveal your wisdom
and make known your ways.
Increase our faith,
that we may confess Jesus as your Son,
take up his work on earth,
and trust his promise to sustain the Church.
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        How deep the wisdom and knowledge of God?
          how impossible to penetrate God's motives!
          Let us pray that the Lord will reveal his ways to us,
          so that we can always confess his name and give him praise.

             With confidence we pray:

CM     Lord, listen to your people. (Please repeat)

1. For all those who exercise authority,
   in the Church and in society. (pause)
   May they serve us with the humility
   and wisdom of Christ.
   We pray:
   
2. For the Church. That it may rely on the power
   of the risen Christ as it confronts human weakness,
   scandals, and the powers of evil within its leaders.
   We pray:
   
3. For ourselves.
   (pause) That we may recognize Christ,
   not only as our Lord and Savior,
   but as a Friend who loves us with a rocklike love.
   We pray:
4. That this community may open doors of welcome
   To all who have been alienated from the church . (pause)
   We pray:

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

P     Eternal God.
       we bless you for revealing Jesus your Son to us.
       May we be blessed with the riches of your
       wisdom and knowledge.
       To you be glory for ever through your Son,
       Jesus Christ our Lord . AMEN.

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord,as
we celebrate the memorial of your Son's boundless love,
we humbly pray, that, through the ministry of your Church,
his saving work may bear fruit for the salvation of all the world.
Grant this through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Invitation to the Lord’s Prayer

With Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God,
We have the courage to say:
Our Father ...

Deliver us Lord  

Deliver us, Lord, from every evil,
And grant us peace in our day.
In your mercy accept us in our weakness
And fill us with the power of Christ.
Keep us free from sin and
protect us in time of trial as we wait in joyful hope for
the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Prayer for Peace

Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles:
"My peace I leave you;
my peace I give you."
Look not on our sins,
But on the faith of your Church,
And grant us the gifts of wisdom, knowledge
And the peace of your kingdom
Where you live for ever and ever. AMEN

Exchange of Peace
As brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ
We offer one another his gift of peace.

Optional Prayer to accompany the ‘Breaking of Bread’

P      As we share this bread,
        we proclaim our willingness
        to build a community of love,
        to be the holy people
        that God calls us to be.
A     LAMB OF GOD.....

Invitation to Communion

This is Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Blessed are we to be invited to the banquet of life.
Lord, I am not worthy…

Prayer after Communion   

God of Wisdom,
God of Knowledge,
How unsearchable are your judgements,
How inscrutable are your ways!
We thank you for the gift of Jesus, your beloved Son.
May he continue to guide those
Whom he has called to leadership and service.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Solemn Blessing

CM      Your response to the each blessing is:
A             To God be glory forever.

P          May God give you peace.
A             To God be glory forever.

P          May God show you love.
A             To God be glory forever.

P          May God bring you to glory.
A             To God be glory forever.

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

Dismissal     

Our celebration is ended.
Let us go in the power of Christ, the Son of the living God.
Thanks be to God.