Sign of the Cross

Greeting  

May the mercy of God our Father,
the compassion of Jesus his Son,
and the patient love of the Holy Spirit
be with you all.

Introduction

Option A
Forgiveness lies at the heart of the Christian message. As followers of Jesus we are called upon to forgive our brothers and sisters from our hearts.  Let us look at the way Jesus forgave people.

Option B
Our God is a forgiving God?. full of compassion and mercy.
However, as our readings today point out, we cannot expect any forgiveness or mercy from God if we do not forgive other people. 

Litany of Praise

Lord Jesus, you forgave Peter after he denied you:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you asked your Father
to forgive those who crucified you:
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you teach us that the forgiven
person must forgive in return:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Opening Prayer

Option A
O God, Most High,
you are slow to anger and rich in compassion.
Keep alive in us the memory of your mercy;
calm our anger and take away all our resentments.
May we discover the forgiveness promised to those who forgive
and become a people rich in mercy.
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
When you pass judgment, O God Most High,
justice and mercy meet in perfect measure,
and you pardon us as we pardon one another.
Create in us a new heart,
formed in the image of your Son,
a heart strong enough to bear every wound
and gentle enough to forgive every offense,
that the world may see
how your people love one another.
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 merciful God that we, who have experienced
         his forgiveness, may bring the joy of reconciliation to the world.

             With confidence we pray:

CM     Inspire us to forgive. (Please repeat)

1. For all Christian churches,
   long divided by grudges and pride.  (pause)
   May be brought together in the unity
   of the gospel of Jesus.
   We pray:
   
2. For those among us who find it difficult to forgive. (pause)
   May the realization of God’s generous mercy
   to humankind touch their hearts
   and enable them to extend the hand of reconciliation.
   We pray:
   
3. For all of us gathered here.  (pause)
   May be able to forgive those who have sinned against us
   and so be healed of our bitterness and resentment.
   We pray:
4. For all those who have died in tragic
   circumstances over the past weeks; 
   the thousands who died in the wake
   of Hurricane Katrina;
   those killed in the many plane crashes;
   and those who have died as a result
   of the ongoing conflict in IRAQ
   and the Middle East.
   We pray:

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

P     Compassionate God, you are slow to anger and rich in mercy. 
       Listen to our prayers and fill us with a spirit of true forgiveness. 
       We ask this through Jesus, the Lord. AMEN.

Prayer over the Gifts

Remember, Lord,
that your Son, in offering his life,
has washed away the sins of the world.
Look with favor on your church’s offering
and grant that we too may be ministers of reconciliation.
This we ask through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Invitation to the Lord’s Prayer

Option A
Let us ask God to forgive our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us:
Our Father ...

Option B
Asking God to forgive our many sins,
and with love and forgiveness toward all, we now pray:
Our Father ...

Deliver us Lord  

Deliver us, Lord, from every evil,
especially from our unwillingness to forgive
those who have injured us.
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:
‘Peace I leave with you,
my peace I give to you.’
Look not on our sins,
and help us not to look on the sins of others,
for we all need your forgiving love
and each other’s pardon.
Grant us the peace of your kingdom,
where you live for ever and ever. AMEN

Exchange of Peace
We have all been healed by the love of God. 
So in gratitude let us share Christ’s peace
with the persons beside us.

Optional Prayer to accompany the ‘Breaking of Bread’

P      Our Father gives us the bread from heaven
        and the saving cup brimming with life.
        May this bread broken and cup poured
        link us together in charity and peace
        so that we may be living signs of the Lord’s kingdom.
A     LAMB OF GOD.....

Invitation to Communion

Option A
This is Jesus who reconciles us with God and with one another.
Blessed are we who are invited to his banquet table.
Lord, I am not worthy…

Option B
This is Jesus who died and lives again;
the Lord of both the dead and the living.
Blessed are we who are invited to his supper.
Lord, I am not worthy…

Prayer after Communion   

Compassionate Father,
you have nourished us at the table of your Son.
May we be willing to reach out to all those we have hurt
and be ready to ask their forgiveness.
We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Solemn Blessing

May God show you mercy and fill you with grace.
AMEN

May God give you peace and a vision of glory.
AMEN.

May God move your hearts to forgive from the heart. AMEN.

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

Dismissal     

Option A
Our celebration is ended.
Go, and share with others God’s forgiveness and love.
Thanks be to God.

Option B
Eager to proclaim and share God’s boundless love,
go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.