Sign of the Cross

Greeting  

Grace, mercy and peace
from God the Father
and from Christ Jesus our Lord
be with you all. (1Tim. 1:2)

Introduction and Litany of Praise

Option A
In today's 2nd Reading St Paul says:
"Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus."
Jesus lived a life of perfect obedience to the will of the Father.
As his followers we, too, are called to a live of obedience.
And so we acknowledge our need of forgiveness
for the times we have been reluctant
to do the will of the Father. (pause)

Lord Jesus, you 'emptied yourself
and were born in human likeness.':
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

You became 'obedient to the point of death
- even death on a cross:
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Your name is exalted above every other name:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Option B
Quite often we feel within ourselves the tension
between what we know to be right
and what we know to be wrong.
Yet, we go our own way and do our own
will rather than God's.
Let us now ask forgiveness for this. (pause)

Lord Jesus, your 'Yes' was a firm 'Yes'
to the will of the Father':
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Christ Jesus, your word is always to be trusted,
for your actions always matched your words:
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you 'became obedient
to the point of death - even death on a cross':
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Opening Prayer

Option A
O God,
you alone judge rightly
and search the depths of the heart.
Make us swift to do your will
and slow to judge our neighbor
that we may walk in the way of righteousness
with those who follow the way of repentance
and so enter your heavenly kingdom.
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
Compassionate God,
you graciously promise life and salvation
to any who turn away from their transgressions
to do what is lawful and right.
Let the same mind be in us
that was in Christ Jesus.
May we walk the path of obedience and sacrifice,
finding in the self-emptying love of the cross,
the way to exaltation and glory.
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 not think of our own interests but rather pray
         for the needs of others as we say.

             With confidence we pray:

CM     Lord, teach us to be faithful. (Please repeat)

1. That Church leaders may always follow
   the example of Christ in humble service,
   never allowing the honor of their office
   to separate them from the people they serve.
   For this we pray.
   
2. That as we celebrate National Seafarers' Day
   we may pray for those who work at sea
   and also for their families, so that the bonds
   of love and unity may remain strong.
   For this we pray:
   
3. That the Lord may give strength to the sick
   and the dying, and welcome into his kingdom
   our departed brothers and sisters,
   especially those who have died at sea.
   For this we pray:
4. That those who experience Christ's humiliation
   and cross because of physical illness,
   emotional anguish or the misunderstanding of others,
   may also experience Christ's exaltation.
   For this we pray:
5. That the recent wave of suicide bombings in IRAQ
   will stop; and that the country will not slide
   into total chaos and Civil War.
   For this we pray:

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

P     Lord, grant that what we have said with our lips,
       we may believe with our hearts,
       and practice with our lives.
       We make this prayer through Christ our Lord . AMEN.

Prayer over the Gifts

Father of mercies,
you do not wish the sinner to die
but to be converted and live.
We present to you our gifts of bread and wine
and our solemn promise to say 'Yes' to your life and love.
We do this in the name of him,
whose name is above every other name,
Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Invitation to the Lord’s Prayer

With Jesus Christ we seek God's will ...
and with him we pray:
Our Father ...

Deliver us Lord  

Deliver us, Lord, from every evil
and save us from lives of broken promises.
Help us to seek your will in all we do
and to prepare for the full coming among us
of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Prayer for Peace

Lord, Jesus Christ,
you ate with tax-collectors and prostitutes
to show them that they too were precious to God.
Help us, your followers,
to reach out to those who are rejected by society,
so that we can all enter the kingdom of God
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      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

At the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Blessed are we who are invited to his banquets.
Lord, I am not worthy…

Prayer after Communion   

Compassionate God,
grant that the sacrament we have shared
may help us to become close followers of Jesus.
May we do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit,
but in humility regard others as better than ourselves.
All this we ask through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Solemn Blessing

May you have 'the same mind that was in Christ Jesus'.
AMEN

May you have 'the same love and be united in heart'.
AMEN.

May 'each of you look not to your own interests,
but to the interests of others'. AMEN.

And may the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
+ bless you now and forever. AMEN.

Dismissal     

The Lord Jesus invites us to work in his vineyard.
Let us say 'Yes'! and go.
Thanks be to God.