Trial Use Collects, Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion Propers 10 to 22 June to August 2015 Year B The following Collects are alternatives to the Collects in The Book of Alternative Services and, where authorized by the Ordinary, the Opening Prayers in Evangelical Lutheran Worship. The Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion are taken from Evangelical Lutheran Worship. Pentecost 2: 7 June 2015 Proper 10 (5 to 11 June) 1 Samuel 8.4-11, (12-15), 16-20, (11.14-15); Psalm 138; 2 Corinthians 4.13-5.1; Mark 3.20-35 Gracious God, give us such a vision of your purpose and such an assurance of your love and power that we may ever hold fast to the hope we have in Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. A Prayer Book for Australia (1995) alt. God of the unexpected, you take what is old and make it new, and what is dead and bring it to life; you take our false expectations and transform them into your truth. Help us to accept the challenge of your call, so that, trusting in your promise, we journey by faith in Jesus Christ. FWM Proposed Prayers alt. Pentecost 3: 14 June 2015 Proper 11 (12 to 18 June) 1 Samuel.15.34-16.13; Psalm 20; 2 Corinthians 5.6-10, (11-13), 14-17; Mark 4.26-34 Mighty God, to you belong the mysteries of the universe. You transform shepherds into kings, the smallest seeds into magnificent trees, and hardened hearts into loving ones. May your life-giving Spirit re-create us in your image and shape us into your purposes, through Jesus Christ. Creating God, you make all things new. Plant seeds of confidence and gladness in our hearts, so that, trusting your word, we may live no longer for ourselves but for him who died and was raised for us, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Pentecost 4: 21 June 2015 Proper 12 (19 to 25 June) 1 Samuel 17: (1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49; Psalm 9.9-20 or 1 Samuel 17.57-18.5, 10-16; Psalm 133; 2 Corinthians 6.1-13; Mark 4.35-41 God our protector, you stood by David in the time of trial. Stand with us through all life s storms, giving us courage to risk danger to protect those who are oppressed and poor, so that they may know you as their stronghold and hope. Saving God, enter the flood and storm of chaos and confusion and speak peace to our fearful hearts, so that we might find our faith in him whose word brings rest to all creation; through Jesus Christ, Lord of wind and wave. Pentecost 5: 28 June 2015 Proper 13 (26 June to 2 July) 2 Samuel 1.1, 17-27; Psalm 130; 2 Corinthians 8.7-15; Mark 5.21-43 O Christ for whom we search, our help when help has failed: give us courage to expose our need and ask to be made whole, so that, being touched by you, we may be raised to new life in the power of your name. A Prayer Book for Australia (1995) alt. God of hope, you are ruler of both night and day, guardian of those who wander in shadows. Be new light and life for those who live in the darkness of despair, for those imprisoned by guilt and grief, for those living with anxiety and depression, so that, even where death s grip tightens, all may know the power of the One who conquered fear and death. 2
Pentecost 6: 5 July 2015 Proper 14 (3 to 9 July) 2 Samuel 5.1-5, 9-10; Psalm 48; 2 Corinthians 12.2-10; Mark 6.1-13 Guardian of the weak, turn the places with live into strongholds of your grace, temples of your presence, and citadels of your justice, so that the most vulnerable and most powerful may find peace in the strong name of Jesus Christ. God of the prophets, in every age you send the word of truth, familiar yet new. Let us not be counted among those who lack faith, but give us vision to see Christ in our midst and to welcome your saving word. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Opening Prayers (1997) alt. Pentecost 7: 12 July 2015 Proper 15 (10 to 16 July) 2 Samuel 6.1-15, 12b-19; Psalm 24; Ephesians 1.3-14; Mark 6.14-29 God of the prophets, whose word cuts through the webs of power and holds the tyrant to account: be with all who raise their voice against oppression and misrule, who are imprisoned and abused for freedom s sake; help us to stand and speak with them and witness to your kingdom now; through Jesus Christ, the name above all others. Prayers for an Inclusive Church (2009) O God, when pride leads us deeper into sin, grant us strength, so that we may turn from pride and know the power of your uncompromising love. In Jesus name we pray. The Propers Working Group (2015) 3
Pentecost 8: 19 July 2015 Proper 16 (17 to 23 July) 2 Samuel 7.1-14a; Psalm 89.20-37; Ephesians 2.11-22; Mark 6.30-34, 53-56 Holy God of Israel, draw us near to you, so that in place of hostility there may be peace; in place of loneliness, compassion; in place of aimlessness, direction; and in place of sickness, healing; through Christ Jesus, in whom you draw near to us. Compassionate God, from far and near you gather your church into one, safeguard the unity of your flock through the teaching of Christ the Shepherd, so that all your scattered children may find in him the guidance and nourishment they seek. Opening Prayers (1997) Pentecost 9: 26 July 2015 Proper 17 (24 to 30 July) 2 Samuel 11.1-15; Psalm 14; Ephesians 3.14-21; John 6.1-21 In your compassionate love, O God, you nourish us with words of life and bread of blessing. Grant that Jesus may calm our fears, and move our hearts to praise your goodness by sharing our bread with others. Sustainer of the hungry, like a mother you feed your children until each is satisfied. Turn our eyes to you alone, so that, aware of our own deepest longings, we reach out with Christ to feed others with the depth of your love. 4
Pentecost 10: 2 August 2015 Proper 18 (31 July to 6 August) 2 Samuel 11.26-12.13a; Psalm 51.1-13; Ephesians 4.1-16; John 6.24-35 God of Moses, who rained down bread on Israel s wandering people: lead us to the food that never leaves us craving, but fills our whole humanity with life enough for all; through Jesus Christ, the true bread of heaven. God of the lowly and the mighty, even when we harm and destroy one another, you offer us forgiveness of our sins if we but open our hearts to your grace and mercy, so that we may build up one another in love. Pentecost 11: 9 August 2015 Proper 19 (7 to 13 August) 2 Samuel 18.5-9, 15, 31-33; Psalm 130; Ephesians 4.25-5.2; John 6.35, 41-51 Unseen God, drawing all people to the end of our desires: teach us to know true bread from false and to feed on him who shares our flesh, Jesus Christ, our communion. Bread of heaven, you feed us in the depths of grief, sin, and hostility. Nourish us with your word through the long hours of tears, and in the dawning awareness of our need for forgiveness, so that we may be redeemed by your steadfast love. Revised Common Lectionary Prayers (2002) 5
Pentecost 12: 16 August 2015 Proper 20 (14 to 20 August) 1 Kings 2.10-12; 3.3-14; Psalm 111; Ephesians 5.15-20; John 6.51-58 Divine love, undaunted by death and fear, who went to the depths to bring back life: in the power of the cross shape a people for service, who break bread for a hungering world; through Jesus Christ. Living God, you are the giver of wisdom, guiding those who seek your ways to choose the good. Mercifully grant that your people, who feast on the true bread of heaven, may have eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. Pentecost 13: 23 August 2015 Proper 21 (21 to 27 August) 1 Kings 8.(1, 6, 10-11), 22-30, 41-43; Psalm 84; Ephesians 6.10-20; John 6.56-69 Offensive God, refusing our religion of sacrifice and power: find us in our wandering, speak to us the word of life, liberate our violent hearts, and let us abide with you; through Jesus Christ, the holy one of God. Gracious God, although we once were strangers, you receive us as friends and draw us home to you. Set your living bread before us, so that we may be strengthened to continue the work your Son has commissioned us to do. 6
Pentecost 14: 30 August 2015 Proper 22 (28 August to 2 September) Song of Solomon 2.8-13; Psalm 45.1-2, 7-10; James 1.17-27; Mark 7.1-8, 14-15, 21-23 Compassionate God, you touch those rejected by the world and those despised by false piety: guide us away from a false purity which hides misshapen hearts; and lead us to the joyful feast in which all are renewed; through Jesus Christ, the beauty of God s face. Blessed are you, O Lord and Lover, source of beauty and depth of passion. Strengthen and inspire us to do the word we hear and live the faith we confess, through Jesus, our Saviour and Friend. Revised Common Lectionary Prayers (2002) Holy Days and Other Celebrations The Birth of John the Baptist 24 June 2015 Isaiah 40.1-11; Psalm 85.7-13; Acts 13.14b-26; Luke 1.57-80 God our strength and our hope, grant us the courage of John the Baptist, constantly to speak the truth, boldly to rebuke evil, and patiently to suffer for the truth s sake; in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. A New Zealand Prayer Book (1989) alt. God of unexpected birth and desert waters: silence our cynicism and give us a new voice, so that with John the Baptist we may proclaim your overwhelming grace; through Jesus Christ, the One who is to come. 7
Prayers over the Gifts Holy God, gracious and merciful, you bring forth food from the earth and nourish your whole creation. Turn our hearts toward those who hunger in any way, so that all may know your care; and prepare us now to feast on the bread of life, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. alt. God of all creation, all you have made is good, and your love endures forever. You bring forth bread from the earth and fruit from the vine. Nourish us with these gifts, so that we might be for the world signs of your gracious presence in Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. alt. Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things. Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts: our selves, our time, and our possessions. Use us, and what we have gathered, in feeding the world with your love, through the one who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. alt. Prayers after Communion We give you thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us through the healing power of this gift of life. In your mercy, strengthen us through this gift, in faith toward you and in fervent love toward one another; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. O God, we give you thanks that you have set before us this feast, the body and blood of your Son. By your Spirit strengthen us to serve all in need and to give ourselves ways as bread for the hungry, through Jesus Christ our Lord. God of abundance, with this bread of life and cup of salvation you have united us with Christ, making us one with all your people. Now send us forth in the power of your Spirit, so that we may proclaim your redeeming love to the world and continue forever in the risen life of Jesus Christ, our Lord. alt. 8