The Holy Eucharist – the Charter for Compassion
Second Sunday after Pentecost
June 2, 2024 @ 10:00 a.m.
St. Paul’s Parish
Prelude: Choral Preludes on “Christ, Who is My Life” J.G. Walther; Larghetto G.F. Handel
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with you all.
And also with you.
to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hidden. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
God made known in human frailty; your Chosen One walked through fields where bitterness flourished and mercy was enclosed: break through our conspiracies of power and teach us what it means to save and honour life; through Jesus Christ, Lord of the Sabbath. Amen.
Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:5-12
We do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God.
Lord, you have searched me out and known me; you know my sitting down and my rising up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You trace my journeys and my resting-places and are acquainted with all my ways.
Your works are wonderful, O Lord.
Indeed, there is not a word on my lips, but you, O Lord, know it altogether. You press upon me behind and before and lay your hand upon me.
Your works are wonderful, O Lord.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain to it. For you yourself created my inmost parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
Your works are wonderful, O Lord.
I will thank you because I am marvellously made; your works are wonderful, and I know it well. My body was not hidden from you, while I was being made in secret and woven in the depths of the earth.
Your works are wonderful, O Lord.
Your eyes beheld my limbs, yet unfinished in the womb; all of them were written in your book; they were fashioned day by day, when as yet there was none of them.
Your works are wonderful, O Lord.
How deep I find your thoughts, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I were to count them, they would be more in number than the sand; to count them all, my life span would need to be like yours.
Your works are wonderful, O Lord.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to Mark.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
One sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?" And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions." Then he said to them, "The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath." Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Come forward." Then he said to them, "Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent. He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
We clothe ourselves with the new self, according to the image of God our creator. We clothe ourselves without distinction of race, Creed or colour, we are one humanity; but Christ is all and in all! We clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
Gracious and Loving God, use us to help bring about your realm of compassion, of mercy, justice, love and peace. We pray saying, Hear our prayer.
Hear our prayer.
We pray that the compassionate love of Jesus Christ may be seen in the life of the Church. You have called us into the family of those who are the children of God. Send us into the world, by your grace, that our love for our neighbours may give them strength. God of compassion…
Hear our prayer.
You have called us to be a temple where the Holy Spirit can dwell. Forgive us and bless us with clean hands and pure hearts so that our lives will reflect your holiness. Send us into the world, to bring help to the poor and freedom to the oppressed. God of compassion…
Hear our prayer.
You have called us to reflect your light to the world, so that those in darkness may come to you. May our lives shine as a witness to the saving grace you have given for all people of the Earth. Send us into the world, to proclaim that the time is here for love and justice to reign. God of compassion…
Hear our prayer.
Give ear to our prayer, O God, as we remember before you those we know who are ill at home or in the hospital, especially…
-
And others we may name out loud or in our hearts…
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God of compassion…
Hear our prayer.
We remember those who have died in the peace of Christ and whose faith is known to you alone, (especially…
God of compassion…
Hear our prayer.
You have called us to be members of your body, so that when one suffers, all suffer together, when one rejoices, all rejoice together. We ask for your comfort and healing power to bring hope to those in distress. Send us into the world, to those who mourn, that they may know joy and gladness. God of compassion…
Hear our prayer.
You have called us into partnership with you and we ask that you prepare us to show compassion on the Sabbath and every day of the week. Send us to tell the world the good news of your healing and life-giving love. God of compassion…
Hear our prayer.
And we pray together…
Lord, open our eyes that we may see you in our fellow human beings. Lord, open our ears that we may hear the cries of the hungry, the cold, the frightened, the oppressed. Lord, open our hearts that we may love each other as you love us. Renew in us your spirit. Lord, free us and make us one. Amen.
Let us confess our sins, confident in God’s forgiveness.
we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Announcements
The Prayer over the Gifts
Let us pray,
Eternal God, receive all we offer you this day. Give us the wisdom of obedience and help us to do your holy and life-giving will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Eucharistic Prayer 2
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.
“I am the bread which has come down from
heaven,” says the Lord.
Give us this bread for ever.
“I am the vine, you are the branches.”
The gifts of God for the People of God.
Thanks be to God.
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world
grant us your peace.
PB 177 Make me a Servant
Let us pray,
Eternal God, you have fed us at the table of your grace. Deliver us from all spiritual pride, and give us a quiet confidence in your mercy. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Glory to God,
whose power, working in us,
can do infinitely more
than we can ask or imagine.
Glory to God from generation to generation,
in the Church and in Christ Jesus,
for ever and ever. Amen.
May God, who in Christ
gives us a spring of water welling up to eternal life,
perfect in you the image of his compassion;
and may the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
