An Ordo for Epiphany 7 (RCL Proper 7A, 19 February 2017)

The Seventh Sunday after Epiphany

19 February 2017

The Gathering of the Community

Gathering Music

Announcements

Opening Hymn

‘We, the Lord’s People’  Common Praise #10

Introductory Responses

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

may all the earth be filled with the glory of God.

Light has sprung up for the righteous,

and joyful gladness for those who are true in heart. [i]

The Collect for Purity

Almighty God,

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.

The Hymn of Praise

‘Confitemini Domino’  Common Praise #402 (in English with repeat)

The Collect of the Day

Let us pray.

O God most holy,

in Jesus Christ you have laid a foundation

upon which to build our lives.

Help us to follow your perfect law of love,

so that we may fulfill and observe it to the end.  Amen. [ii]

The Proclamation of the Word

The First Reading

A reading from Leviticus (19.1-2, 9-18).

            ^19.1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

            ² Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them:  You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.

            ⁹ When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest.  ¹⁰ You shall not strip your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the Lord your God.

            ¹¹ You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; and you shall not lie to one another.  ¹² And you shall not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God:  I am the Lord.

            ¹³ You shall not defraud your neighbour; you shall not steal; and you shall not keep for yourself the wages of a labourer until morning.  ¹⁴ You shall not revile the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind; you shall fear your God:  I am the Lord.

            ¹⁵ You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbour.  ¹⁶ You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbour:  I am the Lord.

            ¹⁷ You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbour, or you will incur guilt yourself.  ¹⁸ You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself:  I am the Lord.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

Thanks be to God.

The Psalm

Psalm 119.33-40 with refrain from Songs for the Holy One.

Refrain (sung twice):  Holy One, teach us you way, and help us walk in it.

³³ Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, *

            and I shall keep it to the end.

³⁴ Give me understanding, and I shall keep your law; *

            I shall keep it with all my heart.

³⁵ Make me go in the path of your commandments, *

            for that is my desire.

³⁶ Incline my heart to your decrees *

            and not to unjust gain.

Refrain:  Holy One, teach us you way, and help us walk in it.

³⁷ Turn my eyes from watching what is worthless; *

            give me life in your ways.

³⁸ Fulfil your promise to your servant, *

            which you make to those who fear you.

³⁹ Turn away the reproach which I dread, *

            because your judgements are good.

⁴⁰ Behold, I long for your commandments; *

            in your righteousness preserve my life.

Refrain:  Holy One, teach us you way, and help us walk in it.

The Second Reading

A reading from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians (3.10-11, 16-23)

            ^3.10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it.  Each builder must choose with care how to build on it.  ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ.

            ¹⁶ Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?  ¹⁷ If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person.  For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

            ¹⁸ Do not deceive yourselves.  If you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise.

            ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.  For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” ²⁰ and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”

            ²¹ So let no one boast about human leaders.  For all things are yours, ²² whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future — all belong to you, ²³ and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

Thanks be to God.

Hymn before the Gospel

‘Laudate Dominum’  Common Praise #313 (in Latin with repeat)

The Gospel

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew (5.38-48).

Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

            ^5.38 [Jesus said to his disciples,] “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’  ³⁹ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer.  But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; ⁴⁰ and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well^{; 41} and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile.  ⁴² Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.

            ⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’  ⁴⁴ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.  ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?  Do not even the tax collectors do the same?  ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others?  Do not even the Gentiles do the same?  ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

The Gospel of Christ.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Hymn after the Gospel

‘Laudate Dominum’  Common Praise #313 (in Latin with repeat)

The Homily

The Affirmation of Faith

Let us affirm our faith.

We believe and trust in God,

the Author of creation,

source of all being and life,

the one for whom we exist.

We believe and trust in God,

the Word of redemption,

who took our human nature,

died for us and rose again.

We believe and trust in God,

the Spirit of wisdom,

who gives life to the people of God

and makes Christ known in the world.

We believe and trust in one God,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

who was and is and is to come.  Amen. [iii]

The Prayers of the Community

Intercessions, Petitions and Thanksgivings

The Exchange of the Peace

May the peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

The Holy Communion

Offertory Hymn

‘For the Fruit of All Creation’  Common Praise #259

Prayer over the Gifts

Let us pray.

Merciful God,

accept all we offer you this day.

Lead us to love you with all our heart,

and to love all people with your perfect love.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen. [iv]

Thanksgiving at the Table

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.

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God,

through our Saviour Jesus Christ. 

By the leading of a star he was shown forth to all nations;

in the waters of the Jordan you proclaimed him your beloved Son,

and in the miracle of water turned to wine he revealed your glory. 

And so, with all the choirs of angels,

with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,

we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

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. [v]

The Thanksgiving continues with one of the following Thanksgivings.

Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal: 

you we praise and glorify, you we worship and adore. 

You formed the earth from chaos;

you encircled the globe with air;

you created fire for warmth and light;

you nourish the lands with water. 

You moulded us in your image,

and with mercy higher than the mountains,

with grace deeper than the seas,

you blessed the Israelites and cherished them as your own. 

That also we, estranged and dying, might be adopted to live in your Spirit,

you called to us through the life and death of Jesus.

In the night in which he was betrayed,

our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;

broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: 

Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. 

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,

and gave it for all to drink, saying: 

This cup is the new covenant in my blood,

shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. 

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Together as the body of Christ,

we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 

Christ has died.  Christ is risen.  Christ will come again.

With this bread and cup we remember your Son,

the first-born of your new creation. 

We remember his life lived for others,

and his death and resurrection, which renews the face of the earth. 

We await his coming,

when, with the world made perfect through your wisdom,

all our sins and sorrows will be no more. 

Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.

Holy God, holy and merciful, holy and compassionate,

send upon us and this meal your Holy Spirit,

whose breath revives us for life, whose fire rouses us to love. 

Enfold in your arms all who share this holy food. 

Nurture in us the fruits of the Spirit,

so that we may be a living tree,

sharing your bounty with all the world. 

Amen.  Come, Holy Spirit.

Holy and benevolent God,

receive our praise and petitions,

as Jesus received the cry of the needy,

and fill us with your blessing,

until, needy no longer and bound to you in love,

we feast forever in the triumph of the Lamb: 

through whom all glory and honour is yours,

O God, O Living One, with the Holy Spirit,

in your holy church, now and for ever.  Amen. [vi]

The Lord’s Prayer

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. [vii]

The Breaking of the Bread

God of promise,

you prepare a banquet for us in your kingdom.

Happy are those who are called

to the supper of the Lamb.

The gifts of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

The Communion

The Hymn after Communion

‘Not for Tongues of Heaven’s Angels’  Common Praise #494

The Sending Forth of the Community

Prayer after Communion

Let us pray.

O God, our life, our strength, our food,

we give you thanks for sustaining us

with the body and blood of your Son.

By your Holy Spirit, enliven us to his body in the world,

so that more and more we will give you praise

and serve your earth and its many peoples,

through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.  Amen. [viii]

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.

Closing Hymn

‘O Christ, the Great Foundation’  Common Praise #524

Dismissal

The Deacon sends the Community forth with an appropriate Dismissal.

---

[i] Introductory Response for Incarnation in The Book of Alternative Services (1985), 96 alt.

[ii] Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects for Years A, B & C and Seasonal Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion’ 2016, 33.

[iii] Adapted from Common Worship  (2001) by the Rev’d Richard Geoffrey Leggett.

[iv] The Book of Alternative Services (1985), 357.

[v] Common Praise #735.

[vi] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 67 alt.

[vii] Common Praise #744.

[viii] Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects for Years A, B & C and Seasonal Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion’ 2016, 163.