An Order for the Eucharist on Pentecost 7 (Proper 15B: 12 July 2015)

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

12 July 2015

The Gathering of the Community

Entrance Hymn

‘The King of Glory Comes’  Common Praise #307

Greeting

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

and the love of God,

and the communion of the Holy Spirit

be with you all.

And also with you.

Kyrie [i]

May your loving mercy come to us, O Lord,

and your salvation according to your word.

Kyrie eleison.  Christe eleison.  Kyrie eleison. [ii]

Your word is a lantern to our feet

and a light to our path.

Kyrie eleison.  Christe eleison.  Kyrie eleison. [iii]

O let your mercy come to us,

so that we may live fully and freely.

Kyrie eleison.  Christe eleison.  Kyrie eleison. [iv]

Collect of the Day

Let us pray.

God of the prophets,

whose word cuts through the webs of power

and holds the tyrant to account:

be with all who raise their voices

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.  Amen. [v]

The Proclamation of the Word of God

The First Reading

A reading from the Second Book of Samuel (6.1-5, 12b-19).

            ¹ David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.  ² David and all the people with him set out and went from Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who is enthroned on the cherubim.  ³ They carried the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill.  Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart ⁴ with the ark of God; and Ahio went in front of the ark.  ⁵ David and all the house of Israel were dancing before the Lord with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals.

^12b So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing; ¹³ and when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.  ¹⁴ David danced before the Lord with all his might; David was girded with a linen ephod.  ¹⁵ So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

            ¹⁶ As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.

            ¹⁷ They brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before the Lord.  18 When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts, ¹⁹ and distributed food among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to each a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins.  Then all the people went back to their homes.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

Thanks be to God.

The Psalm of the Day

Psalm 24 with a refrain from Songs for the Holy One

Refrain (sung twice):  O glorious Majesty, may your presence ever be with us.

¹ The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, *

            the world and all who dwell therein.

² For it is God who founded it upon the seas *

            and made it firm upon the rivers of the deep.

Refrain:  O glorious Majesty, may your presence ever be with us.

³ “Who can ascend the hill of the Lord *

            and who can stand in the holy place of God?”

⁴ “Those who have clean hands and a pure heart, *

            who have not pledged themselves to falsehood,

            nor sworn by what is a fraud.

⁵ They shall receive a blessing from the Lord *

            and a just reward from the God of their salvation.”

⁶ Such is the generation of those who seek you, *

            of those who seek your face, O God of Jacob.

Refrain:  O glorious Majesty, may your presence ever be with us.

⁷ Lift up your heads, O gates;

lift them high, O everlasting doors; *

            and the One who reigns in glory shall come in.

⁸ “Who is this glorious One?”

            “The Lord, strong and mighty,

            the Lord, mighty in battle.”

⁹ Lift up your heads, O gates;

lift them high, O everlasting doors; *

            and the One who reigns in glory shall come in.

¹⁰ “Who is this glorious One?”*

            “The Lord of hosts,

            the Lord reigns in glory.”

Refrain:  O glorious Majesty, may your presence ever be with us.

The Second Reading

A reading from the Letter to the Ephesians (1.3-14).

            ³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, ⁴ just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love.  ⁵ He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.  ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace ⁸ that he lavished on us.  With all wisdom and insight ⁹ he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, ¹⁰ as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.  ¹¹ In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, ¹² so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory.  ¹³ In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; ¹⁴ this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

Thanks be to God.

Hymn before the Gospel

‘Before the World Began’  Common Praise #621

The Gospel

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark (6.14-29).

Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

            ¹⁴ King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known.  Some were saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.”  ¹⁵ But others said, “It is Elijah.”  And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.”  ¹⁶ But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”

            ¹⁷ For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her.  ¹⁸ For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”  ¹⁹ And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him.  But she could not, ²⁰ for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him.  When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him.  ²¹ But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee.  ²² When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.”  ²³ And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.”  ²⁴ She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?”  She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.”  ²⁵ Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”  ²⁶ The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her.  ²⁷ Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head.  He went and beheaded him in the prison, ²⁸ brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl.  Then the girl gave it to her mother.  ²⁹ When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

The Gospel of Christ.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

The Sermon

The Apostles’ Creed

Let us confess the faith of our baptism.

I believe in God,

the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ,

God’s only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.  Amen.

The Prayers of the Community

Intercessions, Thanksgivings and Petitions

The Exchange of the Peace

May the peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

The Holy Communion

Offertory Hymn

‘Eternal, Unchanging’  Common Praise #394

The Prayer over the Gifts

Let us pray.

Ruler of the universe,

your word creates in us

a yearning for your kingdom.

Receive all we offer you this day,

and keep us in your peace;

for the sake of Jesus Christ the Redeemer.  Amen. [vi]

The 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.

We give you thanks and praise, almighty God,

through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ,

our Saviour and Redeemer.

He is your living Word,

through whom you have created all things.

By the power of the Holy Spirit

he took flesh of the Virgin Mary

and shared our human nature.

He lived and died as one of us,

to reconcile us to you,

the God and Father of all.

In fulfillment of your will

he stretched out his hands in suffering,

to bring release to those who place their hope in you;

and so he won for you a holy people.

He chose to bear our griefs and sorrow,

and to give up his life on the cross,

so that he might shatter the chains of evil and death,

and banish the darkness of sin and despair.

By his resurrection

he brings us into the light of your presence.

Now with all creation we raise our voices

to proclaim the glory of your name.

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. [vii]

Holy and gracious God,

accept our praise,

through your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ;

who on the night he was handed over

to suffering and death,

took bread and gave you thanks,

saying, “Take, and eat:

this is my body which is broken for you.”

In the same way he took the cup,

saying, This is my blood which is shed for you.

When you do this, you do it in memory of me.”

Remembering, therefore, his death and resurrection,

we offer you this bread and this cup,

giving thanks that you have made us worthy

to stand in your presence and serve you.

We ask you to send your Holy Spirit

upon the offering of your holy Church.

Gather into one

all who share in these sacred mysteries,

filling them with the Holy Spirit

and confirming their faith in the truth,

so that together we may praise you

and give you glory

through your Servant, Jesus Christ.

All glory and honour are yours,

Author of life and Word of redemption,

with the Holy Spirit

in the holy Church,

now and for ever.  Amen. [viii]

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. [ix]

The Breaking of the Bread

Be known to us, Lord Jesus,

in the breaking of the bread.

Be known to us, Lord Jesus,

in the breaking of the bread.

The bread which we break, alleluia,

is the communion of the body of Christ.

Be known to us, Lord Jesus,

in the breaking of the bread.

One body are we, alleluia,

for though many, we share one bread.

Be known to us, Lord Jesus,

in the breaking of the bread. [x]

The gifts of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

Communion

Hymn after Communion

‘As We Gather at Your Table’  Common Praise #61

The Sending Forth of the Community

The Prayer after Communion

Living God,

in this sacrament we have shared in your eternal kingdom.

May we who taste this mystery

forever serve you in faith, hope and love.

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

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

‘Judge Eternal, Throned in Splendour’  Common Praise #594 (sung to #48)

The Dismissal

The Deacon sends the People forth with a Dismissal for the occasion.

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[i] Common Worship (2000), 133 alt.

[ii] Common Praise #706.

[iii] Common Praise #706.

[iv] Common Praise #706.

[v] Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects, Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion:  Propers 10 to 22, June to August 2015, Year B’, 3.

[vi] The Book of Alternative Services (1985), 368 alt.

[vii] Common Praise #732.

[viii] ‘The Great Thanksgiving 2’ in The Book of Alternative Services (1985), 196-197 alt.

[ix] Songs for a Gospel People #12.

[x] The Book of Alternative Services (1985), 228.

[xi] The Book of Alternative Services (1985), 368.