Proper Prayers for Proper 16B (15 July 2018)

General Notes

· Those who are planning worship may take into consideration how the First Person of the Trinity is addressed in any prayer.
·     Some congregations may have concerns about the use of the noun ‘Lord’. When referring to the Second Person of the Trinity, some congregations may find it helpful to use ‘Jesus Christ’ or ‘Jesus the Christ’ or ‘Jesus our Saviour’ or ‘Jesus our Redeemer’ or some similar formulation that is faithful to the historicity of the Incarnation.
·     In contemporary English ‘so that’ is used to begin a clause that describes the hoped-for consequence of a specific petition rather than the simple ‘that’.

Proper 16B

Sunday between 17 and 23 July

2 Samuel 7.1-14a; Psalm 89.20-37; Ephesians 2.11-22; Mark 6.30-34, 53-56

Collect of the Day

Almighty God, your Son has opened for us a new and living way into your presence. Give us pure hearts and constant wills to worship you in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen. [The Book of Alternative Services1986, 369]

or

O God, powerful and compassionate, you shepherd your people, faithfully feeding and protecting us.  Heal each of us, and make us a whole people, that we may embody the justice and peace of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.  Amen.  [Evangelical Lutheran Worship2006, 42]

or

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.  Amen.  [Liturgy Task Force2016, 88]

or

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. Amen.  [Liturgy Task Force2016, 88]

Prayer over the Gifts

O God, accept our praise and thanksgiving.  Help us in all we do to offer ourselves as a true and living sacrifice; through Jesus Christ the Lord.  Amen.  [The Book of Alternative Services1986, 369]

or

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, that all may know your care; and prepare us now to feast on the bread of life, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Amen.  [Evangelical Lutheran Worship2006, 107]

or

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, that we might be for the world signs of your gracious presence in Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.  Amen.  [Evangelical Lutheran Worship2006, 107]

or

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.  Amen.  [Evangelical Lutheran Worship2006, 107]

or 

God of mercy and grace, the eyes of all wait upon you, and you open your hand in blessing.  Fill us with good things at your table, that we may come to the help of all in need, through Jesus Christ, our redeemer and Lord.  Amen.  [Evangelical Lutheran Worship2006, 64]

or

Merciful God, as grains of wheat scattered upon the hills were gathered together to become one bread, so let your church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into your kingdom, for yours is the glory through Jesus Christ, now and forever.  Amen.  [Evangelical Lutheran Worship2006, 64]

Prayer after Communion

O God, as we are strengthened in these holy mysteries, may our lives be a continual offering, holy and acceptable in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. [The Book of Alternative Services1986, 369]

or

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.  Amen. [Evangelical Lutheran Worship2006, 114]

or

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 away as bread for the hungry, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.  [Evangelical Lutheran Worship2006, 114]

or

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, that we may proclaim your redeeming love to the world and continue forever in the risen life of Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.  [Evangelical Lutheran Worship2006, 114]

or

Gracious God, in this meal you have drawn us to your heart, and nourished us at your table with food and drink, the body and blood of Christ.  Now send us forth to be your people in the world, and to proclaim your truth this day and evermore, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.  Amen.  [Evangelical Lutheran Worship2006, 65]

or

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 be his body in the world, that/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.  [Evangelical Lutheran Worship 2006, 65]