Sunday, April 24, 2016

5th Sunday of Easter (D)

1Samuel 21:1-15 OR 2Kings 4:38-44
Psalm 49
Matthew 15:29-39; 16:1-12 OR Mark 8:1-26
2Corinthians 8:1-6 (7-15) 16-24


    

OPENING PRAYER [from GREATER ATTENTION: LERW, YEAR D]
Praise be to you, O God of Israel, for sending your only Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to cure the sick and to restore to life those long dead. Showing us your great compassion, Christ Jesus feeds the hungry, makes the mute to speak, the lame to walk, the blind to see, and the maimed to be made whole. He himself, once dead and buried, was raised to eternal life, and thus fulfilled the sign of Jonah. Now reigning with you and the Holy Spirit in glory, he comes with the dawn to receive the worship of those who are baptized in his name, those who long for his glorious appearing. Therefore, let nothing worldly weigh down our words, our songs, our hearts, our spirits, but come and receive, O Triune God, the thanksgiving and praise that is due you! Praise be to you, O God of Israel, for you alone are worthy of praise.

Sunday, April 17, 2016

4th Sunday of Easter (D)

Genesis 38:1-30 OR Ecclesiastes 5:1-20
Psalm 10
Matthew 22:23-33 OR Mark 12:18-27 (OR Luke 20:27-40)
2Corinthians 7:2-16


    

OPENING PRAYER [from GREATER ATTENTION: LERW, YEAR D] 
Holy LORD, you are the God of the living, not the dead! For you, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, spoke from the burning bush about our ancestors, and spoke of them as living with you. Truly, you are the God of the Resurrection! Yours is the power, revealed in your Word, by which the dead are raised to new life and Christ Jesus your Son is the head of your new creation. By your grace, you have given us the Spirit of your risen Son to dwell in our hearts, that we might die to sin and self and live together with Christ in your eternal presence. This, O LORD, is our great consolation, and by this promise, you give us joy to see us through every temporary affliction. Therefore, we draw near to you, to offer you our thanks and praise. Come, LORD, and receive our humble, yet exultant, testimony to your goodness!

Sunday, April 10, 2016

3rd Sunday of Easter (D)

Zechariah 13:1-9
Psalm 60 OR Psalm 108
John 16:25-33
2Corinthians 6:11-7:1


   


OPENING PRAYER [from GREATER ATTENTION: LERW, YEAR D]
O God our Father, whose love for us we have seen and known in Christ Jesus, we thank you for sending your Son into the world, for Christ has overcome the world for the vindication of your holy name and for the salvation of all who love and believe in him. We praise you for the promise that, though we face persecution in the world, we may take heart and find of peace in Jesus Christ, who has won for us the victory, and through whom we can approach you in confidence, in his name.

Sunday, April 3, 2016

2nd Sunday of Easter (D)

Hosea 14:1-9
Psalm 64 OR 119:73-96
John 16:16-24
2Corinthians 1:23-2:17

    

CALL TO WORSHIP [from GREATER ATTENTION: LERW, YEAR D]
The LORD says, “What have I to do with idols?
It is I who answer and look after you.”
The ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them,
but transgressors stumble in them.
“I am like an evergreen cypress; your faithfulness comes from me.
The wise understand these things; the discerning know them.”
Let the righteous rejoice and take refuge in the LORD.
Let all the upright in heart glory.
“You have pain now, but it will soon turn to joy; I will see you again,
and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”
Thanks be to God, who in Christ leads us in triumphal procession,
and through us spreads the fragrance that comes from knowing him.