The Conversion of St. Paul
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity ends

by The Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

January 25

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Prelude & Announcements

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Brief Order for Confession & Forgiveness:

P. In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C. Amen

P. Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: 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 Jesus Christ our Lord.

C. Amen

P. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Silence for reflection and self-examination.

P. Most merciful God,

C. We confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. 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 neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen

P. Almighty God, in his mercy, has given his Son to die for us and, for his sake, forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C. Amen

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LITURGY OF PRAISE

Entrance Hymn #182  "Rise, O Children of Salvation"

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Dialog of the Saints:

A. Praise the Lord, all you saints!

C. Praise him, all you heavenly hosts!

A. So great a cloud of witnesses surrounds us.

C. They witness to God's mighty acts.

A. They witness to God's steadfast love.

C. Their witness guides us in our faith.

A. Give thanks to God for the conversion of St. Paul:

C. Apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ.

A. Sing praise to God, sing praise to him.

C. Sing praise and thanks for all his saints.

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Hymn of Praise:

A. (sing) Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.

C. (sing) Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father: We worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God: You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. You are seated at the right hand of the Father; receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen

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Prayer of the Day:

P. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

C. And also with you.

P. Let us pray.  (print the Prayer of the Day here)

C. Amen

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LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Lesson:  Jonah 3:1-5,10

Response after the reading:

A. The word of the Lord.
C. Thanks be to God.

Second Lesson:  1 Corinthians 7:29-31

Response after the reading:

A. The word of the Lord.
C. Thanks be to God.

Hymn #494  "Jesus Calls Us"

Gospel Lesson:  St. Mark 1:14-20

Before the reading sing: C. Glory to you, O Lord.
After the reading sing: C. Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Hymn of the Day #177:1,11,3  "By All Your Saints"

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Apostles' Creed:

C. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again 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

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Litany for the Unity of the Church:

A. Upon these joint feasts of Saints Peter and Paul, let us remember in prayer that Christ prayed that all might be one, and lift up to Almighty God our petitions for Christian unity. Pause.

Blessed are you, O Lord, our God, for you enable us through your Holy Spirit to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

C. We thank you, O God.

A. For the varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit:

C. We thank you, O God.

A. For the varieties of service, but the same Lord:

C. We thank you, O God.

A. For the same Lord working in us all:

C. We thank you, O God.

A. For the Spirit who gives all gifts for the common good:

C. We thank you, O God.

A. Give us, O Lord, the gifts of your Holy Spirit: the ability to explore the depths of truth and to share what we find with others.

C. Help us to grow in the likeness of Christ.

A. Give us the gift of faith that supports our hopes and leads us to the One Source of all life.

C. Help us to grow in the likeness of Christ.

A. Give us the grace to heal our divisions.

C. Help us to grow in the likeness of Christ.

A. Give us the light to discern your activity in the world and to proclaim your presence to others.

C. Help us to grow in the likeness of Christ.

A. Give us the praise that can lift our spirits and enliven our worship.

C. Help us to grow in the likeness of Christ.

A. For those whose lives of loving faith and service have led others to work for reconciliation in the Body of Christ, we pray:

C. Lord, have mercy.

A. For the sick, the suffering, the captive, the oppressed, for those forlorn by the divisions among us, we pray:

C. Lord, have mercy.

A. For those who proclaim God's will for the Church and for the world, we pray:

C. Lord, have mercy.

P. O God, forgive our sins, forgive our separations, forgive us for not reflecting your glory to the whole world. Teach us to overcome our divisions. Send us your Holy Spirit to guide us into the fullness of truth. Grant us your peace through Christ, the peace that the world cannot give and that we cannot find ourselves. Then help us to recognize the truth of your Word and enlivening Spirit found present in all those confess the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

C. Amen

P. The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C. And also with you.

All share a sign of peace.

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LITURGY OF THE LORD'S SUPPER

Offering

Offertory Hymn:

C. (sing) What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me? I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call on the name of the Lord. I will take the cup of salvation and will call on the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the Lord's house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.

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Offertory Prayer:

A. Let us pray. Merciful Father,

C. we offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us -- ourselves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

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Great Thanksgiving: (spoken)

P. The Lord be with you.

C. And also with you.

P. Lift up your hearts.

C. We lift them to the Lord.

P. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C. It is right to give him thanks and praise.

P. It is right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through the great shepherd of your flock, Christ, our Lord; who after his resurrection sent forth his apostles to preach the Gospel and teach all nations, and promised to be with them always, even to the end of the age. And so, with patriarchs and prophets, with the apostles Peter and Paul and with all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

C. (sing) Holy, holy, holy Lord, Lord God of pow'r and might: Heav'n 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.

P. We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.

On the night before he died, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Therefore, according to his command, O Father,

C. We remember his death, We proclaim his resurrection, We await his coming in glory;

P. And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.

We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and brings us to that heavenly country where, with [Saints Peter and Paul and] all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of our sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation.

By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever.

C. Amen

P. Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray:

C. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen

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Distribution

C. (sing) 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 peace, grant us peace.

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After Communion:

P. The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen and keep you in his grace.

C. Amen

A. Let us pray. Almighty God, as Christ was made manifest in our world, so he is made manifest for us again in the bread and the wine, and for this we thank you. Use us to make him known to all people. We ask it in Jesus' name.

C. Amen

P. (sing) The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.

C. (sing) Amen

A. Go in peace. Serve the Lord.

C. Thanks be to God.

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Closing Hymn

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise Him, all creatures here below.

Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host.

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

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Acknowledgments:  The Dialog of Saints and the Post Communion Prayer are by the Rev. T. L. Weitzel. The Litany for Unity of the Church comes from the Battell Chapel of Yale University and is edited and amended by T .L. Weitzel. The Eucharistic Prayer is from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer 1979.

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