We are glad that you have joined us for worship today.

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If you are reading at home with a partner or more, one can take the role of officiant (leader) and the other(s) read the responses in bold type. If reading alone, read both parts.

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Rite II

Opening Acclamation

Blessed be God: most holy, glorious, and undivided Trinity.

And blessed be God’s reign, now and for ever. Amen.

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you 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 Christ our Lord. Amen.

Gloria

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God’s people on earth.

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.

The Collect of the Day  Thriteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 17

God be with you.  And also with you.  Let us pray.

Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

The Liturgy of the Word

Reading: Jeremiah 15:15-21

O Lord, you know; remember me and visit me, and bring down retribution for me on my persecutors. In your forbearance do not take me away; know that on your account I suffer insult. Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts. I did not sit in the company of merrymakers, nor did I rejoice; under the weight of your hand I sat alone, for you had filled me with indignation. Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail.

Therefore, thus says the Lord:

If you turn back, I will take you back, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall serve as my mouth. It is they who will turn to you, not you who will turn to them. And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the Lord. I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.

               Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.  Thanks be to God.

Response: Psalm 26:1-8, Judica me, Domine

Read responsively by whole verse.

1 Give judgment for me, O Lord, for I have lived with integrity; *

     I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered.

2 Test me, O Lord, and try me; *

     examine my heart and my mind.

3 For your love is before my eyes; *

     I have walked faithfully with you.

4 I have not sat with the worthless, *

     nor do I consort with the deceitful.

5 I have hated the company of evildoers; *

     I will not sit down with the wicked.

6 I will wash my hands in innocence, O Lord, *

     that I may go in procession round your altar,

7 Singing aloud a song of thanksgiving *

     and recounting all your wonderful deeds.

8 Lord, I love the house in which you dwell *

     and the place where your glory abides.

Reading: Romans 12:9-21

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No,“ if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

               Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.  Thanks be to God.

Holy Gospel: Matthew 16:21-28

The Holy Gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ according to Matthew.  Glory to you, O Christ.

Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?

“For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

               The Gospel of our Savior.  Praise to you, O Christ.

Homily: The Reverend Kate E. Wesch

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,

     eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light,

     true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven:

    by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate

     from the Virgin Mary, and became truly human.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

     he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;

     he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

     and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

    who proceeds from the Father,

who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,

     who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

     We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayers of the People

Let us pray for the Church and for the world.

God of love, we pray for your church: for Michael, our presiding bishop; Greg our bishop; for all lay and ordained ministers; and for all who seek you in the community of the faithful. Equip us with compassion and love, to carry out your work of reconciliation in the world.

God of love, hear our prayers for the church.

God of freedom, we pray for our nation, and all the nations of the world: For peace and unity across barriers of language, color, and creed; for elected and appointed leaders, that they would serve the common good. Inspire all people with courage to speak out against hatred, to actively resist evil. Unite the human family in bonds of love.

God of freedom, hear our prayers for the world.

God of justice, we pray for the earth, your creation entrusted to our care: For the animals and birds, the mountains and oceans, and all parts of your creation that have no voice of their own. Stir up in us a thirst for justice that protects the earth and all its resources, that we may leave to our children’s children the legacy of beauty and abundance that you have given us.

God of justice, hear our prayers for the earth.

God of mercy, we pray for all in any kind of need or trouble, especially ____. For those whose lives are closely linked with ours, and those connected to us as part of the human family. For refugees and prisoners; for the sick and suffering, especially those ill with COVID-19, the lonely and despairing; for those facing violence; for all held down by prejudice or injustice. Awaken in us compassion and humility of spirit, as we seek and serve Christ in all persons.

God of mercy, hear our prayers for all who are in need.

God of peace, we pray for this community and all the blessings of this life, especially ____. For our local leaders; for our schools and markets; for our neighborhoods and workplaces. For those who care for COVID-19 patients, and those who are creating a vaccine. Kindle in every heart a desire for equality, respect, and opportunity for all.

God of peace, hear our prayers for this community.

God of grace, we pray for those who have died, especially ____. For the faithful in every generation who have worked for justice; for prophets who called us to racial reconciliation; for martyrs who died because of hatred; and for all the communion of saints. Make us faithful to your call to proclaim your Good News, by word and example, and bring us at last into the glorious company of the saints in light.

God of grace, hear our prayers for those who have died.

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Confession

 Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

A moment of reflective silence is kept.

Almighty God, Source of all that is, Giver of every good gift:

     You create all people in your image

     and call us to love one another as you love us.

We confess that we have failed to honor you in the great diversity

     of the human family. We have desired to live in freedom,

    while building walls between ourselves and others.

We have longed to be known and accepted for who we are,

     while making judgements of others based on the color of skin,

     or the shape of features, or the varieties of human experience.

We have tried to love our neighbors individually while yet benefitting

     from systems that hold those same neighbors in oppression.

Forgive us, Holy God. Give us eyes to see you as you are revealed in all people.

     Strengthen us for the work of reconciliation rooted in love.

Restore us in your image, as your beloved community, united in our diversity,

     even as you are one with Christ and the Spirit,

     Holy and undivided Trinity, now and for ever. Amen.

Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through the grace of Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

The Peace

The peace of Christ be always with you.

And also with you.

Offertory Sentence

Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God. — (Ephesians 5:2)

The congregation's gifts of money and donations for the Food Bank and Little Free Pantry are presented and placed on the Holy Table.

If you wish to make online donations to the congregation, you may do so here:

https://sjbwestseattle.org/page/49/stewardship-giving

The Lord’s Prayer

And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to pray,

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, for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayer for Spiritual Communion

My Jesus, I believe that you are truly present in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. I desire to offer you praise and thanksgiving as I proclaim your resurrection. I love you above all things, and long for you in my soul. Since I cannot receive you in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood, come spiritually into my heart. Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus, and let me never be separated from you. May I live in you, and you in me, in this life and in the life to come. Amen.

(From Washington National Cathedral; material adapted from Prayer of St. Alphonsus de Liguori (1696-1787), and A Prayer Book for the Armed Services, 2007.)

The Blessing

May you be blessed with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.

May you be blessed with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May you be blessed with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and turn their pain to joy.

May you be blessed with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.

In the name of God; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

               (Attributed to Sister Ruth Fox, OSB, 1985)

Dismissal

Let us go forth in the name of Christ.

Thanks be to God.