Cycle B Lectionary 23 Proper 18

9/6/2015 Confession

Sunday Title: Mercy Sunday

Sermon Title: Please Welcome Pastor Richard Bowen

Previously:

Sunday Title: Healing Sunday

Sermon Title: What ails us?

Sunday Title: Rally Day

Sermon Title: Reaching beyond.

Sunday Title: Rally Day  

Sermon Title: "Opening Day"

Sunday Title: Rally Day,

Sermon Title: "Are you ready?"

Scripture Cuttings:

Isaiah 35:4-7a Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God.

Psalm 146 Praise the Lord, O my soul!

James 2:1-17 have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? ...mercy triumphs over judgment.

Mark 7:24-37 He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.

All may make the sign of the cross in remembrance of baptism

as the presiding minister begins:

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

C: Amen

P:  Our trail of unfaithfulness lays behind us.

  If we are ready God will strengthen our repentance.

    (silently reflect on an inward choice to follow Christ)

P:  Lord God...

C: how firmly rooted are we in our faith?

We ignore your judgment to count on your mercy.

  We abandon works since they can't buy salvation.

We are afraid of the changes you may make in our lives,

  and so we do not seek you with our whole heart.

We judge others, as unworthy of your mercy,

  or as too far gone to be changed,

    and we fail to see your power, for them and for us.

We name sins, forgive us Lord.

We hide sins, save us Lord.

 (Pause for reflection)

P:  Our God does come and save us. In the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, abundant mercy is poured upon us. It is for Christ's sake our sins are forgiven. Through the Holy Spirit our healing may take the effect of a testimony to the saving power of God. We also may testify in our own works of mercy, all to the glory of the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen. -wjw

P:  The peace of the Lord be with you always!

C: And also with you!