Apostles and Evangelists

Red

Invitation to Confession

We run the race set before us,

surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.

Therefore let us lay aside every weight,

and the sin which clings so closely,

bringing them to Jesus in penitence and faith.

Hebrews 12.1

(or)

Jesus said to his apostles,

‘You are my friends if you obey my commands.’

Let us now confess our disobedience to him.

Kyrie Confession

You were sent to preach the good news of light

in the darkness of the world:

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

You were sent to plant in our hearts the seed of eternal life:

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

You were sent to reconcile us to yourself

by the shedding of your blood:

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

(or)

Lord Jesus, in your love you invite us to be your friends:

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, in your joy you choose us to go out and bear fruit:

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, in your power you send us to be your faithful witnesses:

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Collect

Almighty God,

who built your Church upon the foundation

of the apostles and prophets,

with Jesus Christ himself as the chief cornerstone:

so join us together in unity of spirit by their doctrine,

that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia.

I do not call you servants but friends,

because I have made known to you

everything that I have heard from my Father.

John 15.15

Alleluia.

(or)

Alleluia, alleluia.

I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last.

John 15.16

Alleluia.

Intercession

Encouraged by our fellowship with all the saints,

let us make our prayers to the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Father, your Son called men and women to leave the past behind

them and to follow him as his disciples in the way of the cross. Look

with mercy upon those whom he calls today, marks with the cross

and makes his disciples within the Church…

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Your Son told his disciples not to be afraid and at Easter breathed on

them his gift of peace. Look with mercy upon the world into which

he sent them out, and give it that peace for which it longs…

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Your Son formed around him a company who were no longer

servants but friends, and he called all those who obeyed him his

brother and sister and mother. Look with mercy upon our families

and our friends and upon the communities in which we share…

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Your Son sent out disciples to preach and heal the sick. Look with

mercy on all those who yearn to hear the good news of salvation,

and renew among your people the gifts of healing…

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Your Son promised to those who followed him that they would sit

on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel and would share the

banquet of the kingdom. According to your promise, look with

mercy on those who have walked with Christ in this life and now

have passed through death…

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Almighty God,

Grant that your Church

may faithfully hold and make known

the faith that has come to us through the apostles,

that with them and all your saints

we may inherit the glories of eternal life;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Introduction to the Peace

We are fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God,

through Christ our Lord, who came and preached peace

to those who were far off and those who were near.

Ephesians 2.19,17

Prayer at the Preparation of the Table

Father, accept all we bring before you this day.

Guide us with your love and feed us at your table

as you nourish the faith of the Church

by the preaching of your apostles.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(or)

God our Father,

keep us united in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship,

in the breaking of bread and the prayers,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

cf Acts 2.42

Preface

And now we give you thanks

because your Son Jesus Christ after his resurrection

sent forth his apostles and evangelists

to preach the gospel to all nations

and to teach us the way of truth.

(or)

And now we give you thanks

because you formed your Church on the apostles

to stand firm for ever,

as a sign on earth of your infinite holiness

and the living gospel for all to hear.

Extended Preface

It is indeed right and good

that we should give you thanks, praise and glory,

almighty and everlasting God,

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.

For after his resurrection

he sent out his apostles and evangelists

to preach the gospel to all nations

and lead us in the way of truth.

Himself the chief cornerstone,

he founded his Church upon the apostles

firmly to stand for ever

as a sign of your holiness upon earth

and a living witness to all

of the way that leads to heaven.

And so with angels and archangels

and with all the company of heaven

we lift our voices

and join in their unending hymn of praise:

Post Communion

Almighty God,

who on the day of Pentecost

sent your Holy Spirit to the apostles

with the wind from heaven and in tongues of flame,

filling them with joy and boldness to preach the gospel:

by the power of the same Spirit

strengthen us to witness to your truth

and to draw everyone to the fire of your love;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(or)

Lord God, the source of truth and love,

keep us faithful to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship,

united in prayer and the breaking of bread,

and one in joy and simplicity of heart,

in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing

God, who has prepared for you a city with eternal foundations,

bring you, with all the saints,

to the eternal and triumphant joy of that city;

and the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always.

Ending

May the infinite and glorious Trinity,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

direct our life in good works,

and after our journey through this world,

grant us eternal rest with the saints.

Acclamation

The Lord is righteous and delights in righteous deeds;

the just shall see his face.

The Lord is righteous and delights in righteous deeds;

the just shall see his face.

When the foundations are being destroyed,

what can the righteous do?

The just shall see his face.

His eyes behold the inhabited world;

his piercing eye weighs our worth.

The just shall see his face.

The Lord weighs the righteous as well as the wicked,

but those that delight in violence he abhors.

The just shall see his face.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

The Lord is righteous and delights in righteous deeds;

the just shall see his face.

Short Passages of Scripture

Jesus said,

‘I am with you always, to the end of the age.’

Matthew 28.20

Do not be afraid:

you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.

He has been raised; you will see him, just as he told you.

Mark 16.6,7

Jesus said to the disciples,

‘Go into all the world

and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.’

Mark 16.15

Jesus said to his disciples,

‘I will do whatever you ask in my name,

so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.’

John 14.13