1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,
5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;
8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Officiant: The Word of the Lord.
The People: Thanks be to God.
Deacon: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you. Or And with your spirit.
Deacon: May the Lord be on our minds, on our lips, and on our hearts as we hear His Holy Gospel. The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew.
People: Glory to You, Lord Christ.
Deacon: We are reading from Matthew's Gospel chapter 16, beginning at verse 13.
13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, 'Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?' 14 So they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' 15 He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' 16 Simon Peter answered and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' 17 Jesus answered and said to him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.' 20 Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.
Prayers of the People
Prayers of the People for: Proper 16
Brothers and sisters, Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us. Therefore, let us bring our request before Him.
For the Church; that She will boldly proclaim that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the whole world.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
For the Patriarch; that he will have the wisdom, favor and anointing of the Holy Spirit in all his endeavors.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
For world leaders; that they will place the needs of all their people before any personal gain.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
For those who have participated in abortions, infanticide, or euthanasia; that they will repent and find the forgiveness of God which is offered in Christ Jesus.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
For those praying for wayward children; that they will be persistent in prayer and trust that God will hear and answer them.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
For the conversion of Islam and other world religions and philosophies that are in opposition to the Word of God.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
For those who have lost loved ones; that they will be comforted by the promises of Christ.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
God of infinite love and wisdom, hear or prayer and give us the grace to offer ourselves up to You as a living and holy sacrifice, not thinking more of ourselves than we ought, but serving one another in love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN.
