VERSION: 9 April 2002
SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY (PROPER 1), YEAR B
In 2003: 16 Feb
In 2006: 12 Feb
In 2009: 15 Feb
In 2012: 12 Feb
In 2015: ---
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Note: For explanations and suggestions on the various resources provided, see the documents 'General notes and resources' and 'Epiphany season and time after' in the 'General and seasonal' folder.
LITURGY
SENTENCE
See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder for suggestions on using a Sentence.
Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles,
and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
(Heb 12:1 NIV)
OR, use the standard Epiphany Sentence in the document 'Epiphany season and time after', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.
OR, use one of the general Sentences in the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.
PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)
Traditional
O Lord,
favourably hear the prayers of your people,
that we, who are justly punished for our offences,
may be mercifully delivered by your goodness,
for the glory of your name;
through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
OR, modernised traditional
Lord, in your kindness
listen to the prayers of your people.
Have mercy on us
who are justly punished for our sins,
and save us,
for the glory of your name.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
OR, alternative
(Let us pray for a fuller trust in God. [silence])
Most loving Father,
it is your will
that we should leave all our worries with you.
Keep us from faithless fears
and worldly anxieties,
that no cloud may hide from us
the light of your love
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
For he lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
OR, new
(Let us pray that we show Christ's compassion. [silence])
Merciful God,
we thank you that your Son healed lepers
and brought good news to the despised and rejected.
Give us compassion and self-control,
so that we can bring your healing
to people in need.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
FIRST READING
2 Kings 5:1-14 The healing of Naaman the Syrian
PSALM
Psalm 30
Antiphon:
O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.
(Ps 30:2 NRSV)
SECOND READING
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Paul's self-denial in the cause of the gospel
ALLELUIA VERSE (based on Mark 1:45a NRSV)
Alleluia, alleluia.
But the man went out and began to proclaim what Jesus had done,
and to spread the word.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL
Mark 1:40-45 Jesus heals a man with leprosy
(If using NRSV or NIV, read ' . . . came to Jesus' in v 40)
PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL
This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Thank you, Lord Jesus,
for healing people with all kinds of diseases.
Make us clean and whole too.
Amen.
OFFERING PRAYER
Thank you, Lord, for your great mercy and compassion
in sending your Son Jesus to make us whole and holy.
Let us show our thankfulness by obeying you
and by not letting our sinful nature master us.
Help us to discipline ourselves
so that we can serve you and others better,
with all that we are and all that we have.
Amen.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Call to prayer
Since we share in the compassion of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us bring the needs of all people to our Father in heaven, and ask him to hear the prayer we offer in Jesus' name.
The regular response, OR:
Lord, in your compassion,
hear our prayer.
Suggested intercessions
*
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for the church, that we may be ready and willing to help those in physical need
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*
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for those who proclaim God's word, that they may boldly proclaim the name of Jesus
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*
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that people may turn to Jesus to receive all they need from God
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*
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for those whose suffering isolates them from family, friends, and the whole community.
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Concluding prayer
Lord, when we cry for help, you hear us. Hear the prayers of our lips and the prayers of our hearts, and answer us in your saving love. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
PREFACE
For these non-festival Sundays after Epiphany, either no seasonal preface is used, as in the Service with Communion (LHS p6), or the following Epiphany preface may be used.
It is indeed right and good,
Lord God, holy Father,
that we should at all times and in all places
give thanks to you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
You have sent your only Son
to appear among us as a human being,
and through him
you have fully revealed
the light of your presence to us.
And so, with angels and archangels,
and with all the company of heaven,
we adore and praise your glorious name:
COMMUNION INVITATION
The following Epiphany invitation or one of the two general invitations below may be used.
Epiphany
Jesus says:
'The bread that God gives
is he who comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world.'
(Thanks be to God.)
Come, everything is ready.
General
1 Jesus says:
'I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to me will never be hungry,
and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'
(Thanks be to God.)
Come, everything is ready.
2 Jesus says:
'My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.
Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood
remain in me, and I in them.'
(Thanks be to God.)
Come, everything is ready.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
If it has not been used already, the third prayer under 'Prayer of the day' above may be modified as follows and used as a post-communion prayer.
Most loving Father,
you have shown how much you care for us
by feeding us with the body and blood
of your dear Son, Jesus Christ.
Keep us from faithless fears
and worldly anxieties,
that no cloud may hide from us
the light of your love
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
For he lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Live as God's holy people.
Thanks be to God. OR In the name of Christ. Amen.
HYMNS AND SONGS
FOR THE READINGS
Please note: * = Modernised version available
G3, G4 . . . = Guitar chords available in the Music Package 3, 4 . . .
GS = Guitar chords in the Supplement to LH
First reading: 2 Kings 5:1-14
LHS
AT
266
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Through our Lord we shall
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TIS
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Second reading: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
LHS
157
|
Jesus, Lord and precious Saviour G4
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164
|
Love divine, all loves excelling
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178
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Dearest Saviour, hear my promise G3
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340
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Be thou faithful unto death* G8
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352
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Fight the good fight *G4
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807
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Lift high the cross GS
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AT
266
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Through our God we shall do valiantly
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TIS
217
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Love divine, all loves excelling
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609
|
May the mind of Christ
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Gospel: Mark 1:40-45
LHS
4
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Once He came in blessing* G4
|
358
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Renew me, O Eternal Light* G3
|
364
|
A new heart, Lord create in me* G5
|
422
|
Great Shepherd of Thy people, hear* G6
|
452
|
O bless the Lord, my soul
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AT
269
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Create in us a clean heart
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345
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What can wash away my sin?
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354
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Change my heart, O Lord
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429
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Praise the Lord, O my soul
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TIS
64
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O bless the Lord, my soul
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197
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God’s Son came to bless us
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430
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Your words to me are life and health
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444
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Dear Shepherd of your people
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559
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A new heart, Lord, create in me
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625
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I need you, Lord, for I have seen
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PSALM 30
For musical settings of Psalm 30, see Music Packages 4, 6, 8, 9 and 10. For another setting of selected verses, see TIS 18 I will praise you, Lord.
The following paraphrase of Psalm 30 by David Sch¸tz may be sung to the tune Bethany ('Nearer my God to thee', LHS 872). If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.
I will exalt you, Lord;
you rescued me
from the deep grave of death
that threatened me.
You did not let my foes
gloat over me in death;
I called to you for help,
you spared my life.
Sing to the Lord, you saints,
and praise his name.
Weeping may last the night,
joy comes with dawn.
His anger is so short,
his favour is so long!
So I rejoice in him,
singing my song.
Feeling secure, I said:
'I shan't be moved!'
But when you hid your face,
I was dismayed!
To you, O Lord, I called;
'Have mercy!' was my cry.
'What gain is there for you,
if I should die?'
'How can I praise you, Lord,
if I am dust?
How, from the grave, can I
speak of your trust?
Hear and be merciful!
O Lord, come to my aid!'
I called to God for help,
and I was saved.
You turned my mournful tears,
into a dance.
You stripped me of my grief,
robed me with joy!
I will not hold my tongue!
Now I, with all my heart,
sing songs of thanks to you,
O Lord, my God.
NOTES ON THE READINGS
See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Notes on the readings', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.
2 KINGS 5 1-14 : A young captive servant girl's loving concern and firm faith lead her to make known to Naaman the prophet Elisha in Israel. Protocol requires enquiries through Israel's king, who misinterprets the message. Elisha doesn't let a slight on his dignity stop him from offering his help. Naaman comes to see that the true God often moves through humble and even despised agencies to achieve his mysterious but gracious plans. Naaman is cured. Elisha refuses reward in order to allow a heathen to see that God gives his gifts free.
1 CORINTHIANS 9:24-27: Our full and final salvation is a gift of God laid in store for us. It will bring our present salvation into its total fulfilment when we awaken in heaven. Because it was and is free, however, Paul urges us not to value this marvel lightly. Every Christian needs vigorously to practise the utmost spiritual discipline in retaining that gift. So much more is at stake than winning gold at the Olympics!
MARK 1:40-45: Jesus did not go out of his way to heal lepers, yet they frequently came to him. The Lord gave compassionate help on these occasions, especially in view of the lepers' testimony of faith that he could help. The Jewish people believed that the Messiah would include healing of lepers when he came. Hence Jesus' command not to tell anyone. His ministry was in the first place to preach the good news of the Kingdom. However, the news spread.
VISUAL
VISUALS FOR THE READINGS
Pictures or visual symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. For instance, the first reading could be accompanied by a picture like the illustration in the TEV Bible for 2 Kings 5:13; and the second reading by a picture like the illustration in TEV for 1 Corinthians 9:24.
DRAMA
'MEGA DRAMA'
See a drama for the day in Mega Drama resources (Openbook Publishers), originally included in these worship resources when they were released on disks.
DRAMATISING THE READINGS
The readings can be read by more than one person to make the dramatic meaning of the text clearer. For instance, the first reading could be read by seven readers: narrator, servant girl, king of Syria, king of Israel, Elisha, Naaman, Naaman's servant.
CHILDREN
'COME AND SEE JESUS'
The Come and See Jesus curriculum published by Openbook Publishers has a wealth of material and ideas that may be adapted for use in worship. Please note that a new edition of this material is now available for the Revised Common Lectionary.
This week's story is: 'Naaman healed of leprosy' (to be found in the original edition in Pentecost 20 year A and in the RCL edition in 6 Epiphany (Proper 1), year B).
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