VERSION: 13 November 2001
ST PETER AND ST PAUL, APOSTLES
(29 June)
ST PETER AND ST PAUL
'The two great apostles whose ministry embraced the whole Jewish and Gentile world have been associated in Christian devotion since earliest times. The date chosen to commemorate the two apostles seems to be not the day of their martyrdom but the anniversary of a joint observance in their honour. The day of Peter and Paul is one of the oldest saints' days. Tradition says that Peter went to Rome and was martyred there (c. 64) by being crucified upside down. The Scriptures leave Paul in Rome, but tradition asserts that he went to Spain and returned to Rome where he was beheaded in the persecution under Nero.'
(Contemporary Worship 6: The Church Year, Calendar and Lectionary, 1973)
LITURGY
PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)
Tradiional
Almighty God,
whose apostles Peter and Paul glorified you
by their martyrdom:
Grant that your church,
instructed by their teaching and example,
may be knit together by your Spirit
and always stand firm
upon the one foundation,
which is Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
OR, modernised traditional
Almighty God,
your apostles Peter and Paul glorified you
by becoming martyrs.
Let your church,
instructed by their teaching and example,
be kept together by your Spirit
and always stand firm on the one foundation,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
For he lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.
OR
Almighty God,
you have built your church
on the foundation of the apostles and prophets.
Join us together in one spirit
by their teaching,
and make us into a holy temple pleasing to you.
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
Almighty and merciful God,
you have instructed your holy church
with the teaching
of your apostles St Peter and St Paul.
Do not let us be blown about
by every wind of deceitful teaching,
but build us up in the truth
of the good news about your salvation.
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.
FIRST READING
Ezekiel 34:11-16 God himself will shepherd his people
PSALM
Psalm 87:1-3, 5-7
Antiphon:
Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. (Ps 87:3 NRSV)
SECOND READING
1 Corinthians 3:16-23 Whether Peter or Paul, all belongs to Christ
ALLELUIA VERSE
Alleluia, alleluia.
(Jesus said:) 'You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church,
and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it'. (Matt 16:18 NRSV)
Alleluia.
GOSPEL
Mark 8:27-35 Peter's confession
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Call to prayer
We belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God. Let us pray to God our Father with confidence, asking him in Jesus' name to hear our prayers.
The regular response, OR:
Lord, in your wisdom,
hear our prayer.
Suggested intercessions
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thanks for the example and mission of St Peter and St Paul
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that the church would remain unified in Christ
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that God would bless all those whom he has sent to spread his word.
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Concluding prayer
Father, you worked through St Peter and St Paul to bring your saving word to the world. Continue to work through us, so that we may serve you with lasting joy, and so that your word may bear fruit in our lives, and in the lives of those for whom we pray. In Jesus' name.
Amen.
HYMNS AND SONGS
A list of hymns/songs suggested for St Peter is on page 1094 of the Harmony edition of Together in Song, and for St Paul on page 1096.
VISUAL
COLOUR
The colour for the day is red.
SYMBOL
St Peter's symbol is the crossed keys, and St Paul's symbol is either crossed swords or a sword with an open Bible superimposed.
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