24. 25 July - St James the Elder

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24. 25 July - St James the Elder

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VERSION: 13 November 2001

 

ST JAMES THE ELDER, APOSTLE

(25 July)

 

 

ST JAMES

'James, a fisherman, son of Zebedee and brother of John, is the only apostle whose martyrdom is recorded in Scripture (Acts 12:2). He was beheaded by Herod Agrippa near Easter in 43 or 44, and in the Eastern churches he has been commemorated on dates near Easter.'

(Contemporary Worship 6: The Church Year, Calendar and Lectionary, 1973)

 

 

LITURGY

 

PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)

Traditional

Merciful God,

as your holy apostle St James

left all that he had

and obeyed the calling of your Son Jesus Christ:

Grant that we may forsake every selfish desire,

and be ready at all times to obey your will;

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

Merciful God,

your holy apostle St James left all he had

and obeyed the calling of your Son Jesus Christ.

Help us to forsake every selfish desire,

and be ready at all times

to obey your will.

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 apostle St James.

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.

 

OR, another alternative

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.

 

FIRST READING

1 Kings 19:9-18 The Lord appears to Elijah

 

PSALM

Psalm 7:1-10

Antiphon:

God is my shield, who saves the upright in heart. (Ps 7:10 NRSV)

 

SECOND READING

Acts 11:27 - 12:3a Herod puts James to death

 

ALLELUIA VERSE (2 Cor 4:11 NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia.

While we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake,

so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh.

Alleluia.

 

GOSPEL

Mark 10:35-45 James will share in Christ's suffering and death

 

 

HYMNS AND SONGS

 

BY ALL YOUR SAINTS

The hymn 'By all your saints in warfare' by Horatio Bolton Nelson may be used; the second verse focusing on St James the Elder has here been modernised by David Sch¸tz. It may be sung to the tune Nyland (LH 16), or to the original tune King's Lynn (LBW 177, 178; LW 193, 194; TIS 249). The first line of verse 1 could be changed to: 'By saints on earth who struggle'.

 

By all your saints in warfare,

for all your saints at rest,

your holy name, O Jesus,

forevermore be blest!

For you have won the battle

that they might wear the crown;

and now they shine in glory

reflected from your throne.

 

For James, O Lord, we praise you,

who, slain by Herod's sword,

drank of your cup of suffering,

and thus fulfilled your word.

Save us from our impatience

to know your hidden plans,

and strengthen us with courage

to suffer for your name.

 

Then let us praise the Father,

and worship God the Son,

and sing to God the Spirit,

eternal Three-in-one,

till all the ransomed number

fall down before the throne,

ascribing power and glory,

and praise to God alone.

 

TOGETHER IN SONG

Together in Song suggests TIS 232 'O the deep, deep love of Jesus' for St James.

 

 

VISUAL

 

COLOUR

The colour for the day is red.

 

SYMBOLS

St James the Elder is represented by a pilgrim's staff. His shield is decorated with one or two scallop shells (used by pilgrims for dipping water and drinking).