Sunday, 17th August, 2025

20th Sunday of Ordinary Time/Te Rātapu Rua Tekau o He Wā Noa

Prayers taken from/inspired by Isaiah 5:1-7; Psalm 80:1-3, 8-18; Hebrews 11:29-12:2; Luke 12:49-56, and the ANZPB.

Bidding: [Lord], awaken your might;
Response: come and save us.
                                                                [from Psalm 80:3]

Let us pray.

Why have you broken down its walls
                so that all who pass by pick its grapes?
Boars from the forest ravage it,
                and insects from the fields feed on it.
Return to us, God Almighty!
                Look down from heaven and see!
Watch over this vine,
  the root your right hand has planted,
                the son  you have raised up for yourself.
 [Psalm 80: 12-15]

 Merciful God, watch over our communities.
 Protect us, cultivate new life among us.

[silence]

 Bidding: [Lord], awaken your might;
 Response: come and save us.

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword… They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated —  the world was not worthy of them…

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

 [from Hebrews 11:32-34a, 37b-40]

 Mighty God, your Word is a challenge to the church.
 Give us eyes to see and ears to hear.

[silence]

Bidding: [Lord], awaken your might;
Response: come and save us.

 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does.  And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?
 [Luke 12:54-56]
  
 The world is awash with voices, full of conflict and injustice.
 Teach us to discern the times, Lord.
 Protect the weak, nourish the needy,
 and draw creation back to You.

[silence]

Bidding: [Lord], awaken your might;
Response: come and save us.

Come Holy Spirit, to all baptised in your name, that we may turn to good whatever lies ahead. Give us passion, give us fire; make us transform the world from what it is, to what you have created it to be.

This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.