Liturgy for the 18th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C (Luke)

Texts: Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7; Psalm 66:1-12; 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c; Psalm 111; 2 Timothy 2:8-15; Luke 17:11-19

Summary for Liturgy and Worship

Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 speaks to the exiles in Babylon, reminding them to seek the welfare of the city where they have been sent. God's call is not to escape hardship but to live faithfully in the midst of it, planting gardens and praying for their captors.

Psalm 66:1-12 invites the congregation to rejoice in God's deeds, remembering how God preserved them through trial and testing. Even through fire and flood, God brings the people to a spacious place.

2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c tells the healing story of Naaman, a foreign commander who is cured of leprosy not through spectacle but by obedience to a simple command. Grace often arrives in humble, unexpected ways.

Psalm 111 praises God's faithfulness and power. It reminds us that the works of the Lord are full of honor and majesty and that God is mindful of the covenant forever.

2 Timothy 2:8-15 emphasizes perseverance in suffering and faithfulness to the gospel. Paul urges believers to remember Christ, to endure, and to handle the word of truth with integrity.

Luke 17:11-19 recounts Jesus healing ten lepers, but only one—a Samaritan—returns to give thanks. Gratitude is more than politeness; it is a mark of faith and a returning to the source of grace.

Together, these readings call us to live faithfully in exile, to trust God through trial, to act with humility, and to respond with gratitude.

Call to Worship

One: Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth!

All: We sing the glory of God’s name and offer praise with thanksgiving!

One: Come and see what God has done: awesome are his deeds among mortals.

All: God has kept us among the living and not let our feet slip.

One: Let us worship the God who heals, who restores, and who calls us to seek the good.

All: With joy and gratitude, we lift our voices to the Lord!

Opening Prayer

God of the exiled and the healed, you are present in every place. You plant hope in foreign soil, and your mercy flows like a quiet river. In this time of worship, open our hearts to your Word. Teach us to seek peace, to act with humility, and to return with thanksgiving. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Call to Confession

In Christ, we are made new. Yet we often forget to return and give thanks. Let us come before God with honest hearts and open hands, seeking mercy.

Prayer of Confession

Merciful God, We confess that we often resist your leading. We plant roots only in places of comfort. We seek healing on our own terms and overlook your simple commands. We receive your gifts but fail to return in gratitude. Forgive us. Teach us to walk humbly, to speak boldly, and to live as your grateful people. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Assurance of Pardon from Psalm 130:3-4

Hear the good news: “If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.” In Christ, God has shown mercy and renewed our hearts.

Thanks be to God!

Prayer for Illumination

God of healing and truth, your Word speaks life into our weariness. As we hear your Scriptures read and proclaimed, open our ears to listen and our hearts to return to you in gratitude. Amen.

Prayers of the People

God of every nation and every person, You sent your people into exile with a promise. You healed a foreign general through a humble prophet. You walked the road between Samaria and Galilee, reaching out with compassion.

So we lift our prayers to you:

  • For our communities and cities, that we may seek their peace and pray for their good.

  • For those longing for healing—in body, mind, or spirit.

  • For leaders of nations, that justice and mercy may guide their rule.

  • For the forgotten and the overlooked, especially those who feel unworthy of grace.

  • For the church, that we may be known for gratitude, not just for receiving but for returning.

Shape us into people who return to you with thanks. Teach us to live with faithful presence in every place. In the name of Christ, we pray the prayer he taught us...

The Lord’s Prayer

Benediction Prayer

Go now to plant and to pray, to seek the good and to give thanks. Return to the Lord with joy, for God is faithful and kind. And may the blessing of God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—go with you, now and always. Amen.

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Liturgy for the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Year C (Luke)

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Opening Prayer for Church Services – November 2025