16. For the Mission of the Church I

Collect:
O God, who hast made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent thy blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after thee and find thee, bring the nations into thy fold, pour out thy Spirit upon all flesh, and hasten the coming of thy kingdom; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

First Lesson: Isaiah 2:2-4
In the last days
the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established
as chief among the mountains;
it will be raised above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.

Many peoples will come and say,
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths."
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.

Second Lesson: Ephesians 2:13-22
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Psalm: 96 or 96:1-7

1. Sing to the LORD a new song; *
   sing to the LORD, all the whole earth.
2. Sing to the LORD and bless his Name; *
   proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day.
3. Declare his glory among the nations *
   and his wonders among all peoples.
4. For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; *
   he is more to be feared than all gods.
5. As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols; *
   but it is the LORD who made the heavens.
6. Oh, the majesty and magnificence of his presence! *
   Oh, the power and the splendor of his sanctuary!
7. Ascribe to the LORD, you families of the peoples; *
   ascribe to the LORD honor and power.
8. Ascribe to the LORD the honor due his Name; *
   bring offerings and come into his courts.
9. Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness; *
   let the whole earth tremble before him.
10. Tell it out among the nations: "The LORD is King! *
    he has made the world so firm that it cannot be moved;
    he will judge the peoples with equity."
11. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
    let the sea thunder and all that is in it; *
    let the field be joyful and all that is therein.
12. Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy
    before the LORD when he comes, *
    when he comes to judge the earth.
13. He will judge the world with righteousness *
    and the peoples with his truth.

Luke 10:1-9
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

"When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

"When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.'"

Collect & Psalm from the Book of Common Prayer
Other excerpts from the New International Bible

Various Occasions