Saint Michael’s Catholic Parish

Nelson Bay

Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

We acknowledge the Worimi people – the traditional custodians of this land

Thirteen Sunday in Ordinary Year A

28 June 2020

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The return of Sunday Mass!

Sunday Mass has returned - though public health restrictions mean that a maximum of 50 people may

attend a Mass and I have now introduced 3 weekend Masses and 4 weekday Masses so that all may come

to share in the celebration of the Eucharist.

The Parish Weekend Masses at St Michael’s Nelson Bay will be Saturday Vigil 5.00pm Sunday 8.00am

and 9.30am until further notice. There will NO Sunday 8.30am Mass.

Parish Weekday Masses: Tuesday 5.00pm, Wednesday 9.15am, Thursday 5.00pm and Friday 9.15am

We will review this timetable after this current weekend depending on Mass attendance. So that we may

comply with public health restrictions it is essential to make a booking to attend Mass each week.

Remember: In order to comply with the requirement of no more than 50 people at a religious gathering,

we ask that only those who have first registered through Alison on a new mobile number 0401 233 650 to

attend all Masses.

Emails CANNOT be accepted.

WALK INS CANNOT be accepted.

Your health and safety, we have made every provision to ensure that our gatherings are safe:

- the pews and other hard surfaces will be sanitised after every Mass

- we have also placed signs in front of the pews with the word like this: “Please Sit Here” (they will be

sanitised as well!), not just anywhere in front of the pew. We have placed them to obtain maximum physical

separation. Immediate family may of course sit together but everyone else must sit on a separate sign.

- Please use the hand sanitiser at the doors when entering and leaving the church.

- Holy Communion will not be given on the tongue – but on the hand only.

- For health and safety, we won’t pass round the collection bowls – however there will be two boxes clearly

labelled FIRST COLLECTION AND SECOND COLLECTION in the back of the church. We hope that

after the long period of church closure, you can resume your weekly giving.

- The church will be locked once Mass begins so please be on time - we are obliged to have an accurate

record of who is in attendance and we must ensure that we don’t exceed the maximum number permitted.

Before coming into the church, you will need to let volunteers mark off your name, take your temperature

and direct you to the seat allocated.

PARISH CONTACTS Parish Priest: Fr. Anthony Nguyen

Email: anthony.nguyen@mn.catholic.org.au

Phone: 0420 401 025

Parish Deacon: Rev. Gerard McCarthy

Email: gerard.mccarthy@mn.catholic.org.au

St. Michael’s Primary School

Principal: Ms Helen Bourne

Office: 4981 1111

Parish Secretary: Alison Keane

Email: stmichaelsnb@mn.catholic.org.au

www.nelsonbaycatholicchurch.com

Parish Office 12 Sproule Street

(PO Box 7)

NELSON BAY 2315

Phone Number 4981 1069

Reconciliation will be celebrated from 4.30pm to 4.50pm on Saturday, or by request.

Please note that common areas such as the church kitchenette and Parish Multipurpose room need to

remain closed for the time being.

It is recommended that you do not come to the church if you are feeling unwell and everyone is encouraged

to download the COVID-19 app.

Our Governments are looking forward to re-starting the economy. It falls to all of us to ‘re-start the

Church’. We have been separated from one another physically for all too long – let’s all play our part now

in coming together as a community to celebrate the awesome, precious gift of the Eucharist.

Let us keep united in prayer in this challenging time! And we continue to ask the help of our Patron Saint

Michael the Archangel - Pray for us.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Anthony Nguyen Rev. Gerard McCarthy

Parish Priest Deacon of the Parish

Important Notice Because of the limit in the number of people who may be able to attend any particular Mass, all members

of the Church of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, except priests, continue to be dispensed from the

obligation to attend Sunday Mass. Those who are unable to attend Sunday Mass are encouraged to keep

Sunday holy through the use of the resources previously made available (and which are still available on

the Diocese website – www.mn.catholic.org.au/news-events/covid-19-update). Please join Live-stream

Mass Diocese of Maitland – Newcastle Every Sunday at 9.30am at

https://www.mn.catholic.org.au/places/livestream/

New Planned Giving Envelopes Available at the back of the church. If you wish to join the Planned Giving Program via weekly envelopes

or monthly credit card deductions forms are available at the church or contact the parish office

Note of Gratitude My Gratitude to those Parishioners who have come forward to clean up after our Masses during this time.

Thank you for your generous service to the community. We still need many hands to continue the good

work. Please feel free to support us.

St Vincent de Paul Society is calling for donations to the Vinnies COVID-19 Winter Appeal, helping people

doing it tough in our communities due to coronavirus. Every dollar you donate will help people

to feed their families, put petrol in the car and keep warm during winter – more important

than ever during the current health crisis.

Envelopes for the Winter Appeal will be provided at the back of the Church. If making a

donation, please put in envelope and deposit in the collection boxes at the back of the church.

Tax Receipt for End of Financial Year If you would like to receive a tax receipt for your planned giving donations for the 2019/2020 financial

year, please call the parish office or send an email to stmichaelsnb@mn.catholic.org.au

The cut-off date to request a tax receipt is 30 June 2020

MASSES AND PRAYERS REQUESTED: We remember and pray for those who are ill at home and in hospital at this time, may they know the healing

presence of Christ: John Lordanie, Vince Aquilina, John Gatt Joy, Rita Chiarelli, Amanda Gatt, Bernadette

Beresma.

Anniversary: Paul Fambart, Theresa Neilson, Lina Merlino, Pino Mollica, Salvatore Assetta, Eva Balista, Marco

Alcuri and Giuseppina Pasquale.

Recently Deceased: Francesco Alessi.

Masses will be offered on request. Due to privacy laws, names of the sick and deceased can only be put in the bulletin with the permission of the immediate family.

Next Sunday Fourteenth Sunday Ordinary Time Year A First Reading: Zechariah 9:9-10 Second Reading: Letter of St Paul to the Romans 8:9,11-13

Gospel: Matthew 11:25-30

Entrance Antiphon Ps 46:2 All peoples, clap your hands.

Cry to God with shouts of joy!

The Gloria

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace

to people of good will. We praise you, we bless

you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you

thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly

King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus

Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of

God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins

of the world, have mercy on us; you take away

the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are

seated at the right hand of the Father, have

mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord, You alone are the Most

High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the

glory of God the Father

First Reading

A reading from the second book of the Kings 2 Kgs 4:8-11. 14-16

One day as Elisha was on his way to Shunem, a

woman of rank who lived there pressed him to

stay and eat there. After this he always broke his

journey for a meal when he passed that way. She

said to her husband, ‘Look, I am sure the man

who is constantly passing our way must be a

holy man of God. Let us build him a small room

on the roof, and put him a bed in it, and a table

and chair and lamp; whenever he comes to us he

can rest there.’

One day when he came, he retired to the upper

room and lay down. ‘What can be done for her?’

he asked. Gehazi (his servant) answered, ‘Well,

she has no son and her husband is

old.’ Elisha said, ‘Call her.’ The servant called

her and she stood at the door. ‘This time next

year,’ Elisha said ‘you will hold a son in your

arms.’

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 88:2-3. 16-19. R. v.2

Forever I will sing the

goodness of the Lord.

1. I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord;

through all ages my mouth will proclaim

your truth. Of this I am sure, that your love

lasts for ever, that your truth is firmly

established as the heavens.

2. Happy the people who acclaim such a

king, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your

face, who find their joy every day in your

name, who make your justice the source of

their bliss.

3. For it is you, O Lord, who are the glory

of their strength; it is by your favour that

our might is exalted: for our ruler is in the

keeping of the Lord; our king in the

keeping of the Holy One of Israel.

Second Reading

A reading from the letter of St Paul to the

Romans Rom 6:3-4. 8-11

When we were baptised in Christ Jesus we

were baptised in his death; in other words,

when we were baptised we went into the

tomb with him and joined him in death, so

that as Christ was raised from the dead by

the Father’s glory, we too might live a new

life.

But we believe that having died with Christ

we shall return to life with him: Christ, as

we know, having been raised from the dead

will never die again. Death has no power

over him any more. When he died, he died,

once for all, to sin, so his life now is life

with God; and in that way, you too must

consider yourselves to be dead to sin but

alive for God in Christ Jesus.

The word of the Lord © The scriptural quotations are taken from the Jerusalem Bible, published

and copyright 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton Longman and Todd Ltd and Doubleday & Co Inc, and used by permission of the publishers.

The English translation of the Psalm Responses, the Alleluia and Gospel Verses, and the Lenten Gospel Acclamations, and the Titles, Summaries,

and Conclusion of the Readings, from the Lectionary for Mass © 1997, 1981, 1968, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights

reserved. The prayers are from the English Translation of the Roman Missal © 2010

International Committee on English in the Liturgy Inc. (ICEL). All rights reserve.

Please remember in your prayers, those who are sick,

and have died recently and whose anniversaries

occur during this time. May I request you to keep all

those who are struck with the virus, those tested

positive and those in isolation in your special prayers.

Gospel Acclamation 1 Pt 2:9

Alleluia, alleluia!

You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a

holy people.

Praise God who called you out of darkness

and into his marvellous light.

Alleluia!

Gospel A reading from the holy Gospel according to

Matthew Mt 10:37-42

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows:

‘Anyone who prefers father or mother to

me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers

son or daughter to me is not worthy of me.

Anyone who does not take his cross and

follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me.

Anyone who finds his life will lose it;

anyone who loses his life for my sake will

find it.

‘Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me;

and those who welcome me welcome the one

who sent me.

‘Anyone who welcomes a prophet because

he is a prophet will have a prophet’s

reward; and anyone who welcomes a holy

man because he is a holy man will have a

holy man’s reward.

‘If anyone gives so much as a cup of cold

water to one of these little ones because he

is a disciple, then I tell you solemnly, he will

most certainly not lose his reward.’

The Gospel of the Lord

Gospel Reflection https://litedliturgybrisbane.weebly.com/sunday-readings-at-home.html/

The concluding section of Jesus’ second

discourse in Matthew, his mission sermon

to the disciples, falls into two parts. The

first is full of challenge, the second full of

promise.

Jesus begins by throwing down the

gauntlet. He demands priority for himself

over the most binding family ties. Matthew

may appear to soften Luke’s language

about “hating” one’s family members, but

the call remains uncompromising. And

Jesus’ insistence that the cross and self-

sacrifice are the only path to life is

inescapable; Matthew makes sure that his

readers hear this hard saying again later in

the gospel.

The assurances that follow arise from the

intimate bond that links “little ones” and

the disciples to Jesus and Jesus to the

Father. Together they form a community

that transcends earthly relationships. This

teaching of Jesus has a warmth and appeal

that counterbalances his confronting words

about the cross. Each of the two parts is made up of a series

of sayings in similar format. The

temptation to rush through them should be

resisted. Each saying should be given its

own time and emphasis. It would also be

helpful if there is a distinct pause and

change of tone between the two halves of the

passage, allowing the congregation to

appreciate the shift of focus. It is a pity that

the concluding verse of the discourse (11:1)

has been omitted from the lectionary

Communion Antiphon Cf. Ps 102:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all within me, his holy name.

The Creed:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only

Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under

Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he

rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the

Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy

Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the

resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year A

28 June 2020

Collect

O God, who through the grace of adoption

chose us to be children of light,

grant, we pray,

that we may not be wrapped in the darkness of error

but always be seen to stand in the bright light of truth.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

Readings and Commentaries

One of the oldest and most famous baptisteries in the world lies adjacent to the

basilica of St John Lateran in Rome. It contains a poetic inscription centred on

the image of the baptismal font as a fertile womb teeming with new life. The

poem delights in the idea of baptism as rebirth in the power of the Spirit. It can

be seen as an inspired commentary on Jesus’ brief word to Nicodemus about the

need to be born of water and the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:5).

For his part Paul offers the distinctly different but complementary image of the

font. He presents it not as a womb but as a tomb. In Paul’s mind baptism is a

sharing in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Going down into the waters

of the font, the candidate dies to sin and death and rises out of them to new life

with God.

These two perspectives are mutually enriching rather than

contradictory. Together they set our imaginations free to gain fresh insight into

this sacramental rite that is cherished by every Christian community.

A reading from the second

book of the Kings 4:8–11, 14–16

One day as Elisha was on his way to

Shunem, a woman of rank who lived

there pressed him to stay and eat

there. After this he always broke his

journey for a meal when he passed

that way. She said to her husband,

‘Look, I am sure the man who is

constantly passing our way must be

a holy man of God. Let us build him

a small room on the roof, and put

him a bed in it, and a table and chair

and lamp; whenever he comes to us

he can rest there.’

One day when he came, he retired to

the upper room and lay down. ‘What

can be done for her?’ he asked.

Gehazi (his servant) answered,

‘Well, she has no son and her

husband is old.’ Elisha said, ‘Call

her.’ The servant called her and she

stood at the door. ‘This time next

year,’ Elisha said ‘you will hold a

son in your arms.’

First Reading

The stories of the prophets Elijah and

his successor Elisha recorded in the

Old Testament books of 1 and 2 Kings

are colourful and dramatic. Today’s is

no exception, though unfortunately we

only hear a shortened version of the

first part of it. Readers would do well

to turn to their Bibles and find the

whole tale in 2 Kings 4:8–37.

This story from the Elisha cycle looks

back to one of Elijah’s exploits

(1 Kings 17) and ahead to events in the

ministry of Jesus (Luke 7:11–17;

Matthew 9:18–26) and of Paul (Acts

20:7–12). It also connects with the

several biblical stories of childless

women unexpectedly blessed by God

with the birth of a son.

The theme of this extract is that

hospitality to God’s servants is richly

rewarded, as Jesus declares in the final

verse of today’s gospel. The unnamed

woman from Shunem goes to trouble

and expense to provide lodging for

Elisha and in return is promised a

son. In the gospel Jesus assures those

who offer even a cup of cold water to

a disciple will receive their reward.

The reading itself is straightforward

enough, except perhaps for the proper

names. Readers who check the

pronunciation guide will see two

options for Elisha and three for

Gehazi.

Responsorial

Psalm Ps 88:2–3, 16–19

R. For ever I will sing the

goodness of the Lord.

I will sing for ever of your love, O

Lord;

through all ages my mouth will

proclaim your truth.

Of this I am sure, that your love

lasts for ever,

that your truth is firmly established

as the heavens. R.

Happy the people who acclaim

such a king,

who walk, O Lord, in the light of

your face,

who find their joy every day in

your name,

who make your justice the source

of their bliss. R.

For it is you, O Lord, who are the

glory of their strength;

it is by your favour that our might

is exalted:

for our ruler is in the keeping of

the Lord;

our king in the keeping of the Holy

One of Israel. R.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 88/89 is quite long. It offers

praise to God for the work of creation

and for the election of David and his

descendants as kings. The verses for

today have been selected and

combined from the beginning and the

body of the psalm.

The very first line of the psalm serves

as the response. It captures the faith-

filled attitude of the Shunemite

woman. Though her story implies that

she was well-to-do, her faith is that of

the humble and patient poor ones of

Israel. We may assume that she is

promised a son because she has always

been a person of thanks and praise, not

that she is only now turning to God in

gratitude for the assurance of a son.

Both the language and the form of the

psalm are straightforward. The

principal challenge for the reader is

managing the rather long lines of the

verses. Readers will need to resist the

temptation to hurry them. The solution

lies in a steady style of proclamation

that enables the congregation to hear

each verse as a coherent unit and offers

them clear vocal and visual cues for

their response.

A reading from the letter of

St Paul to the

Romans 6:3–4, 8–11

When we were baptised in Christ

Jesus we were baptised in his death;

in other words, when we were

baptised we went into the tomb with

him and joined him in death, so that

as Christ was raised from the dead by

the Father’s glory, we too might live

a new life.

But we believe that having died with

Christ we shall return to life with

him: Christ, as we know, having been

raised from the dead will never die

again. Death has no power over him

any more. When he died, he died,

once for all, to sin, so his life now is

life with God; and in that way, you

too must consider yourselves to be

dead to sin but alive for God in Christ

Jesus.

Second Reading

The early chapters of Paul’s

monumental letter to the Romans

are concerned with God’s

judgement on humankind. Gentile

and Jew alike are caught up in the

power of sin and death. Paul now

spells out the good news. In sum,

Jesus Christ has died and been

raised to life with God, and thus has

overcome sin and death; Christians

share in this victory by dying and

rising with Christ in

baptism. However Paul is rarely

content to state his case simply and

succinctly. His fertile mind is

always searching to find fresh ways

of expressing the mystery.

The reading for today falls into two

parts because of the omission of

three verses in the middle of the

passage. This means, in effect, that

the second part repeats in a slightly

different way what has already been

asserted in the first. This makes the

retention of the transition word

“But” a little confusing.

In contemplating this inexhaustible

mystery, Paul might be compared to

an art lover viewing a great painting

from different angles. Readers have

the opportunity to invite the

congregation to discover the wealth

of meaning contained in his

teaching. They can do this by

studying the text carefully,

rehearsing it aloud a number of

times, and proclaiming it in a spirit

of confident faith.

A reading from the holy

Gospel according to

Matthew 10:37–42

Jesus instructed the Twelve as

follows: ‘Anyone who prefers

father or mother to me is not

worthy of me. Anyone who

prefers son or daughter to me is

not worthy of me. Anyone who

does not take his cross and

follow in my footsteps is not

worthy of me. Anyone who

finds his life will lose it; anyone

who loses his life for my sake

will find it.

‘Anyone who welcomes you

welcomes me; and those who

welcome me welcome the one

who sent me.

‘Anyone who welcomes a

prophet because he is a prophet

will have a prophet’s reward;

and anyone who welcomes a

holy man because he is a holy

man will have a holy man’s

reward.

‘If anyone gives so much as a

cup of cold water to one of these

little ones because he is a

disciple, then I tell you

solemnly, he will most certainly

not lose his reward.’

Gospel

The concluding section of Jesus’ second

discourse in Matthew, his mission sermon

to the disciples, falls into two parts. The

first is full of challenge, the second full of

promise.

Jesus begins by throwing down the

gauntlet. He demands priority for himself

over the most binding family

ties. Matthew may appear to soften Luke’s

language about “hating” one’s family

members but the call remains

uncompromising. And Jesus’ insistence

that the cross and self-sacrifice are the only

path to life is inescapable; Matthew makes

sure that his readers hear this hard saying

again later in the gospel.

The assurances that follow arise from the

intimate bond that links “little ones” and

the disciples to Jesus and Jesus to the

Father. Together they form a community

that transcends earthly relationships. This

teaching of Jesus has a warmth and appeal

that counterbalances his confronting words

about the cross.

Each of the two parts is made up of a series

of sayings in similar format. The

temptation to rush through them should be

resisted. Each saying should be given its

own time and emphasis. It would also be

helpful if there is a distinct pause and

change of tone between the two halves of

the passage, allowing the congregation to

appreciate the shift of focus. It is a pity

that the concluding verse of the discourse

(11:1) has been omitted from the

lectionary

Concluding Prayers

Almighty and all-merciful God,

lover of the human race, healer of all our wounds,

in whom there is no shadow of death,

save us in this time of crisis;

grant wisdom and courage to our leaders;

watch over all medical people

as they tend the sick and work for a cure;

stir in us a sense of solidarity beyond all isolation;

if our doors are closed, let our hearts be open.

By the power of your love destroy the virus of fear,

that hope may never die

and the light of Easter, the triumph of life,

may shine upon us and the whole world.

Through Jesus Christ, the Lord risen from the dead,

who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Amen.

Holy Mary, health of the sick, pray for us.

St Joseph, guardian of us all, pray for us .

(Most Rev. Mark Coleridge, Archbishop of Brisbane)

or

Gracious God,

We give thanks anew for your providence and presence.

We prayerfully seek your grace, amidst COVID-19 here and overseas.

We pray for those in need of healing.

We pray for your peace with those who are anxious or grieving.

We pray you will continue to strengthen and sustain

all those who are serving in response.

We pray for your Holy Spirit’s discernment

amidst the many choices and decisions

facing our national, community and medical leaders.

We pray we each might see quickly what more we can do

to help those who are vulnerable.

This prayer for our nation in the family of nations,

with all that is on our hearts,

we gather now and pray

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

(Ecumenical prayer from the National Council of Churches. We have been invited to pray this prayer at

7pm each day.)

The Plenary Council 2020/2021

Friends,

You may remember that last year, many in our parish, attended meetings to discuss

the six themes which arose from the survey of the whole of Australia’s response to

the question,

“What do you think God is asking of us in Australia Today?”

As a result of the responses sent in from parishes and others all around the country,

the original question was then reframed:

How is God calling us to be a Christ-centred church that is missionary and

evangelising: humble healing and merciful; prayerful and Eucharistic; inclusive

participatory and synodal: a joyful, hope-filled servant community; open to

conversion, renewal and reform?

Once again you came along to meetings to discuss and respond to the question.

On the feast of Pentecost this year six papers were released, once again summing

up the responses .

Each paper provides

• a reflection of the relevant pastoral reality

• articulates a theological vision

• outlines a number of challenges to be overcome

• suggests prioritised question to be answered

• develops some proposals for change.

Each of these papers will be available on the parish website, under Adult Faith

Formation

Missionary and Evangelising

Prayerful and Eucharistic

Inclusive, participatory and Synodal

Humble, Healing and Merciful

Open to conversion, renewal and reform

A joyful, hope filled and servant community

The Universal Prayer

Sunday 28th June 2020

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary time

Celebrant: Sisters and brothers, God’s word today has taught us about how the grace of

hospitality, the new life of baptism and courage in carrying our own cross, all draw

us closer to Jesus Christ.

1. That Pope Francis, successor to the Apostle Peter, will be filled with grace and sustained

with good health, as he and the Church prepare to celebrate the Holy Apostles, Peter and

Paul on Monday.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, hear our prayer.

2. That within our own faith and culture we will learn from other faiths and cultures how

important and liberating it is to offer hospitality to the poor and the homeless, the stranger

and the lonely, the sick and frightened.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, hear our prayer.

3. That every day Christians will value the new life which they received in baptism, so that

by dying to the sins of selfishness, greed and violence, they will, in the Spirit, be thoughtful

of others, generous in charity and peaceful in relationships.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, hear our prayer.

4. That for the people of the land where Jesus lived, walked, died and rose, there will be a

new opportunity, led by universal diplomacy, to secure border stability for Israel and

Palestine, shared water resources, equal opportunities for living with dignity and freedom

of movement.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, hear our prayer.

5. That as the rates of Covid 19 infection continue to increase around the world, governments

and citizens will continue to play their part in striving to halt its spread and assist those

whose lives are affected by it.

Lord, hear us,

Lord, hear our prayer.

6. That those who have died in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and through the COVID-19

virus will find peace in our one true God. We also remember Paul Fambart, Theresa

Neilson, Lina Merlino, Pino Mollica, Salvatore Assetta, Eva Balista, Marco Alcuri,

Giuseppina Pasquale and Francesco Alessi.

Lord, hear us.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Celebrant: Eternal God, with joy we walk in the light of your face, and as our lives are

secure in your truth, enable us to work for justice everywhere. Through Christ our Lord.