A Collect “For the Mission of the Church” Book 16 “See, I am sending you out like sheep into the of Alternative Services, Anglican Church of midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and 17 Canada innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their Draw your Church together, O Lord, into one great ; 18 and you will be dragged before company of disciples, together following our Lord governors and kings because of me, as a testimony Christ into every walk of life, together serving to them and the . 19 When they hand you him in his mission to the world, and together over, do not worry about how you are to speak or witnessing to his love on every continent and island. what you are to say; for what you are to say will be We ask this in his name and for his sake. given to you at that time; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking 21 What is mission about? through you. Brother will betray brother to death, The message? (The Gospel) and a father his child, and children will rise against 22 “As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom parents and have them put to death; and you will of heaven has come near.’” be hated by all because of my name. But the one 23 The messenger? (Jesus the Christ) who endures to the end will be saved. When they “For so loved the world that he gave his only persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for Son, so that everyone who believes in him may have truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all eternal life.” the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24 The message/messenger community? (The Church) “A is not above the teacher, nor a slave 25 “Now you are the body of Christ, and individually above the master; it is enough for the disciple to members of it.” be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul,

how much more will they malign those of his :5-42 household!

The Mission of the Twelve 5 Whom to Fear These twelve Jesus sent out with the following 26 “So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and 6 up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret enter no town of the , but go rather to 27 7 that will not become known. What I say to you in the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven 28 8 whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received 9 rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body without payment; give without payment. Take no 29 10 in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; 30 11 from your Father. And even the hairs of your head for laborers deserve their food. Whatever town or are all counted. 31 So do not be afraid; you are of village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and more value than many sparrows. 32 “Everyone stay there until you leave. 12 As you enter the house, 13 therefore who acknowledges me before others, I greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace also will acknowledge before my Father in come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace 33 14 heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or also will deny before my Father in heaven. listen to your words, shake off the dust from your 15 feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell Not Peace, but a Sword you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom 34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a town. sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, Coming Persecutions and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

Rewards 40 “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; 42 and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”