VERSION: 17 September 2001

FESTIVAL OF ST MATTHIAS, APOSTLE
(24 February)

ST MATTHIAS
'Matthias was chosen by lot to fill the vacancy in the Twelve left by the death of Judas Iscariot. Athough he is not mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament, the account of his election (Acts 1:15-26) implies he was a follower of Jesus from the beginning of his ministry. Tradition locates his missionary labour in Ethiopia. ' (Contemporary Worship 6: The Church Year, Calendar and Lectionary, 1973)

This festival may fall in either the post-Epiphany time or in Lent. The propers for the season are chosen accordingly.

LITURGY

SENTENCES
See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder for suggestions on using a Sentence.

Jesus said: 'You did not choose me but I chose you. 
And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last.'  
(John 15:16 NRSV)

PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)
EITHER, modernised traditional
Almighty God, 
you have built your church 
on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. 
Join us together in one spirit 
by the witness of St Matthias, 
and make us into a holy temple pleasing to you. 
We ask this through your Son, 
Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who lives and reigns 
with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

OR, alternative
Almighty God, 
you chose your faithful servant, St Matthias, 
to be one of the twelve apostles 
in the place of Judas the traitor.
Preserve your church from false apostles 
and keep us firm in your truth 
by the ministry of faithful pastors. 
We ask this through your Son, 
Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who lives and reigns 
with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

FIRST READING
Isaiah 66:1,2 The Lord values the humble

PSALM 
Psalm 56
Antiphon: 
In God I trust; I am not afraid.  (Ps 56:11a NRSV)

SECOND READING
Acts 1:15-26 Matthias is chosen as one of the twelve apostles

ALLELUIA VERSE (2 Thess 3:3 NRSV)
Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord is faithful; 
he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.  
Alleluia.

GOSPEL
Luke 6:12-16 Jesus chooses twelve apostles, including Judas

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Call to prayer
Our Lord made his apostles holy by calling them by name, and leading them in discipleship. Let us follow the example of the saints by responding to Jesus' call, and praying to our Father in heaven in Jesus' name.

The regular response, OR:
Lord of the church,
hear the prayer of your holy people.

Suggested intercessions
*	that the church may be unified in prayer
*	that we may continue to serve our Lord in true faith
*	that God would continue to raise up people to proclaim his gospel
*	that all Christians would honour each other as people chosen by God.

Concluding prayer
Lord, since you called St Matthias and all the apostles, and equipped them to serve as ministers to your people, give us the grace to rely not on our own strength, but on your calling. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

PREFACE
During the time following the First Sunday after Epiphany, either the general preface is used, as in the Service with Communion (LHS p6), or the Epiphany preface may be used.

It is indeed right and good, 
Lord God, holy Father, 
that we should at all times and in all places 
give thanks to you, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
You have sent your only Son 
to appear among us as a human being, 
and through him 
you have fully revealed 
the light of your presence to us. 
And so, with angels and archangels, 
and with all the company of heaven, 
we adore and praise your glorious name:

If the day falls in Lent, the Lent preface is used.

It is indeed right and good, 
Lord God, holy Father, 
that we should at all times and in all places 
give thanks to you, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
He has taken on himself our sin,
so that we might die to sin
and live to righteousness. 
And so, with angels and archangels, 
and with all the company of heaven, 
we adore and praise your glorious name:

COMMUNION INVITATION
If the day comes before Lent, the following Epiphany invitation or one of the two general invitations below may be used.

Jesus says:
'The bread that God gives
is he who comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world.'
(Thanks be to God.)
Come, everything is ready.

General
1  Jesus says:
'I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to me will never be hungry,
and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'
(Thanks be to God.)
Come, everything is ready.

2  Jesus says:
'My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.
Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood
remain in me, and I in them.'
(Thanks be to God.)
Come, everything is ready.

If the day falls in Lent, the following Lent invitation may be used.

Every time we eat this bread and drink from this cup
we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
(Thanks be to God.)
Come, everything is ready.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
If the day falls in Lent, for a post-communion prayer, see the document 'Lent season', under 'Prayer after communion', in the 'General and seasonal' folder. Alternatively, use the following prayer. 

Father, by the witness of the apostles
your Son has called us into your family.
As we have eaten at your table,
strengthen us with faith in you
for our life and work together.
We ask this through your Son, 
Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who lives and reigns 
with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

HYMNS AND SONGS

PSALM 56
For musical settings of Psalm 56, see Music Package 4.

BY ALL YOUR SAINTS
Horatio Bolton Nelson wrote this hymn, which has various middle verses for various minor festival occasions. It may be sung to the tune Nyland (LH 16), or to King's Lynn (LBW 177, 178; LW 193, 194; TIS 249). The first and last verses given below are as they appear in Lutheran Worship and Lutheran Book of Worship; the middle verse is Nelson's original that has been slightly modernised. The first line of verse 1 could be changed to: 'By saints on earth who struggle'.

By all your saints in warfare,
for all your saints at rest,
your holy name, O Jesus,
for evermore be blest!
For you have won the battle
that they might wear the crown;
and now they shine in glory
reflected from your throne.

Lord Jesus Christ, your presence
led them to make the choice,
for one in place of Judas,
for whom we now rejoice.
Lord, from all false apostles,
protect the church, your bride,
and, keeping your last promise,
be always at her side.

Then let us praise the Father, 
and worship God the Son,
and sing to God the Spirit,
eternal Three-in-one,
till all the ransomed number
fall down before the throne,
ascribing power and glory,
and praise to God alone.

THE HIGHEST AND THE HOLIEST PLACE
This hymn, by Henry Alford, has been slightly modernised. It may be sung to the tune Jackson (LH 344, TIS 250).

The highest and the holiest place
is never free from sin;
the church that seems so pure without
may harbour foes within.

Within that small and chosen group
belov'd above the rest,
one fell from his apostleship,
a traitor in the test.

But God's designs will always stand
against all evil power;
a better witness to the truth
was chosen in that hour.

Matthias was the chosen one -
God's purpose cannot fail -
the word of grace shall sound no less,
the truth no less prevail.

Righteous, O Lord, are all your ways:
long as the worlds endure,
from foes without and foes within,
you keep your church secure.

VISUAL

SYMBOLS OF ST MATTHIAS
The apostle is said to have been stoned and beheaded after missionary work in Judea and Ethiopia; hence the following symbols are used for St Matthias: 
*	open Bible and double-edged battle-axe 
*	halbert or curved sword or scimitar
*	lance and three stones
*	carpenter's square.