The Seventh Sunday of Trinity
We welcome you to this short written online service on the Seventh Sunday after Trinity. For those able to be in church, we are grateful for the chance to sing again and to have our choir sing an anthem for the first time since December. If you are not in church, the music is here to listen to – click on the links.
Opening Prayer
Lord of all power and might,
the author and giver of all good things:
graft in our hearts the love of your name,
increase in us true religion,
nourish us with all goodness,
and of your great mercy keep us in the same;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Readings
Jeremiah 12: 1-6
Ephesians 2: 11-end
Mark 6: 30-34, 53-end
The Anthem
‘Ubi caritas’ by Ola Gjeilo
The Intercessions
Heavenly Father, we thank You that we may once again come to worship You in Your house, seeking that peace which You promise to those who trust in You.
But our hearts are heavy at this time, with all the suffering and evil we see in the world.
With climate change creating increasingly abnormal weather conditions in many places,
we now see Europe reeling at the destructive flooding at its centre,
and the countless lives that have suddenly been lost or ruined;
Bishops Robert and David have asked that this prayer be offered for the victims:
Compassionate God, source of all comfort,
We pray for those whose lives have been devastated by rain and flood.
Comfort the bereaved and bring healing to those who are traumatised.
Give strength and compassion to those who bring relief and aid.
In the power of your Spirit we pray for the rebuilding of physical communities,
and for a shared sense of solidarity and trust in your goodness
known through human kindness.
We pray in the name of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
We pray for these victims, and for the world at large now under the influence of so many subtle forces beyond its understanding and control,
Covid-19 still causing health, social and economic chaos,
the unforeseeable consequences of globalisation, cyber-crime increasing world-wide,
inhuman repression of many peoples by authoritarian rulers;
Our Bishops also pray:
Heavenly Father,
we see our world struggling in the rough waves,
and we turn to You in humility but trust (Psalm 69)
Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
So we pray for the Church, that its ministers may be filled and strengthened by Your Holy Spirit, to understand Your will for them at this time, to guide and protect the flocks in their care;
We pray particularly for this our Chaplaincy as it prepares for a new Chaplain;
Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for all sick and suffering, particularly for those of our own congregation, for those on our Chaplaincy Prayer List;
and for those for whom we personally wish to pray …..
Comfort, O God, all in distress, relieve them from their suffering if it be Your will,
and lift them up in Your everlasting arms;
Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, you have promised to provide light in the darkness for those who trust in you, give us the grace to understand what you would have us do, and the courage and strength to do it;
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ.
The hymn for today
NEH 484 to tune Aurelia:
Closing Prayers
If there is to be peace in the world,
There must be peace in the nations.
If there is to be peace in the nations,
There must be peace in the cities.
If there is to be peace in the cities,
There must be peace between neighbours.
If there is to be peace between neighbours,
There must be peace in the home.
If there is to be peace in the home,
There must be peace in the heart.
(Lao-Tse – 6th Century BCE)
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. In the name of Christ. Amen.
